The Duke took the pearls curiously in his hand and held them to the light.

He had seen enough of such things to know something of their value, and he knew this string might be worth anywhere from eight to ten thousand pounds.

He looked graver than ever.
"Those are beautiful pearls, Dr.Claudius," he said; "too beautiful for a Heidelberg student to have lying about among his traps." He turned them over and added, "The Duchess has nothing like them." "They belonged to my mother," said Claudius simply.

"I know nothing of their value." The Duke took the papers and untied the smaller package, which appeared to contain legal documents, while the larger seemed to be a series of letters filed in their envelopes, as they had been received.
"My mother's name was Maria Lindstrand," said Claudius.

He leaned back, smoking the eternal cigarette, and watched the Duke's face.
Before the Englishman had proceeded far he looked up at Claudius, uttering an exclamation of blank amazement.