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ant to do so； and a special peculiarity of this dismal story is the avarice of the man； the passion for money which overruled all his actions； and occasionally caused him to neglect necessary prudence。 Enriched by three bankruptcies； by continual thefts； by usury； the gold he acquired promptly seemed to disappear。 He stuck at nothing to obtain it； and once in his grasp； he never let it go again。 Frequently he risked the loss of his character for honest dealing rather than relinquish a fraction of his wealth。 According to many credible people； it was generally believed by his contemporaries that this monster possessed treasures which he had buried in the ground； the hiding…place of which no one knew； not even his wife。 Perhaps it is only a vague and unfounded rumour； which should be rejected； or is it； perhaps； a truth which failed to reveal itself ？ It would be strange if after the lapse of half a century the hiding…place were to open and give up the fruit of his rapine。 Who knows whether some of this treasure； accidentally discovered； may not have founded fortunes whose origin is unknown； even to their possessors？
Although it was of the utmost importance not to arouse Monsieur de Lamotte's suspicions just at the moment when he ought to be paying him so large a sum； Derues was actually at this time being sued by his creditors。 But in those days ordinary lawsuits had no publicity； they struggled and died between the magistrates and advocates without causing any sound。 In order to escape the arrest and detention with which he was threatened； he took refuge at Buisson…Souef with his family； and remained there from Whitsuntide till the end of November。 After being treated all this time as a friend； Derues departed for Paris； in order； he said； to receive an inheritance which would enable him to pay the required purchase…money。
This pretended inheritance was that of one of his wife's relations； Monsieur Despeignes…Duplessis； who had been murdered in his country house； near Beauvais。 It has been strongly suspected that Derues was guilty of this crime。 There are； however； no positive proofs； and we prefer only to class it as a simple possibility。
Derues had made formal promises to Monsieur de Lamotte； and it was no longer possible for him to elude them。 Either the payment must now be made； or the contract annulled。 A new correspondence began between the creditors and the debtor； friendly letters were exchanged； full of protestations on one side and confidence on the other。 But all Derues' skill could only obtain a delay of a few months。 At length Monsieur de Lamotte； unable to leave Buisson…Souef himself； on account of important business which required his presence； gave his wife a power of attorney； consented to another separation； and sent her to Paris； accompanied by Edouard； and as if to hasten their misfortunes； sent notice of their coming to the expectant murderer。
We have passed quickly over the interval between the first meeting of Monsieur de Lamotte and Derues； and the moment when the victims fell into the trap： we might easily have invented long conversations； and episodes which would have brought Derues' profound hypocrisy into greater relief； but the reader now knows all that we care to show him。 We have purposely lingered in our narration in the endeavour to explain the perversities of this mysterious organisation； we have over…loaded it with all the facts which seem to throw any light upon this sombre character。 But now； after these long preparations； the drama opens； the scenes become rapid and lifelike； events； long impeded； accumulate and pass quickly before us； the action is connected and hastens to an end。 We shall see Derues like an unwearied Proteus； changing names； costumes； language； multiplying himself in many forms； scattering deceptions and lies from one end of France to the other； and finally； after so many efforts； such prodigies of calculation and activity； end by wrecking himself against a corpse。
The letter written at Buisson…Souef arrived at Paris the morning of the 14th of December。 In the course of the day an unknown man presented himself at the hotel where Madame de Lamotte and her son had stayed before； and inquired what rooms were vacant。 There were four； and he engaged them for a certain Dumoulin； who had arrived that morning from Bordeaux； and who had passed through Paris in order to meet； at some little distance； relations who would return with him。 A part of the rent was paid in advance； and it was expressly stipulated that until his return the rooms should not be let to anyone； as the aforesaid Dumoulin might return with his family and require them at any moment。 The same person went to other hotels in the neighbourhood and engaged vacant rooms； sometimes for a stranger he expected； sometimes for friends whom he could not accommodate himself。
At about three o'clock； the Place de Greve was full of people； thousands of heads crowded the windows of the surrounding houses。 A parricide was to pay the penalty of his crimea crime committed under atrocious circumstances； with an unheard…of refinement of barbarity。 The punishment corresponded to the crime： the wretched man was broken on the wheel。 The most complete and terrible silence prevailed in the multitude eager for ghastly emotions。 Three times already had been heard the heavy thud of the instrument which broke the victim's limbs； and a loud cry escaped the sufferer which made all who heard it shudder with horror； One man only； who； in spite of all his efforts； could not get through the crowd and cross the square； remained unmoved； and looking contemptuously towards the criminal； muttered； 〃Idiot！ he was unable to deceive anyone！〃
A few moments later the flames began to rise from the funeral pile； the crowd began to move； and the than was able to make his way through and reach one of the streets leading out of the square。
The sky was overcast； and the grey daylight hardly penetrated the narrow lane； hideous and gloomy as the name it bore； and which； only a few years ago； still wound like a long serpent through the mire of this quarter。 Just then it was deserted； owing to the attraction of the execution close by。 The man who had just left the square proceeded slowly； attentively reading all the inscriptions on the doors。 He stopped at Number 75； where on the threshold of a shop sat a stout woman busily knitting； over whom one read in big yellow letters； 〃Widow Masson。〃 He saluted the woman； and asked
〃Is there not a cellar to let in this house？〃
〃There is； master；〃 answered the widow。
〃Can I speak to the owner？〃
〃And that is myself； by your leave。〃
〃Will you show me the cellar？ I am a provincial wine merchant； my business often brings me to Paris； and I want a cellar where I could deposit wine which I sell on commission。〃
They went down together。 After examining the place； and ascertaining that it was not too damp for the expensive wine which he wished to leave there； the man agreed about the rent； paid the first term in advance； and was entered on the widow Masson's books under the name of Ducoudray。 It is hardly necessary to remark that it should have been Derues。
When he