Have you been doing some shopping ?" And I pointed to the red leathern box.
For full half a minute she sat, without speech or movement.

Then she said in answer to my question, which she could not take as an idle one: "Yes, I have been doing some bargaining." "Is that the result ?" Again she paused long before she answered.
"That," said she, "is a trifle--thrown in." "To bind the bargain ?" I suggested.
"Yes, Mr.Aycon--to bind the bargain." "Is it allowed to look ?" "I think everything must be allowed to you.

You would be so surprised if it were not." I understood that she was aiming a satirical remark at me: I did not mind that; she had better flay me alive than sit and cry.
"Then I may open the box ?" "The key is in it." I drew the box across, and I took a chair that stood by.

I turned the key of the box.

A glance showed me Marie's drooped lids half raised and her eyes fixed on my face.
I opened the box: there lay in it, in sparkling coil on the blue velvet, a magnificent diamond necklace; one great stone formed a pendent, and it was on this stone that I fixed my regard.