The duchess said nothing at all.  She looked at me once—­just once; and I wished then and there that I had listened to Gustave de Berensac’s second thoughts and left with him at ten o’clock in the morning.  Then having delivered this barbed shaft of the eyes, the duchess sat looking straight in front of her, bereft of her quick-changing glances, robbed of her supple grace—­like frozen quicksilver.  And the necklace glittered away indifferently between us.

At last the duchess, her eyes still fixed on the whitewashed wall opposite, said in a slow emphatic tone: 

“I wouldn’t touch it, if it were the crown of France!”

I plucked up my courage to answer her.  For Marie Delhasse’s sake I felt a sudden anger.

“You are pharisaical,” said I.  “The poor girl has acted honorably.  Her touch has not defiled your necklace.”

“Yes, you must defend what you persuaded,” flashed out the duchess.  “It’s the greatest insult I was ever subjected to in my life!”

Here was the second lady I had insulted on that summer day!

“I did but suggest it—­it was her own wish.”

“Your suggestion is her wish!  How charming!” said the duchess.

“You are unjust to her!” I said, a little warmly.

The duchess rose from the corn bin, made the very most of her sixty-three inches, and remarked: 

“It’s a new insult to mention her to me.”

I passed that by; it was too absurd to answer.

“You must take it now I’ve brought it,” I urged in angry puzzle.

The duchess put out her hand, grasped the case delicately, shut it—­and flung it to the other side of the stable, hard by where an old ass was placidly eating a bundle of hay.

“That’s the last time I shall touch it!” said she, turning and looking me in the face.

“But what am I to do with it?” I cried.

“Whatever you please,” returned Mme. de Saint-Maclou; and without another word, without another glance, either at me or at the necklace, she walked out of the stable, and left me alone with the necklace and the ass.

The ass had given one start as the necklace fell with a thud on the floor; but he was old and wise, and soon fell again to his meal.  I sat drumming my heels against the corn bin.  Evening was falling fast, and everything was very still.  No man ever had a more favorable hour for reflection and introspection.  I employed it to the full.  Then I rose, and crossing the stable, pulled the long ears of my friend who was eating the hay.

“I suppose you also were a young ass once,” said I with a rueful smile.

Well, I couldn’t leave the Cardinal’s Necklace in the corner of the convent stable.  I picked up the box.  Neddy thrust out his nose at it.  I opened it and let him see the contents.  He snuffed scornfully and turned back to the hay.

“He won’t take it either,” said I to myself, and with a muttered curse I dropped the wretched thing back in the pocket of my coat, wishing much evil to everyone who had any hand in bringing me into connection with it, from his Eminence the Cardinal Armand de Saint-Maclou down to the waiter at the hotel.