"Are you sure that you had it when you left the ball?"
"Yes; I felt it while still in the vestibule at the Minister's."
"But if you had lost it in the street we should have heard it drop. It ought to be in the carriage."
"Yes; it is possible. Did you take the number?"
"No; and you have not looked at it, either?"
"No."
They looked at each other fearfully; finally Loisel dressed himself.
"I shall go over the whole ground that we traveled on foot, to see whether I can not find it."
He went out. She sat still in her brilliant ball toilet; no desire to sleep, no power to think, all swallowed up in the fear of the calamity which had fallen upon them.
Her husband came in at seven o'clock. He had found nothing. He had been to the Prefecture of the Police, to the papers offering a reward, to all small cab companies, anywhere, in short, where he could have the shadow of hope of recovery.