When she returned to put away her marriage treasures, the betrothal ring was missing.  On the instant a cold fear came over her.  In vain she searched the coffer and the chamber; in vain she endeavoured to persuade herself that she must have mislaid the jewel, or that perchance the Count had seen it, and partly in jest and partly in rebuke of her carelessness, had taken it.  The ring had vanished, and in spite of herself she felt that its disappearance portended some terrible evil.  Too fearful to arouse her husband's anger, she breathed no word of her loss, and trusted to time or oblivion for a remedy.