“Isn’t it beautiful?” he said with a sigh.
“Marvellous!” said the Duke.
M. Gournay-Martin closed the case, and said solemnly:
“There is danger, M. Guerchard, so I am going to trust the coronet to you. You are the defender of my hearth and home—you are the proper person to guard the coronet. I take it that you have no objection?”
“Not the slightest, M. Gournay-Martin,” said Guerchard. “It’s exactly what I wanted you to ask me to do.”
M. Gournay-Martin hesitated. Then he handed the coronet to Guerchard, saying with a frank and noble air, “I have every confidence in you, M. Guerchard.”
“Thank you,” said Guerchard.
“Good-night,” said M. Gournay-Martin.
“Good-night, M. Guerchard,” said Germaine.
“I think, after all, I’ll change my mind and go with you. I’m very short of sleep,” said the Duke. “Good-night, M. Guerchard.”