scended, and took Jekyl's arm along the bridge.
They had not gone many yards when the short, little, shuffling step of
Purvis was heard behind them. Lingering to gaze at some of the splendid
objects exposed for sale, they at last reached a very splendid stall,
where diamonds, pearls, and rubies lay in heaps of gorgeous profusion.
And now Purvis had stationed himself exactly behind them, with his head
most artistically adjusted to hear everything that passed between them.

Jekyl seemed to feel his presence as if by an instinct, and without
even turning his eye from the glass case, said, in a voice of some
disparagement,

"All modern settings! very lustrous very brilliant, but not at all what
we are looking for."

Kate made no reply; for, while she had scruples about abetting a mere
scheme, she was not the less eager to be free of the presence of the
"Great Inquisitor."

"That, perhaps," said Jekyl, pointing to a magnificent cross of
brilliants, "would not go ill with the necklace, although the stones are
smaller. Say something, anything," added he, in a lower tone; "the spell
is working."

"That is very handsome," said Kate, pointing at a venture to an object
before her.

"So it is," said Jekyl, quickly. "Let us see what value they place upon
it. Oh, here is Mr. Purvis; how fortunate! Perhaps in all Florence there
is not one so conversant with all that concerns taste and elegance, and,
as an old resident, happily exempt from all the arts and wiles played
off upon our countrymen."

"How d'ye do d'ye do?" cried Purvis, shaking hands with both. "You heard
of the bl-bl-blunder I made last night about the Ar-Archduke?"

"Not a word of it," replied Jekyl.

"I told him he was a-a-a fool," cried Purvis, with a scream and a cackle
that very constantly followed any confession of an impertinence.

"Meno male!" exclaimed Jekyl. "Even princes ought to hear truth
sometimes; but you can help us here. Mr. Purvis, do you see that
chatelaine yonder, with a large emerald pendant; could you ascertain the
price of it for Miss Dalton? They'll not attempt to be extortionate upon
you, which they would, assuredly, if she entered the shop."

"To be sure; I'll do it with pl-pleasure. Who is it for?"

"That 's a secret, Mr. Purvis; but you shall hear it afterwards."

"I guess al-ready," said Scroope, with a cunning leer. "You 're going to
be m-m-m-married, ain't you?"

"Mr. Purvis, Mr. Purvis, I must call you to order," said Jekyl,