"Well, monsieur, the jeweler of S. A. R. gives two hundred
and eighty pistoles for it."

"Have you them?"

"I thought it best to take them, monsieur; nevertheless, I
made it a condition of the bargain, that if monsieur wished
to keep his diamond, it should be held till monsieur was
again in funds."

"Oh, no, not at all; I told you to sell it."

"Then I have obeyed, or nearly so, since, without having
definitely sold it, I have touched the money."

"Pay yourself," added the unknown.

"I will do so, monsieur, since you so positively require
it."

A sad smile passed over the lips of the gentleman.

"Place the money on that trunk," said he, turning round and
pointing to the piece of furniture.

Cropole deposited a tolerably large bag as directed, after
having taken from it the amount of his reckoning.

"Now," said he, "I hope monsieur will not give me the pain
of not taking any supper. Dinner has already been refused;