“I’m afraid you find the room too warm.  Shall we go into the library?”

He rose hastily and followed me like a lamb.

He recovered himself once we got into the hall, and affably rejected all my proffers of brandy and soda—­medical advice—­everything else my limited experience could suggest.  He only demanded his carriage “directly” and that Miss Panton should be summoned forthwith.

I made the best use I could of the time left me.

“I’m uncommonly sorry you do not feel equal to staying a little longer, my lord.  I counted on showing you my few trifles of precious stones, the salvage from the wreck of my possessions.  Nothing in comparison with your own collection.”

The bishop clasped his hand over his heart.  His breath came short and quick.

“A return of that dizziness,” he explained with a faint smile.  “You are thinking of the Valdez sapphire, are you not?  Some day,” he went on with forced composure, “I may have the pleasure of showing it to you.  It is at my banker’s just now.”

Miss Panton’s steps were heard in the hall.  “You are well known as a connoisseur, Mr. Acton,” he went on hurriedly.  “Is your collection valuable?  If so, keep it safe; don’t trust a ring off your hand, or the key of your jewel case out of your pocket till the house is clear again.”  The words rushed from his lips in an impetuous whisper, he gave me a meaning glance, and departed with his daughter.  I went back to the drawing-room, my head swimming with bewilderment.

“What!  The dear bishop gone!” screamed Lady Carwitchet from the central ottoman where she sat, surrounded by most of the gentlemen, all apparently well entertained by her conversation.  “And I wanted to talk over old times with him so badly.  His poor wife was my greatest friend.  Mira Montanaro, daughter of the great banker, you know.  It’s not possible that that miserable little prig is my poor Mira’s girl.  The heiress of all the Montanaros in a black lace gown worth twopence!  When I think of her mother’s beauty and her toilets!  Does she ever wear the sapphires?  Has anyone ever seen her in them?  Eleven large stones in a lovely antique setting, and the great Valdez sapphire—­worth thousands and thousands—­for the pendant.”  No one replied.  “I wanted to get a rise out of the bishop to-night.  It used to make him so mad when I wore this.”

She fumbled among the laces at her throat, and clawed out a pendant that hung to a velvet band around her neck.  I fairly gasped when she removed her hand.  A sapphire of irregular shape flashed out its blue lightning on us.  Such a stone!  A true, rich, cornflower blue even by that wretched artificial light, with soft velvety depths of color and dazzling clearness of tint in its lights and shades—­a stone to remember!  I stretched out my hand involuntarily, but Lady Carwitchet drew back with a coquettish squeal.  “No! no!  You mustn’t look any closer.  Tell me what you think of it now.  Isn’t it pretty?”