ust you absolutely, M. Jolly, you have all my business in your hands,
and I shall be a good client in the future. You have the power of
attorney--you will give it to me?" and he rattled the coins in his
hat. "I must have it," he went on, "I must have it at any price at any
price," and again the coins danced in his hat, while his eyes looked
knowingly at the proctor. M. Jolly saw his meaning, and his surprise
turned to indignation. He told Derues bluntly that he did not believe
his story, that until he was convinced of its truth he would not part
with the power of attorney, and showed the confounded grocer the door.

Derues hastened home filled with wrath, and took counsel with his friend
Bertin. Bertin knew something of legal process; they would try whether
the law could not be invoked to compel Jolly to surrender the power of
attorney. Bertin went off to the Civil Lieutenant and applied for an
order to oblige M. Jolly to give up the document in question. An order
was made that Jolly must either surrender it into the hands of Derues or
appear before a referee and show cause why he should not comply with
the order. Jolly refused still to give it up or allow a copy of it to be
made, and agreed to appear before the referee to justify his action. In
the meantime Derues, greatly daring, had started for Buisson-Souef to
try what "bluff" could do in this serious crisis in his adventure.

At Buisson-Souef poor M. de Lamotte waited, puzzled and distressed,
for news from his wife. On Saturday, 17th, the day after the return of
Derues from Versailles, he heard from Mme. Derues that his wife had left
Paris and gone with her son to Versailles. A second letter told him that
she had completed the sale of Buisson-Souef to Derues, and was still at
Versailles trying to obtain some post for the boy. On February 19 Mme.
Derues wrote again expressing surprise that M. de Lamotte had not had
any letter from his wife and asking if he had received some oysters
which the Derues had sent him. The distracted husband was in no mood for
oysters. "Do not send me oysters," he writes, "I am too ill with worry.
I thank you for all your kindness to my son. I love him better than
myself, and God grant he will be good and grateful." The only reply he
received from the Derues was an assurance that he would see his wife
again in a few days.

The days passed, but Mme. de Lamotte made no sign. About four o'clock on
the afternoon of February 28, Derues, accomp