CHAPTER VI.
SECOND ARREST OF ARSENE LUPIN.
Since eight o'clock a dozen moving-vans had encumbered the rue Crevauxbetween the avenue du Bois-de-Boulogne and the avenue Bugeaud. Mon.Felix Davey was leaving the apartment in which he lived on the fourthfloor of No. 8; and Mon. Dubreuil, who had united into a singleapartment the fifth floor of the same house and the fifth floor of thetwo adjoining houses, was moving on the same day--a mere coincidence,since the gentlemen were unknown to each other--the vast collection offurniture regarding which so many foreign agents visited him every day.
A circumstance which had been noticed by some of the neighbors, but wasnot spoken of until later, was this: None of the twelve vans bore thename and address of the owner, and none of the men accompanying themvisited the neighboring wine shops. They worked so diligently that thefurniture was all out by eleven o'clock. Nothing remained but thosescraps of papers and rags that are always left behind in the corners ofthe empty rooms.
Mon. Felix Davey, an elegant young man, dressed in the latest fashion,carried in his hand a walking-stick, the weight of which indicated thatits owner possessed extraordinary biceps--Mon. Felix Davey walked calmlyaway and took a seat on a bench in the avenue du Bois-de-Boulogne facingthe rue Pergolese. Close to him a woman, dressed in a neat butinexpensive costume, was reading a newspaper, whilst a child was playingwith a shovel in a heap of sand.
After a few minutes Felix Davey spoke to the woman, without turning hishead:
"Ganimard!"
"Went out at nine o'clock this morning."
"Where?"
"To police headquarters."
"Alone?"
"Yes."
"No telegram during the night?"
"No."
"Do they suspect you in the house?"
"No; I do some little things for Madame Ganimard, and she tells meeverything her husband does. I have been with her all morning."
"Very well. Until further orders come here every day at eleven o'clock."
He rose and walked away in the direction of the Dauphine gate, stoppingat the Chinese pavilion, where he partook of a frugal repast consistingof two eggs, with some fruit and vegetables. Then he returned to the rueCrevaux and said to the concierge:
"I will just glance through the rooms and then give you the keys."
He finished his inspection of the room that he had used as a library;then he seized the end of a gas-pipe, which hung down the side of thechimney. The pipe was bent and a hole made in the elbow. To this hole hefitted a small instrument in the form of an ear-trumpet and blew intoit. A slight whistling sound came by way of reply. Placing the trumpetto his mouth, he said:
"Anyone around, Dubreuil?"
"No."
"May I come up!"
"Yes."
He returned the pipe to its place, saying to himself:
"How progressive we are! Our century abounds with little inventionswhich render life really charming and picturesque. And so amusing!...especially when a person knows how to enjoy life as I do."
He turned one of the marble mouldings of the mantel, and the entire halfof the mantel moved, and the mirror above it glided in invisiblegrooves, disclosing an opening and the lower steps of a stairs built inthe very body of the chimney; all very clean and complete--the stairswere constructed of polished metal and the walls of white tiles. Heascended the steps, and at the fifth floor there was the same opening inthe chimney. Mon. Dubreuil was waiting for him.
"Have you finished in your rooms?"
"Yes."
"Everything cleared out?"
"Yes."
"And the people?"
"Only the three men on guard."
"Very well; come on."
They ascended to the upper floor by the same means, one after the other,and there found three men, one of whom was looking through the window.
"Anything new?"
"Nothing, governor."
"All quiet in the street?"
"Yes."
"In ten minutes I will be ready to leave. You will go also. But in themeantime if you see the least suspicious movement in the street, warnme."
"I have my finger on the alarm-bell all the time."
"Dubreuil, did you tell the moving men not to touch the wire of thatbell?"
"Certainly; it is working all right."
"That is all I want to know."
The two gentlemen then descended to the apartment of Felix Davey and thelatter, after adjusting the marble mantel, exclaimed, joyfully:
"Dubreuil, I should like to see the man who is able to discover all theingenious devices, warning bells, net-works of electric wires andacoustic tubes, invisible passages, moving floors and hidden stairways.A real fairy-land!"
