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 breath, but not so low that the Holy Father did not hear him. However, without noticing this, the Pope asked of him:

"Monsieur, will you kindly give me your opinion of Monsieur Cartouche, whom my young relative wishes to marry?"

Duvernet paused a minute, trying to find words to express what he thought of Cartouche, but in the end could only say:

"Your Holiness, Cartouche is—well, I could not conduct the Imperial Theater without Cartouche. And he is the most honest and the most industrious man I ever saw in my life."

"Thank you, Monsieur. Good afternoon," said the Pope, and Duvernet vanished.

"My child," said the Holy Father, after a little pause: "What is this about your having the finest diamond brooch in Paris?" As he spoke, the Holy Father's face grew anxious. The possession of fine diamonds by a girl of Fifi's condition was a little disquieting to him.

"It is only paste, Holy Father," replied Fifi, whipping the brooch out of her pocket. "I always carry it with me to make believe it is diamond, but it is no more diamond than my shoe. Duvernet