"So that I might leave Morocco to France?" said the stranger, with a burst of laughter. The idea which Lupin was suggesting struck him as the most comical thing that he had ever heard; and he laughed heartily. The disparity was so great between the object aimed at and the means proposed! "Of course, of course!" he resumed, with a vain attempt to recover his seriousness. "Of course, it's a very original idea: the whole of modern politics upset so that Arsène Lupin may be free! . . . The plans of the Empire destroyed so that Arsène Lupin may continue his exploits! . . . Why not ask me for Alsace and Lorraine at once?" "I did think of it, Sire," replied Lupin, calmly. The stranger's merriment increased: "Splendid! And you let me off?" "This time, yes." Lupin had crossed his arms. He, too, was amusing himself by exaggerating the part which he was playing; and he continued, with affected seriousness: "A series of circumstances might one day arise which would put in my hands the power of _demanding_ and _obtaining_ that restitution. When that day comes, I shall certainly not fail to do so. For the moment, the weapons at my disposal oblige me to be more modest. Peace in Morocco will satisfy me." "Just that?" "Just that." "Morocco against your liberty!" "Nothing more . . . or, rather--for we must not lose sight entirely of the main object of this conversation--or, rather, a little good will on the part of one of the countries in question . . . and, in exchange, the surrender of the letters which are in my power." "Those letters, those letters!" muttered the stranger irritably. "After all, perhaps they are not so valuable. . . ." "There are some in your own hand, Sire; and you considered them valuable enough to come to this cell. . . ." "Well, what does it matter?" "But there are others of which you do not know the authorship and about which I can give you a few particulars." "Oh, indeed!" said the stranger, rather anxiously. Lupin hesitated. "Speak, speak plainly," said the stranger. "Say what you have in your mind." In the profound silence of the cell, Lupin declared, with a certain solemnity: "Twenty years ago a draft treaty was prepared between Germany, Great Britain, and France." "That's not true! It's impossible! Who could have done such a thing?" "The Emperor's father and the Queen of England, his grandmother, both acting under the influence of the Empress Frederick." "Impossible! I repeat, it is impossible!" "The correspondence is in the hiding-place at Veldenz Castle; and I alone know the secret of the hiding-place." The stranger walked up and down with an agitated step. Then he stopped short: "Is the text of the treaty included in that correspondence?" "Yes, Sire. It is in your father's own hand." "And what does it say?"