“Two hours after sunrise,” murmured Orion to himself, and then with fresh qualms he reflected that it was fully four hours later when he had given the packet to Chusar.  It was impossible to doubt the Jew’s statement.  The man was rich, honest and content:  he did not lie.  The jewel Orion had sent away and that purchased from Hiram could not in any case be identical.  But how could all this be explained?  It was enough to turn his brain.  And not to dare to speak when mere silence was falsehood—­falsehood to his father and mother!—­If only the hapless stammerer might escape!  If he were caught; then—­then merciful Heaven!  But no; it was not to be thought of.—­On, then, on; and if it came to the worst the honor of a hundred stablemen could not outweigh that of one Orion; horrible as it was, the man must be sacrificed.  He would see that his life was spared and that he was soon set at liberty!

The Arab meanwhile had concluded his examination; still he was not perfectly satisfied.  Orion longed to interpose; for if the merchant expressed no doubts and acknowledged the recovered gem to be the stolen one, much would be gained; so he turned to him again and said:  “May I ask you to show me the emerald once more?  It is quite impossible, do you think, that a second should be found to match it?”

“That is too much to assert,” said the Arab gravely.  “This stone resembles that on the hanging to a hair; and yet it has a little inequality which I do not remember noticing on it.  It is true I had never seen it out of the setting, and this little boss may have been turned towards the stuff, and yet, and yet.—­Tell me, goldsmith, did the thief give you the emerald bare—­unset?”

“As bare as Adam and Eve before they ate the apple,” said the Jew.

“That is a pity—­a great pity!—­And still I fancy that the stone in the work was a trifle longer.  In such a case it is almost folly and perversity to doubt, and yet I feel—­and yet I ask myself:  Is this really the stone that formed that bud?”

“But Heaven bless us!” cried Orion, “the twin of such an unique gem would surely not drop from the skies and at the same moment into one and the same house.  Let us be glad that the lost sheep has come back to us.  Now, I will lock it into this iron casket, Father, and as soon as the robber is caught you send for me:  do you understand, Psamtik?” He nodded to his parents, offered his hand to the Arab, and that in a way which could not fail to satisfy any one, so that even the old man was won over; and then he left the room.

The merchant’s honor was saved; still his conscientious soul was disturbed by a doubt that he could not away with.  He was about to take leave but the Mukaukas was so buried in pillows, and kept his eyes so closely shut, that no one could detect whether he were sleeping or waking; so the Arab, not wishing to disturb him, withdrew without speaking.

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