The woman interrupted him.

“Now, major, that’s all nonsense!  A day longer can’t make any difference.”

He drew himself up and looked calmly at her.

“Madam,” he said, “it would make all the difference in the world.  If I should remain one day over my time I might just as well remain all the other days that are to follow it.”

There was finality and conviction in the man’s voice.  Mrs. Farmingham got up and began to walk about the room.  She seemed to speak to Hargrave, although he imagined that she was speaking to herself.

“Now this is a pretty how-de-do,” she said “Lady Holbert told me about this find to-night at dinner.  She said Major Mikos wanted the money at once; but I didn’t suppose he wanted it cash on the hour like that.  She brought me right away after dinner to see him.  And then I went for you.”  She stopped, and again made the gesture as of one who, cracks a dog whip.  “Now what shall I do?” she said.

The last remark was evidently not addressed to Hargrave.  It was not addressed to anybody.  It was merely the reflection of a dominant nature taking counsel with itself.  She took another turn about the room.  Then she pulled up short.

“See here,” she said, “suppose you take these jewels and give the major his money in the morning.  Then I’ll buy them of you.”

“Very well, madam,” said Hargrave; “but in that event we shall charge you a ten per cent commission.”

She stormed at that.

“Eighteen hundred dollars?” she said.  “That’s absurd, ridiculous!  I’m willing to pay you five hundred dollars.”

The American did not undertake to argue the matter with her.

“We don’t handle any sale for a less commission,” he said.

Then he explained that he could not act as any sort of agent in the matter; that the only thing he could do would be to buy the jewels outright and resell them to her.  His house would not make any sale for a less profit than ten per cent.  Hargrave did not propose to be involved in any but a straight-out transaction.  He was quite willing to buy the sapphires for eighteen thousand dollars.  There was five thousand dollars’ profit in them on any market.  He was perfectly safe either way about.  If Mrs. Farmingham made the repurchase there was a profit of ten per cent.  If not, there was five thousand dollars’ profit in the bargain under any conditions.

They were Siamese stones, and the cutting was of an old design.  They were not from any stock in Europe.  Hargrave knew what Europe held of sapphires.  These were from some Oriental stock.  And everybody bought an Oriental stone wherever he could get it.  How the seller got it did not matter.  Nobody undertook to verify the title of a Siamese trader or a Burma agent.

Mrs. Farmingham walked about for several minutes, saying over to herself as she had said before: 

“Now what shall I do?”