And then--for home! But the conclusion came glum and displeasing.
The scheme was very simple.

I intended to spend the hours of the night in an excursion to the duke's house.

I knew that old Jean slept in a detached cottage about half a mile from the _chteau_.

Here I should find the old man.

I would hand to him the necklace in its box, without telling him what the contents of the box were.