She did not thank me; she looked at me again. Then she observed. "My mother will be back soon." "And I had better not be here?" "No." I advanced to the table again, and laid my hand on the box containing the Cardinal's necklace. "And this?" I asked in a careless tone. "Ought I to send them back?" "You don't want to?" "What's the use of saying I do? I love them. Besides, he'll see through it. He'll know that I mean I won't come. I daren't--I daren't show him that!" Then I made a little venture; for, fingering the box idly, I said: "It would be uncommonly handsome of you to give 'em to the duchess." "To the duchess?" she gasped in wondering tones. "You see," I remarked, "either they are the duchess', in which case she ought to have them; or, if they were the duke's, they're yours now; and you can do what you like with them." "He gave them me on--on a condition." "A condition," said I, "no gentleman could mention, and no law enforce." She blushed scarlet, but sat silent. "Revenge is sweet," said I. "She ran away rather than meet you. You send her her diamonds!" A sudden gleam shot into Marie Delhasse's eyes. "Yes," she said, "yes." And stopped, thinking, with her hands clasped. "You send them by me," I pursued, delighted with the impression which my suggestion had made upon her. "By you? You see her, then?" she asked quickly. "Occasionally," I answered. The duchess' secret was not mine, and I did not say where I saw her. "I'll give them to you," said Marie--"to you, not to the duchess." "I won't have 'em at any price," said I. "Come, your mother will be back soon. I believe you want to keep 'em." And I assumed a disgusted air. "I don't!" she flashed out passionately. "I don't want to touch them! I wouldn't keep them for the world!" I looked at my watch. With a swift motion, Marie Delhasse leaped from her chair, dashed down the lid of the box, hiding the glitter of the stones, seized the box in her two hands and with eyes averted held it out to me. "For the duchess?" I asked. "Yes, for the duchess," said Marie, with, averted eyes. I took the box, and stowed it in the capacious pocket of the shooting-jacket which I was wearing. "Go!" said Marie, pointing to the door. I held out my hand. She caught it in hers. Upon my word, I thought she was going to kiss it. So strongly did I think it that, hating fuss of that sort, I made a half-motion to pull it away. However, I was wrong. She merely pressed it and let it drop. "Cheer up! cheer up! I'll turn up again soon," said I, and I left the room. And left in the nick of time; for at the very moment when I, hugging the lump in my coat which marked the position of the Cardinal's Necklace, reached the foot of the stairs Mme. Delhasse appeared on her way up. "Oh, you old viper!" I murmured thoughtlessly, in English. "Pardon, monsieur?" said Mme. Delhasse.