Thedayafterthisconferencewasthe30thofApril，andtheCointetspresentedthefirstofthethreebillsforgedbyLucien。Unluckily，thebillwasbroughttopoorMme。Sechard；andshe，seeingatoncethatthesignaturewasnotinherhusband’shandwriting，sentforDavidandaskedhimpoint-blank：
“Youdidnotputyournametothatbill，didyou？“
“No。”saidhe；“yourbrotherwassopressedfortimethathesignedforme。”
EvereturnedthebilltothebankmessengersentbytheCointets。
“Wecannotmeetit。”shesaid；then，feelingthatherstrengthwasfailing，shewentuptoherroom。Davidfollowedher。