“Of course, of course.  That’s all right,” answered Mr. Patterson.  “I wished to talk to you, anyway—­about this child—­” as Anne accepted the excuse and gladly departed.  “Can you give me a few minutes now?  Thank you.—­I cannot say.  I suppose the child has improved.  I had not seen her before.  She was alone on shipboard and my wife took charge of her.—­Oh, no! there was no formal adoption.  I shall take her back to America, of course.  Her people may turn up or—­or—­I haven’t decided what I’ll do about her.  I haven’t really thought about it.  Tell me what you can about the child, please.”

Mademoiselle Duroc answered with careful details.  Anne was clever, fairly studious, well-mannered, amiable, rather quick-tempered.  The session marks had not been made out but they would show her standing good in most of her studies.  Deportment excellent.  “Her mark in that would be almost perfect were it not for the one affair.  I refer to the jewel episode.  One has informed monsieur of that?”

Mr. Patterson confessed his ignorance and Mademoiselle Duroc related the incident which we already know.  No light had ever been thrown on the matter.

“Do you suppose she stole the things?” asked Mr. Patterson, bluntly.

Mademoiselle shrugged her shoulders and thrust the question from her with a sweeping gesture of both hands.  “There has been nothing to prove—­nothing to disprove.  Absolutely.  I look at that slim, small child sometimes and raise my hands to heaven in amaze.”

Mr. Patterson rose.  “Thank you.  I have taken a great deal of your time.  You understand it was important for me to know about this child.  My wife wished to adopt her.  If she had lived—­but without her I should hesitate under any circumstances; under these, I cannot undertake the responsibility.  I will put the little girl in an orphanage in her native state.  That is the best place for a child that needs oversight and—­er—­probably severe discipline.  I have engaged passage for the twelfth.  I will send a cab for the child.  You will have her ready?  Thank you.  If you will mail me your bill to Hotel Amitie, it shall have prompt attention.”

“Thank you, monsieur.  If I am not to see you again, you will now take charge of the small packet, the jewels?”

“No, no, indeed.”  Mr. Patterson drew back.

“But madame directed me to keep them for the child if there arose no claimants,” said Mademoiselle.

“Then turn them over to the child.  You got them from her,” said Mr. Patterson.  “I have nothing to do with them.  Good-morning.”

Awaiting the sailing-date set by Mr. Patterson, Anne lingered some days after the other pupils.  One morning Louise came in to pack her trunk and to say that Mademoiselle Duroc wished to see her in the small study.

“I sent for you to bid you farewell and to return to you these jewels,” Mademoiselle said.  “It is grief to me that you have been so secret about the matter and made the distress for your friends.”