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170 "Let's go and see that beautiful jewel," she said to me.

With her nose pressed against the window pane and eyes shining, she looked at the string arranged in a triple circular row of pink pearls upon the velvet of the jewel case. I saw a tremor passing up and down her skin.

"Isn't that beautiful? And it isn't expensive at all! I have asked about the price. . . fifty thousand francs. . . . That's an exceptional bargain."

I tried to draw her further on. But coaxingly, hanging on my arm, she held me back. And she sighed:

"Ah, how nice that would look on the neck of your little wine!"

She added with an air of profound grief:

"Really! All the women have lots of jewels. Only I have none. If you were really nice, really kind to me, you would give them to your poor little Juliette. . . . There now!"

I stammered out:

"Certainly. I want to very much. . . but later . . . next week!"

Juliette's face grew dark:

"Why next week? Can't you do it now, right now!"

"Well you see. . . now. . . I am short of money. . . . I am a little hard up."

"What? Already? You haven't got a sou? Is that a fact? Where did all your money go? You have not a sou left?"

"Why yes, I have! Only I am a little short of cash temporarily."

"Well if that's the case it doesn't matter. I have also made inquiries about the terms. They would agree to accept promissory notes. Five notes of six thousand francs each. That is not such a mighty matter!"