Then, stopping Owen: "Give me the letter which you were bringing me, and wait here."
"How did you know I had a letter?" asked Owen, bewildered.
Dubois shrugged his shoulders, took the letter, and disappeared.
In his room he examined the seal; the chevalier, who had no wax, had used that on the bottle, and had sealed it with the stone of a ring.
Dubois held the letter above the candle, and the wax melted. He opened the letter and read:
"Dear Helene—Your courage has doubled mine; manage so that I can enter the house, and you shall know my plans."
"Oh!" said Dubois, "it seems she does not know them yet. Things are not as far advanced as I supposed."
He resealed the letter with one of the numerous rings which he wore, and which resembled that of the chevalier, and calling Owen—
"Here," said he, "is your master's letter; deliver it faithfully, bring me the answer, and you shall have ten louis."
"Ah!" thought Owen, "has this man a mine of gold?" And he went off.