“She seemed very disheartened when she heard this.  I did not know just what to do, when an idea, a really fine idea, struck me.

“I had just bought this Renaissance Crucifix which I showed you, an admirable piece of workmanship, one of the finest of its land that I have ever seen.

“‘My dear friend,’ I said to her, ’I am going to send you that piece of ivory.  You will invent some ingenious, touching, poetic story, anything that you wish, to explain your desire for parting with it.  It is, of course, a family heirloom left you by your father.

“’I myself will send you amateurs, or will bring them to you.  The rest concerns you.  Before they come I will drop you a line about their position, both social and financial.  This Crucifix is worth fifty thousand francs; but I will let it go for thirty thousand.  The difference will belong to you.’

“She considered the matter seriously for several minutes, and then answered:  ‘Yes, it is, perhaps, a good idea.  I thank you very-much.’

“The next day I sent her my Crucifix, and the same evening the Baron de Saint-Hospital.

“For three months I sent her my best clients, from a business point of view.  But I heard nothing more from her.

“One day I received a visit from a foreigner who spoke very little French.  I decided to introduce him personally to the baroness, in order to see how she was getting along.

“A footman in black livery received us and ushered us into a quiet little parlor, furnished with taste, where we waited for several minutes.  She appeared, charming as usual, extended her hand to me and invited us to be seated; and when I had explained the reason of my visit, she rang.

“The footman appeared.

“‘See if Mlle. Isabelle can let us go into her oratory.’  The young girl herself brought the answer.  She was about fifteen years of age, modest and good to look upon in the sweet freshness of her youth.  She wished to conduct us herself to her chapel.

“It was a kind of religious boudoir where a silver lamp was burning before the Crucifix, my Crucifix, on a background of black velvet.  The setting was charming and very clever.  The child crossed herself and then said: 

“‘Look, gentlemen.  Isn’t it beautiful?’

“I took the object, examined it and declared it to be remarkable.  The foreigner also examined it, but he seemed much more interested in the two women than in the crucifix.

“A delicate odor of incense, flowers and perfume pervaded the whole house.  One felt at home there.  This really was a comfortable home, where one would have liked to linger.

“When we had returned to the parlor I delicately broached the subject of the price.  Mme. Samoris, lowering her eyes, asked fifty thousand francs.

“Then she added:  ’If you wish to see it again, monsieur, I very seldom go out before three o’clock; and I can be found at home every day.’