"Why," she went on mischievously, taking his hand and in turn touching
it with her red lips, "why, are you a thief, Vernoon? That ring was mine
and you have stolen it. How did you steal that ring?"
"I don't know," he answered, through Jeekie, "I found it on my finger.
I cannot understand how it came there. I understand nothing of all this
talk."
"Well, well, keep it, Vernoon, only give me that other ring of yours in
exchange."
"I cannot," he replied, colouring. "I promised to wear it always."
"Whom did you promise?" she asked with a flash of rage. "Was it a woman?
Nay, I see, it is a man's ring, and that is well, for otherwise I would
bring a curse on her, however far off she may be dwelling. Say no more
and forgive my anger. A vow is a vow--keep your ring. But where is that
one you used to wear in bygone days? I recall that it had a cross upon
it, not this star and figure of an eagle."
Now Alan remembered that his uncle owned such a ring with a cross upon
it, and was frightened, for how did this woman know these things?
"Jeekie," he said, "ask the Asika if I am mad, or if she is. How can
she know what I used to wear, seeing that I was never in this place till
yesterday, and certainly I have not met her anywhere else.
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