anion eat something, to take at
least some soup and a glass of old Bordeaux; but he soon saw the
uselessness of his efforts and went on with his dinner as if he
were alone. He was very thoughtful, but any uncertainty of the
result of his plans never entered his head. He drank much and
often, and soon emptied his bottle of Leoville. Night having now
come on the waiters began to light the chandeliers, and the two
friends found themselves almost alone.

"Isn't it time to begin?" asked the old justice, timidly.

"We have still nearly an hour," replied M. Lecoq, consulting his
watch; "but I shall make my preparations now."

He called a waiter, and ordered a cup of coffee and writing
materials.

"You see," said he, while they were waiting to be served, "we must
try to get at Laurence without Tremorel's knowing it. We must have
a ten minutes' talk with her alone, and in the house. That is a
condition absolutely necessary to our success."

M. Plantat had evidently been expecting some immediate and decisive
action, for M. Lecoq's remark filled him with alarm.

"If that's so," said he mournfully, "it's all over with our
project."

"How so?"

"Because Tremorel will not leave Laurence by herself for a moment."

"Then I'll try to entice him out."

"And you, you who are usually so clear-sighted, really think that
he will let himself be taken in by a trick! You don't consider his
situation at this moment. He must be a prey to boundless terrors.
We know that Sauvresy's declaration will not be found, but he does
not; he thinks that perhaps it has been found, that suspicions have
been aroused, and that he is already being searched for and pursued
by the police."

"I've considered all that," responded M. Lecoq with a triumphant
smile, "and many other things besides. Well, it isn't easy to
decoy Tremorel out of the house. I've been cudgelling my brain
about it a good deal, and have found a way at last. The idea
occurred to me just as we were coming in here. The Count de Tremorel,
in an hour from now, will be in the Faubourg St. Germain. It's true
it will cost me a forgery, but you will forgive me under the
circumstances. Besides, he who seeks the end must use the means."

He took up a pen, and as he smoked his cigar, rapidly wrote the
following:

"MONSIEUR WILSON:

"Four of the thousand-franc notes which you paid me are
counterfeits; I have just found it out by sending them to my
banker's. If you are not here to explai