nd I beg of you, as a favor, in advance, to spare yourself the
trouble, and me the pain, of reopening it."

If the speech, and the tone in which it was spoken, surprised me, I need
not state how overwhelming was my astonishment at the contents of the
document. I was absolutely stunned. The paper fell from my hands as
though they were paralyzed. Seeing my embarrassment, Lucile rose and
paced the room in an excited manner. Finally pausing, opposite my desk,
she inquired, "Do you require time to investigate the law?"

"Not an instant," said I, recovering my self-possession. "This paper is
not only illegal, but the execution of it an offense. It provides for
the perpetration of the crime of _mayhem_, and it is my duty, as a good
citizen, to arrest the wretch who can contemplate so heinous and inhuman
an act, without delay. See! he has even had the insolence to insert my
own name as paymaster for his villainy."

"I did not visit your office to hear my benefactor and friend insulted,"
ejaculated the girl, in a bitter and defiant tone. "I only came to get
an opinion on a matter of law."

"But this monster is insane, utterly crazy," retorted I. "He ought, this
moment, to be in a madhouse."

"Where they did put Tasso, and tried to put Galileo," she rejoined.

"In the name of the good God!" said I, solemnly, "are you in earnest?"

"Were I not, I should not be here."

"Then our conversation must terminate just where it began."

Lucile deliberately took her seat at my desk, and seizing a pen hastily
affixed her signature to the agreement, and rising, left the office
without uttering another syllable.

"I have, at least, the paper," thought I, "and that I intend to keep."

My plans were soon laid. I sat down and addressed a most pressing letter
to Mr. Courtland, informing him fully of the plot of the lunatic, for so
I then regarded him, and urged him to hasten to San Francisco without a
moment's delay. Then, seizing my hat, I made a most informal call on Dr.
White, and consulted him as to the best means of breaking through the
conspiracy. We agreed at once that, as Pollexfen had committed no overt
act in violation of law, he could not be legally arrested, but that
information must be lodged with the chief of police, requesting him to
detail a trustworthy officer, whose duty it should be to obey us
implicitly, and be ready to act at a moment's notice.

All this was done, and the officer duly assigned for duty. His name wa