“It is certainly very beautiful, but I do not recognize the face.  Interpret for me.”

“It is Hecate, Brimo, Empusa—­all phases of the same malignant power; and it remains a mere matter of taste which of the titles you select.  I call it Hecate.”

“I have never seen you wear it.”

“You never will.”

“It is exceedingly beautiful.”

Edna held it toward the grate, flashed the flame now on this side, now on that, and handed it back to the owner.

“Edna, I bought this ring in Naples, intending to ask your acceptance of it, in token of my appreciation of your care of that little gold key, provided I found you trustworthy.  After your pronunciamento uttered a few minutes since, I presume I may save myself the trouble of offering it to you.  Beside, Gordon might object to having his emerald over-shadowed by my matchless jacinth.  Of course, your tender conscience will veto the thought of your wearing it?”

“I thank you, Mr. Murray; the ring is, by far, the most beautiful I have ever seen, but I certainly can not accept it.”

“Bithus contra Bacchium!” exclaimed Mr. Murray, with a short, mirthless laugh that made his companion shrink back a few steps.

Holding the ring at arm’s length above his head, he continued: 

“To the ‘infernal flames,’ your fit type, I devote you, my costly Queen of Samothrace!”

Leaning over the grate, he dropped the jewel in the glowing coals.

“Oh, Mr. Murray! save it from destruction!”

She seized the tongs and sprang forward, but he put out his arm and held her back.

“Stand aside, if you please.  Cleopatra quaffed liquid pearl in honor of Antony, Nero shivered his precious crystal goblets, and Suger pounded up sapphires to color the windows of old St. Denis!  Chacun a son gout!  If I choose to indulge myself in a diamond cremation in honor of my tutelary goddess Brimo, who has the right to expostulate?  True, such costly amusements have been rare since the days of the ‘Cyranides’ and the ‘Seven Seals’ of Hermes Trismegistus.  See what a tawny, angry glare leaps from my royal jacinth!  Old Hecate holds high carnival down there in her congenial flames.”

He stood with one arm extended to bar Edna’s approach, the other rested on the mantel; and a laughing, reckless demon looked out of his eyes, which were fastened on the fire.

Before the orphan could recover from her sorrowful amazement the library door opened and Henry looked in.

“Mr. Leigh is in the parlor, and asked for Miss Edna.”

Perplexed, irresolute, and annoyed, Edna stood still, watching the red coals; and after a brief silence, Mr. Murray smiled, and turned to look at her.

“Pray, do not let me detain you, and rest assured that I understand your decree.  You have entrenched yourself in impenetrable silence, and hung out your banner, ‘noli me tangere!’ Withdraw your pickets; I shall attempt neither siege nor escalade.  Good morning.  Leave my De Guerin on the table; it will be at your disposal after to-day.”