I understood. The duke had despaired of finding the casket. It was so much simpler to pretend that he had found it. Jacqueline would believe that this was the casket as readily as if he had brought the real one. Even if she had any doubts, how could she prove them? He was a clever rascal, my lord duke. Unfortunately for the success of his ruse, he had not counted on my intervention, or perhaps he despised me too much to care.
Jacqueline watched me with parted lips, a slight frown of anxiety on her forehead. Her eyes seemed to plead with me. What did she wish me to say? To tell her that the duke was a liar and a cheat? Or did she wish me to say that this was indeed the casket? Would she be glad to hear that? Had he conquered her so surely?
“It is very beautiful,” I said indifferently.
“You are convinced?” she asked, almost timidly.
“It is worthy of any museum in Europe.”
“You think it is really the casket?” she persisted.
“I imagined that there would be gems in the da Sestos casket,” I said, smiling at her.
“You are not answering my question.”
“Will you tell me how the duke happened to find this–this pretty toy? Did he honor you with so much information?”
“He brought it to me only this afternoon. I was so–so overwhelmed–I should say, astonished–that I could say nothing. Presently, I suppose, he will tell me.”