‘What have we here?’ demanded the constable.

‘I forget what there is inside,’ said Julia.  ’I hardly knew it was there.’

‘Let us see.’

He opened two or three wrappers—­the portion of the letter formed the outside one, the others being blank white paper—­and there fell out, descending upon the table with a sharp jingle, a pair of gold bracelets, ornamented with pearls and turquoises, a superb coral necklace, and a diamond ring.

‘Mademoiselle!’ exclaimed the commissaire, whose face appeared to lose all flexibility of expression the moment the discovery was made, presenting now merely the stern, impassible, mechanical look of an officer on duty, ’these are the identical articles for which I have been searching for the last three days.  Will you be good enough to change your dress as quickly as possible, and prepare to accompany me to the office of M. Morelle, magistrate of this district?’

At this juncture, the Widow Gostillon was conveyed back to her cottage by some of her neighbours, with little Cecilia by her side.  Entering Julia’s chamber, her young friends found her in a swoon, from which the commissaire was assiduously endeavouring to recover her.  A scene of a most painful character ensued.  Without afflicting the reader with a recital of the agonised and indignant protestations of Julia—­the anger and affright of Widow Gostillon—­the sorrow, sympathy, and amazement of the villagers—­suffice it to say, that the commissaire, in the course of the morning, conducted Julia into the presence of the magistrate.

It appears that the articles of bijouterie found in Julia’s reticule had been missed from the chamber of Mlle Antoinette Meurien the very morning after Julia visited Victor’s father at the chateau.  The young lady had seen them on her toilette early the preceding evening, and had not worn them for some days, so that she could not have lost them whilst walking or riding.  It was evident they had been abstracted.  A search was instantly commenced.  The domestics were examined, and their rooms and boxes searched, but without either finding the property or fixing suspicion on any one of them.  The police were then apprised of the robbery.  The servants of the household underwent a second and official examination, but all earnestly declared their innocence.  It being ascertained, however, that Julia had visited the house the night on which the property was lost, an order was issued, commanding that her residence be searched, and that she be brought before the authorities.  Among the witnesses who proved Julia’s visit to the chateau was Victor Colonne.  In mingled affliction and indignation, he answered the questions put to him, and declared that she who had but lately been the object of his ardent affection was the very soul of honour and purity.  A lengthened examination elicited from him that he had conducted Julia to the chamber of Mlle Antoinette, for the purpose of shewing