“Well then, my dear one, I do not think you are mistaken!... I have all sorts of reasons for supposing that they really are two of your own pearls you are now holding in your hand.” And, then and there, Thomery told his fiancée all about the strange visit he had received the evening before, as well as his hope that he would be able to recover the stolen triple collar in its entirety.

“That intriguing dealer,” he concluded, “must be a police informer... In any case, I am persuaded that, before long, she will take me to some receiver or other who is in possession of your pearl collar.”

“Oh, tell me you are not going among such people, all alone!” cried Sonia, with a note of sharp anxiety in her voice. “But, why not?”

“If they are, as you think, ruthless thieves?”

“Well?”

“Well! Don’t you see, my dear, that if you go to buy the pearls, they will count on your bringing a large sum of money with you... Why, it would be a most dangerous thing to do!” Thomery shrugged his shoulders.

“Really – that’s nonsense, Sonia! If these assassins meant to set a trap for me, they have a thousand other means of doing so... besides, it would be remarkably daring of them to advise me to show you those pearls, and draw my attention to the question of their being stolen ones!.... No, Sonia, this dealer is not the emissary of a band of robbers and assassins: she is a police informer, who has taken precautions. I run no dangerous risks by accompanying her!

Reassure yourself on that point!”

But Sonia Danidoff was not reassured by Thomery’s arguments.

“All that only frightens me!” she said... “If you do not really think you are running any risk, will you let me go with you?... My dear, we will go together to identify those pearls, will we not?”

Thomery rose to take his leave, laughing and protesting.

“Why, dear Sonia, it would be in the highest degree improper on my part, were I to agree to such a proposition!...

One of two things : either there is no danger, and I should be very sorry that I had let you go out in such shocking weather; or, if there is danger, I should be still more distressed were I to drag you into it with me... I do beg of you, Sonia, do not insist on it... I am not a child!... And I will be very careful – very wary!”

Shortly after this,

Thomery took leave of Sonia Danidoff. He went straight to the Café de la Paix, where he had arranged to meet the diamond broker.

She was punctual. She greeted Thomery with her most winning smile.

“I am persuaded, monsieur, that Madame Sofia Danidoff was interested by the offer you made her!”

“Quite so,” replied Thomery. “Should we go to your jeweller’s, without further loss of time?”