He was very tired." The Marquess nodded, as if he understood.
"Very well, my dear.

Now go.

But don't forget," he said, as he held her hand and kissed her on the forehead, "the diamonds are yours, whenever you would like to have them." When she reached her room, Miriam sank into a chair and covered her eyes with her hands.

She was weak and foolish, but she was not so weak and foolish as not to be touched by the kindness of the Marquess.

She was glad that Percy had changed his mind about getting the diamonds, though she could not guess why he had done so.