THE BLUE DIAMOND.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LII, Issue 8597, 21 May 1924, Page 7

THE BLUE DIAMOND.

0 (All Rtftrred.)

By L. T. MEADE,

PART 11.—CHAPTER 13— Continued Naclino told me I did very wrong. SHe went out soon afterwards and came back in the even Ing. I thought there wm a change in her. She then told me that she herself had gone through anxiety and trouble, and that she had quite chang ed her mind with regard to my possessing the diamond. She said that she would accompany me to the Cardinal, who now kept the diamond amongst the church treasures, and see that I received it on the morning of my wedding-day. Well, Jack, all this was arranged. "The Cardinal was angry with me, and said that I ran a great risk, as if the diamond were lost the indulgence would be immediately forfeited, and my ancestors for their sins would have to go through the fires of purgatory ; that I myself also would have to undergo the like punishment. And of the severest type, and of the longest duration ; for you would be the means of losing the property of the church, and so would have committed sacrilege. “I wish now, Jack, oh, how earnestly I wish I had taken his advice. But I was infatuated ; the mere sight of the glittering diamond gave me thrills of delight. Nadine and I took it away with us, and during the year which has passed away often spent spare moments together looking at it. But I never showed it to you for I was afraid ; besides it was so mysterious, and seemed to possess such magical qualities, I felt that I could worship and adore it best if no one else shared my secret. It was of great size, and had a mysterious radiance and an almost unearthly beauty. When we reached England you know that you had a safe built into the wall of ray boudoir for me, in order that I might keep my other jewels safe ; but I did not dare to put the Blue Diamond into this hidingplace, fearing that notwithstanding all my precautions it might be stolen so Nadine and I made a hiding-place for it under the floor in my bedroom. “Three weeks ago, when I was ill, and you asked me to receive Lil Lawford as my guest, Nadine received a summons to go to St. Petersburg on some private business of her own. She then told me that I had better make use of the opportunity to return the diamond to the Cardinal; but I would not do so, declaring my intention of keeping it until the very last day of the year had expired.

“Nadine shook her head over me, but she could not shake my resolve. She went away, and Lil came, and on a certain evening the thought of the stone seemed to fill all my mind* I had a passionate longing to look at it once more. I thought that Lil might help me to get it; as I was too weak to take it from its hidingplace alone. I told Lil about it, without giving her any particulars of its strange story. ‘ She got it for me, and we looked at it together. She was very gentle, and sweet, and sympathetic. I told her that she must never breathe the fact that I possessed such a treasure, and that some day, perhaps, I would tell her its strange story*

“While we were both looking at it you came and tried to open the door. Lil had locked it before she took the diamond from its hiding-place. I immediately lost my nerve, and I told Lil to keep the treasure until next morning. She did not want to, but she consented. She took it to her room. Early in the morning she went back to the rectory, 1 felt anxious when I heard she had gone, but was not seriously alarmed with regard to the fate of the diamond.

“In the course of the morning Nadine unexpectedly came back. She told me that, amongst other things she had made arrangements to restore the diamond the following week to the Cardinal ; that she would hide it in the bosom of her dress, that no one would suspect her of having it, and that she could quite safely take it back to St. Petersburg. “As she spoke she went to its hid-ing-place, opened the box, and found that the diamond was gone. I told her what I had done ; she was very angry, said that 1 was mad, and went to Lil’s room to look for it. She could not find it, and said that she must wait until Lil’s return.

“I thought during the days that followed that Nadine looked' mysterious and gloomy, but still I did not suspect the truth. Oh, Jack, Jack, what am I to do ? The Blue Diamond has gone ! Someone has stolen it ! “Nadine speaks plain words. She thinks that Lil, not knowing its true value, gave it to her brother—-that bad fellow, you know. Jack, who was in debt. Anyhow, Jack, the diamond has gone. Jack, my father will have to suffer the pains of purgatory now and my own soul will be lost. Oh, I am the most miserable girl in all the world. Jack,, I am certain Lil is the thief, she stole it. We must get it back. She must be arrested. Jack. Why should she run away and hide herself if she was not frightened ? She did steal it, Jack, and she must be arrested, for I will not lose my soul.” “You are talking utter rubbish.

