fall into the traps he prepared and in unveiling the mysteries of a plot whose political significance seemed entirely indifferent to him. With the keenest anticipation he awaited the time when Mme. de Combray's letters to Bonnoeil and "Tourlour" should be handed to him. He had to be patient till next day, and this first letter told nothing; the Marquise gave her accomplices a sketch of her examination, and did it so artfully that Licquet suspected her of having known that the letter was to pass through his hands. The same day the concierge gave him another letter as insignificant as the first, which, however, ended with this sentence, whose perusal puzzled Licquet: "Do you not know that Tourlour's brother has burnt the muslin fichu?" "Tourlour's brother"--that was d'Ache. Had he recently returned to Tournebut? Was he still there? Another letter, given to the gaoler by Bonnoeil, answered these questions affirmatively. It was addressed to a man of business named Legrand in the Rue Cauchoise, and ran thus: "I implore you to start at once for Tournebut without telling any one of the object of your journey; go to Grosmenil (the little chateau), see the woman Bachelet, and burn everything she may have that seems suspicious; you will do us a great service. Return this letter to me. Tell Soyer that if any one asks if M. d'Ache has returned, it is two years since he was seen at Tournebut." That same evening the order for Soyer's arrest was sent to Gaillon, and twelve hours later he also was in the Conciergerie at Rouen. This did not prevent Bonnoeil's writing to him the next day, Licquet, as may be imagined, not having informed the prisoners of his arrest. "I beg you, my dear Soyer, to look in the two or three desks in my mother's room, and see if you cannot find anything that could compromise her, above all any of M. Delorieres' (d'Ache's) writing. Destroy it all. If you are asked how long it is since M. Delorieres was at Tournebut, say he has not been there for nearly two years. Tell this to Collin, to Catin, and to the yard girl...."