, a tress of black hair, a fragment of carnation-ribbon pricked with
pin-holes, a string of small worthless yellow shells, and, threaded with
them, a large pear-shaped pearl of countless price. Even the Chevalier
was touched at the sight of this treasury, resting on the blanched palm
of the thin, trembling hand, and jealously watched by eyes glistening
with sudden moisture, though the lips were firm set. 'Alas! my poor
young cousin,' he said, 'you loved her well.

'Not loved, but love,' muttered Berenger to himself, as if having
recourse to the only cordial that could support him through the present
suffering; and he was closing his fingers again over his precious hoard,
when the Chevalier added, 'Stay! Nephew--that pearl?

'Is one of the chaplet; the token she sent to England,' he answered.

'_Pauvre petite!_ Then, at least a fragment remains of the reward of our
ancestor's courage,' said the Chevalier.

And Berenger did not feel it needful to yield up that still better
possession, stored within his heart, that _la petite_ and her pearls
were safe together. It was less unendurable to produce the leather case
from a secret pocket within his doublet, since, unwilling as he was that
any eye should scan the letters it contained, there was nothing in them
that could give any clue towards tracing her. Nothing had been written
or received since his interview with the children at Lucon. There was,
indeed, Eustacie's letter to his mother, a few received at Paris from
Lord Walwyn, reluctantly consenting to his journey in quest of his
child, his English passport, the unfortunate letters to La Noue; and
what evidently startled the Chevalier more than all the rest, the
copy of the certificate of the ratification of the marriage; but his
consternation was so arranged as to appear to be all on behalf of his
young kinsman. 'This is serious!' he said, striking his forehead; 'you
will be accused of forging the late King's name.

'This is but a copy,' said Berenger, pointing to the heading; 'the
original has been sent with our Ambassador's dispatches to England.

'It is a pity,' said the Chevalier, looking thoroughly vexed, 'that you
should have brought fresh difficulties on yourself for a mere piece
of waste paper to be affected by the validity of your marriage. Dear
cousin,'--he glanced at the officer and lowered his voice,--'let me tear
this paper; it would only do you harm, and the Papal decree annuls it.

'I have given my word