nd put the whole thing in his pocket.
M. Nicole, who was looking at him, asked:

"Are you convinced?"

"Absolutely."

"Then we are agreed?"

"We are agreed."

There was a pause, during which the two men watched each other without
appearing to. M. Nicole seemed to be waiting for the conversation to be
resumed. Prasville, sheltered behind the piles of books on the table,
sat with one hand grasping his revolver and the other touching the push
of the electric bell. He felt the whole strength of his position with a
keen zest. He held the list. He held Lupin:

"If he moves," he thought, "I cover him with my revolver and I ring. If
he attacks me, I shoot."

And the situation appeared to him so pleasant that he prolonged it, with
the exquisite relish of an epicure.

In the end, M. Nicole took up the threads:

"As we are agreed, monsieur le secretaire-general, I think there is
nothing left for you to do but to hurry. Is the execution to take place
to-morrow?"

"Yes, to-morrow."

"In that case, I shall wait here."

"Wait for what?"

"The answer from the Elysee."

"Oh, is some one to bring you an answer?"

"Yes."

"You, monsieur le secretaire-general."

Prasville shook his head:

"You must not count on me, M. Nicole."

"Really?" said M. Nicole, with an air of surprise. "May I ask the
reason?"

"I have changed my mind."

"Is that all?"

"That's all. I have come to the conclusion that, as things stand, after
this last scandal, it is impossible to try to do anything in Gilbert's
favour. Besides, an attempt in this direction at the Elysee, under
present conditions, would constitute a regular case of blackmail, to
which I absolutely decline to lend myself."

"You are free to do as you please, monsieur. Your scruples do you
honour, though they come rather late, for they did not trouble you
yesterday. But, in that case, monsieur le secretaire-general, as
the compact between us is destroyed, give me back the list of the
Twenty-seven."

"What for?"

"So that I may apply to another spokesman."

"What's the good? Gilbert is lost."

"Not at all, not at all. On the contrary, I consider that, now that his
accomplice is dead, it will be much easier to grant him a pardon which
everybody will look upon as fair and humane. Give me back the list."

"Upon my word, monsieur, you have a short memory and none too nice a
conscience. Have you forgotten your promise of yesterday?"

"Yesterday, I made a promise to