"'A thousand thanks,' he joyfully cried. 'And so that you know my sister, look here.'
"He took out of his silk belt the half of a peculiarly formed bracelet, and handed it to me with the words:
"'Look at this bracelet! Whoever brings you the other half, receive in your house as a favor to me. I cannot leave the bracelet with you, but if you have a piece of wax I can make an impression which will answer the same purpose.'
"Wax was soon found, the broad gold plate, with its numerous hieroglyphics, was pressed in it, and after the impression had been secured the rajah hid the bracelet in his belt.
"'When can I get the pass?' he asked.
"'To-morrow morning. What name shall I put in?'
"'The name of my father—Jean d'Arras.'
"The rajah, upon my solicitation, threw himself on my bed and slept a few hours. As soon as the day dawned he left the house with me, enveloped in a wide mantle, and as we had no difficulty in getting the necessary passports from the prefecture, he was already that same morning on his way to Paris."
"Monsieur de Villefort," said D'Avigny, anxiously, "you are exerting yourself too much; postpone the continuation until to-morrow."
"No, no," replied Villefort, "I must speak to-day; to-morrow would be too late.