for I can show you some beautiful, exquisite things--and you can
watch the shadow yourself."

"Two hours after sunrise," murmured Orion to himself, and then with
fresh qualms he reflected that it was fully four hours later when he
had given the packet to Chusar. It was impossible to doubt the Jew's
statement. The man was rich, honest and content: he did not lie. The
jewel Orion had sent away and that purchased from Hiram could not in any
case be identical. But how could all this be explained? It was enough
to turn his brain. And not to dare to speak when mere silence was
falsehood--falsehood to his father and mother!--If only the hapless
stammerer might escape! If he were caught; then--then merciful Heaven!
But no; it was not to be thought of.--On, then, on; and if it came to
the worst the honor of a hundred stablemen could not outweigh that of
one Orion; horrible as it was, the man must be sacrificed. He would see
that his life was spared and that he was soon set at liberty!

The Arab meanwhile had concluded his examination; still he was not
perfectly satisfied. Orion longed to interpose; for if the merchant
expressed no doubts and acknowledged the recovered gem to be the stolen
one, much would be gained; so he turned to him again and said: "May I
ask you to show me the emerald once more? It is quite impossible, do you
think, that a second should be found to match it?"

"That is too much to assert," said the Arab gravely. "This stone
resembles that on the hanging to a hair; and yet it has a little
inequality which I do not remember noticing on it. It is true I had
never seen it out of the setting, and this little boss may have been
turned towards the stuff, and yet, and yet.--Tell me, goldsmith, did the
thief give you the emerald bare--unset?"

"As bare as Adam and Eve before they ate the apple," said the Jew.

"That is a pity--a great pity!--And still I fancy that the stone in
the work was a trifle longer. In such a case it is almost folly and
perversity to doubt, and yet I feel--and yet I ask myself: Is this
really the stone that formed that bud?"

"But Heaven bless us!" cried Orion, "the twin of such an unique gem
would surely not drop from the skies and at the same moment into one and
the same house. Let us be glad that the lost sheep has come back to us.
Now, I will lock it into this iron casket, Father, and as soon as the
robber is caught you send for me: do you understand, Psamtik?" He nodded
to his paren