"She had a very pretty bracelet, the one on the left wrist. I should have liked to see it close to."
They reached home. She said no more on the matter then. Only on the following day, just as Maxime and his father were going out together, she took the young fellow aside, and spoke to him in an undertone, with an embarrassed air, and a pretty smile which courted indulgence. He seemed surprised and went off, laughing in his wicked way. In the evening he brought Sylvia's bracelet which his stepmother had begged him to show her.
"There's what you wanted," said he. "One would thieve for your sake, pretty mamma."
"She didn't see you take it?" asked Renée who was eagerly examining the bracelet.
"I don't think so—She wore it yesterday, so she certainly wouldn't put it on to-day."
Meantime the young woman approached the window. She had put the bracelet on and she held her wrist somewhat raised slowly turning it round, delighted and repeating:
"Oh! very pretty, very pretty. There are only the emeralds that don't quite please me."
At this moment Saccard came in, and as she still held her wrist up in the white light from the window:
"Hallo!" he cried in astonishment, "Sylvia's bracelet!"
"You know this jewel?" said she, more embarrassed than he was and not knowing what to do with her arm.