'Under these circumstances, Lord Canterville, I feel sure that you will recognise how impossible it would be for me to allow them to remain in the possession of any member of my family.'

'Indeed, all such vain toys, however suitable or necessary to the dignity of the British aristocracy, would be completely out of place among those who have been brought up on the severe, and I believe immortal, principles of Republican simplicity.'

'Perhaps I should mention that Virginia is very anxious that you should allow her to retain the box, as a memento of your unfortunate but misguided ancestor. As it is extremely old, and consequently a good deal out of repair, you may perhaps think fit to comply with her request.'

'For myself, I confess I am a good deal surprised to find a child of mine expressing sympathy with medievalism in any form, and can only explain it by the fact that Virginia was born in one of your London suburbs shortly after Mrs Otis had returned from a trip to Athens.'

Lord Canterville listened very gravely to the worthy ambassador's speech, pulling his grey moustache now and then to hide an involuntary smile, and when Mr Otis had finished, he shook him cordially by the hand.

He said, 'My dear sir, your little daughter did my ancestor, Sir Simon, a very important service, and I and my family are much indebted to her for her courage and pluck. The jewels are clearly hers, and if I were heartless enough to take them from her, the wicked old fellow would be out of his grave in a fortnight, leading me the devil of a life.'