After I came to this conclusion, I ended our conversation and left, leaving a small gold cigarette case on a table.
The next morning I came again to the minister’s house on the excuse of recovering my cigarette case.
Naturally, we resumed our conversation of the previous morning.
However, while we were talking, where was a loud noise, like that of someone firing a pistol, from the street outside.
This noise was immediately followed by screams and many shouts.
The minister rushed to a window, opened it, and looked out.
Quickly, I approached the card rack, withdrew the letter, and replaced it with one that I had carefully prepared the night before, even imitating the minister’s seal with a piece of bread.