It happened in a dark night, but the sky was full of stars. It was very cold outside and all fields near the village were covered with white snow. Nothing could be heard and everything was silent and sad. There was a small cottage located in the dark wood, a few kilometres from the village. In this small cottage lived an old man. He was sitting in the front of fire. He also looked very sad. Suddenly when he looked up to the window and he saw a young lady coming up towards his house. The man stood up to open the door. She was standing on the veranda. He made a gesture to invite her to his house and asked: "Are you Mrs. Aden?". He felt a cold wind striking to the inside and added: "I haven't expected you so fast, actually...I haven't expected you at all...Please, come in..."
"Thank you very much" - said the young lady weekly and took her coat off when he closed the wooden door. "I have a question...why did you call me here, Mr. Henchard?" - Mr. Henchard didn't answer and just pointed at the small case near the fire place. Then he started preparing tea. When he done, he sat down and said: "I couldn't believe that police became interested in my case and finally send someone to protect me..." Then he approached to the small case and opened it. There was small box inside and he also opened it. The lady couldn't believe her own eyes… there was a big ruby. "It is so beautiful, isn't it? My precious…" - said the old man quietly. He smiled and soon she also became happy.
"You are for me the best relief I have ever been given. I. m so happy that you will try to help me... A lot of times I was an aim of thefts…" - said Mr. Henchard sadly.
"I hate it and I love it...I can't sleep because I'm frightened that somebody will try to kill me or to steal it" and he added: "Now I feel that I we can be safe"
She answered "Certainly you can Mr. Henchard … " and she reached to her gun and shoot at this old man. She took the ruby and run away.
The night was so dark that no one could see her and no one could hear her...
