She paused dramatically. Maxwell-Pitt felt that something was demanded of him, and hastened to murmur some words of sympathy, but she did not listen. "Then I took a place again as lady's maid," she went on. "There was trouble over some jewels. They blamed me. Bah! I was innocent. But they say 'No,' and 'You go at once,' and 'No character.' So I am alone in England, with no money and _mon mari_ gone. I come here, and I think this lady so kind to take me without a character written. Then I find the ones who have the characters written will not stay with her--not one month--so that is why she takes me. She is black slave-driver, and her temper--_mon Dieu_, it is dis-graceful! It is a horrible time here. Then there is Alphonse, who is waiter at the Élysée Palace, who wants me to marry him and assist him to found a restaurant, and I must continually tell him 'Wait.' "When I see you, Mr. Jones, I see my way to escape from it all. It came at one jump--the thought, 'I will help him, and he will give me fifty gold sovereigns, and I shall go to Belgium at once. My 'usband is either dead, or I find him and tell him what I think of him, and get a divorce, and then return and marry the good Alphonse, who adores me.' So you see that I am no common thief. Bah! As for madame's jewellery, _ça ne fait rien_. She is rich. I shall be glad to have annoyed her. But at once I tell you, you shall not have the Victoria Medal. That is not to be. Captain Richards is the only man in this miserable country who has been kind to me. And he is a brave soldier. I shall not permit that you annoy him." "I promise to return it." "Then for why do you take it?" "That is my affair. I will bring the fifty pounds to-morrow night, but I must have the cross whether you help me to get it or not. Where does he keep it?" "Keep it? _Attendez._ Oh, I know. In the strong box locked in his bedroom. He is a man to shoot certain, and he always has his pistol to hand. You will give me the money instantly you are in the 'ouse, for if you go upstairs you will be a dead man at once. I tell you so myself." "That is an extremely unpleasant prospect. I must see my lawyer--my _notaire_, mademoiselle--in the morning, and arrange my affairs. Which window will you unlatch for me?" "The one at the front, the nearest to where you stood when I saw you. If you will come at one o'clock I will be in the room with the beautiful pearls. Now I must fly. _Bon soir, cher_ Mr. Jones."