In the further drawing-room I note the Renaissance cabinets--a marvellous pair--the Flemish tapestry, the Fragonard, the clock signed Boulle, and various other objects of less importance.

But above all I have set my heart on that coronet which you bought at the sale of the Marquise de Ferronaye, and which was formerly worn by the unfortunate Princesse de Lamballe.

I take the greatest interest in this coronet: in the first place, on account of the charming and tragic memories which it calls up in the mind of a poet passionately fond of history, and in the second place--though it is hardly worth while talking about that kind of thing--on account of its intrinsic value.

I reckon indeed that the stones in your coronet are, at the very lowest, worth half a million francs." "I beg you, my dear sir, to have these different objects properly packed up, and to forward them, addressed to me, carriage paid, to the Batignolles Station.

Failing this, I shall Proceed to remove them myself on the night of Thursday, August 7th." "Please pardon the slight trouble to which I am putting you, and believe me," "Yours very sincerely," "ARSENE LUPIN." "P.S .-- It occurs to me that the pictures have not glass before them.