The chain was long and heavy to hold in the hand. Its links were thick, fashioned with a curious double twist of both sides so that one could not easily see where or how the loops were joined. The jade monkey pendant was set in the same gold, and the chain link itself was fastened to the pendant so that its hook was part of a link of the chain. In the entire world there must have been only one like it. The anonymous craftsman who had fashioned it must have been a very clever fellow with fine hands. The pendant was also unique in appearance--mockingly handsome, almost human, with a curious smirk of the face, and the jade was of a superlative grade. The chain and pendant was beautiful to look upon and everyone who saw it found themselves admiring it and even secretly coveting it. No one could say how old it was, and though many necks it hung from became wrinkled and stiff, its gold never rusted or tarnished and its jade pendant never lost its mysterious luminescence.