Perhaps it was a way to repay or even ingratiate Geralt before their confrontation? While Letho is a fairly decent guy deep down, I can’t see him going that far.
His plan was to lay the blame on mages after the regicides, so perhaps he did it to frame his capture in order to confess the Lodge’s role to the kings at the summit? Maybe, but it seems a bit far-fetched and doesn’t explain why he saved Triss specifically.
It might be one of those things that’s obvious but I missed it. In any case, does anyone have any ideas?