On the following morning the necklace was returned to me by Irene'sfavourite lady, who smiled as she gave it to me. She was a dark-eyed,witty, and able girl named Martina, who had been my friend for a longwhile.
"The Augusta said that you were to examine this jewel to see that it hasnot been changed."
"I never suggested that the Augusta was a thief," I replied, "thereforeit is unnecessary."
"She said also that I was to tell you, in case you should think that ithas been befouled by her wearing of it, that she has had it carefullycleaned."
"That is thoughtful of her, Martina, for it needed washing. Now, willyou take the Augusta's pearls, which she left with me in error?"
"I have no orders to take any pearls, Captain Olaf, although I didnotice that two of the finest strings in the Empire are missing. Oh! yougreat northern child," she added in a whisper, "keep the pearls, theyare a gift, and worth a prince's ransom; and take whatever else you canget, and keep that too."[*]
[*] I have no further vision concerning these priceless pearls and do not know what became of them. Perhaps I was robbed of them during my imprisonment, or perhaps I gave them to Heliodore or to Martina. Where are they now, I wonder?--Editor.