was yet in my blood. Exile takes that out of everybody
except your royal uncle of Provence. But I knew in my heart what I would
help do with that mob, if our turn ever came again!"

His dark eyes rested on the red wine as on a pool of blood.

"Sick of the ruin, I leaned out to look in the garden, from a window in
the queen's own apartment. I stepped on a shelf, which appeared fixed
under the window; but it moved, and I found that it could be pushed on
grooves into the wall. There was a cavity made to hold it. It had
concealed two armchairs placed opposite each other, so cunningly that
their paneled sides yet looked a part of the thick wall. I sat down in
one of them, and though the cushion was stiff, I felt something hard
under it."

Monsieur du Plessy glanced around in every direction to satisfy himself
that no ears lurked within hearing.

"Eh, bien! Under the cushion I found the queen's jewel-case!
Diamonds--bags of gold coin--a half circlet of gems!--since the great
necklace was lost such an array had not seen the light in France. The
value must be far above a million francs."

The marquis fixed his eyes on me and said:

"What should I have done with it, Lazarre?"

"It belonged to the royal family," I answered.

"But everything which belonged to the royal family had been confiscated
to the state. I had just seen the belongings of the royal family
trampled as by cattle. First one tyrant and then another rose up to tell
us what we should do, to batten himself off the wretched commonwealth,
and then go to the guillotine before his successor. As a good citizen I
should have turned these jewels and stones and coins over to the state.
But I was acting the part of Jacquot, and as an honest peasant I whipped
them under my blouse and carried them away. In my straits of exile I
never decreased them. And you may take inventory of your property and
claim it when we rise from the table."

My heart came up in my throat. I reached across and caught his hands.

"You believe in me--you believe in me!"

"Do I observe any etiquette with you, Lazarre? This is the second time I
have brought the fact to your notice. I particularly wish you to note
that I do not observe any etiquette with you."

"What does a boy who has been brought up among Indians know about
etiquette! But you accept me, or you could not put the property you have
loyally and at such risk saved for my family, into my hands."

"I don't accept even your uncl