Ah, you are astonished! You should surely never allow yourself to be surprised by anything.

Now I will tell you how I come to know about the gems.

Some time ago a certain well-known lady of this city lost her jewel-case in a mysterious manner.

The affair was placed in my hands, and when I had exhausted Paris, I went to Amsterdam, _en route_ if necessary for London.

You know our old friends, Levenstein and Schartzer ?" I nodded.