Melmotte opened the bag, and examined the documents one by one. It had been necessary that Marie should sign her name some half-dozen times, and Marie's father had made all the necessary forgeries. It had been of course necessary that each name should be witnessed;--but here the forger had scamped his work. Croll's name he had written five times; but one forged signature he had left unattested! Again he had himself been at fault. Again he had aided his own ruin by his own carelessness. One seems inclined to think sometimes that any fool might do an honest business. But fraud requires a man to be alive and wide awake at every turn!

Melmotte opened the bag, and examined all the documents. It had been necessary that Marie should sign her name some half-dozen times, and Marie's father had made all the necessary forgeries. It had of course been necessary that each name should be witnessed; but here the forger had left one signature undone! He had aided his own ruin by his carelessness.
