"Yes, that is what grandmother called them. She wetted them with her tongue to find out if they were real diamonds, and then she and my aunt kissed each other, and made friends."
"You are sure you never saw this Monsieur Georges?"
"Never. My aunt used to send me to bed very early, before she went to the theatre."
"Did she not take you with her to the theatre sometimes?"
"Never. She said that theatres were not good for little girls."
"Now tell me about your journey to Saint-Germain. How did you go?"
"First in a carriage, and then in a train."
"A long time. I was tired of waiting so long. I thought it would have been nicer to be at home, where I had story-books to read."
"What did your aunt and Monsieur de Maucroix do while they were waiting?"
"They sat in a corner of a big room, with great windows through which we could see the trains. I watched the trains through the window."
"Were there many other people in the room?"
"I noticed a little girl. She was bigger than I am, but not much. I thought I should like to play with her. She had a blue balloon, and she let it fly out of the window and broke it."
"Only one other person--a gentleman who wore dark spectacles."
"What made you observe him in particular?"
"His spectacles were so curious, and he looked at my aunt."
"What do you mean when you say that he looked at your aunt? Did he look as if he knew her?"
"I don't know. He stood just inside the doorway, as if he was hiding behind the door, looking at my aunt and Monsieur de Maucroix."
"For five minutes, do you think? As long as you could count a hundred?"
"He was tall. I think he must have been old, because he wore dark spectacles."
"Did your aunt and Monsieur de Maucroix observe him?"
"No. I asked my aunt when we were in the train if she had seen the gentleman with the funny spectacles, and she said no."
"Did you see him again after he left the waiting-room?"
"Now tell me all you can about your journey to Saint-Germain."
"We went in the train, in a beautiful carriage with soft cushions. I looked out of the window all the time. My aunt and Monsieur de Maucroix sat by the other window talking."
"Not much. I was not listening. It was so nice to see the country, and the trees rushing by. I heard Monsieur de Maucroix ask my aunt to go away with him--he begged her to go--to Italy, I think he said. Is there a place called Italy?"