"What fame for Arsene Lupin!"
"Fame I could well dispense with. It's a pity to be compelled to leave aplace so well equipped, and commence all over again, Dubreuil ... and ona new model, of course, for it would never do to duplicate this. CurseHerlock Sholmes!"
"Has he returned to Paris?"
"How could he? There has been only one boat come from Southampton and itleft there at midnight; only one train from Havre, leaving there ateight o'clock this morning and due in Paris at eleven fifteen. As hecould not catch the midnight boat at Southampton--and the instructionsto the captain on that point were explicit--he cannot reach France untilthis evening via Newhaven and Dieppe."
"Do you think he will come back?"
"Yes; he never gives up. He will return to Paris; but it will be toolate. We will be far away."
"And Mademoiselle Destange?"
"I am to see her in an hour."
"At her house?"
"Oh! no; she will not return there for several days. But you, Dubreuil,you must hurry. The loading of our goods will take a long time and youshould be there to look after them."
"Are you sure that we are not being watched?"
"By whom? I am not afraid of anyone but Sholmes."
Dubreuil retired. Felix Davey made a last tour of the apartment, pickedup two or three torn letters, then, noticing a piece of chalk, he tookit and, on the dark paper of the drawing-room, drew a large frame andwrote within it the following:
"_Arsene Lupin, gentleman-burglar, lived here for five years at thebeginning of the twentieth century_."
This little pleasantry seemed to please him very much. He looked at itfor a moment, whistling a lively air, then said to himself:
"Now that I have placed myself in touch with the historians of futuregenerations, I can go. You must hurry, Herlock Sholmes, as I shall leavemy present abode in three minutes, and your defeat will be anaccomplished fact.... Two minutes more! you are keeping me waiting,Monsieur Sholmes.... One minute more! Are you not coming? Well, then, Iproclaim your downfall and my apotheosis. And now I make my escape.Farewell, kingdom of Arsene Lupin! I shall never see you again. Farewellto the fifty-five rooms of the six apartments over which I reigned!Farewell, my own royal bed chamber!"
His outburst of joy was interrupted by the sharp ringing of a bell,which stopped twice, started again and then ceased. It was the alarmbell.
What was wrong? What unforeseen danger? Ganimard? No; that wasn'tpossible!
He was on the point of returning to his library and making his escape.But, first, he went to the window. There was no one in the street. Wasthe enemy already in the house? He listened and thought he could discerncertain confused sounds. He hesitated no longer. He ran to his library,and as he crossed the threshold he heard the noise of a key beinginserted in the lock of the vestibule door.
"The deuce!" he murmured; "I have no time to lose. The house may besurrounded. The servants' stairway--impossible! Fortunately, there isthe chimney."
He pushed the moulding; it did not move. He made a greater effort--stillit refused to move. At the same time he had the impression that the doorbelow opened and that he could hear footsteps.
"Good God!" he cried; "I am lost if this cursed mechanism--"
He pushe
d with all his strength. Nothing moved--nothing! By someincredible accident, by some evil stroke of fortune, the mechanism,which had worked only a few moments ago, would not work now.
He was furious. The block of marble remained immovable. He utteredfrightful imprecations on the senseless stone. Was his escape to beprevented by that stupid obstacle? He struck the marble wildly, madly;he hammered it, he cursed it.
"Ah! what's the matter, Monsieur Lupin? You seem to be displeased aboutsomething."
Lupin turned around. Herlock Sholmes stood before him!
* * * * *
Herlock Sholmes!... Lupin gazed at him with squinting eyes as if hissight were defective and misleading. Herlock Sholmes in Paris! HerlockSholmes, whom he had shipped to England only the day before as adangerous person, now stood before him free and victorious!... Ah! sucha thing was nothing less than a miracle; it was contrary to all naturallaws; it was the culmination of all that is illogical and abnormal....Herlock Sholmes here--before his face!
