"I told you I'd seen a burglar!" cried the millionaire triumphantly.
"He was after the keys."

Sonia drew back the flap of the bureau and hastily pulled open the
drawer in which the keys had been.

"They're here!" she cried, taking them out of the drawer and holding
them up.

"Then I was just in time," said the millionaire. "I startled him in
the very act of stealing the keys."

"I withdraw! I withdraw!" said the Duke. "You did see a burglar,
evidently. But still I believe he was greenish-pink. They often are.
However, you'd better give me those keys, Mademoiselle Sonia, since
I'm to get to Paris first. I should look rather silly if, when I got
there, I had to break into the house to catch the burglars."

Sonia handed the keys to the Duke. He contrived to take her little
hand, keys and all, into his own, as he received them, and squeezed
it. The light was too dim for the others to see the flush which
flamed in her face. She went back and stood beside the bureau.

"Now, papa, are you going to motor to Paris in a thin coat and linen
waistcoat? If we're going, we'd better go. You always do keep us
waiting half an hour whenever we start to go anywhere," said
Germaine firmly.

The millionaire bustled out of the room. With a gesture of