he moment of going out, said: "I will
try to settle the difficulty with the nephew for fifty thousand francs,
eh?"

She replied, with dignity: "No. Give him the hundred thousand francs he
asks. Take them from my share, if you like."

He muttered, shamefacedly: "Oh, no; we will share that. Giving up fifty
thousand francs apiece, there still remains to us a clear million." He
added: "Good-bye, then, for the present, Made." And he went off to
explain to the notary the plan which he asserted had been imagined by
his wife.

They signed the next day a deed of gift of five hundred thousand francs,
which Madeleine Du Roy abandoned to her husband. On leaving the notary's
office, as the day was fine, George suggested that they should walk as
far as the boulevards. He showed himself pleasant and full of attention
and affection. He laughed, pleased at everything, while she remained
thoughtful and somewhat severe.

It was a somewhat cool autumn day. The people in the streets seemed in a
hurry, and walked rapidly. Du Roy led his wife to the front of the shop
in which he had so often gazed at the longed-for chronometer. "Shall I
stand you some jewelry?" said he.

She replied, indifferently: "Just as you like."

They went in, and he asked: "What would you prefer--a necklace, a
bracelet, or a pair of earrings?"

The sight of the trinkets in gold, and precious stones overcame her
studied coolness, and she scanned with kindling and inquisitive eyes the
glass cases filled with jewelry. And, suddenly moved by desire, said:
"That is a very pretty bracelet."

It was a chain of quaint pattern, every link of which had a different
stone set in it.

George inquired: "How much is this bracelet?"

"Three thousand francs, sir," replied the jeweler.

"If you will let me have it for two thousand five hundred, it is a
bargain."

The man hesitated, and then replied: "No, sir; that is impossible."

Du Roy went on: "Come, you can throw in that chronometer for fifteen
hundred; that will make four thousand, which I will pay at once. Is it
agreed? If not, I will go somewhere else."

The jeweler, in a state of perplexity, ended by agreeing, saying: "Very
good, sir."

And the journalist, after giving his address, added: "You will have the
monogram, G. R. C., engraved on the chronometer under a baron's
coronet."

Madeleine, surprised, began to smile, and when they went out, took his
arm with a certain affection. She found him really clever