‘The paper concludes,’ continued Desgrais, ‘with an appeal to God respecting the sincerity of this request, and a half-implied malediction upon those who may refuse to grant it.’
‘I presume, monsieur, now that your curiosity is satisfied thus far, I may take the box with me to Madame de Brinvilliers,’ said Lachaussée.
‘Stop!’ replied the exempt, as the other stretched forth his hand, ‘here is another paper. It is a receipt for a sum of money delivered on account of work performed, and signed “Lachaussée.”’
As his name was pronounced, Lachaussée fell back from the table, and, muttering a few indistinct words, approached the door; but Desgrais cried out—
‘You appear interested in this affair, monsieur, and cannot yet leave us. Guards, place yourselves at the doorway, and let no one pass but with my orders.’
Two of the patrol who had entered with the exempt took up their station at the door, crossing their halberds before it. A dead silence reigned, and the curiosity of all was raised to the most painful intensity. Lachaussée leant back against the bureau, and folding his arms gazed steadily at the proceedings, but no visible token betrayed his emotion.
‘This affair requires some little extra investigation,’ said Desgrais. ‘This false lid must open with a spring, as there is neither lock nor handle to it.’ He held the cabinet up, and turning it round, discovered one of the studs that ornamented it of a darker colour than the rest, as if from constant handling. His experienced eye told him that this should be the one; he pressed it accordingly, and the partition turned up with a jerk against the side. A single and hurried expiration escaped his lips. He inverted the cabinet, and turned its contents on the table; they consisted of a number of little packets, boxes, and phials, mostly sealed up, and distinguished by various inscriptions.
‘“Sublimate!” “Vitrol!” “Opium!”’ exclaimed Desgrais, as he read each aloud. ‘Mort bleu! messieurs, we are about to make some strange discoveries!’
‘Will you allow me to pass,’ said Philippe Glazer to Desgrais, ‘I think there is no one below, and I fancied I heard the bell sound?’
‘Of course,’ replied the exempt; ‘but return as soon as you conveniently may. We shall, perhaps, hereafter need you as a witness to these revelations.’