A gentle, irrepressible laugh broke from the Duke.

"What are you laughing at?" said the millionaire, and a sudden
lowering gloom overspread his beaming face.

"Nothing--nothing," said the Duke quietly. "Only you're so full of
surprises."

"I've startled you, have I? I thought I should. It's true that I'm
full of surprises. It's my knowledge. I understand so much. I
understand business, and I love art, pictures, a good bargain, bric-
a-brac, fine tapestry. They're first-class investments. Yes,
certainly I do love the beautiful. And I don't want to boast, but I
understand it. I have taste, and I've something better than taste; I
have a flair, the dealer's flair."

"Yes, your collections, especially your collection in Paris, prove
it," said the Duke, stifling a yawn.

"And yet you haven't seen the finest thing I have--the coronet of
the Princesse de Lamballe. It's worth half a million francs."

"So I've heard," said the Duke, a little wearily. "I don't wonder
that Arsene Lupin envied you it."

The Empire chair creaked as the millionaire jumped.

"Don't speak of the swine!" he roared. "Don't mention his name
before me."