The Indiscretion of the Duchess / Being a Story Concerning Two Ladies, a Nobleman, and a Necklace

that

Table of

my own business. The impulse that had made the thing done was exhausted in the doing of it. Retreat became my sole object; and, drawing back, I pulled the door after me. But

ightened tones, hastily pressi

for it. I steppe

ed to say

e was great when she sank against the back of the chair with a

come in?" she asked, but rath

upstairs, and-and you s

I'm as bad as a child; but children cry becaus

e going to talk.

rtinent," said I. "You hav

anything? Did you think so this

rribly righteous time with me. I mu

ame still?" she

ving said it," I returned

affair, I supp

d I. I could not endure the deso

d at me c

a fretfully weary tone, "how you

on abruptly: "You thought it wa

, if

aid I stepping up to t

wearily and not in the def

ps, or perhaps the D

resting on the support of her clenched hands; her lids drooped over her eyes; an

about him. Have you been doing some shoppi

or movement. Then she said in answer to my qu

been doing so

t the r

ed long before

he, "is a trif

e bargain?"

con-to bind

llowed t

allowed to you. You would be

al remark at me: I did not mind that; she

may open

ey is

I turned the key of the box. A glance showed me Marie's

ace; one great stone formed a pendent, and it was on this stone that I fixed my regard. I took it up

hese trinke

ger than a thousand words of rapture; and the depths

ing about them," I

ble," said she, making an

conceded, smiling. "But I

t, I suppose-bo

dinal's Necklace. The stones were collected by Cardinal Armand de Saint-Maclou, Archbishop of Caen, some thirty years ago. They were set by Lebeau of

in a most matt

ng to her?" asked Marie, wi

ly, I should think no

d out her hand and bega

e them,

tain

ust been bought." And she

sum to do that-to buy t

w m

rhaps a million francs, perhaps more. You can't

, again fingering the necklace, "to

a pause. Then her eyes suddenly met m

hat it means! What's the

eans," said I. "When h

ow," she

hing?" and I point

dare you ask me

m my seat

her fingers on the necklace,

"to enjoy the friendship of

rbids you to

was about to leave her, when it struck me all in a moment that leaving her was not exa

, "is not our acq

er face in them. It was a strange conclusio

said I, bending a little a

s it to anybody?" came f

other-"

aughed. It was a laugh the like of which I

the house? Why did she run aw

you're doing your be

cked, one may as well be wi

s?" I added, "We

traight in the face. "But wh

ew," said I. But to myself I was

id in a ver

me. Ah! he make

think,"

yone thi

, nonsens

nest woman would have anything to d

say about that;

on't go,

ones, as she answere

He'll be here aga

two," said I. "And do

it seemed to me,

re?" she asked, s

I did care

and by me, if

ded a

se right out. M

brok

er with you: flutters or

smile appeare

stay?" s

ht to have said so, and not stolen c

you'll-you'll stand

the duke would not be in a

do anything I

she looked at me aga

will be b

better no

N

and laid my hand on the box con

asked in a c

to send t

on't w

des, he'll see through it. He'll know that I mean

enture; for, fingering

y handsome of you to g

" she gasped in

ch case she ought to have them; or, if they were the duke's,

m me on-on a

no gentleman could menti

scarlet, but

he ran away rather than meet y

shot into Marie

And stopped, thinking,

delighted with the impression whic

e her, then?" s

duchess' secret was not mine, an

u," said Marie-"to yo

your mother will be back soon. I believe you w

tely. "I don't want to touch them!

chair, dashed down the lid of the box, hiding the glitter of the stones,

duchess?"

ess," said Marie,

the capacious pocket of the sho

rie, pointing

kiss it. So strongly did I think it that, hating fuss of that sort, I made a half-

turn up again soon," sai

he lump in my coat which marked the position of the Cardinal's Necklac

" I murmured though

ieur?" said M

w bow and, I'm afraid, a rather malicious smile. The old lady glared a

errily. My good friend the waiter stood b

reassuringly. And I walked

was soon to find that my knowledge had its limitations. In fact, I have been told more than once since that my plan was a most outrageous one. Perhaps it was; but it had the effect of wresting those dangerous stones from p