I was exasperated at the man's insolence, and replied hotly, 'If you want to save your master from a terrible misfortune, go and tell him that a man has brought him the rough draft of the letter he wrote a little time back at the _Cafe Semblon_.' The man obeyed me without a word, no doubt impressed by the earnestness of my manner.

My message must have caused intense consternation, for in a moment the footman reappeared, and, in an obsequious manner, said, 'Follow at once, sir; my master is waiting for you.' He led me into a large room, magnificently furnished as a library, and in the centre of this room stood the man of the _Cafe Semblon_.

His face was deadly pale, and his eyes blazed with fury.

I was so agitated that I could hardly speak.
"'You have picked up the scraps of paper I threw away ?' exclaimed he.
"I nodded, and showed him the fragments fastened on to the sheet of note-paper.
"'How much do you want for that ?' asked he.

'I will give you a thousand francs.' "I declare to you, gentlemen, that up to this time I had no intention of making money by the secret.