evening of the day following the Gala, feeling
that her luck had not altogether deserted her.

One conversation with Citizen Chauvelin had brought the fickle jade
back to Demoiselle Candeilles' service. Nay, more, the young actress
saw before her visions of intrigue, of dramatic situations, of pleasant
little bits of revenge;--all of which was meat and drink and air to
breathe for Mademoiselle Desiree.

She was to sing in one of the most fashionable salons in England: that
was very pleasant. The Prince of Wales would hear and see her! that
opened out a vista of delightful possibilities! And all she had to do
was to act a part dictated to her by Citizen Chauvelin, to behave as
he directed, to move in the way he wished! Well! that was easy enough,
since the part which she would have to play was one peculiarly suited to
her talents.

She looked at herself critically in the glass. Her maid Fanchon--a
little French waif picked up in the slums of Soho--helped to readjust a
stray curl which had rebelled against the comb.

"Now for the necklace, Mademoiselle," said Fanchon with suppressed
excitement.

It had just arrived by messenger: a large morocco case, which now lay
open on the dressing table, displaying its dazzling contents.

Candeille scarcely dared to touch it, and yet it was for her. Citizen
Chauvelin had sent a note with it.

"Citizeness Candeille will please accept this gift from the government
of France in acknowledgment of useful services past and to come."

The note was signed with Robespierre's own name, followed by that of
Citizen Chauvelin. The morocco case contained a necklace of diamonds
worth the ransom of a king.

"For useful services past and to come!" and there were promises of still
further rewards, a complete pardon for all defalcations, a place
within the charmed circle of the Comedie Francaise, a grand pageant
and apotheosis with Citizeness Candeille impersonating the Goddess of
Reason, in the midst of a grand national fete, and the acclamations of
excited Paris: and all in exchange for the enactment of a part--simple
and easy--outlined for her by Chauvelin!...

How strange! how inexplicable! Candeille took the necklace up in her
trembling fingers and gazed musingly at the priceless gems. She had seen
the jewels before, long, long ago! round the neck of the Duchesse de
Marny, in whose service her own mother had been. She--as a child--had
often gazed at and admired the great lady, who seem