affairs causing him to retire. He easily found a
purchaser, and in twenty-four hours the matter had been arranged.

The night before handing over the business to his successor Mascarin
had much to do. Assisted by Beaumarchef, he carried into Martin Rigal's
private office the papers with which the Registry Office was crammed.
This removal was effected by means of a door marked by a panel between
Mascarin's office and the banker's private room; and when the last scrap
of paper had been removed, Mascarin pointed out a heap of bricks and a
supply of mortar to his faithful adherent.

"Wall up this door," said he.

It was a long and wearisome task, but it was at length completed, and
by rubbing soot and dust over the new work it lost its appearance of
freshness. The evening before Beaumarchef had received twelve thousand
francs on the express condition that he would start at once for America,
and the leave-taking between him and the master he had so faithfully
served was a most affecting one. He knew hardly anything of the
diabolical plots going on around him, and was the only innocent person
in that house of crime.

Mascarin was in haste to depart; he had annihilated Tantaine in order
to free himself from Toto. Mascarin was about to disappear, and he
contemplated retaining his third personality, and in it to pass away the
remainder of his life honored and respected; but he must first induct
his successor into his business; and he went through the books with him,
and explained all the practical working of the machinery. This took him
nearly all day, and it was getting late when his luggage was put on a
cab which he had in waiting. A new plate had already been placed on the
door: "J. Robinet, late B. Mascarin."

Knowing that he must carry out the deception completely, Mascarin drove
to the western railway station, and took a ticket for Rouen. He felt
rather uncomfortable, for he feared that he was being watched, and he
made up his mind not to leave a single trace behind him. At Rouen he
abandoned his luggage, which he had taken care should afford no clue
as to ownership, he also relinquished his beard and spectacles, and
returned to Paris as the well-known banker, Martin Rigal, the pretty
Flavia's father, having, as he thought, obliterated Mascarin as
completely as he had done Tantaine; but he had not noticed in the train
with him a very dark young man with piercing eyes, who looked like the
traveller of some respectable