In St. Petersburg, a beautiful Russian Princess is known for her charm and a significant physical defect: the loss of her left forefinger. Her annual visits to Tunis, where she has spent considerable time since a traumatic accident in 1890, are shrouded in mystery, even to her husband. The Princess harbors a deep-seated fear of blindness, a hereditary condition that afflicted her family. This anxiety leads her to seek solace in travel, prompting her journey to Tunis with her companion, Countess de Rosnikoff. Upon arrival, the Princess is eager to explore the famed bazaars of Tunis but is initially deterred by her companion's fatigue. She ventures out alone, guided by a talkative local named Abdul. As they navigate the bustling market, the Princess's anxiety about her eyesight intensifies, especially when she learns about a local figure known as Safti, the "jewel doctor," who purportedly uses gemstones to heal ailments, including preserving sight. Intrigued and desperate, the Princess seeks out Safti, who lives in a modest home in the Rue Ben-Ziad. Upon meeting him, she learns that he possesses an emerald that can protect against blindness. Despite her wealth, Safti refuses to sell the emerald outright, insisting that those who use his jewels must remain close to him. However, he allows her to wear the emerald temporarily for a fee, which she eagerly pays, feeling an immediate relief from her eye pain. As the days pass, the Princess becomes increasingly obsessed with the emerald, believing it to be her safeguard against her fears. She renews her lease on the jewel, all the while contemplating her return to Russia and the implications of her attachment to the stone. The Princess's companion, meanwhile, grows increasingly ill, attributing her discomfort to the local climate. In a moment of desperation, the Princess concocts a plan to escape with the emerald, convincing her companion to leave Tunis for Russia. Under the cover of night, they board a ship bound for Sicily. As the vessel departs, the Princess feels a mix of exhilaration and guilt for her theft. However, her relief is short-lived when the ship unexpectedly halts to take on cargo, igniting her fear of being discovered. In a dramatic turn, the Princess is attacked on deck, and in the chaos, she inadvertently plunges into the sea. The emerald remains on her finger as she disappears beneath the waves, symbolizing the inescapable consequences of her actions. The story concludes with the emerald back in Safti's possession, highlighting the themes of obsession, the consequences of greed, and the inextricable link between desire and loss.
By Robert Hichens · First published 1910 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Romance