“For the duchess?” I asked.

“Yes, for the duchess,” said Marie, with, averted eyes.

I took the box, and stowed it in the capacious pocket of the shooting-jacket which I was wearing.

“Go!” said Marie, pointing to the door.

I held out my hand.  She caught it in hers.  Upon my word, I thought she was going to kiss it.  So strongly did I think it that, hating fuss of that sort, I made a half-motion to pull it away.  However, I was wrong.  She merely pressed it and let it drop.

“Cheer up! cheer up!  I’ll turn up again soon,” said I, and I left the room.

And left in the nick of time; for at the very moment when I, hugging the lump in my coat which marked the position of the Cardinal’s Necklace, reached the foot of the stairs Mme. Delhasse appeared on her way up.

“Oh, you old viper!” I murmured thoughtlessly, in English.

“Pardon, monsieur?” said Mme. Delhasse.

“Forgive me:  I spoke to myself—­a foolish habit,” I rejoined, with a low bow and, I’m afraid, a rather malicious smile.  The old lady glared at me, bobbed her head the slightest bit in the world, and passed me by.

I went out into the sunshine, whistling merrily.  My good friend the waiter stood by the door.  His eyes asked me a question.

“She is much better,” I said reassuringly.  And I walked out, still whistling merrily.

In truth I was very pleased with myself.  Every man likes to think that he understands women.  I was under the impression that I had proved myself to possess a thorough and complete acquaintance with that intricate subject.  I 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 poor Marie’s regretful hands.  A man need not mind having made a fool of himself once or twice on his way through the world, so he has done some good by the process.  At the moment, however, I felt no need for any such apology.

CHAPTER IX.

An Unparalleled Insult.

I was thoughtful as I walked across the place in front of the church in the full glare of the afternoon sun.  It was past four o’clock; the town was more lively, as folk, their day’s work finished, came out to take their ease and filled the streets and the cafés.  I felt that I also had done something like a day’s work; but my task was not complete till I had lodged my precious trust safely in the keeping of the duchess.