"Yes," said Juliet, "I suppose I do know."
"All I want to put me in the right frame of mind is green," explained Madame Veno, "this kind of green twilight."
She switched away the velvet covering from the table. Underneath was a cushion, and a crystal which reflected the prevailing colour. Then she sat down opposite the Duchess.
"The Countess told you what happened when I was looking into the crystal for her?" she asked.
"Madame de Saintville said that you saw something which concerned me. But how did you know it concerned me?"
"Your face came into the crystal. I'd seen your photograph, and recognized you. Besides, I felt—I felt that you were in great trouble."
"What else did you see in the crystal?"
"Let me look again, now you are here, and see if the same thing comes." As she spoke, Madame Veno bent forward and gazed closely into the transparent ball on a black base.
Some moments passed in dead silence. Juliet watched the woman's features, which became fixed and masklike. Suddenly Madame Veno started slightly and began to speak.
"I see—a handsome young man—very charming. It is your husband, Duchess. He is lying ill in a poor room. It seems to be a kind of cellar. He tosses about. He is delirious. He calls for you. I know that, because at the same time I see the picture I hear his voice. The name is 'Juliet!' I think he has had an accident. But I can't see what it was, I only know that he has hurt his head. I feel the pain myself. And I feel what he is thinking about: you—and something else. Ah, a rope of pearls! Now I get a whisper! It comes to me from his thoughts. He went in search of something that was lost—a thing of great value. Yes, the pearls!"