Here is your signet-ring, the one you pawned at Fontainebleau.

You see, Mazarin went to the bottom of things." The Chevalier slipped the ring on his finger, twirled it, and remained silent.
"Well ?" said Victor, humorously.
"You never told me about Madame de Brissac." The Chevalier held the beryl of the ring toward the light and watched the flames dance upon its surface.
"Why should I have told you?
I knew how matters stood between you and madame; it would have annoyed you.

It was not want of confidence, Paul; it was diffidence.

Are you sober enough to hear all about it now ?" "Sober?
Well, I can listen." The Chevalier was but half awake mentally; he still looked at Victor as one would look at an apparition.
"So.

Well, then," Victor began, "once upon a time there lived a great noble.