"
"But how do you explain those two thousand francs that Henriette
received each year? Are they not evidence of her complicity?"
"If she had been an accomplice, would she have thanked you for that
money? And then, was she not closely watched? But the child,
being free, could easily go to a neighboring city, negotiate with
some dealer and sell him one diamond or two diamonds, as he might
wish, upon condition that the money should be sent from Paris, and
that proceeding could be repeated from year to year."
An indescribable anxiety oppressed the Dreux-Soubise and their
guests. There was something in the tone and attitude of Floriani--
something more than the chevalier's assurance which, from the
beginning, had so annoyed the count. There was a touch of irony,
that seemed rather hostile than sympathetic. But the count
affected to laugh, as he said:
"All that is very ingenious and interesting, and I congratulate you
upon your vivid imagination."
"No, not at all," replied Floriani, with the utmost gravity, "I
imagine nothing. I simply describe the events as they must have
occurred."
"But what do you know about them?"
"What you yourself have told me.
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