"'Precisely.'

"'Very well, sir?'

"'Very well, sir. I knew your wife, and she is in her husband's
power; I am quite willing, she is in the power of a good many people;
but--I--do--_not_--know--your diamonds. If Mme. la Comtesse can put her
name to a bill, she can go into business, of course, and buy and sell
diamonds on her own account. The thing is plain on the face of it!'

"'Good-day, sir!' cried the Count, now white with rage. 'There are
courts of justice.'

"'Quite so.'

"'This gentleman here,' he added, indicating me, 'was a witness of
the sale.'

"'That is possible.'

"The Count turned to go. Feeling the gravity of the affair, I suddenly
put in between the two belligerents.

"'M. le Comte,' said I, 'you are right, and M. Gobseck is by no means
in the wrong. You could not prosecute the purchaser without bringing
your wife into court, and the whole of the odium would not fall on
her. I am an attorney, and I owe it to myself, and still more to my
professional position, to declare that the diamonds of which you speak
were purchased by M. Gobseck in my presence; but, in my opinion, it
would be unwise to dispute the legality of the sale, especially as the