Cecily shook her head.
"She says they are insipid, monsieur."
"Perhaps she is right, Cecily, but in that case," he said, "I shall have to think of something else. Thank you, I am much obliged to you." He slipped a pound note into the woman's hand.
"Thank you, monsieur."
"Perhaps," John probed delicately, "madame is not fond of pearls because she has so many?"
Cecily was folding her pound note.
"Pearls do not suit madame; she never wears them. She has none at all, monsieur, only one pearl necklace, a wedding gift from her husband. She, however, never wears it."
John appeared to think.
"Surely, Cecily, I have seen her wearing a pearl pendant?"
Cecily shook her head again.