He sat down, and held out his fat, trembling hand greedily.

With a smile of contempt Phadrig placed the jewel in it, and said: "Examine it closely, my friend.

It is well worth it, and it may be long before you see another like it." "Like--like _it_, like _this_! By the beard of Father Moses, I should think not--I should think--I should--oh, beautiful--glor--glorious--splendid--did--splen--oh, what a light--li--light--li--oh----!" As each of the disjointed syllables came from his shaking lips he mumbled more and more, and his head sank lower towards the priceless thing in his palm.

As he gazed, the stone grew round and bigger and brighter, till it seemed like a great green-blazing eye glaring into the utmost depths of his being.

Then the light suddenly went out, his head fell on his breast, and as his hand sank, Phadrig caught it and took away the jewel.