Paula stooped, lifted the necklace, held it out to the judges, pulling it straight by the two ends....

Ah! what a terrible, heartrending cry of despair! Orion even, never, never wished to hear the like again.

Then she flung the jewel on the table, exclaiming: "Shameful, shameful! atrocious!" she tottered backwards and clung to her faithful Betta; for her knees were giving way, and she felt herself in danger of sinking to the ground.
Orion sprang forward to support her, but she thrust him aside, with a glance so full of anguish, rage and intense contempt that he stood motionless, and clasped his hand over his heart .-- And this deed, which was to work such misery for two human beings, he had smiled in doing! This practical joke which concealed a death-warrant--to what fearful issues might it not lead?
Paula had sunk speechless on to a seat, and he stood staring in silence, till a burst of laughter broke from the assembly and old Psamtik, the captain of the guard, who had long been a member of the council of justice, exclaimed: "By my soul, a splendid stone! There is the heathen god Eros with his winged sweetheart Psyche smiling in his face.

Did you never read that pretty story by Apuleius--'The Golden Ass' it is called?
The passage is in that.

Holy Luke! how finely it is carved.