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The setting is slight, though the painting is fine." Burket breathed on the diamonds. "If you were to sell it," returned he, "I don't think it would fetch more than three guineas. The diamonds are flawed, and the emeralds would be of little use, being out of fashion here; as for the miniature, it goes for nothing." "Of course," said Thaddeus, putting it on again; "but I shall not part with it."
Burket. It was not in his nature to allow any one who served him to pass unrewarded. He called on him on the last day he visited St. Robson to get repaired by the same honest hand; also the other precious relics he had had refitted to their original settings, and pressing them mournfully yet gratefully to his breast, re-entered Sir Robert's carriage to drive home.
"My dear Mr. Burket," cried an elegant young creature, who ran into the apartment, "positively without your assistance, I shall be undone." "Anything in my power, madam," returned My. Burket, with a distant, respectful voice; "will your ladyship sit down?" "Yes; give me a chair. I am half dead with distraction. Mr. Burket, I must have another hundred upon those jewels."
"Indeed, I am amazed," replied Sobieski; "and I am from a country where the slightest suspicion of a transaction such as this would brand the woman with infamy." "And so it ought," answered Burket; "though by that assertion I speak against my own interest, for it is by such as Lady Hilliars we make our money.
At that instant some other people came into the shop; and Mr. Burket, gathering up the diamonds and the arms in his hand, said, "If you do not object, sir, we will settle this business in my back-parlor." The delicacy of his behavior penetrated the mind of Thaddeus, and without demurring, he followed him into a room. While Mr.
He had entertained no idea of anything more being meant by the trade of a pawnbroker than a man who bought what others wished to sell. "Then, sir," continued Burket, opening an escritoire, "I will give you the money, and write the paper I spoke of."
But I have something else here," laying down the diamonds; "I want eight guineas." Mr. Burket looked at them, and then at their owner, hesitated and then spoke. "I beg your pardon, sir; I hope I shall not offend you, but these things appear to have a value independent of their price; they are inlaid with crests and ciphers." The blood flushed over the cheeks of the count.
Burket declared, on the word of an honest man, that he could not give more than fifteen pounds. With difficulty Thaddeus stifled as torturing a sigh as ever distended his breast, whilst he said, "I will take it, I only implore you to be careful of the things, trifling as they are; circumstances with which they were connected render them valuable to me to redeem."
"It is very lamentable," returned Burket; "but so it is. And they continue to manage matters very cleverly. As a compensation for these little indulgences, I expect considerable additions to the douceur at the end." Thaddeus could hardly believe such a history of those women, whom travellers mentioned as not only the most lovely but the most amiable creatures in the world. "Surely, Mr.
Burket," rejoined Thaddeus, smiling; "I am glad to hear that. Yet I cannot forget the unexpected view of the famous British fair which this night has offered to my eyes. It is strange!" "It is very bad, indeed, sir," returned the man, giving him the money and the paper he had been preparing; "but if you should have occasion to call again upon me, perhaps you may be astonished still further."
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