But when the period agreed on arrived, towards the middle of 1776, Derues found it impossible to pay.  It is certain that he never meant 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.