Ralph seized the rings with a trembling hand. Each of them had indeed a name engraved on its inside. On a scrap of paper he wrote quickly down the names of the seven abbeys: Fécamp, Saint Wandrille, Jumièges, Valmont, Gruchet le Valasse, Montvilliers, Saint-Georges de Boscherville. Beaumagnan rang the bell. But when the servant came he bade him wait in the hall, and turning to Ralph, he said: “Just one thing more: I’ll make you an offer. You know the task we have set ourselves. You know exactly the point to which our efforts have brought us, and that the end is not so very far off?” “That is my opinion,” said Ralph. “Well, do you feel disposed--I’m not going to beat about the bush--to cast in your lot with us?” “On the same terms as your friends?” “No. On same terms as myself.” The offer was bona fide; Ralph felt that it was; he was flattered by the tribute. Perhaps he would have accepted it, if it had not been for Josephine. But any alliance between her and Beaumagnan was out of the question. “Thank you,” he said gravely. “But for reasons into which I cannot enter, I must refuse.” “You are an enemy then?” “No, monsieur, a competitor.” “No: an enemy,” Beaumagnan insisted. “And as such liable----” “Liable to be treated as was the Countess of Cagliostro,” Ralph interjected. “You’ve said it, monsieur. You know that the greatness of our end excuses the means which we are sometimes compelled to employ. If we employ them in your case, you will have yourself to thank for it.” “I shall,” said Ralph. Beaumagnan opened the door and said to the servant: “Show this gentleman out.” Ralph bowed to his three enemies and went across the hall. The servant opened the door with the peep-hole in it. “Half a minute, my man,” said Ralph. He went lightly back to the door of the study, opened it to find the three confederates conferring, and with his hand on the handle of the door, and the path of escape clear, said in the most amiable accents: “With regard to that famous compromising letter, I think I ought to tell you that I did not really take a copy of it, and that consequently my friend does _not_ hold the original. And do you really think that that story about his walking up and down in front of the Prefecture, ready to dash in, if I don’t turn up at a quarter to five, sounds probable? Good-by, gentlemen. Sleep well. I’m looking forward to our next meeting.” He slammed the door in Beaumagnan’s face and gained the street before he got it open. He had won the second battle. * * * * * At the end of the street Josephine was waiting for him in a cab. “Drive to Saint Lazare station, main line departure platform,” he said to the cabman. He jumped into the cab, quivering with delight, and said in the accents of a conqueror: “Here you are, darling--the seven indispensable names. Here’s the list of them. Take it.” “And now?” she said.