what the French term "_chiffons_" is the most important interest of a
woman's life, he consoled himself with the reflection that Mademoiselle
de Merrivale was deeply engrossed by a contemplation of Madame de
Fleury's elaborate toilet, and that her absent manner had this very
feminine, reasonable, and altogether to be tolerated apology.

When Madame de Fleury and her guests swept back into the drawing-room,
Monsieur de Fleury and the grand chamberlain were again closely engaged
in some political battle. Maurice, after waiting impatiently for a
favorable moment when he might come between the wordy belligerents,
whispered to Ronald,--

"I am tortured to death! I shall never get an opportunity to ask the
marquis about those jewels. My cousin was questioning him on the subject
when dinner was announced; but he seemed to treat her inquiries as of so
little importance that she was quite baffled in obtaining information."

"Why not attack him in a straightforward manner?" answered the positive
young American. "Walk up to him and ask plainly for a few moments'
private conversation. Give him the reason of your inquiries, and demand
an answer. Bring him to the point without any fancy fencing about the
subject."

"I fear it will look very strange," replied Maurice, hesitating.

"What matter? Are you afraid of _looking strange_ when you have a worthy
object to accomplish? The information you need is of more importance
than mere looks. It thoroughly amazes me to see the awe in which a
genuine Parisian is held by the dread of appearing singular! One would
imagine that all originality was felony, and that to catch the same
key-note of voice, to move with the exact motion, and tread in the
precise footprints in which every one else speaks, moves, walks, was the
only evidence of honesty. What is a man's individuality worth, if it is
to be trodden out in the treadmill tramp of senseless conventionality?"

Maurice glanced at his friend admiringly. He had observed on more than
one occasion that although Ronald was thoroughly versed in all the
nicest rules of etiquette, he had a way of breaking through them at his
pleasure, and always so gracefully that his waiving of ceremony could
never be set down to ignorance or ill-breeding.

The viscount literally, and without delay, followed his friend's advice,
and soon succeeded in drawing M. de Fleury aside.

"Permit me to explain to you Mademoiselle de Merrivale's anxiety about
those jewe