repulsive to eyes that could read her heart; I shuddered rather at the
sight of her murderer, a young angel with such a clear brow, such red
lips and white teeth, such a winning smile. There they stood before
their judge, he scrutinizing them much as some fifteenth-century
Dominican inquisitor might have peered into the dungeons of the Holy
Office while the torture was administered to two Moors.

"The Countess spoke tremulously. 'Sir,' she said, 'is there any way of
obtaining the value of these diamonds, and of keeping the right of
repurchase?' She held out a jewel-case.

"'Yes, madame,' I put in, and came forwards.

"She looked at me, and a shudder ran through her as she recognized me,
and gave me the glance which means, 'Say nothing of this,' all the
world over.

"'This,' said I, 'constitutes a sale with faculty of redemption, as
it is called, a formal agreement to transfer and deliver over a piece
of property, either real estate or personalty, for a given time, on
the expiry of which the previous owner recovers his title to the
property in question, upon payment of a stipulated sum.'

"She breathed more freely. The Count looked black; he had grave doubts
whether Gobseck would lend very much on the diamonds after such a fall
in their value. Gobseck, impassive as ever, had taken up his
magnifying glass, and was quietly scrutinizing the jewels. If I were
to live for a hundred years, I should never forget the sight of his
face at that moment. There was a flush in his pale cheeks; his eyes
seemed to have caught the sparkle of the stones, for there was an