M. de Villefaramir and Valartine accompanied him to the old man's appartements. Dénéthoirtier's faithful servant Barahier was already present, and held a mysterious document of whose existence only he and Dénéthoirtier knew. At a commanding smoke-ring from him who still conserved a fierce intelligence under the guise of a Solanacean, Barahier handed the document to Arafrantz.
On the envelope, Arafrantz read the words:
"To be deposed after my death to General Du Smiau, who will transmit it to his heirs, with the injunction to conserve it as containing papers of the utmost importance."
"Read," puffed the potato.
Arafrantz opened the envelope, and a great silence filled the chamber. He read aloud: "Extract from the procès-verbaux of a meeting of the Sharcoléonist Club, rue St.-Figuet, held the 5 Nénimôse, 1815." He stopped. "That is the day my father was assassinated!" he cried.
"Continue," said the old man's smoke-ring.