And when the Englishman spoke his words were tinged with that keensarcasm and mocking politeness with which his adversary had so oftenlashed him. He said:
"Monsieur Lupin, in, the first place I have the honor to inform you thatat this time and place I blot from my memory forever all thoughts ofthe miserable night that you forced me to endure in the house of Barond'Hautrec, of the injury done to my friend Wilson, of my abduction inthe automobile, and of the voyage I took yesterday under your orders,bound to a very uncomfortable couch. But the joy of this moment effacesall those bitter memories. I forgive everything. I forget everything--Iwipe out the debt. I am paid--and royally paid."
Lupin made no reply. So the Englishman continued:
"Don't you think so yourself?"
He appeared to insist as if demanding an acquiescence, as a sort ofreceipt in regard to the part.
After a moment's reflection, during which the Englishman felt that hewas scrutinized to the very depth of his soul, Lupin declared:
"I presume, monsieur, that your conduct is based upon serious motives?"
"Very serious."
"The fact that you have escaped from my captain and his crew is only asecondary incident of our struggle. But the fact that you are herebefore me alone--understand, alone--face to face with Arsene Lupin,leads me to think that your revenge is as complete as possible."
"As complete as possible."
"This house?"
"Surrounded."
"The two adjoining houses?"
"Surrounded."
"The apartment above this?"
"The _three_ apartments on the fifth floor that were formerly occupiedby Monsieur Dubreuil are surrounded."
"So that----"
"So that you are captured, Monsieur Lupin--absolutely captured."
The feelings that Sholmes had experienced during his trip in theautomobile were now suffered by Lupin, the same concentrated fury, thesame revolt, and also, let us admit, the same loyalty of submission toforce of circumstances. Equally brave in victory or defeat.
"Our accounts are squared, monsieur," said Lupin, frankly.
The Englishman was pleased with that confession. After a short silenceLupin, now quite self-possessed, said smiling:
"And I am not sorry! It becomes monotonous to win all the time.Yesterday I had only to stretch out my hand to finish you forever.Today I belong to you. The game is yours." Lupin laughed heartily andthen continued: "At last the gallery will be entertained! Lupin inprison! How will he get out? In prison!... What an adventure!... Ah!Sholmes, life is just one damn thing after another!"
He pressed his closed hands to his temples as if to suppress thetumultuous joy that surged within him, and his actions indicated that hewas moved by an uncontrollable mirth. At last, when he had recovered hisself-possession, he approached the detective and said:
"And now what are you waiting for?"
"What am I waiting for?"
"Yes; Ganimard is here with his men--why don't they come in?"
"I asked him not to."
"And he consented?"
"I accepted his services on condition that he would be guided by me.Besides, he thinks that Felix Davey is only an accomplice of ArseneLupin."
"Then I will repeat my question in another form. Why did you come inalone?"
"Because I wished to speak to you alone."
"Ah! ah! you have something to say to me."
That idea seemed to please Lupin immensely. There are certaincircumstances in which words are preferable to deeds.
"Monsieur Sholmes, I am sorry I cannot offer you an easy chair. Howwould you like that broken box? Or perhaps you would prefer the windowledge? I am sure a glass of beer would be welcome ... light or dark?...But sit down, please."
"Thank you; we can talk as well standing up."
"Very well--proceed."
"I will be brief. The object of my sojourn in France was not toaccomplish your arrest. If I have been led to pursue you, it was becauseI saw no other way to achieve my real object."
"Which was?"
"To recover the blue diamond."
"The blue diamond!"
"Certainly; since the one found in Herr Bleichen's tooth-powder was onlyan imitation."
"Quite right; the genuine diamond was taken by the blonde Lady. I madean exact duplicate of it and then, as I had designs on other jewelsbelonging to the Countess and as the Consul Herr Bleichen was alreadyunder suspicion, the aforesaid blonde Lady, in order to avert suspicion,slipped the false stone into the aforesaid Consul's luggage."
"While you kept the genuine diamond?"
"Of course."
"That diamond--I want it."
"I am very sorry, but it is impossible."
"I have promised it to the Countess de Crozon. I must have it."
"How will you get it, since it is in my possession?"
"That is precisely the reason--because it is in your possession."
"Oh! I am to give it to you?"
"Yes."
"Voluntarily?"
"I will buy it."
