you, Miss Valerie!" replied Lionel. "I only hope
the time may arrive when I may be able to prove my gratitude."

Lionel kissed my hand, and the tears rolled down his cheeks as he
quitted the room.

"He is a charming young man," said Madame Gironac, as soon as the door
was shut.

"He is a very superior young man in my opinion," replied I; "and I am
most anxious that he should do well. I did not think it possible that I
ever could have written again to Madame d'Albret, but my good-will
towards him induced me. There is Monsieur Gironac's knock, so now for a
quarrel, or a reconciliation, which is it to be?"

"Oh, we must reconcile first, and then have a quarrel afterwards: that
is the established rule."

Monsieur Gironac soon joined us. We passed a very lively evening, and
it was arranged that I should in three days take up my quarters at their
house.

The next day Mr Selwyn called at the time appointed, and I made over to
him the box and papers. He told me that he had seen Mrs Green, and had
had her full confession of what took place, in corroboration of all that
was stated by Lady R--and old Roberts, and that he had written to Mr
Armiger Dempster, who had succeeded to the property of Lionel's father.

I then told him that I wished to go with him to the bank, to lodge the
money I then had, and to obtain Lady R--'s jewel-case which was
deposited there.

"Nothing like the time present," said Mr Selwyn; "my carriage is at the
door. I will have the pleasure of taking you there and then returning
with you. But I have another appointment, and must be so impolite as to
request that you will hurry your toilet as much as possible."

This was done, and in an hour I had lodged my money and obtained the
jewel-case.

Mr Selwyn took me back again, and, having put the tin box into the
carriage, wished me farewell.

I told him that I was about to take up my residence with the Gironacs,
gave him their address, and then we parted.

That evening I opened the jewel-case and found it well stocked. The
value of its contents I could not possibly be acquainted with, but that
so many diamonds and other stones were of value I knew well. I placed
the other caskets of Lady R--in the case, and then proceeded to make up
my packages ready for transportation to Madame Gironac's, for there were
a great many trunks full. I occupied myself with this for the remainder
of the time that I was in Baker Street, and when Monsieur Gironac