I am without a son and too badly dressed to go before the banker in the very likely case of his arrival here.  Send me my baggage at once with the first steamer, and mark each piece “fragile.”  This is all.  My regards to Madame Lapierre and your son.  I am cordially yours, squeezing your hand.

    PEDRO S. DE MORENO.

But the Lapierres and Tessiers, while not for an instant distrusting the honesty of the General, had become extremely weary of sending him money.  Each heir felt that he had contributed enough toward the General’s “expenses and invitations.”  Even the one hundred and fifty millions within easy reach did not prompt immediate response.

About the same time an extraordinary messenger arrived at the Lapierre farm, purporting to come from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and instructing Lapierre to repair immediately to Paris.  The messenger explained that the presence of Lapierre was desired at the Ministry in connection with some investigation then in progress into the affairs of one Jean Tessier.  Then the messenger departed as mysteriously as he had arrived.

Good M. Lapierre was highly excited.  Here was indubitable evidence of the truth of the General’s assertions.  But, just as the latter had intended, perhaps, the worthy farmer jumped to the conclusion that probably the messenger from Paris had been sent by the conspirators.

“At the last moment,” wrote Lapierre to Moreno, “I received from Paris a letter commanding me to go to the Ministry, and at the same time a telegram recommending that I leave at once.  I shall write you from Paris all that I learn to your interest.  If this letter should not reach you sealed in red wax, with small indentations made with a sewing thimble and my initials, which I always sign, it is that our correspondence is seized and read.”

Events followed in rapid succession.  Lapierre, the Tessiers, including the little blacksmith, became almost hysterical with excitement.  A gentleman, by name “Mr. Francis Delas,” called upon Lapierre and offered him twenty-five million dollars spot cash for his wife’s share in the Tessier inheritance.  This person also claimed that he had a power of attorney from all the other heirs, with the exception of Pettit and Rozier, and asserted that he was on the point of embarking for New York in their interest.  He urged Lapierre to substitute him for Moreno.  But Lapierre, now convinced that everything was as the General had claimed it to be, indignantly rejected any such proposition aimed at his old friend, and sent Mr. Francis Delas packing about his business.

“This is what my answer has been to him:  ’Sir, we have already an agent with whom we can only have cause to be satisfied, so that your services are not acceptable or needed.’  He left me most dissatisfied and scolding.”

The sending of this confederate on the part of the wily General had precisely the effect hoped for.