He bowed and returned the emerald, and Edna turned to leave the library.
"Before you go, examine this bauble."
He took from his vest pocket a velvet case containing a large ring, which he laid in the palm of her hand.
It was composed of an oval jacinth, with a splendid scarlet fire leaping out as the light shone on it, and the diamonds that clustered around it were very costly and brilliant. There was no inscription, but upon the surface of the jacinth was engraved a female head crowned with oak leaves, among which serpents writhed and hissed, and just beneath the face grinned a dog's head. The small but exquisitely carved human face was savage, sullen, sinister, and fiery rays seemed to dart from the relentless eyes.
"Is it a Medusa?"
"No."
"It is certainly very beautiful, but I do not recognize the face. Interpret for me."
"It is Hecate, Brimo, Empusa--all phases of the same malignant power; and it remains a mere matter of taste which of the titles you select. I call it Hecate."
"I have never seen you wear it."
"You never will."
"It is exceedingly beautiful."
Edna held it toward the grate, flashed the flame now on this side, now on that, and handed it back to the owner.
"Edna, I bought this ring in Naples, intending to ask your acceptance of it, in token of my appreciation of your care of that little gold key, provided I found you trustworthy. After your pronunciamento uttered a few minutes since, I presume I may save myself the trouble of offering it to you. Beside, Gordon might object to having his emerald over-shadowed by my matchless jacinth. Of course, your tender conscience will veto the thought of your wearing it?"
"I thank you, Mr. Murray; the ring is, by far, the most beautiful I have ever seen, but I certainly can not accept it."
"Bithus contra Bacchium!" exclaimed Mr. Murray, with a short, mirthless laugh that made his companion shrink back a few steps.
Holding the ring at arm's length above his head, he continued: "To the 'infernal flames,' your fit type, I devote you, my costly Queen of Samothrace!"
Leaning over the grate, he dropped the jewel in the glowing coals.
"Oh, Mr. Murray! save it from destruction!"
She seized the tongs and sprang forward, but he put out his arm and held her back.
"Stand aside, if you please. Cleopatra quaffed liquid pearl in honor of Antony, Nero shivered his precious crystal goblets, and Suger pounded up sapphires to color the windows of old St. Denis! Chacun a son gout! If I choose to indulge myself in a diamond cremation in honor of my tutelary goddess Brimo, who has the right to expostulate? True, such costly amusements have been rare since the days of the 'Cyranides' and the 'Seven Seals' of Hermes Trismegistus. See what a tawny, angry glare leaps from my royal jacinth! Old Hecate holds high carnival down there in her congenial flames."