But it did not exist--it was a myth." "What a life yours has been!" said the girl.

"How different from the humdrum existence of us stay-at-homes! How I should like to hear some of your adventures.

They must be thrilling." "If you want to hear a real thrilling adventure, Miss Finch, you should get Mr.Musard to tell you how he came by that ruby he is wearing," said Phil Heredith, joining in the conversation.
The eyes of all the guests were directed to the ring which Musard was wearing on the little finger of his left hand.

The stone in the plain gold setting was an unusually large one, nearly an inch in length.

The stone had been polished, not cut, and glowed rather than sparkled with a deep rich red--the true "pigeon's-blood" tint so admired by connoisseurs.
"Nonsense, Phil"-- Musard flushed under his brown skin--"your guests do not want to hear me talk any more about myself.