“Speak!” growled Beaumagnan. “But on condition that it is a definite proof against us. We’ve had enough of accusations. With regard to the matter of the Countess and the view that justice may take of it, I’ll attend to that. But I want a proof which proves to me that I’m not wasting my time discussing the matter with you. A proof at once--if not----” He rose from his chair. Ralph rose too and faced him with imperious gripping eyes. “Proof or death--that’s what you mean, isn’t it?” he said. “Yes.” “Well, my answer is: the seven rings! At once! If not----” “If not?” “My friend hands over to the chief commissioner the letter which you wrote to the Baron d’Etigues, instructing him how to capture Josephine Balsamo and ordering him to murder her.” Beaumagnan pretended to be surprised: “A letter? Instructions to murder?” he said. Ralph went into details; he said: “Yes, a letter in a kind of code, in which you get at the real meaning by ignoring a number of interposed sentences.” “Oh, that scrawl--I remember--yes,” said Beaumagnan carelessly. “A scrawl which constitutes the irrefutable proof you asked for,” said Ralph coldly. “Of course--of course--I admit it,” said Beaumagnan ironically. “Only I’m not a schoolboy; and I take precautions. That letter was given back to me by the Baron at the beginning of the meeting. I burned it.” “You burned the copy that was given to you. I took the precaution of keeping the original myself. I found it in the secret drawer of the Baron’s roll-top desk. It is the original that my friend will hand over to the police.” The ring that had formed round Ralph broke. The savage faces of the Baron and his cousins no longer expressed anything but fear and anguish. Ralph gathered that the duel was at an end, and that without any real struggle--just a few feints and thrusts and parries. He had handled the affair with such skill and by his adroitness manœuvred Beaumagnan into such a tragic situation, that, in the condition of mind in which he found himself, he could no longer get a clear view of the facts or discern his adversary’s weak points. For after all, with regard to this letter of which Ralph declared he had the original: on what did that assertion rest? On nothing whatever. So that it had finally come about that Beaumagnan, after having demanded of Ralph an irrefutable proof before giving way, had by a singular anomaly, under the young man’s adroit pressure, remained quite content with his bare assertion. He gave ground quite suddenly without any effort to make terms. He opened a drawer, took out the seven rings, and said simply: “What assurance have I that you will not use that letter against us?” “You have my word, monsieur,” said Ralph. “Besides, where we are concerned circumstances never repeat themselves exactly--next time you will find a way of getting the upper hand.” “You may be sure of that, young man,” said Beaumagnan; and he ground his teeth.