Has Percy ever by chance spoken to you of the family diamonds ?" The blood mantled in Miriam's face for a moment; then left it paler than before.
"No," she replied.
"Ah!" said the Marquess.

"Of course, there are some.

Indeed, there are a great many, and some of them are very beautiful, very valuable; in fact, I do not think I should exaggerate if I were to say that some of the stones are priceless; not only in a monetary sense, but because of their size and quality.

There are, too, historic associations," he added, thoughtfully.
There was a pause; Miriam drooped over the piano, touching a note here and there softly.
"Yes, some of them are historic," resumed the Marquess meditatively.
"There is a necklace which belonged to Madame du Barri, and another which Queen Elizabeth gave to one of her ladies-in-waiting.

An ancestor of ours was a son of hers.