Upon him also the spell
is cast; he deserts everything, his holy calling, his studies, and
flees with the gem into a foreign country. The officer has a
brother, an astute, daring, unscrupulous man, who learns the
clergyman's secret. What does he do? Tell his brother, inform the
police? No; upon this man also the Satanic charm has fallen; he
must have the stone for himself. At the risk of murder, he drugs
the young priest and seizes the prey. And now, by an accident
which is not important to my moral, the jewel passes out of his
custody into that of another, who, terrified at what he sees, gives
it into the keeping of a man in high station and above reproach.
"The officer's name is Thomas Vandeleur," continued Florizel. "The
stone is called the Rajah's Diamond. And" - suddenly opening his
hand - "you behold it here before your eyes."
The officer started back with a cry.
"We have spoken of corruption," said the Prince. "To me this
nugget of bright crystal is as loathsome as though it were crawling
with the worms of death; it is as shocking as though it were
compacted out of innocent blood. I see it here in my hand, and I
know it is shining with hell-fire. I have told you but a hundredth
part of its story; what passed in former ages, to what crimes and
treacheries it incited men of yore, the imagination trembles to
conceive; for years and years it has faithfully served the powers
of hell; enough, I say, of blood, enough of disgrace, enough of
broken lives and friendships; all things come to an end, the evil
like the good; pestilence as well as beautiful music; and as for
this diamond, God forgive me if I do wrong, but its empire ends to-
night.
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