The workmanship was remarkably fine.

It was an ancient weapon, and just the sort of one an amateur would have prized very highly.
"Is it the custom here," inquired Miss Nevil, with a smile, "for young ladies to wear such little instruments as these in their bodices ?" "It is," answered Colomba, with a sigh.

"There are so many wicked people about!" "And would you really have the courage to strike with it, like this ?" And Miss Nevil, dagger in hand, made a gesture of stabbing from above, as actors do on the stage.
"Yes," said Colomba, in her soft, musical voice, "if I had to do it to protect myself or my friends.

But you must not hold it like that, you might wound yourself if the person you were going to stab were to draw back." Then, sitting up in bed, "See," she added, "you must strike like this--upward! If you do so, the thrust is sure to kill, they say.

Happy are they who never need such weapons." She sighed, dropped her head back on the pillow, and closed her eyes.