ked one of the gentlemen to let me speak to Mr. Polonius.

"What can I do for you, sir?" says Mr. Polonius, who was standing close
by, as it happened, serving three ladies,--a very old one and two young
ones, who were examining pearl necklaces very attentively.

"Sir," said I, producing my jewel out of my coat-pocket, "this jewel has,
I believe, been in your house before: it belonged to my aunt, Mrs.
Hoggarty, of Castle Hoggarty." The old lady standing near looked round
as I spoke.

"I sold her a gold neck-chain and repeating watch in the year 1795," said
Mr. Polonius, who made it a point to recollect everything; "and a silver
punch-ladle to the Captain. How is the Major--Colonel--General--eh,
sir?"

"The General," said I, "I am sorry to say"--though I was quite proud that
this man of fashion should address me so.--"Mr. Hoggarty is--no more. My
aunt has made me a present, however, of this--this trinket--which, as you
see, contains her husband's portrait, that I will thank you, sir, to
preserve for me very carefully; and she wishes that you would set this
diamond neatly."

"Neatly and handsomely, of course, sir."

"Neatly, in the present fashion; and send down the account to her. There
is a great deal of gold about the trinket, for which, of course, you will
make an allowance."

"To the last fraction of a sixpence," says Mr. Polonius, bowing, and
looking at the jewel. "It's a wonderful piece of goods, certainly," said
he; "though the diamond's a neat little bit, certainly. Do, my Lady,
look at it. The thing is of Irish manufacture, bears the stamp of '95,
and will recall perhaps the times of your Ladyship's earliest youth."

"Get ye out, Mr. Polonius!" said the old lady, a little wizen-faced old
lady, with her face puckered up in a million of wrinkles. "How _dar_
you, sir, to talk such nonsense to an old woman like me? Wasn't I fifty
years old in '95, and a grandmother in '96?" She put out a pair of
withered trembling hands, took up the locket, examined it for a minute,
and then burst out laughing: "As I live, it's the great Hoggarty
diamond!"

Good heavens! what was this talisman that had come into my possession?

"Look, girls," continued the old lady: "this is the great jew'l of all
Ireland. This red-faced man in the middle is poor Mick Hoggarty, a
cousin of mine, who was in love with me in the year '84, when I had just
lost your poor dear grandpapa. These thirteen sthreamers of red hair
represe