It is sharp as you see, and rather large,
and the nurse was afraid, while he is still restless and sometimes
delirious, he might do himself some hurt with it."
Melrose opened the case--a small flat case of worn green leather some six
inches long; and looked at its contents in a speechless amazement. The
ring was a Greek gem of the best period--an Artemis with the towered
crown, cut in amethyst. The case contained six pieces,--two cameos, and
four engraved gems--amethyst, cornelian, sardonyx, and rock crystal;
which Melrose recognized at once as among the most precious things of
this kind in the world! He turned abruptly, walked to his writing-table,
took out the gems, weighed them in his hand, examined them with a
magnifying glass, or held them to the light, muttering to himself, and
apparently no longer conscious of the presence of Undershaw.
Recollections ran about his brain: "Mackworth showed me that Medusa
himself last year in London. He bought that Mars at the Castellani sale.
And that's the Muse which that stupid brute Vincent had my commission
for, and let slip through his fingers at the Arconati sale!"
Undershaw observed him, with an amusement carefully concealed. He had
suspected from the beginning that in these possessions of the poor
stricken youth means might be found for taming the formidable master of
the Tower. For himself he scorned "la curiosite," and its devotees, as
mere triflers and shell-gatherers on shores bathed by the great ocean of
science.
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