replied Cleek, with a deeply deferential bow and with an
accent that seemed born of Paris, "madame, that is what I mean to do, I
assure you."

"Ah, do you?" she answered, with a scream of laughter. "You hear that,
Clopin? You hear that, my good servitors? This silly French noodle is
going to get the things in spite of us. Oho, but you have a fine opinion
of yourself, monsieur. You need work fast, too, pretty boaster, I can
tell you. For the royal jewellers will require the Rainbow Pearl very
soon to fix it in its place in the crown for the coronation ceremony,
and if that thing his Majesty holds is offered to them, how long, think
you, will it be before all Mauravania knows that it is an imitation?
Look you," waxing suddenly vicious, "I'll make it shorter still, the
time you have to strive. Monsieur le Comte, take this message to his
Majesty from me: If in three days he does not promise to accede to my
demands and give me a public proof of it over his royal seal, I leave
Mauravania--the pearl and letter leave with me, and they shall not come
back until I return with them for the coronation."

"For the love of God, madame," said the Count, "don't make it harder
still. Oh, wait, wait, I beseech you!"

"Not an hour longer than I have now said!" she flung back at him. "I
have waited until I am tired of it, and my patience is worn out. Three
days, Count; three days, monsieur with the puppy dog; three days, and
not an instant longer, do you hear?"

"Quite enough, madame," replied Cleek, with a courtly bow, "I promise to
have them in two!"

She threw back her head and fairly shook with laughter.

"Of a truth, monsieur, you are a candid boaster!" she cried. "Look you,
my good fellows, and you too, my poor dumb Clopin, pretty monsieur here
will have the letter and the pearl in two days' time. Look to it that he
never leaves this house at any minute from this time forth that you do
not search him from top to toe. If he resists--ah, well, a pistol may go
off accidentally, and things that Mauravania's king would give his life
to keep hidden will come to light if any charge of murder is preferred.
Monsieur the police spy, I wish you joy of your task."

"Madame, I shall take joy in it," Cleek replied. "But why should we talk
of unpleasant things when the future looks so bright? Come, may we not
give ourselves a pleasant evening? Look, there is a piano, and--Count,
hold my puppy for me, and please see that no one feeds him at