You've heard all about those wonderful discoveries, of course...." The Professor made himself universally agreeable in a mild way, and his presence created even more than the sensation which Mrs.Rheinholdt had hoped for.

In her desire to show him ample honour, she seldom left his side.
"I am going to take you into my husband's study," she suggested, later on in the evening.

"He has some specimens of beetles--" "Beetles," the Professor declared, with some excitement, "occupied precisely two months of my time while abroad.

By all means, Mrs.
Rheinholdt!" "We shall have to go quite to the back of the house," she explained, as she led him along the darkened passage.
The Professor smiled acquiescently.

His eyes rested for a moment upon her necklace.
"You must really permit me, Mrs.Rheinholdt," he exclaimed, "to admire your wonderful stones! I am a judge of diamonds, and those three or four in the centre are, I should imagine, unique." She held them out to him.