“What are they worth?” “Mounted?” “No; supposing I wished to sell them.” “I know very well who would buy them,” exclaimed M. Faucheux. “That is the very thing I ask. They could be sold, then?” “All your jewels could be sold, madame. It is well known that you possess the most beautiful jewels in Paris. You are not changeable in your tastes; when you make a purchase it is of the very best; and what you purchase you do not part with.” “What could these emeralds be sold for, then?” “A hundred and thirty thousand francs.” The marquise wrote down upon her tablets the amount which the jeweler mentioned. “The ruby necklace?” she said. “Are they balas-rubies, madame?” “Here they are.” “They are beautiful--magnificent. I did not know your ladyship had these stones.” “What is their value?” “Two hundred thousand francs. The center one is alone worth a hundred thousand.” “I thought so,” said the marquise. “As for diamonds, I have them in numbers; rings, necklaces, sprigs, ear-rings, clasps. Tell me their value, M. Faucheux.” The jeweler took his magnifying-glass and scales, weighed and inspected them, and silently made his calculations. “These stones,” he said, “must have cost your ladyship an income of forty thousand francs.” “You value them at eight hundred thousand francs?” “Nearly so.” “It is about what I imagined--but the settings are not included?” “No, madame; but if I were called upon to sell or to buy, I should be satisfied with the gold of the settings alone as my profit upon the transaction. I should make a good twenty-five thousand francs.” “An agreeable sum.” “Very much so, madame.” “Will you then accept that profit, then, on condition of converting the jewels into money?” “But you do not intend to sell you diamonds, I suppose, madame?” exclaimed the bewildered jeweler. “Silence, M. Faucheux, do not disturb yourself about that; give me an answer simply. You are an honorable man, with whom my family has dealt for thirty years; you knew my father and mother, whom your own father and mother served. I address you as a friend; will you accept the gold of the settings in return for a sum of ready money to be placed in my hands?” “Eight hundred thousand francs! it is enormous.” “I know it.” “Impossible to find.” “Not so.” “But reflect, madame, upon the effect which will be produced by the sale of your jewels.” “No one need know it. You can get sets of false jewels made for me, similar to the real. Do not answer a word; I insist upon it. Sell them separately, sell the stones only.” “In that way it is easy. Monsieur is looking out for some sets of jewels as well as single stones for Madame’s toilette. There will be a competition for them. I can easily dispose of six hundred thousand francs’ worth to Monsieur. I am certain yours are the most beautiful.” “When can you do so?” “In less than three days’ time.”