d, "Will you pardon me, M. de Fleury, if I ask an impertinent
question?"

"How could any question from such sovereign lips become other than a
condescension? The queen of beauty commands in advance a reply to the
most difficult problem which she can propound."

Bertha, with an impatient toss of her head, as though the buzz of this
nonsensical verbiage stung her ears, plunged at once into the subject.

"That set of diamonds and emeralds which Madame de Fleury wears to-night
were presented to her by you. Will you have the goodness to tell me from
whence you procured them?"

For M. de Fleury to have given a direct answer, even in relation to such
an apparent trifle, would have been contrary to his nature; besides, it
was one of his rules not to impart information without learning for what
object it was sought.

"You admire them?" he replied, evasively. "I am delighted, I am charmed
with your approval of my taste. I shall think more highly of it forever
after. The setting of the jewels is old-fashioned; but Madame de Fleury
found it so novel that I could not prevail upon her to have it
modernized."

"But you have not told me how the jewels came into your possession."

"Oh, very naturally, very naturally, lovely lady! They were not a fairy
gift; they became mine by the very prosaic transaction of purchase."

Maurice could restrain himself no longer.

"My cousin is particularly desirous of learning through what source you
obtained them. She has an important reason for her inquiry."

This explanation only placed the marquis more upon his guard.

"Ah, your captivating cousin thinks they look as though they had a
history? Yes, yes; jewels of that kind generally have. Does the design
strike you as remarkable, Mademoiselle de Merrivale?"

"Very remarkable,--and I have seen it before. I could not forget it. I
wished to know"--

Dinner was announced at that moment, and the Duke de Montauban came
forward and offered his arm to Bertha.

M. de Fleury, with lavish apologies for the interruption of a
conversation which he pronounced delightful, begged the Marquis de
Merrivale to give his arm to Madame de Fleury, named to Maurice a young
lady whom he would have the goodness to conduct, glided about the room
to give similar instructions to other gentlemen, and, selecting an
elderly lady, who was evidently a person of distinction, led the way to
the dining-room.

Maurice stood still, looking perplexed and abstracted, and q