“Hopeless cases are my delight, madame.  Believe me, I shall not fail.”

“Only three days, remember, cher ami—­only three days!”

“Madame is too kind.  I have said it:  two will do.  On the morning of the third madame’s passport will be ready and the Rainbow Pearl be in the royal jeweller’s hands.  A thousand pleasant dreams—­bon soir!” And bowed her out and kissed his hand to her as she went up the stairs to bed.

III

Thrice during the next twenty-four hours Cleek, who seemed to have become so attached to the mongrel dog that he kept it under his arm continually, had reason to leave the house, and thrice was he seized by madame’s henchmen, bundled unceremoniously into a convenient room, and searched to the very skin before he was suffered to pass beyond the threshold.  And if so much as a pin had been hidden upon his person, it must have been discovered.

“You see, monsieur, how hopeless it is!” said the Count despairfully.  “One dare not rebel:  one dare not lift a finger, or the woman speaks and his Majesty’s ruin falls.  Oh, the madness of that boast of yours!  Only another twenty-four hours—­only another day—­and then God help his Majesty!”

“God has helped him a great deal better than he deserves, Count,” replied Cleek.  “By to-morrow night at ten o’clock be in the square of the Aquisola, please.  Bring with you the passports of madame and her companions, also a detachment of the Royal Guard, and his Majesty’s cheque for the reward I am to receive.”

“Monsieur!  You really hope to get the things?  You really do?”

“Oh, I do more than ‘hope,’ Count—­I have succeeded.  I knew last night where both pearl and letter were.  To-morrow night—­ah, well, let to-morrow tell its own tale.  Only be in the square at the hour I mention, and when I lift a lighted candle and pass it across the salon window, send the guard here with the passports.  Let them remain outside—­within sight, but not within range of hearing what is said and done.  You are alone to enter—­remember that.”

“To receive the jewel and the letter?” eagerly.  “Or, at least, to have you point out the hiding-place of them?”

“No; we should be shot down like dogs if I undertook a mad thing like that.”

“Then, monsieur, how are we to seize them?  How get them into our possession, his Majesty and I?”

“From my hand, Count; this hand which held them both before I went to bed last night.”

“Monsieur!” The Count fell back from him as if from some supernatural presence.  “You found them?  You held them?  You took possession of them last night?  How did you get them out of the house?”

“I have not done so yet.”

“But can you?  Oh, monsieur, wizard though you are, can you get them past her guards?  Can you, monsieur—­can you?”

“Watch for the light at the window, Count.  It will not be waved unless it is safe for you to come and the pearl is already out of the house.”