"Oh, he did not know the importance of what he was doing! I told him I must, at all costs, catch the first train to London and ... he allowed himself to be persuaded...."
"In consideration...."
"In consideration of a little present ... which the decent fellow, however, intends faithfully to send to you."
"What present?"
"A mere nothing."
"Well, but what?"
"The blue diamond."
"The blue diamond!"
"Yes, the imitation one, which you substituted for the countess's diamond and which she left in my hands...."
Arsène Lupin gave a sudden and tumultuous burst of laughter. He seemed ready to die: his eyes were wet with tears: