Monsieur de Lamotte; but before executing this last crime, he wished for
some proof of the recent pretended agreements between himself and Madame
de Lamotte. He would not wait for the disappearance of the whole family
before presenting himself as the lawful proprietor, of Buisson-Souef.
Prudence required him to shelter himself behind a deed which should have
been executed by that lady. On February 27th he appeared at the office
of Madame de Lamotte's lawyer in the rue du Paon, and, with all the
persuasion of an artful tongue, demanded the power of attorney on that
lady's behalf, saying that he had, by private contract, just paid a
hundred thousand livres on the total amount of purchase, which money was
now deposited with a notary. The lawyer, much astonished that an affair
of such importance should have been arranged without any reference to
himself, refused to give up the deed to anyone but Monsieur or Madame de
Lamotte, and inquired why the latter did not appear herself. Derues
replied that she was at Versailles, and that he was to send the deed to
her there. He repeated his request and the lawyer his refusal, until
Derues retired, saying he would find means to compel him to give up the
deed. He actually did, the same day, present a petition to the civil
authority, in which Cyrano Derues de Bury sets forth arrangements, made
with Madame de Lamotte, founded on the deed given by her husband, and
requires permission to seize and withdraw said deed from the custody in
which it remains at present. The petition is granted. The lawyer
objects that he can only give up the deed to either Monsieur or Madame de
Lamotte, unless he be otherwise ordered. Derues has the effrontery to
again appeal to the civil authority, but, for the reasons given by that
public officer, the affair is adjourned.

These two futile efforts might have compromised Derues had they been
heard of at Buisson-Souef; but everything seemed to conspire in the
criminal's favour: neither the schoolmaster's wife nor the lawyer thought