letter was from Castaing and said, "My dear friend, Ballet has
just died, but do nothing before to-morrow, Monday. I will see
you and tell you, yes or no, whether it is time to act. I expect
that his brother-in-law, M. Martignon, whose face is pock-marked
and who carries a decoration, will call and see you. I have said
that I did not know what dispositions Ballet may have made, but
that before his death he had told me to give you two little keys
which I am going to deliver to you myself to-morrow, Monday. I
have not said that we are cousins, but only that I had seen you
once or twice at Ballet's, with whom you were friendly. So say
nothing till I have seen you, but whatever you do, don't say you
are a relative of mine." When he returned to the hotel Castaing
found Martignon, Lebret, and one or two friends of Auguste
already assembled. It was only that morning that Martignon had
received from Castaing any intimation of his brother-in-law's
critical condition. From the first Castaing was regarded with
suspicion; the nature of the illness, the secrecy maintained
about it by Castaing, the coincidence of some of the
circumstances with those of the death of Hippolyte, all combined
to excite suspicion. Asked if Auguste had left a will Castaing
said no; but the next day he admitted its existence, and said
that it was in the hands of Malassis.

Monday, June 2, was the day fixed for the post-mortem; it was
performed in the hotel at Saint Cloud. Castaing was still in the
hotel under provisional arrest. While the post-mortem was going
on his agitation was extreme; he kept opening the door of the
room in which he was confined, to hear if possible some news of
the result. At last M. Pelletan obtained permission to inform
him of the verdict of the doctors. It was favourable to