faces had never been put
before my conscious eyes until that moment. Other portraits might have
been there. I had no doubt, no hesitation.

I was on my knees before the face I had seen in spasms of
remembrance--with oval cheeks, and fair hair rolled high--and open
neck--my royal mother!

Next I looked at the king, heavier of feature, honest and straight
gazing, his chin held upward; at the little sister, a smaller miniature
of the queen; at the softly molded curves of the child that was myself!

The marquis turned his back.

Before I could speak I rose and put my arms around him. He wheeled, took
my hand, stood at a little distance, and kissed it.

We said not one word about the portraits, but sat down with the
jewel-case again between us.

"These stones and coins are also my sister's, monsieur the marquis?"

He lifted his eyebrows.

"I had ample opportunity, my dear boy, to turn them into the exchequer
of the Count of Provence. Before his quarrel with the late czar of
Russia he maintained a dozen gentlemen-in-waiting, and perhaps as many
ladies, to say nothing of priests, servants, attendants of attendants,
and guards. This treasure might last him two years. If the king of Spain
and his majesty of Russia got wind of it, and shut off their pensions,
it would not last so long. I am too thrifty a Frenchman to dissipate the
hoards of the state in foreign parts! Yet, if you question my taste--I
will not say my honesty, Lazarre--"

"I question nothing, monsieur! I ask advice."

"Eh, bien! Then do not be quite as punctilious as the gentleman who got
turned out of the debtor side of Ste. Pelagie into an alley. 'This will
not do,' says he. So around he posts to the entrance, and asks for
admittance again!"

"Catch me knocking at Ste. Pelagie for admittance again!"

"Then my advice is to pay your tailor, if he has done his work
acceptably."

"He has done it marvelously, especially in the fitting."

"A Parisian workman finds it no miracle to fit a man from his old
clothes. I took the liberty of sending your orders. Having heard my
little story, you understand that you owe me nothing but your society;
and a careful inventory of this trust."

We were a long time examining the contents of the case. There were six
bags of coin, all gold louis; many unset gems; rings for the hand; and
clusters of various sorts which I knew not how to name, that blazed
with a kind of white fire very dazzling. The half-way crown was