I thought he was sick; but he
said he was not; said he just felt that way."
"I understand. And he kept getting glummer? Did you suspect the
jewel? Did he ever tell you anything?"
She shook her head.
"No. He told me nothing, except that he would find father. Of
course, I became excited and wanted to know. But he insisted that
I couldn't help; that he had a clue, and that it might take time.
From that night I saw very little of him. He leased the house on
Chatterton Place. He seemed to lose interest in myself; when he
did come over he would act queerly. He talked incoherently, and
would often make rambling mention of a beautiful girl called
Nervina. You say it is the ring? Tell me, Mr. Wendel, what is it?
Has it really anything to do with father?"
I nodded.
"I think it has, Miss Holcomb. And I can understand poor Chick. He
is a very brave man. It's a strange jewel and of terrible potency;
that much I know. It devitalises; it destroys. I can feel it
already. It covers life with a fog of decay. The same solitude has
come upon myself. Nevertheless I am certain it has much to do with
the Blind Spot. It is a key of some sort. The very interest of the
Rhamda and the Nervina tells us that. I think it was through this
stone that your father made his discovery."
She thought a moment.
"Hadn't you better return it? While you still have health? If you
keep it, it will be only one more.
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