But the damage was not
visible from a distance, and with the natural pride of a collector
showing one of his most valued possessions, the railroad man said:
"I have one or two Peach Blows that I think are rather good. There is
one up there which I am particularly fond of."
Jimmie more and more nervous gave his fiancee a nudge. In a frightened
undertone he whispered to her:
"It's coming! It's coming!"
To hide her confusion, Fanny pretended to be very busy with her
handkerchief. Stafford, meantime, had gone up to the bookcase.
Reaching up his hand so he could take hold of the vase by its neck,
the millionaire went on:
"This vase is said to be--"
His hand touched the vase, but, instead of lifting it, he simply
lifted up the piece which had been broken off. For a moment he stared
at the fragment in amazement, while the others looked on in silent
consternation. There was an ominous pause. Jimmie, turning pale, could
feel his heart thumping violently against his ribs.
"Why, it's broken!" exclaimed their host.
"Yes--" said Jimmie quickly.
"Why--so it is!" gasped Fanny, on the theory that an expression of
bewilderment on her part would exonerate her from suspicion.
Stafford stood still, trying to fix the two pieces together. He was
quite cool and to all appearances the least concerned of the four.
There was not even a note of impatience in his voice as he said:
"Oku must be more careful. I never knew him to do a thing like this
before.
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