"'How do you know that?'
"'And you obtained them for a purpose,' I went on, ignoring her interruption. 'You made a man give them to you, because you were determined that another woman should not have them.'
"'You are a magician,' she cried in wonder.
"'You are angry at the loss of the pearls, not so much because of their value, as because you fear they may be restored to that other woman. You even think that she herself is the thief.'
"'You are right; I do think that. What other woman would do such a thing as to steal a string of pearls from a woman's very person?'
"'What if I tell you that she is not in the house?'
"'Ah, then you know her? Who is she? Tell me who she is and you may have the pearls.' Madame spoke eagerly.
"'I will only tell you enough to convince you that she is not the thief. You remember after one of the quadrilles passing a girl and saying, "That girl is a sphinx"?'
"'Yes; was she——'
"'Yes. Now if you search your rooms you will not find her. I know this because I have looked for her for half an hour.'