And by a curious freak of the mind it occurred to me as a hardship that I had not received so much as a note of one line from--"Marie." "Nonsense!" said I aloud and peevishly; and I thrust the letter into my pocket, cheek by jowl with the Cardinal's Necklace.

And being thus vividly reminded of the presence of that undesired treasure, I became clearly resolved that I must not be arrested for theft merely because the Duchess of Saint-Maclou chose (from hurry, or carelessness, or what motive you will) to sign a disagreeable and unnecessary communication with her Christian name and nothing more, nor because Mlle.

Delhasse chose to vanish without a word of civil farewell.

Let them go their ways--I did not know which of them annoyed me more.

Notwithstanding the letter, notwithstanding the disappearance, my scheme must be carried out.