For some minutes she buried her face in her cold fingers, and then, raising her head, rang for her attendants with a steady hand, and with a gesture betraying a fixed determination of purpose.

Her resolution was taken.
"Is everything prepared for my departure ?" she inquired of one of her female attendants who entered.
"Yes, madame; but it was not expected that your ladyship would leave for Belliere for the next few days." "All my jewels and articles of value, then, are packed up ?" "Yes, madame; but hitherto we have been in the habit of leaving them in Paris.

Your ladyship does not generally take your jewels with you into the country." "But they are all in order, you say ?" "Yes, in your ladyship's own room." "The gold plate ?" "In the chest." "And the silver plate ?" "In the great oak closet." The marquise remained silent for a few moments, and then said calmly, "Let my goldsmith be sent for." Her attendants quitted the room to execute the order.

The marquise, however, had entered her own room, and was inspecting her casket of jewels with the greatest attention.

Never, until now, had she bestowed such close attention upon riches in which women take so much pride; never, until now, had she looked at her jewels, except for the purpose of making a selection according to their settings or their colors.
On this occasion, however, she admired the size of the rubies and the brilliancy of the diamonds; she grieved over every blemish and every defect; she thought the gold light, and the stones wretched.