harry potter - Why did R.A.B. put the locket back in the basin?

This question led me to asking this one. R.A.B. takes the "real" locket out and asks Kreacher to destroy it, then puts the "fake" locket back in the basin. Why would he feel the need to do this? He knows already that Voldemort has used someone else to drink the potion (Kreacher). In fact Kreacher's story to him about his mistreatment on the island seems to push him over the edge to act.

Instead of assuring that someone else (most likely innocent like Kreacher) would have to drink from the basin, why not just leave the note outside the basin for someone to find? If Voldemort finds it then so be it, at least then no presumably innocent person would have to drink again.

Answer

May have been to delay the discovery of the theft until it was too late (e.g. till he could destroy the Horcrux). Although other people had to drink the potion to reveal the contents of the basin, as Dumbledore's quote suggests:

"Yes, I think so: only by drinking it can I empty the basin and see what lies in its depths."

Voldemort himself did not (emphasis mine):

"...for a second he looked down upon a basin whose potion had turned clear, and saw that no golden locket lay safe beneath the surface—"

Voldemort turned the potion clear, therefore a locket that was placed at the bottom that looked just like the original may have satisfied him, without forcing the potion to be drank.

Also, the replacement locket contained a message/taunt to Voldemort:

"To the Dark Lord
I know I will be dead long before you read this but I want you to know that it was I who discovered your secret. I have stolen the real Horcrux and intend to destroy it as soon as I can. I face death in the hope that when you meet your match you will be mortal once more.

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