His frightened eyes seemed about to leap from their sockets.
"It--it--was a m-m-m-mistake," he stammered.
The Duke shifted his grip to his collar, and thrust his hand into the breast-pocket of his coat.

Bernard, helpless in his grip, and utterly taken aback by his quickness, made no resistance.
The Duke drew out a morocco case, and said: "Is this a mistake too ?" "Heavens! The pendant!" cried Sonia, who was watching the scene with parted lips and amazed eyes.
Bernard dropped on his knees and clasped his hands.
"Forgive me!" he cried, in a choking voice.

"Forgive me! Don't tell any one! For God's sake, don't tell any one!" And the tears came streaming from his eyes.
"You young rogue!" said the Duke quietly.
"I'll never do it again--never! Oh, have pity on me! If my father knew! Oh, let me off!" cried Bernard.
The Duke hesitated, and looked down on him, frowning and pulling at his moustache.

Then, more quickly than one would have expected from so careless a trifler, his mind was made up.
"All right," he said slowly.

"Just for this once ...