"No, not the slightest. But you understand, monseigneur, that such acts do not go unpunished, and some day you will know who did it." "Oh! yes, certainly I shall know it some day, and I have taken precautions in abundance to that end; but I would have preferred to know it immediately." "Ah!" rejoined Cauvignac, pricking up his ears; "ah! you say you have taken precautions to that end, monseigneur?" "Yes, yes! And the villain," continued the duke, "will be very fortunate if my signature in blank doesn't lead to his being hanged." "Why, how can you distinguish that particular signature from all the other orders you give out, monseigneur?" "Because I made a private mark upon it." "A mark?" "Yes; an invisible mark, which I can render visible with the aid of a chemical process." "Well, well!" said Cauvignac, "that is certainly a most ingenious device, monseigneur; but you must be careful that he doesn't suspect the trap." "Oh! there's no danger of that; who do you think is likely to tell him of it?" "True! true!" replied Cauvignac; "not Nanon, surely, nor I--" "Nor I," said the duke. "Nor you. So you are right, monseigneur; you cannot fail to know some day who the man is, and then--" "Then, as I shall have kept my agreement with him, for he will have obtained whatever he chose to use the signature for, I will have him hanged." "_Amen!_" said Cauvignac. "And now," continued the duke, "as you can give me no information concerning the miscreant--" "No, monseigneur; in very truth, I cannot." "As I was saying, I will leave you with your sister.--Nanon, give the boy precise instructions, and above all things, see that he loses no time." "Never fear, monseigneur." "Adieu to you both." He waved his hand gracefully to Nanon, bestowed a friendly nod upon her brother, and descended the stairs, saying that he should probably return during the day. Nanon went with the duke to the head of the stairs. "_Peste!_" said Cauvignac to himself, "my gallant friend did well to warn me. Ah! he's no such fool as he seems. But what shall I do with his signature? _Dame!_ I'll do what I would do with a note; discount it." "Now, monsieur," said Nanon, returning, and closing the door behind her, "now let us understand each other." "My dear little sister," Cauvignac replied, "I came hither for the purpose of having a talk with you; but in order to talk at our ease, we must be seated. Sit you down, therefore, I beg." As he spoke, he drew a chair near to his own and motioned to Nanon that it was intended for her. Nanon seated herself with a frown, which augured ill for the harmony of the interview. "First of all," said she, "why are you not where you should be?" "Ah! my dear little sister, that is hardly courteous. If I were where I should be, I should not be here, and consequently you would not have the pleasure of seeing me." "Did you not wish to take orders?"