that came later... He is staying this winter in "Papeete."

Kennedy sighed and said: Fine words, Ella, but a doctor like him charges high fees!

— True, said Ella, and now we can pay him — this pearl.

— And would he come, Ella, from a thousand miles away?

— And why should he not come, in exchange for this beauti-ful pearl?

— But is this pearl worth enough for him, Ella?... We must find out what it is worth, and the best appraiser on this island is that sly "Honer" — he is a swindler, but there is no one else!!

Honer was the owner of the store and of the post office at the same time; not one of the islanders trusted him. His store stood a few yards from the grass-roofed hut that stood beside the palm with the bell... and "Honer" heard the ringing of that bell whenever the wind blew... He was a corpulent, red-faced, malicious man who took pleasure in mocking the helpless and the wretched. His eyes were small as pinholes, his mind scheming, plotting against all men... He liked to sit alone with a bottle of liquor, drinking until conceit took hold of him...

Kennedy never allowed his wife to enter "Honer's" store... And that evening, when Kennedy came to

have his pearl valued, Ella came with him as far as the steps, and he went in, feeling his way with his cane... Honer was drinking, and "Kennedy" did not know he stood before the man himself until

he called to him with coarse insolence: "What do you want?"

The blind man came forward with the black pearl and said: Can you give me an idea of its value, Honer?