way she sought the
shop of the jeweler who sold the general the gold bag she had selected.
The proprietor himself was in the front part of the shop and received
"Madame la Generale" with all the honors of her husband's wealth. She
brought no experience and no natural trading talent to the enterprise
she was about to undertake; so she went directly to the main point.

"This bag," said she, laying it upon the glass between them, "I bought
it here a short time ago."

"I remember perfectly, madame. It is the handsomest, the most
artistic, we have sold this year."

"I wish to sell it back to you," said she.

"You wish to get something else and include it as part payment, madame?"

"No, I wish to get the money for it."

"Ah, but that is difficult. We do not often make those arrangements.
Second-hand articles--"

"But the bag is quite new. Anyhow, it must have some value. Of course
I'd not expect the full price."

The jeweler smiled. "The full price? Ah, madame, we should not think
of offering it again as it is. We should--"

"No matter," interrupted Mildred. The man's expression--the normally
pleasant and agreeable countenance turned to repulsive by craft and
lying--made her eager to be gone. "What is the most you will give me?"

"I shall have to consider--"

"I've only a few minutes. Please do not irritate me."

The man was studying her countenance with a desperate look. Why was
she, the bride of the monstrously rich American, why was she trying to
sell the bag? Did it mean the end of her resources? Or, were there
still huge orders to be got from her? His shrewdness, trained by
thirty years of dealing with all kinds of luxurious human beings, went
exploring in vain. He was alarmed by her frown. He began hesitatingly:

"The jewels and the gold are only a small part of the value. The chief
value is the unique design, so elegant yet so simple. For the jewels
and the gold, perhaps two thousand francs--"

"The purse was twelve thousand francs," interrupted she.

"Perfectly, madame. But--" "I am in great haste. How much will you
give me?"

"The most would be four thousand, I fear. I shall count up more
carefully, if madame will--"

"No, four thousand will do."

"I will send the money to madame at her hotel. The Continental, is it
not?"

"No, I must have it at once."

The jeweler hesitated. Mildred, flushing scarlet with shame--but he
luckily thought it anger--took up the bag and mov