"Not in the least," Chesnel answered; "your old notary swears it by the Holy Gospels——"
He had nothing left to lose for the d'Esgrignons but his soul; he risked it now by this horrible perjury, but Mme. du Croisier must be deceived, there was no other choice but death. Without losing a moment, he dictated a form of receipt by which Mme. du Croisier acknowledged payment of a hundred thousand crowns five days before the fatal letter of exchange appeared; for he recollected that du Croisier was away from home, superintending improvements on his wife's property at the time.
"Now swear to me that you will declare before the examining magistrate that you received the money on that date," he said, when Mme. du Croisier had taken the notes and he held the receipt in his hand.
"It will be a lie, will it not?"
"Venial sin," said Chesnel.
"I could not do it without consulting my director, M. l'Abbe
Couturier."
"Very well," said Chesnel, "will you be guided entirely by his advice in this affair?"
"I promise that."
"And you must not give the money to M. du Croisier until you have been before the magistrate."
"No. Ah! God give me strength to appear in a Court of Justice and maintain a lie before men!"