MAXINE MAKES A BARGAIN We looked everywhere, in all possible places, for the diamond necklace, Raoul and I; and to him, poor fellow, its second loss seemed overwhelming.

He did not see in glaring scarlet letters always before his eyes these two words: "The treaty," as I did--for my punishment.

He was in happy ignorance still of that other loss which I--I, to whom his honour should have been sacred--had inflicted upon him.

He was satisfied with my story; that through a person employed by me--a person whose name could not yet be mentioned, even to him--the necklace had been snatched from the thief who had stolen it.

He blamed himself mercilessly for thinking so little of the brocade bag which I had given him at parting, for letting all remembrance of my words concerning it be put out of his mind by his "wicked jealousy," as he repentantly called it.