Nay, more, the young actress saw before her visions of intrigue, of dramatic situations, of pleasant little bits of revenge;--all of which was meat and drink and air to breathe for Mademoiselle Desiree.
She was to sing in one of the most fashionable salons in England: that was very pleasant.

The Prince of Wales would hear and see her! that opened out a vista of delightful possibilities! And all she had to do was to act a part dictated to her by Citizen Chauvelin, to behave as he directed, to move in the way he wished! Well! that was easy enough, since the part which she would have to play was one peculiarly suited to her talents.
She looked at herself critically in the glass.

Her maid Fanchon--a little French waif picked up in the slums of Soho--helped to readjust a stray curl which had rebelled against the comb.
"Now for the necklace, Mademoiselle," said Fanchon with suppressed excitement.
It had just arrived by messenger: a large morocco case, which now lay open on the dressing table, displaying its dazzling contents.
Candeille scarcely dared to touch it, and yet it was for her.

Citizen Chauvelin had sent a note with it.
"Citizeness Candeille will please accept this gift from the government of France in acknowledgment of useful services past and to come." The note was signed with Robespierre's own name, followed by that of Citizen Chauvelin.

The morocco case contained a necklace of diamonds worth the ransom of a king.
"For useful services past and to come!" and there were promises of still further rewards, a complete pardon for all defalcations, a place within the charmed circle of the Comedie Francaise, a grand pageant and apotheosis with Citizeness Candeille impersonating the Goddess of Reason, in the midst of a grand national fete, and the acclamations of excited Paris: and all in exchange for the enactment of a part--simple and easy--outlined for her by Chauvelin!...
How strange! how inexplicable! Candeille took the necklace up in her trembling fingers and gazed musingly at the priceless gems.