Then he heard a thick voice say in French: "They are beautiful, very beautiful. But what are they to us? You think they are worth a hundred thousand roubles, eh? Suppose they are--what of that? Do you think a hundred thousand roubles will save you? Bah!" The man chuckled thickly. "But they are very pretty baubles," he went on, "and since you offer them to me, I see no reason why I should not keep them." "Ah!" cried the girl. "Then Boris will be satisfied?" "Satisfied!" exclaimed the man, "satisfied, for this much! Not he! Why, it's ridiculous." "Then give them back to me," said the girl, quietly, with a quaver in her voice. "Give them back to me. Would you rob me?" "I am not robbing you," answered the man, sullenly. "I am taking what you offered me. I shall not give them back. It is impossible for you to make me. You would cry out, would you? What good would that do? Cry out, call for help--do what you like--but think first what will it mean for you. Give them back? Not I! I--" But his speech ended suddenly at this point, for Paul, always quick to action, took quick action now. Moving round the trunk of the tree, he caught the man deftly by the collar of his coat, kicked his heels from under him, and brought him with a heavy crash to the ground. The man lay still. In a second Paul was on his knees beside the prostrate figure. With swift fingers he searched the man's clothing and found a mass of jewels in the breast-pocket of his outer coat. In a twinkling he had them out, and, rising to his feet, he held a heavy string of diamonds towards the girl. "Madam," he cried, "permit me to befriend you. I do not know who you are, but--" His voice trailed away into a little gasp, for the frightened face that stared at him in the moonlight with starting eyes was the face of the lady he was seeking. Paul stood still gazing mutely at the girl and holding out the jewels towards her. When he had recovered from his great surprise he moved a step nearer to her. "Madam," he said, "permit me to insist that you shall take these things back." Without a word she stretched out her hand and took the jewels from him. She hid them quickly in the folds of her cloak, and all the while the expression of amaze and fear on her face did not abate. At last she pointed to the man lying beneath the tree. "You have not killed him?" she asked, in a low voice. For answer, Paul turned again and knelt at the fat man's side. He inserted his hand skilfully over the unconscious man's heart, and then rose to his feet again. "No," he said, almost with a laugh. "Just knocked him out; that is all. He will be all right directly, and I fancy he will be glad to walk away without assistance. I imagine he is not a character who would care for much fuss and attention at this time of the night." Again Paul drew near to the girl and peered gravely and keenly, but at the same time with all deference, into her face.