"Have you finished with François, dear? We need him downstairs."
The valet himself answered the question:
"Oui, madame. I was just coming."
Bowing politely, he turned on his heel, and, with a significant glance at Handsome, which his mistress did not notice, he left the room. Helen glanced at the bed, which was undisturbed. Surprised, she exclaimed:
"Why, I thought you were going to lie down!"
He shook his head. Shifting uneasily on his feet, and, without looking up, he answered:
"No—I can't sleep. I'm too nervous. I'll sleep to-night."
Advancing farther into the room she went up him and put her arm affectionately round him. Sympathetically she said:
"You'll feel better in a few days, dear. Just rest and take things easy. I won't hear of your going to the office for a week at least. All the business you and Mr. Parker have you can transact here. By the way, dear, you haven't even mentioned the most important thing of all—have you brought back the diamonds?"
Instead of replying at once to her question, he turned quickly and pulled down the blind.