“Very well, the remainder you will dispose of among private individuals. For the present, make me out a contract of sale, payment to be made in four days.” “I entreat you to reflect, madame; for if you force the sale, you will lose a hundred thousand francs.” “If necessary, I will lose two hundred; I wish everything to be settled this evening. Do you accept?” “I do, your ladyship. I will not conceal from you that I shall make fifty thousand francs by the transaction.” “So much the better for you. In what way shall I have the money?” “Either in gold, or in bills of the bank of Lyons, payable at M. Colbert’s.” “I agree,” said the marquise, eagerly; “return home and bring the sum in question in notes, as soon as possible.” “Yes, madame, but for Heaven’s sake--” “Not a word, M. Faucheux. By the by, I was forgetting the silver plate. What is the value of that which I have?” “Fifty thousand francs, madame.” “That makes a million,” said the marquise to herself. “M. Faucheux, you will take away with you both the gold and silver plate. I can assign, as a pretext, that I wish it remodeled on patters more in accordance with my own taste. Melt it down, and return me its value in money, at once.” “It shall be done, your ladyship.” “You will be good enough to place the money in a chest, and direct one of your clerks to accompany the chest, and without my servants seeing him; and order him to wait for me in a carriage.” “In Madame de Faucheux’s carriage?” said the jeweler. “If you will allow it, and I will call for it at your house.” “Certainly, your ladyship.”