ls," said Maurice. "You have, perhaps, heard the name of
Mademoiselle Madeleine de Gramont, my cousin on my father's side. Some
six weeks ago she suddenly left the Chateau de Gramont, and has not
communicated with her family since. Those jewels were hers. She must
have sold them. We are exceedingly anxious to discover her present
residence and induce her to return to my grandmother's protection. If
you could inform me from whence the jewels came, it would facilitate my
search."

The marquis had no definite motive for concealment beyond the dictates
of his habitual caution. This explanation satisfied him in regard to the
reasons which prompted inquiry; and being desirous of getting rid of
Maurice, and of resuming the conversation he had interrupted, replied,
with an assumption of cordiality,--

"It gives me great pleasure to be the medium of rendering the slightest
service to your illustrious family. Those diamonds were brought to me by
the Jew Henriques, from whom I now and then make purchases. I did not
inquire in what manner they came into his possession; but, not intending
to be cheated as to their precise worth, I had them taken to Kramer, in
the Rue Neuve St. Augustin, and a value placed upon them. I paid
Henriques the price those trustworthy jewellers suggested, instead of
the exorbitant one he demanded. This is all the information I am able to
afford you on the subject."

"May I beg you to favor me with the address of this Henriques?"

"Certainly, certainly, with pleasure; but I warn you that you will not
get much out of him. He is the closest Israelite imaginable; and a
golden ointment is the only '_open sesame_' to his lips."

M. de Fleury wrote Henriques' street and number on his card, and handed
it to Maurice.

Meantime Gaston de Bois, in spite of the pertinacious attentions of the
Duke de Montauban, had approached Bertha, and would have drawn her into
conversation had she not exultingly communicated to him the discovery
she had made concerning Madeleine's jewels. Was it the sudden mention of
that name which threw M. de Bois into a state of almost uncontrollable
agitation? Why did he flush, and stammer, and try to change the subject,
and, stumbling with suppressed groans over his words, as though they had
been sharp rocks, talk such unmitigated nonsense? Why did he so soon
steal away from Bertha's side? Why did he not approach her again for the
rest of the evening? Could it be that her first suspicion w