"I made a false step there; but it was just like me to bungle,"
continued Gaston. "I knew that the Jew, Henriques, often had
transactions with the Marquis de Fleury. I took the diamonds to another
Jew from whom I concealed my name, and suggested his taking them to
Henriques, hinting that the marquis would probably become their
purchaser. The marquis is a _connoisseur_ of jewels; and, as you are
aware, at once secured them. The sum realized was sufficient to supply
the simple wants of Mademoiselle Madeleine for years. But this did not
satisfy her,--her plan was to work. When she heard that the diamonds
were in M. de Fleury's possession, she embroidered a robe upon which the
lilies and shamrock were closely imitated, and took her work to Vignon,
Madame de Fleury's dressmaker. Vignon was amazed at the great skill and
taste displayed in the design and execution, and offered to give the
embroiderer as much employment as she desired. Madame de Fleury being
the most influential of Vignon's patrons, the dress was exhibited to
her. She was at once struck and charmed by the coincidence that allowed
her to become the possessor of a dress upon which the exact design of
her new jewels had been imitated. She asked a thousand questions of
Vignon, who gladly monopolized all the credit of inventing this novel
pattern. From that moment Mademoiselle Madeleine's 'fairy fingers'
commenced their marvels under the celebrated _couturiere's_ direction,
and Vignon daily congratulated herself upon the mysterious treasure she
had discovered. Mademoiselle Madeleine now determined to remain in Paris
incognita. She worked night and day, scarcely allowing herself needful
rest; but, alas! she worked with a ceaseless heartache,--a heartache on
your account, Maurice, for she knew how wildly you were searching for
her; and when you fell ill"--

Maurice interrupted him: "It was she who watched beside me at night! I
knew it! I have always been convinced of it. Was I not right?"

"I was bound not to tell you, but there can be no need of concealment
now. Yes, you _are_ right. When the _soeur de bon secours_ we had
engaged to take care of you during the day, left, and would have been
replaced, according to the usual custom, by another to watch through the
night, we told her no watcher was needed before morning. Mademoiselle
Madeleine made herself a garb resembling that worn by the sisterhood;
and, every night, when the good sister we had hired left, Mademoise