"The stone is certainly going off," I said in answer to him. "What guarantee have I that it will not be worthless in a month's time?"
"You have my word. It is a tradition of our family that he who owns that heirloom when it begins to fade must sell it or die--and sell it at its worth. If I continue to possess it, the tradition must prove itself, for I shall die of sheer starvation."
"It will regain its lights, I have no doubt of it, for it has gone like this before when a death has happened amongst us. If you are content to take my word, I will return to you in six months' time and make good any loss you have suffered by it. But I should want some money now, to-night, before an hour--could you let me have it?"
"If I bought your stone, you could have the money for it; my man, who is outside, would fetch my check-book."
At the word "man," he went to the window, and saw Abel standing beneath the gas-lamp. He looked fixedly at the fellow for a moment, and then drew down the blinds in a deliberate way which I did not like at all.
"That servant of yours has been set to watch this house for ten days," he said. "Was that by your order?"
I was so completely taken aback by his discovery that I sat for a moment dumfounded, and gave him no answer. He, however, seemed trembling with passion.
"Was it by your orders?" he asked again, standing over me and almost hissing out his words.
"It was," I answered after a pause; "but, you see, circumstances were suspicious."
"Suspicious! Then you _did_ believe me to be a rogue. I have shot men for less."
I attempted to explain, but he would not hear me. He had lost command of himself, stalking up and down the room with great strides until the temper tautened his veins, and his lean hands seemed nothing but wire and bones. At last, he took a revolver from the drawer in his table, and deliberately put cartridges into it. I stood up at the sight of it and made a step towards the window; but he pointed the pistol straight at me, crying,--
"Sit down, if you wish to live another minute--and say, do you still believe me to be a swindler?"
The situation was so dangerous, for the man was obviously but half sane, that I do not know what I said in answer to him; yet he pursued my words fiercely, scarce hearing my reply before he continued,--