"
"And the collections?" asked the other.
"Sir," said the man, "they are immensely valuable. More I cannot
tell you. Since M. de Vandeleur's arrival no one in the quarter
has so much as passed the door."
"Suppose not," returned Francis, "you must surely have some notion
what these famous galleries contain. Is it pictures, silks,
statues, jewels, or what?"
"My faith, sir," said the fellow with a shrug, "it might be
carrots, and still I could not tell you. How should I know? The
house is kept like a garrison, as you perceive."
And then as Francis was returning disappointed to his room, the
porter called him back.
"I have just remembered, sir," said he. "M. de Vandeleur has been
in all parts of the world, and I once heard the old woman declare
that he had brought many diamonds back with him. If that be the
truth, there must be a fine show behind those shutters."
By an early hour on Sunday Francis was in his place at the theatre.
The seat which had been taken for him was only two or three numbers
from the left-hand side, and directly opposite one of the lower
boxes. As the seat had been specially chosen there was doubtless
something to be learned from its position; and he judged by an
instinct that the box upon his right was, in some way or other, to
be connected with the drama in which he ignorantly played a part.
Indeed, it was so situated that its occupants could safely observe
him from beginning to end of the piece, if they were so minded;
while, profiting by the depth, they could screen themselves
sufficiently well from any counter-examination on his side.
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