ke.

"Oh, well, I expect they'd be happier out of the house," said
Guerchard. He looked at the Duke again with inquiring, searching eyes.

"What's the matter?" said the Duke. "IS my tie crooked?"

"Oh, no, no; it's quite straight, your Grace," said Guerchard, but he
did not take his eyes from the Duke's face.

The door opened, and in came M. Gournay-Martin, holding a bag in his
hand. "It seems to be settled that I'm never to sleep in my own house
again," he said in a grumbling tone.

"There's no reason to go," said the Duke. "Why ARE you going?"

"Danger," said M. Gournay-Martin. "You read Lupin's telegram: 'I shall
come to-night between a quarter to twelve and midnight to take the
coronet.' He knows that it was in my bedroom. Do you think I'm going to
sleep in that room with the chance of that scoundrel turning up and
cutting my throat?"

"Oh. you can have a dozen policemen in the room if you like," said the
Duke. "Can't he, M. Guerchard?"

"Certainly," said Guerchard. "I can answer for it that you will be in
no danger, M. Gournay-Martin."

"Thank you," said the millionaire. "But all the same, outside is good
enough for me."

Germaine came into the room, cloaked and ready to start.

"For once in a way you are ready first, papa," she said. "Are you
coming, Jacques?"

"No; I think I'll stay here, on the chance that Lupin is not bluffing,"
said the Duke. "I don't think, myself, that I'm going to be gladdened
by the sight of him--in fact, I'm ready to bet against it. But you're
all so certain about it that I really must stay on the chance. And,
after all, there's no doubt that he's a man of immense audacity and
ready to take any risk."

"Well, at any rate, if he does come he won't find the diadem," said M.
Gournay-Martin, in a tone of triumph. "I'm taking it with me--I've got
it here." And he held up his bag.

"You are?" said the Duke.

"Yes, I am," said M. Gournay-Martin firmly.

"Do you think it's wise?" said the Duke.

"Why not?" said M. Gournay-Martin.

"If Lupin's really made up his mind to collar that coronet, and if
you're so sure that, in spite of all these safeguards, he's going to
make the attempt, it seems to me that you're taking a considerable
risk. He asked you to have it ready for him in your bedroom. He didn't
say which bedroom."

"Good Lord! I never thought of that!" said M. Gournay-Martin, with an
air of sudden and very lively alarm.

"His Grace is right," said Guerchard. "It wo