The sight of the trinkets in gold, and precious stones overcame her studied coolness, and she scanned with kindling and inquisitive eyes the glass cases filled with jewelry. And, suddenly moved by desire, said: "That is a very pretty bracelet."
It was a chain of quaint pattern, every link of which had a different stone set in it.
George inquired: "How much is this bracelet?"
"Three thousand francs, sir," replied the jeweler.
"If you will let me have it for two thousand five hundred, it is a bargain."
The man hesitated, and then replied: "No, sir; that is impossible."
Du Roy went on: "Come, you can throw in that chronometer for fifteen hundred; that will make four thousand, which I will pay at once. Is it agreed? If not, I will go somewhere else."
The jeweler, in a state of perplexity, ended by agreeing, saying: "Very good, sir."
And the journalist, after giving his address, added: "You will have the monogram, G. R. C., engraved on the chronometer under a baron's coronet."
Madeleine, surprised, began to smile, and when they went out, took his arm with a certain affection. She found him really clever and capable. Now that he had an income, he needed a title. It was quite right.