"Ah!" exclaimed Lupin, in an access of mirth, "you are certainly anEnglishman. You treat this as a matter of business."
"It is a matter of business."
"Well! what is your offer?"
"The liberty of Mademoiselle Destange."
"Her liberty?... I didn't know she was under arrest."
"I will give Monsieur Ganimard the necessary information. When deprivedof your protection, she can readily be taken."
Lupin laughed again, and said:
"My dear monsieur, you are offering me something you do not possess.Mademoiselle Destange is in a place of safety, and has nothing to fear.You must make me another offer."
The Englishman hesitated, visibly embarrassed and vexed. Then, placinghis hand on the shoulder of his adversary, he said:
"And if I should propose to you-"
"My liberty?"
"No ... but I can leave the room to consult with Ganimard."
"And leave me alone!"
"Yes."
"Ah! mon dieu, what good would that be? The cursed mechanism will notwork," said Lupin, at the same time savagely pushing the moulding of themantel. He stifled a cry of surprise; this time fortune favored him--theblock of marble moved. It was his salvation; his hope of escape. In thatevent, why submit to the conditions imposed by Sholmes? He paced up anddown the room, as if he were considering his reply. Then, in his turn,he placed his hand on the shoulder of his adversary, and said:
"All things considered, Monsieur Sholmes, I prefer to do my own businessin my own way."
"But--"
"No, I don't require anyone's assistance."
"When Ganimard gets his hand on you, it will be all over. You can'tescape from them."
"Who knows?"
"Come, that is foolish. Every door and window is guarded."
"Except one."
"Which?"
"_The one I will choose_."
; "Mere words! Your arrest is as good as made."
"Oh! no--not at all."
"Well?"
"I shall keep the blue diamond."
Sholmes looked at his watch, and said:
"It is now ten minutes to three. At three o'clock I shall callGanimard."
"Well, then, we have ten minutes to chat. And to satisfy my curiosity,Monsieur Sholmes, I should like to know how you procured my address andmy name of Felix Davey?"
Although his adversary's easy manner caused Sholmes some anxiety, he waswilling to give Lupin the desired information since it reflected crediton his professional astuteness; so he replied:
"Your address? I got it from the blonde Lady."
"Clotilde!"
"Herself. Do you remember, yesterday morning, when I wished to take heraway in the automobile, she telephoned to her dressmaker."
"Well?"
"Well, I understood, later, that you were the dressmaker. And lastnight, on the boat, by exercising my memory--and my memory is somethingI have good reason to be proud of--I was able to recollect the last twofigures of your telephone number--73. Then, as I possessed a list of thehouses you had 'improved,' it was an easy matter, on my arrival in Parisat eleven o'clock this morning, to search in the telephone directory andfind there the name and address of Felix Davey. Having obtained thatinformation, I asked the aid of Monsieur Ganimard."
"Admirable! I congratulate you. But bow did you manage to catch theeight o'clock train at Havre! How did you escape from _The Swallow_?"
"I did not escape."
"But----"
"You ordered the captain not to reach Southampton before one o'clock. Helanded me there at midnight. I was able to catch the twelve o'clock boatfor Havre."
"Did the captain betray me? I can't believe it."
"No, he did not betray you."
"Well, what then?"
"It was his watch."
"His watch?"
"Yes, I put it ahead one hour."
"How?"
"In the usual way, by turning the hands. We were sitting side by side,talking, and I was telling him some funny stories.... Why! he never sawme do it."
"Bravo! a very clever trick. I shall not forget it. But the clock thatwas hanging on the wall of the cabin?"
"Ah! the clock was a more difficult matter, as my feet were tied, butthe sailor, who guarded me during the captain's absence, was kindenough to turn the hands for me."
"He? Nonsense! He wouldn't do it."
"Oh! but he didn't know the importance of his act. I told him I mustcatch the first train for London, at any price, and ... he allowedhimself to be persuaded----"
"By means of----"
"By means of a slight gift, which the excellent fellow, loyal and trueto his master, intends to send to you."
"What was it!"
"A mere trifle."
"But what?"
"The blue diamond."
"The blue diamond!"
