At the word, a light foot pattered along a stone floor within, and in a moment a little woman stood in an arch raised by two steps from our own level. Carrying a candle, she descended and tripped toward him. She was not pretty, but sprightly and keen, as the perpetual attrition of life must needs make her, and wore the everlasting grisette costume, which displays the neatest of ankles, and whose cap is more becoming than wreaths of garden millinery. I am too minute, I see, but it is second nature. The two commenced a vigorous whispering amid sundry gestures and glances. Suddenly the woman turned, and, laying the prettiest of little hands on my sleeve, said, with a winning smile,-- "Is it a crime of _lèse-majesté_?" This was a new idea, but might be useful. "Not yet," I said; "two minutes more, and I will not answer for the consequence." Other whispers ensued. "Monsieur," said the man, leaning on one arm over the counter, and looking up in my face, with the most engaging frankness,--"it is true that I have such a diamond; but it is not mine. It is left with me to be delivered to the Baron Stahl, who comes as an agent from his court for its purchase." "Yes,--I know." "He was to have paid me half a million francs,--not half its worth,--in trust for the person who left it, who is not M. Arthur Ulster, but Mme. de St. Cyr." Madame de St. Cyr! How under the sun----No,--it could not be possible. The case stood as it stood before. The rogue was in deeper water than I had thought; he had merely employed Mme. de St. Cyr. I ran this over in my mind, while I said, "Yes." "Now, Sir," I continued, "you will state the terms of this transaction." "With pleasure. For my trouble I was myself to receive patronage and five thousand francs. The Baron is to be here directly, on other and public business. _Reine du ciel_, Monsieur! how shall I meet him?" "He is powerless in Paris; your fear is idle." "True. There were no other terms." "Nor papers?" "The lady thought it safest to be without them. She took merely my receipt, which the Baron Stahl will bring to me from her before receiving this." "I will trouble you for it now." He bowed and shuffled away. At a glance from me, the _gendarme_ slipped to the rear of the building, where three others were stationed at the two exits in that direction, to caution them of the critical moment, and returned. Ten minutes passed,--the merchant did not appear. If, after all, he had made off with it! There had been the click of a bolt, the half-stifled rattle of arms, as if a door had been opened and rapidly closed again, but nothing more. "I will see what detains my friend," said Mademoiselle, the little woman. We suffered her to withdraw. In a moment more a quick expostulation was to be heard.