us risks by accompanying her! Reassure yourself on that
point!..."

But Sonia Danidoff was not reassured by Thomery's arguments.

"All that only frightens me!" said she.... "If you do not really think
you are running any risk, will you let me go with you?... My dear, we
will go together to identify those pearls, will we not?"

Thomery rose to take his leave, laughing and protesting.

"Why, dear Sonia, it would be in the highest degree improper on my part,
were I to agree to such a proposition!... One of two things: either
there is no danger, and I should be very sorry that I had let you go out
in such shocking weather; or, if there is danger, I should be still
more distressed were I to drag you into it with me.... I do beg of you,
Sonia, do not insist on it.... I am not a child!... And I will be very
careful--very wary!..."

* * * * *

Shortly after this, Thomery took leave of Sonia Danidoff. He went
straight to the Cafe de la Paix, where he had arranged to meet the
diamond broker....

She was punctual. She greeted Thomery with her most winning smile.

"I am persuaded, monsieur, that Madame Sonia Danidoff was interested by
the offer you made her?"

"Quite so," replied Thomery.... "Should we go to your jeweller's,
without further loss of time?"

"If you really wish to do so, monsieur! Indeed it would be the best
thing to do...."

Thomery hailed a cab. He and the diamond agent entered it together, and
she gave the driver an address. Twenty minutes later they left the cab
and were standing before the house where the present possessor of the
pearls was to be found. Thomery knew no more now about the person he had
come to interview, than he did when he started: that is to say,
practically nothing.

The diamond broker had cleverly evaded giving any direct answers to the
sugar refiner's questions: she had confined herself to stating what
would be the probable price demanded for the pearl collar--which
question interested Thomery least of all!

They mounted, in single file, a rather poor sort of staircase: on the
second floor the woman stopped. A narrow door faced them.... The woman
rang.... They waited....

"Someone is coming!" said the woman. "I hear footsteps."

The door was opened half-way.

"Who is it?" asked a man's voice.

"I, dear friend," answered the woman.

The door opened wide: the same voice said:

"Come in, monsieur."

Thomery had barely stepped inside the