The goldsmith, as he entered, found her thus occupied.

"M.

Faucheux," she said, "I believe you supplied me with my gold service ?" "I did, your ladyship." "I do not now remember the amount of the account." "Of the new service, madame, or of that which M.de Belliere presented to you on your marriage?
for I have furnished both." "First of all, the new one." "The covers, the goblets, and the dishes, with their covers, the _eau-epergne_, the ice-pails, the dishes for the preserves, and the tea and coffee urns, cost your ladyship sixty thousand francs." "No more ?" "Your ladyship thought the account very high." "Yes, yes; I remember, in fact, that it was dear; but it was the workmanship, I suppose ?" "Yes, madame; the designs, the chasings--all new patterns." "What proportion of the cost does the workmanship form?
Do not hesitate to tell me." "A third of its value, madame." "There is the other service, the old one, that which belonged to my husband ?" "Yes, madame; there is less workmanship in that than in the other.

Its intrinsic value does not exceed thirty thousand francs." "Thirty thousand," murmured the marquise.

"But, M.Faucheux, there is also the service which belonged to my mother; all that massive plate which I did not wish to part with, on account of the associations connected with it." "Ah! madame, that would indeed be an excellent resource for those who, unlike your ladyship, might not be in position to keep their plate.