false bottom came out, and they saw a
bundle of papers tied with a black string.

"Is that what you wish for?" said Barrois.

"Yes."

"Shall I give these papers to M. de Villefort?"

"No."

"To Mademoiselle Valentine?"

"No."

"To M. Franz d'Epinay?"

"Yes."

Franz, astonished, advanced a step. "To me, sir?" said he.

"Yes." Franz took them from Barrois and casting a glance at the cover,
read:--

"'To be given, after my death, to General Durand, who shall bequeath the
packet to his son, with an injunction to preserve it as containing an
important document.'

"Well, sir," asked Franz, "what do you wish me to do with this paper?"

"To preserve it, sealed up as it is, doubtless," said the procureur.

"No," replied Noirtier eagerly.

"Do you wish him to read it?" said Valentine.

"Yes," replied the old man. "You understand, baron, my grandfather
wishes you to read this paper," said Valentine.

"Then let us sit down," said Villefort impatiently, "for it will take
some time."

"Sit down," said the old man. Villefort took a chair, but Valentine
remained standing by her father's side, and Franz before him, holding
the mysterious paper in his hand. "Read," said the old man. Franz untied
it, and in the midst of the most profound silence read:

"'Extract from the Report of a meeting of the Bonapartist Club in the
Rue Saint-Jacques, held February 5th, 1815.'"

Franz stopped. "February 5th, 1815!" said he; "it is the day my father
was murdered." Valentine and Villefort were dumb; the eye of the old man
alone seemed to say clearly, "Go on."

"But it was on leaving this club," said he, "my father disappeared."
Noirtier's eye continued to say, "Read." He resumed:--

"'The undersigned Louis Jacques Beaurepaire, lieutenant-colonel of
artillery, Etienne Duchampy, general of brigade, and Claude Lecharpal,
keeper of woods and forests, Declare, that on the 4th of February, a
letter arrived from the Island of Elba, recommending to the kindness and
the confidence of the Bonapartist Club, General Flavien de Quesnel, who
having served the emperor from 1804. to 1814 was supposed to be devoted
to the interests of the Napoleon dynasty, notwithstanding the title
of baron which Louis XVIII. had just granted to him with his estate of
Epinay.

"'A note was in consequence addressed to General de Quesnel, begging
him to be present at the meeting next day, the 5th. The note indicated
neither the street nor the number of the