"The matter is simple, excellency," replied the banker, "but first may I ask if madame the duchess recognises the trinket?"
The circlet was handed to the duchess, who said in a low voice--
"It is mine: it was stolen from me a month ago--on the seventh of March."
"On the eighth of March a packet was delivered to me at my house of business by one Tarbes, calling himself servant to the Cavaliere di Savelli. He did not know the contents of the parcel; but it was sent to me for safe keeping by his master, so he said. I gave him a receipt for it. I myself did not know what the nature of the packet was until to-day; but hearing the charges preferred against the cavaliere, I opened the case and at once recognised madame's circlet, which I have the pleasure to restore."
"How did you come to hear these charges against the Cavaliere di Savelli?" asked Bayard.
"I was informed of them by the knight, Messer d'Entrangues."
"That is to say, M. d'Entrangues must have known that the jewels were pledged to you. Is this not odd?"
It was a straw of hope that floated to me, and I could scarcely breathe. D'Entrangues, however, replied boldly, "I was told of the matter by one Tarbes, a servant to M. di Savelli."
"You forget to add," I burst out, "that he was a creature of yours, whom I employed on your recommendation."
D'Entrangues made no reply, and Bayard said, "M. d'Entrangues appears to have usurped the functions of the provost and played catchpole. Could we not see this Tarbes?"