“I can hardly agree with you, Mr. Avec.”  Plainly Charlotte was deeply impressed with the man’s sincerity and earnestness.  “My brother’s judgment is so much better than mine, that I—­” and she paused regretfully.

“I only wish,” with his remarkable gracefulness, “that your intuition were as strong as your loyalty to your brother.  If it were, you would know that I speak the truth when I say that I have only your welfare at heart.”

“I—­I am sorry, Mr. Avec.”

“Fortunately, there is one alternative,” even more agreeable than before.  “If you prefer not to take my advice, but cling to your brother’s decision, you can still avoid the consequences of his determination to live in that house.  As I say, I cannot prevent harm from befalling you, under present conditions; but these conditions can be completely altered if you will make a single concession, Miss Fenton.”

“What is it?” eagerly.

“That you give me the ring!”

He paused for a very tense second.  I wished I could see his peculiar, young-old face—­the face with the inscrutable eyes; the face that urged, rather than inspired, both curiosity and confidence.

Then he added: 

“I know why you wear it; I realise that the trinket carries some very tender associations.  And I would never ask such a concession did I not know, were your beloved here at this moment, he would endorse every word that I say, and—­”

“Harry!” cried Charlotte, her voice shaking.  “He would tell me to give it to you?”

“I am sure of it!  It is as though he, through me, were urging you to do this!”

For some moments there was silence.  Charlotte must have been tremendously impressed.  It certainly was amazing the degree of confidence that Avec’s voice induced.  I wouldn’t have been greatly surprised had my sister—­

“Mr. Avec,” came Charlotte’s voice, hesitatingly, almost sorrowfully.  “I—­I would like to believe you; but—­but Harry himself gave me the ring, and I feel—­oh, I’m sure that my brother would never agree to it!”

“I understand.”  Somehow the fellow managed to conceal any disappointment he may have felt.  He contrived to show only a deep sympathy for Charlotte as he finished:  “If I find it possible to protect you, I shall, Miss Fenton.”

After it was all over, and I returned to the rooms, Charlotte and I concluded that it might have been better had we made some sort of compromise.  If we had made a partial concession, he might have told us something of the mystery.  We ought to have bargained.  We decided that if he made any attempt to carry out what I felt sure were merely a thinly veiled threat to punish us for keeping the gem, we must not only be ready for whatever he might do, but try to trap and keep him as well.

That same day found us back at Chatterton Place.  Inside, there was altogether too much evidence that the place had been bachelors’ quarters.