This worthy man greeted Lecoq very affably. He put on his glasses,
examined the jewel with a grimace of satisfaction, and, in the tone of
an oracle, remarked: "That stone is worth eight thousand francs, and it
was set by Doisty, in the Rue de la Paix."
Twenty minutes later Lecoq entered this well-known jeweler's
establishment. Van Numen had not been mistaken. Doisty immediately
recognized the earring, which had, indeed, come from his shop. But whom
had he sold it to? He could not recollect, for it had passed out of his
hands three or four years before.
"Wait a moment though," said he, "I will just ask my wife, who has a
wonderful memory."
Madame Doisty truly deserved this eulogium. A single glance at the jewel
enabled her to say that she had seen this earring before, and that the
pair had been purchased from them by the Marchioness d'Arlange.
"You must recollect," she added, turning to her husband, "that the
Marchioness only gave us nine thousand francs on account, and that we
had all the trouble in the world to make her pay the balance."
Her husband did remember this circumstance; and in recording his
recollection, he exchanged a significant glance with his wife.
"Now," said the detective, "I should like to have this marchioness's
address."
"She lives in the Faubourg St. Germain," replied Madame Doisty, "near
the Esplanade des Invalides."
Lecoq had refrained from any sign of satisfaction while he was in the
jeweler's presence.
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