"Yes, the false stone that you substituted for the Countess' diamond.She gave it to me."
There was a sudden explosion of violent laughter. Lupin laughed untilthe tears started in his eyes.
"Mon dieu, but it is funny! My false diamond palmed off on my innocentsailor! And the captain's watch! And the hands of the clock!"
Sholmes felt that the duel between him and Lupin was keener than ever.His marvellous instinct warned him that, behind his adversary's displayof mirth, there was a shrewd intellect debating the ways and means toescape. Gradually Lupin approached the Englishman, who recoiled, and,unconsciously, slipped his hand into his watch-pocket.
"It is three o'clock, Monsieur Lupin."
"Three o'clock, already! What a pity! We were enjoying our chat somuch."
"I am waiting for your answer."
"My answer? Mon dieu! but you are particular!... And so this is the lastmove in our little game--and the stake is my liberty!"
"Or the blue diamond."
"Very well. It's your play. What are you going to do!"
"I play the king," said Sholmes, as he fired his revolver.
"And I the ace," replied Lupin, as he struck at Sholmes with his fist.
Sholmes had fired into the air, as a signal to Ganimard, whoseassistance he required. But Lupin's fist had caught Sholmes in thestomach, and caused him to double up with pain. Lupin rushed to thefireplace and set the marble slab in motion.... Too late! The dooropened.
"Surrender, Lupin, or I fire!"
Ganimard, doubtless stationed closer than Lupin had thought, Ganimardwas there, with his revolver turned on Lupin. And behind Ganimard therewere twenty men, strong and ruthless fellows, who would beat him like adog at the least sign of resistance.
"Hands down! I surrender!" said Lupin, calmly; and he folded his armsacross his breast.
Everyone was amazed. In the room, divested of its furniture andhangings, Arsene Lupin's words sounded like an echo.... "I surrender!"... It seemed incredible. No one would have been astonished if he hadsuddenly vanished through a trap, or if a section of the wall had rolledaway and allowed him to escape. But he surrendered!
Ganimard advanced, nervously, and with all the gravity that theimportance of the occasion demanded, he placed his hand on the shoulderof his adversary, and had the infinite pleasure of saying:
"I arrest you, Arsene Lupin."
"Brrr!" said Lupin, "you make me shiver, my dear Ganimard. What alugubrious face! One would imagine you were speaking over the grave ofa friend. For Heaven's sake, don't assume such a funereal air."
"I arrest you."
"Don't let that worry you! In the name of the law, of which he is awell-deserving pillar, Ganimard, the celebrated Parisian detective,arrests the wicked Arsene Lupin. An historic event, of which you willappreciate the true importance.... And it is the second time that it hashappened. Bravo, Ganimard, you are sure of advancement in your chosenprofession!"
And he held out his wrists for the hand-cuffs. Ganimard adjusted them ina most solemn manner. The numerous policemen, despite their customarypresumption and the bitterness of their feelings toward Lupin, conductedthemselves with becoming modesty, astonished at being permitted to gazeupon that mysterious and intangible creature.
"My poor Lupin," sighed our hero, "what would your aristocratic friendssay if they should see you in this humiliating position?"
He pulled his wrists apart with all his strength. The veins in hisforehead expanded. The links of the chain cut into his flesh. The chainfell off--broken.
"Another, comrades, that one was useless."
They placed two on him this time.
"Quite right," he said. "You cannot be too careful."
Then, counting the detectives and policemen, he said:
"How many are you, my friends? Twenty-five? Thirty? That's too many. Ican't do anything. Ah! if there had been only fifteen!"
There was something fascinating about Lupin; it was the fascination ofthe great actor who plays his role with spirit and understanding,combined with assurance and ease. Sholmes regarded him as one mightregard a beautiful painting with a due appreciation of all itsperfection in coloring and technique. And he really thought that it wasan equal struggle between those thirty men on one side, armed as theywere with all the strength and majesty of the law, and, on the otherside, that solitary individual, unarmed and handcuffed. Yes, the twosides were well-matched.
