Listen:"

"P.S.--You must understand that since you have been
keeping the coronet of the Princesse de Lamballe during
these three years, I shall avail myself of the same
occasion to compel you to restore that piece of
jewellery to me.--A. L."

"The thief! The scoundrel! I'm choking!" gasped the millionaire,
clutching at his collar.

To judge from the blackness of his face, and the way he staggered
and dropped on to a couch, which was fortunately stronger than the
chair, he was speaking the truth.

"Firmin! Firmin!" shouted the Duke. "A glass of water! Quick! Your
master's ill."

He rushed to the side of the millionaire, who gasped: "Telephone!
Telephone to the Prefecture of Police! Be quick!"

The Duke loosened his collar with deft fingers; tore a Van Loo fan
from its case hanging on the wall, and fanned him furiously. Firmin
came clumping into the room with a glass of water in his hand.

The drawing-room door opened, and Germaine and Sonia, alarmed by the
Duke's shout, hurried in.

"Quick! Your smelling-salts!" said the Duke.