ey balas-rubies, madame?"

"Here they are."

"They are beautiful--magnificent. I did not know your ladyship had these
stones."

"What is their value?"

"Two hundred thousand francs. The center one is alone worth a hundred
thousand."

"I thought so," said the marquise. "As for diamonds, I have them in
numbers; rings, necklaces, sprigs, ear-rings, clasps. Tell me their
value, M. Faucheux."

The jeweler took his magnifying-glass and scales, weighed and inspected
them, and silently made his calculations. "These stones," he said, "must
have cost your ladyship an income of forty thousand francs."

"You value them at eight hundred thousand francs?"

"Nearly so."

"It is about what I imagined--but the settings are not included?"

"No, madame; but if I were called upon to sell or to buy, I should be
satisfied with the gold of the settings alone as my profit upon the
transaction. I should make a good twenty-five thousand francs."

"An agreeable sum."

"Very much so, madame."

"Will you then accept that profit, then, on condition of converting the
jewels into money?"

"But you do not intend to sell you diamonds, I suppose, madame?"
exclaimed the bewildered jeweler.

"Silence, M. Faucheux, do not disturb yourself about that; give me an
answer simply. You are an honorable man, with whom my family has dealt
for thirty years; you knew my father and mother, whom your own father
and mother served. I address you as a friend; will you accept the gold
of the settings in return for a sum of ready money to be placed in my
hands?"

"Eight hundred thousand francs! it is enormous."

"I know it."

"Impossible to find."

"Not so."

"But reflect, madame, upon the effect which will be produced by the sale
of your jewels."

"No one need know it. You can get sets of false jewels made for me,
similar to the real. Do not answer a word; I insist upon it. Sell them
separately, sell the stones only."

"In that way it is easy. Monsieur is looking out for some sets of
jewels as well as single stones for Madame's toilette. There will be
a competition for them. I can easily dispose of six hundred thousand
francs' worth to Monsieur. I am certain yours are the most beautiful."

"When can you do so?"

"In less than three days' time."

"Very well, the remainder you will dispose of among private individuals.
For the present, make me out a contract of sale, payment to be made in
four days."

"I entreat you to reflect, madame; f