I knew that well enough.

But I made no reply to his remark--I said, "Regarding the matter of the jewels for the Countess Romani--would you care to see them ?" "I should indeed," he answered; "they are unique specimens, I think ?" "I believe so," I answered, and going to an escritoire in the corner of the room, I unlocked it and took out a massive carved oaken jewel-chest of square shape, which I had had made in Palermo.

It contained a necklace of large rubies and diamonds, with bracelets to match, and pins of their hair--also a sapphire ring--a cross of fine rose-brilliants, and the pearl pendant I had first found in the vault.
All the gems, with the exception of this pendant, had been reset by a skillful jeweler in Palermo, who had acted under my superintendence--and Ferrari uttered an exclamation of astonishment and admiration as he lifted the glittering toys out one by one and noted the size and brilliancy of the precious stones.
"They are trifles," I said, carelessly--"but they may please a woman's taste--and they amount to a certain fixed value.

You would do me a great service if you consented to take them to the Contessa Romani for me--tell her to accept them as heralds of my forthcoming visit.

I am sure you will know how to persuade her to take what would unquestionably have been hers had her husband lived.