"Monsieur doubts me?" he asked, with a rueful face,--"questions my word, which is incontrovertible?" Here he clapped his hand upon a _couteau-de-chasse_ lying near, but, appearing to think better of it, drew himself up, and, with a shower of nods flung at me, added, "I deny your accusation!" I had not accused him. "You are at too much pains to convict yourself. I charge you with nothing," I said. "But this diamond must be surrendered." "Monsieur is mad!" he exclaimed, "mad! he dreams! Do I look like one who possesses such a trophy? Does my shop resemble a mine? Look about! See! All that is here would not bring a hundredth part of its price. I beseech Monsieur to believe me; he has mistaken the number, or has been misinformed." "We waste words. I know this diamond is here, as well as a costly chain"-- "On my soul, on my life, on my honor," he cried, clasping his hands and turning up his eyes, "there is here nothing of the kind. I do not deal in gems. A little silk, a few weapons, a curiosity, a nicknack, comprise my stock. I have not the diamond. I do not know the thing. I am poor. I am honest. Suspicion destroys me!" "As you will find, should I be longer troubled by your denials." He was inflexible, and, having exhausted every artifice of innocence, wiped the tears from his eyes,--oh, these French! life is their theatre,--and remained quiet. It was getting dark. There was no gas in the place; but in the pause a distant street-lamp swung its light dimly round. "Unless one desires to purchase, allow me to say that it is my hour for closing," he remarked, blandly, rubbing his black-bearded chin. "My time is valuable," I returned. "It is late and dark. When your shop-boy lights up"---- "Pardon,--we do not light." "Permit me, then, to perform that office for you. In this blaze you may perceive my companions, whom you have not appeared to recognize." So saying, I scratched a match upon the floor, and, as the _sergent-de-ville_ and the _gendarme_ advanced, threw the light of the blue spirt of sulphurous flame upon them. In a moment more the match went out, and we remained in the demi-twilight of the distant lantern. The _marchand des armures_ stood petrified and aghast. Had he seen the imps of Satan in that instant, it could have had no greater effect. "You have seen them?" I asked. "I regret to inconvenience you; but unless this diamond is produced at once, my friends will put their seal on your goods, your property will be confiscated, yourself in a dungeon. In other words, I allow you five minutes; at the close of that time you will have chosen between restitution and ruin." He remained apparently lost in thought. He was a big, stout man, and with one blow of his powerful fist could easily have settled me. It was the last thing in his mind. At length he lifted his head,--"Rosalie!" he called.