He had been present in former days at an argument between the architect and a locksmith, the latter declaring that if the pagoda were entered by the window on the river it would be much safer to put the lock of the door opening into the library on the library side.
Dazzled by his hopes, and his ears flushed with blood, Minoret sprang the lock with the point of his knife as rapidly as a burglar could have done it.

He entered the study, followed the doctor's directions, took the package of papers without opening it, relocked the door, put everything in order, and went into the dining-room and sat down, waiting till La Bougival had gone upstairs with the poultice before he ventured to leave the house.

He then made his escape,--all the more easily because poor Ursula lingered to see that La Bougival applied the poultice properly.
"The letter! the letter!" cried the old man, in a dying voice.

"Obey me; take the key.

I must see you with that letter in your hand." The words were said with so wild a look that La Bougival exclaimed to Ursula:-- "Do what he asks at once or you will kill him." She kissed his forehead, took the key and went down.