“Have something the matter with you: flutters or something,” I suggested.

The ghost of a smile appeared on her face.

“You’ll stay?” she asked.

I had to stay, anyhow. Perhaps I ought to have said so, and not stolen credit; but all I did was to nod again.

“And, if I ask you, you’ll—you’ll stand between me and him?”

I hoped that my meeting with the duke would not be in a strong light; but I only said:

“Rather! I’ll do anything I can, of course.”

She did not thank me; she looked at me again. Then she observed.

“My mother will be back soon.”

“And I had better not be here?”

“No.”

I advanced to the table again, and laid my hand on the box containing the Cardinal’s necklace.

“And this?” I asked in a careless tone.

“Ought I to send them back?”

“You don’t want to?”

“What’s the use of saying I do? I love them. Besides, he’ll see through it. He’ll know that I mean I won’t come. I daren’t—I daren’t show him that!”

Then I made a little venture; for, fingering the box idly, I said:

“It would be uncommonly handsome of you to give ‘em to the duchess.”

“To the duchess?” she gasped in wondering tones.

“You see,” I remarked, “either they are the