eyes. Even Saint Simon, that priggish little duke of ours,
tells me that France should have this stone, that it is a dignity which
should not be allowed to pass away from her. But how can France,
bankrupt as she is, afford a little trifle which costs three million
francs? Three million francs, when we can not pay eighty millions annual
interest on our debts!"

"'Tis as you say, somewhat expensive," said Law.

"Naturally, for I say to you that this stone had never parallel in the
history of the world. It seems that this overseer in the Golconda mines
got possession of it in some fashion, and escaped to Europe, hiding the
stone about his person. It has been shown in different parts of Europe,
but no one yet has been able to meet the price of this extortioner who
owns it."

"And yet, as Saint Simon says, there is no dignity too great for the
throne of France."

"Yet, meantime, the king will have no use for it for several years to
come. There is the Sancy stone--"

"And, as your Grace remembers, this new stone would look excellent well
upon a woman?" said Law. He gazed, calm and unsmiling, directly into the
eyes of Philippe of Orleans.

"Monsieur L'as, you have the second sight!" cried the latter,
unblushingly. "You have genius. May God strike me blind if ever I have
seen a keener mind than thine!"

"All warm blood is akin," replied John Law. "This stone is perhaps for
your Grace's best beloved?"

"Eh--ah--which? As you know--"

"Ah! Perhaps for La Parabere. Richly enough she deserves it."

"Ah, Monsieur L'as, even your mind is at fault now," cried the regent,
shaking his finger exultingly. "I covet this new stone, not for Parabere
nor for any one of those dear friends whom you might name, and whom you
may upon occasion have met at some of my little suppers. It is for
another, whose name or nature you can not guess."

"Not that mysterious beauty of whom rumor goes about this week, the
woman rated surpassing fair, who has lately come into the acquaintance
of your Grace, and whom your Grace has concealed as jealously as though
he feared to lose her by some highway robbery?"

"It is the same, I must admit!"

Law remained thoughtful for a time. "I make no doubt that the Hebrew
would take two million francs for this stone," said he.

"Perhaps, but two millions is the same as three millions," said
Philippe. "The question is, where to get two millions."

"As your Grace has said, I have been somewhat fortunate at