And so we parted.
"I shall not dine to-night, Griggs," said Isaacs, as we paused before his door.

"Come in for a moment: you can help me." We entered the richly carpeted room, and he went to a curious old Japanese cabinet, and after opening various doors and divisions, showed a small iron safe.

This he opened by some means known to himself, for he used no key, and he took out a small vessel of jade and brought it to the light.

"Now," he said, "be good enough to warm this little jar in your hands while I go into the next room and get my boots and spurs and things off.

But do not open it on any account--not on any account, until I come back," he added very emphatically.
"All right, go ahead," said I, and began to warm the cold thing that felt like a piece of ice between my hands.