Some of the
pieces were like glittering cobwebs enmeshing sparks of fire and
drops of blood. They found emeralds and sapphires the value of
which they did not attempt to estimate; and, besides these, a
miscellaneous assortment of semiprecious stones. There was a fine
collection of opals of every size and color, among which were a
number of huge flat black ones, indescribably gorgeous with their
ever-changing peacock hues. But finest of all the lot were the
pearls. Where old Don Esteban had secured these latter was a
mystery, for he had not been a widely traveled man. They were
splendid, unrivaled in size and luster. Some had the iridescence
of soap-bubbles, others ranged from pink to deepest chocolate in
color. To touch them was like sacrilege.
O'Reilly realized vaguely that he held in his lap a fortune
greater than his wildest dreams had ever compassed. These were the
jewels of a rajah. It seemed incredible that this ragged girl
beside him was a regal heiress, the possessor of a treasure such
as kings might envy. After a time he realized that the mere
possession of these gems constituted a new and overwhelming
menace.
All that evening he and Rosa cowered in the darkness, whispering
furtively, their nerves on edge, their senses strained. It seemed
to them that new and unsuspected perils stalked abroad through the
night.
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