"Well, master," said Lupin to the Englishman, "this is your work. Thanksto you, Lupin is going to rot on the damp straw of a dungeon. Confessthat your conscience pricks you a little, and that your soul is filledwith remorse."
In spite of himself, Sholmes shrugged his shoulders, as if to say: "It'syour own fault."
"Never! never!" exclaimed Lupin. "Give you the blue diamond? Oh! no, ithas cost me too much trouble. I intend to keep it. On my occasion of myfirst visit to you in London--which will probably be next month--I willtell you my reasons. But will you be in London next month! Or do youprefer Vienna! Or Saint Petersburg?"
Then L
upin received a surprise. A bell commenced to ring. It was not thealarm-bell, but the bell of the telephone which was located between thetwo windows of the room and had not yet been removed.
The telephone! Ah! Who could it be? Who was about to fall into thisunfortunate trap? Arsene Lupin exhibited an access of rage against theunlucky instrument as if he would like to break it into a thousandpieces and thus stifle the mysterious voice that was calling for him.But it was Ganimard who took down the receiver, and said:
"Hello!... Hello!... number 648.73 ... yes, this is it."
Then Sholmes stepped up, and, with an air of authority, pushed Ganimardaside, took the receiver, and covered the transmitter with hishandkerchief in order to obscure the tone of his voice. At that momenthe glanced toward Lupin, and the look which they exchanged indicatedthat the same idea had occurred to each of them, and that they fore-sawthe ultimate result of that theory: it was the blonde Lady who wastelephoning. She wished to telephone to Felix Davey, or rather to MaximeBermond, and it was to Sholmes she was about to speak. The Englishmansaid:
"Hello ... Hello!"
Then, after a silence, he said:
"Yes, it is I, Maxime."
The drama had commenced and was progressing with tragic precision.Lupin, the irrepressible and nonchalant Lupin, did not attempt toconceal his anxiety, and he strained every nerve in a desire to hear or,at least, to divine the purport of the conversation. And Sholmescontinued, in reply to the mysterious voice:
"Hello!... Hello!... Yes, everything has been moved, and I am justready to leave here and meet you as we agreed.... Where?... Where youare now.... Don't believe that he is here yet!..."
Sholmes stopped, seeking for words. It was clear that he was trying toquestion the girl without betraying himself, and that he was ignorant ofher whereabouts. Moreover, Ganimard's presence seemed to embarrasshim.... Ah! if some miracle would only interrupt that cursedconversation! Lupin prayed for it with all his strength, with all theintensity of his incited nerves! After a momentary pause, Sholmescontinued:
"Hello!... Hello!... Do you hear me?... I can't hear you very well....Can scarcely make out what you say.... Are you listening? Well, I thinkyou had better return home.... No danger now.... But he is in England! Ihave received a telegram from Southampton announcing his arrival."
The sarcasm of those words! Sholmes uttered them with an inexpressiblecomfort. And he added:
"Very well, don't lose any time. I will meet you there."
He hung up the receiver.
"Monsieur Ganimard, can you furnish me with three men?"
"For the blonde Lady, eh?"
"Yes."
"You know who she is, and where she is?"
"Yes."
"Good! That settles Monsieur Lupin.... Folenfant, take two men, and gowith Monsieur Sholmes."
The Englishman departed, accompanied by the three men.
The game was ended. The blonde Lady was, also, about to fall into thehands of the Englishman. Thanks to his commendable persistence and to acombination of fortuitous circumstances, the battle had resulted in avictory for the detective, and in irreparable disaster for Lupin.
"Monsieur Sholmes!"
The Englishman stopped.
"Monsieur Lupin?"
Lupin was clearly shattered by this final blow. His forehead was markedby deep wrinkles. He was sullen and dejected. However, he pulled himselftogether, and, notwithstanding his defeat, he exclaimed, in a cheerfultone:
"You will concede that fate has been against me. A few minutes ago, itprevented my escape through that chimney, and delivered me into yourhands. Now, by means of the telephone, it presents you with the blondeLady. I submit to its decrees."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that I am ready to re-open our negotiation."
Sholmes took Ganimard aside and asked, in a manner that did not permit areply, the authority to exchange a few words with the prisoner. Then heapproached Lupin, and said, in a sharp, nervous tone:
"What do you want?"
