"Have you any choice?"
"That's true. Hand me the cheques."
She unfastened Lupin's right hand, gave him a pen and said:
"Don't forget that the four cheques require four different signatures and that the handwriting has to be altered in each case."
"Never fear."
He signed the cheques.
"Gabriel," said the widow, "it is ten o'clock. If I am not back by twelve, it will mean that this scoundrel has played me one of his tricks. At twelve o'clock, blow out his brains. I am leaving you the revolver with which your uncle shot himself. There are five bullets left out of the six. That will be ample."
She left the room, humming a tune as she went.
Lupin mumbled:
"I wouldn't give twopence for my life."