“You’ve said it, monsieur. You know that the greatness of our end excuses the means which we are sometimes compelled to employ. If we employ them in your case, you will have yourself to thank for it.”
“I shall,” said Ralph.
Beaumagnan opened the door and said to the servant: “Show this gentleman out.”
Ralph bowed to his three enemies and went across the hall. The servant opened the door with the peep-hole in it.
“Half a minute, my man,” said Ralph.
He went lightly back to the door of the study, opened it to find the three confederates conferring, and with his hand on the handle of the door, and the path of escape clear, said in the most amiable accents:
“With regard to that famous compromising letter, I think I ought to tell you that I did not really take a copy of it, and that consequently my friend does not hold the original. And do you really think that that story about his walking up and down in front of the Prefecture, ready to dash in, if I don’t turn up at a quarter to five, sounds probable? Good-by, gentlemen. Sleep well. I’m looking forward to our next meeting.”
He slammed the door in Beaumagnan’s face and gained the street before he got it open.
He had won the second battle.