He soon recovered himself.

'The letters,' said he in a short tone.

I handed them to him." "How!" cried old Tabaret, "these letters,--the true ones?
How imprudent!" "And why ?" "If he had--I don't know; but--" the old fellow hesitated.
The advocate laid his hand upon his friend's shoulder.

"I was there," said he in a hollow tone; "and I promise you the letters were in no danger." Noel's features assumed such an expression of ferocity that the old fellow was almost afraid, and recoiled instinctively.

"He would have killed him," thought he.
"That which I have done for you this evening, my friend," resumed the advocate, "I did for the viscount.