"Well," said he, "what have you to say against this letter? Is it not couched in well-turned phrase? If you thought so, I should be very sorry for you, for it would prove that your literary taste is vitiated." "This is not a question of the composition, monsieur, but of the fact itself. Did you, or did you not write this letter?" "Unquestionably I did. If I had proposed to deny the fact, I should have disguised my handwriting; but it was useless. I have never intended to hide it from you; indeed, I was anxious that you should recognize the letter, as coming from me." "Oh!" exclaimed Nanon, with a horrified gesture, "you admit it!" "It is a last relic of humility, dear sister; yes, I may as well tell you that I was actuated by a desire for revenge--" "Revenge?" "Yes, most naturally--" "Revenge upon me, you wretch! Pray, consider what you are saying. What injury have I ever done you that the thought of seeking revenge should enter your mind?" "What have you done to me? Ah! Nanon, put yourself in my place. I left Paris because I had too many enemies there; 't is the misfortune of all men who dabble in politics. I returned to you--I implored you. Do you remember? You received three letters,--you won't say that you did not recognize my hand; it was precisely the same as in this anonymous letter, and furthermore, those letters were signed,--I wrote you three letters, begging for a hundred beggarly pistoles--a hundred pistoles! to you, who had millions, it was the merest trifle. But a hundred pistoles, as you know, is my favorite figure. Very good; my sister ignored me! I presented myself at my sister's house; my sister's door was closed in my face! Naturally, I made inquiries. 'Perhaps she is in want,' I said to myself;'if so, this is the time to show her that her benefactions have not fallen on stony soil. Perhaps she is no longer free; in that case her treatment of me is pardonable.' You see my heart sought excuses for you, until I learned that my sister was free, happy, wealthy, and rich--rich, richer, richest!--and that one Baron de Canolles, a stranger, had usurped my privileges, and was enjoying her protection in my place. Thereupon jealousy turned my head." "Say cupidity. You sold me to Monsieur d'Épernon as you sold Mademoiselle de Chevreuse to the coadjutor! What business was it of yours, I pray to know, that I was on friendly terms with Monsieur le Baron de Canolles?" "What business was it of mine? None at all, and I should not even have thought of interfering if you had continued to be on friendly terms with me." "Do you know that if I were to say a single word to Monsieur d'Épernon, if I should tell him the whole truth, you would be lost?" "Certainly." "You heard with your own ears from his mouth a moment since, what fate is in store for the man who extorted that signature in blank from him."