This is a strange story, and 1 mvint say a most disturbing one. Nevertheless, I cannot for a single moment believe that Lil is guilty.’’ t'HAFTER XIV. Meanwhile Lil, with terror dogging her heels, arrived early on the morning of that same day, at Faddington Station. There she took a ticket lor Stamford. She got into the train and '.tent part of the -way. After twenty miles of her journey she got out at a wayside station. There she asked a porter when the next return train to town would arrive. The man *said one was due on the up platform just then. “If you’re in a hurry hack to town, miss,” he said, “you had better get your ticket immediately, for the train is just signalled.” Lil rushed to the ticket office and secured a third-class single to town. “I must be careful of my money now,” she thought, and then she smiled faintly to herself. “When 1 am in London 1 shall be Quite safe,” was her further consideration. "They will never, never think of looking for me there.” She returned to town about nine o’clock that day. Finding herself once more at Paddington Station, she opened her purse and took out a card. On the card the following words were inscribed ; Nancy Price, Dressmaker, 10, Purser’s Buildings, Paten St Lil now consulted a kind-looking omnibus conductor. Fie told her how she was to reach Paten Street, and she presently found herself going eastward on the top of a ’bus. When she reached the Bank of England she had to change, and after several delays and a ride of a little over an hour, found herself at the entrance to Purser’s Buildings. It was one oi those dismal piles of people’s buildings which arc now’ going slightly out of fashion.

This plan of herding human beings together has not been found to work well either from a sanitary or moral standpoint, but Ini knew nothing of these things. Nancy lived in Purser’s Buildings, and her one desire was to reach her. Nancy seemed tc her at that moment a very rock of safety. Her room was at the top of one of those huge piles, and Lil went slowly upstairs. She had put on her very plainest dress, but her face and her manner betokened the lady, and several rough-looking women glanced at her as she slowly toiled upwards. Presently she reached the top landing and knocked at a certain door. On this door was painted in white letters the words : i “Miss Nancy Price, Dressmaker.” Lil's knock was answered by a hearty “Come in.” She turned the handle and found herself in a small but very neatly-kept room. A girl, built an a massive scale, with quantities of bright red hair, was seated close to the small window sewing as if for bare life. The girl did not even raise her eyes when Lil timidly entered. ‘‘Don’t keep me, Mrs. Watson,” she said. “No, I can’t mind the baby nor do anything else ; I’m a deal too busy. I have got to take these things back at eleven o’clock, or they won’t give me no more blouses.” “It is not Mrs. Watson, it is I,” said Lil. “Glory be to heaven !” was Nancy Price’s next exclamation. She flung down the blouse she was finishing, stared at Lil for a moment, and then with a cry of rapture rushed forward. “Oh, my dear Miss Lil, and ain’t you a sight for sair e’en. Oh, I am glad to see you, miss; this is uplifting. Sit down, my dear, dear young ladj r . I’ll make the fire at once. It was rather hot this morning, dear, and I didn’t think it worth while to* light it. Oh, and I’ll get you a cup of tea. Why, you’re that white, is there any trouble at home, my dear Miss Lil?” “There is something dreadfully wrong, Nancy,” replied Lil, “and I have come to you to help me. Will you ? Can you ?” “Will I ? Can I ?” repeated Nancy. “Did you ever find me not taking your part in the old days ? Wouldn’t I knock anyone down who dared to say a word against you, my own dear little Miss Lil?” “Yes, yes,” replied Lil ; “and it was because of those things, Nancy, that I came to you. Oh, I just do want you to kiss me. Take me in your arms now and kiss me.” “Oh, my poor, sweet little darling !” said Nancy. She opened her big arms wide and clasped the girl to her capacious breast. “Why, Miss Lil,” she said, “ tamt right that I should kiss you. You’re so high up and genteel, and I’m that low down and common. I’m a bit commoner even than I was at home, miss ; and I have to work a bit harder. Not that I complain, I ain’t poor, not at all. But I have to work hard ; I don’t go for to deny it. You don’t mean that I am to kiss you ?” (To bo GoiitinusdLl