trembled, and her fingers almost unclasped from her arms.

"I have had dreams," she murmured, "but I have been bidden to beware of
dreams. If you are the person you claim to be, you will have some token
which will absolve me from the charge of credulity. What is your token?"

Though doubtful, I dared not hesitate. "This," I said, taking from my
pocket the key which had been given me by my fair neighbor.

She moved, she touched it with a finger; then she eyed me again.

"Others have keys," said she, "but they fail in the opening. How are you
better than they?"

"You know," I declared--"you know that I can do what others have failed
in. Give me the ring."

The force, the assurance with which I uttered this command moved her in
spite of herself. She trembled, gave me one final, searching look, and
slowly began to pull the ring from off her finger. It was in her hand,
and half way to mine, when a third voice came to break the spell.

"Madame, Madame," it said; "be careful. This is the man who clogged the
lock, and hindered my endeavors in your behalf in the doctor's office."

Her hand which was so near mine drew back; but I was too quick and too
determined for her. I snatched the ring before she could replace it on
her own hand, and, holding it firmly, faced the intruder with an air of
very well-assumed disdain.

"Attempt no argument with me. It was because I saw your weakness
and vulgar self-confidence that I interfered in a matter only to be
undertaken by one upon whom all can rely. Now that I have the ring,
the end is near. Madame, be wiser in the choice of your confidants,
_To-morrow this ring will be in its proper place_."

Bowing as I had done before, I advanced to the door. They had made no
effort to regain the ring, and I felt that my rashness had stood me in
good stead. But as, with a secret elation I was just capable of keeping
within bounds, I put my foot across the threshold, I heard behind me a
laugh so triumphant and mocking that I felt struck with consternation;
and, glancing down into my hand, I saw that I held, not the peculiar
steel circlet destined for the piece of mechanism in the doctor's
office, but an ordinary ring of gold.

She had offered me the wrong ring, _and I had taken it_, thus proving
the falsity of my pretensions.

There was nothing left for me but to acknowledge defeat by an
ignominious departure.

IV. CHECKMATE.

I HASTENED at once home, and knocked at Miss Calhoun's