"The lady of the necklace!" she exclaimed aloud.

"Yes, the lady of the necklace!" putting one hand, as she spoke, caressingly upon the string of pearl beads round her little, thin, brown neck.

Isabelle, for her part, though half dead with fright, had recognised the little girl she had first seen at the Blue Sun inn, and afterwards on the road to the Chateau de Bruyeres, in company with Agostino, the brigand.

She tried to cry out for help, but the child put her hand quickly and firmly over her mouth.
"Don't scream," she said reassuringly, "nothing shall hurt you.

Chiquita promised that she would never kill nor harm the good, sweet lady, who gave her the pearls that she meant to steal." "But what have you come in here for, my poor child ?" asked Isabelle, gradually recovering her composure, but filled with surprise at this strange intrusion.
"To open the great bolt on your door there that you are so careful to close every night," answered Chiquita, in the most matter-of-fact way.
"They chose me for it because I am such a good climber, and as thin and supple as a snake; there are not many holes that I cannot manage to crawl through." "And why were you to open my door, Chiquita?
so that thieves could come in and steal what few things I have here?
There is nothing of value among them, I assure you." "Oh, no!" Chiquita replied disdainfully, "it was to let the men in who were to carry you off." "My God! I am lost!" cried poor Isabelle, wringing her hands in despair.
"Not at all," said Chiquita, "and you need not be so frightened.