n declare that I gave the true Gabrielle de Nevers
to her mother. I have the page torn from the register of the chapel of
Caylus in this sealed packet." As he spoke he held out a small sealed
packet, which he had drawn from his breast.

The king turned to Lagardere. "What do you say to this?"

Lagardere answered: "That I have kept my word. I have given back her
daughter to the princess. I will now unmask the murderer."

Again the king questioned him: "Where are your witnesses?"

Lagardere turned and pointed with his drawn sword to Gonzague: "You are
the first."

Gonzague, trying hard to recover his composure, raged at him: "Madman!"

Lagardere turned to the king and spoke more solemnly: "The second is in
the grave."

Gonzague laughed. "The dead cannot speak."

Lagardere still looked menacingly at Gonzague. "To-night the dead will
speak. The proofs of your guilt are in that sealed packet, stolen from me
by assassins in your pay."

Gonzague turned to the king, protesting: "Sire!"

Lagardere interrupted him: "Monseigneur, he is going to say that that
packet contains only the birth-lines of Mademoiselle de Nevers--but
there is more than that."

Louis of Orleans turned his steady gaze on Louis of Gonzague, and read
little to comfort him in the twitching face of his life-long friend.
"Break the seals, Louis," he commanded.

Lagardere spoke, exultingly: "Yes, break the seals and read your doom,
assassin. The packet contains only the birth-lines of Mademoiselle de
Nevers, but still it contains the proof I ask. As Nevers lay dying in my
arms, he dipped his finger in his blood and traced on the parchment the
name of his murderer. Open the packet and see what name is there."

Now, while he was speaking, Gonzague began to tremble like a man that has
the trembling sickness; but as Lagardere continued he seemed by a
desperate effort to stiffen himself, and, moving slowly, unobserved by
those present, who were for the most part busy with looking upon
Lagardere, he neared a candelabrum. As Lagardere uttered his last
command, Gonzague thrust the packet that he held into the flame of the
candle, and in a moment the flame ran along the paper, lapping it and
consuming it. The king and Lagardere both saw the despairing deed.

The king was the first to speak. "Louis!" he cried, and could say no
more.

Gonzague dropped the burning paper from his fingers, and it fell in ashes
upon the floor.

Lagardere lifted his sword in t