“Simply because, having them, I have a sort of feeling that they ought to be used. It seems a waste to keep them hidden in a strong box, and I never could tolerate waste. Really, I scarcely care more for jewels, as jewels, than you do yourself.”

“Still, for a person who doesn’t care for them, you seem to have a fair quantity of them.”

“Ah! But many were given to me — and the rest I bought when I was young, or soon afterwards. Besides, they are part of my stock in trade.”

“When you were young!” I repeated, smiling. “How long is that since?”

“Ages.”

I coughed.

“It is seven years since I was young,”