"Mademoiselle Destange's liberty."
"You know the price."
"Yes."
"And you accept?"
"Yes; I accept your terms."
"Ah!" said the Englishman, in surprise, "but ... you refused ... foryourself----"
"Yes, I can look out for myself, Monsieur Sholmes, but now the questionconcerns a young woman ... and a woman I love. In France, understand, wehave very decided ideas about such things. And Lupin has the samefeelings as other people."
He spoke with simplicity and candor. Sholmes replied by an almostimperceptible inclination of his head, and murmured:
"Very well, the blue diamond."
"Take my cane, there, at the end of the mantel. Press on the head of thecane with one hand, and, with the other, turn the iron ferrule at thebottom."
Holmes took the cane and followed the directions. As he did so, the headof the cane divided and disclosed a cavity which contained a small ballof wax which, in turn, enclosed a diamond. He examined it. It was theblue diamond.
"Monsieur Lupin, Mademoiselle Destange is free."
"Is her future safety assured? Has she nothing to fear from you?"
"Neither from me, nor anyone else."
"How can you manage it?"
"Quite easily. I have forgotten her name and address."
"Thank you. And au revoir--for I will see you again, sometime, MonsieurSholmes?"
"I have no doubt of it."
Then followed an animated conversation between Sholmes and Ganimard,which was abruptly terminated by the Englishman, who said:
"I am very sorry, Monsieur Ganimard, that we cannot agree on that point,but I have no time to waste trying to convince you. I leave for Englandwithin an hour."
"But ... the blonde Lady?"
"I do not know such a person."
"And yet, a moment ago----"
"You must take the affair as it stands. I have delivered Arsene Lupininto your hands. Here is the blue diamond, which you will have thepleasure of returning to the Countess de Crozon. What more do you want?"
"The blonde Lady."
"Find her."
Sholmes pulled his cap down over his forehead and walked rapidly away,like a man who is accustomed to go as soon as his business is finished.
"Bon voyage, monsieur," cried Lupin, "and, believe me, I shall neverforget the friendly way in which our little business affairs have beenarranged. My regards to Monsieur Wilson."
Not receiving any reply, Lupin added, sneeringly:
"That is what is called 'taking British leave.' Ah! their insulardignity lacks the flower of courtesy by which we are distinguished.Consider for a moment, Ganimard, what a charming exit a Frenchman wouldhave made under similar circumstances! With what exquisite courtesy hewould have masked his triumph!... But, God bless me, Ganimard, what areyou doing? Making a search? Come, what's the use? There is nothingleft--not even a scrap of paper. I assure you my archives are in a safeplace."
"I am not so sure of that," replied Ganimard. "I must searcheverything."
Lupin submitted to the operation. Held by two detectives and surroundedby the others, he patiently endured the proceedings for twenty minutes,then he said:
"Hurry up, Ganimard, and finish!"
"You are in a hurry."
"Of course I am. An important appointment."
"At the police station?"
"No; in the city."
"Ah! at what time?"
"Two o'clock."
"It is three o'clock now."
"Just so; I will be late. And punctuality is one of my virtues."
"Well, give me five minutes."
"Not a second more," said Lupin.
"I am doing my best to expedite----"
"Oh! don't talk so much.... Still searching that cupboard? It is empty."
"Here are some letters."
"Old invoices, I presume!"
"No; a packet tied with a ribbon."
"A red ribbon? Oh! Ganimard, f
or God's sake, don't untie it!"
"From a woman?"
"Yes."
"A woman of the world?"
"The best in the world."
"Her name?"
"Madame Ganimard."
"Very funny! very funny!" exclaimed the detective.
At that moment the men, who had been sent to search the other rooms,returned and announced their failure to find anything. Lupin laughed andsaid:
"Parbleu! Did you expect to find my visiting list, or evidence of mybusiness relations with the Emperor of Germany? But I can tell you whatyou should investigate, Ganimard: All the little mysteries of thisapartment. For instance, that gas-pipe is a speaking tube. That chimneycontains a stairway. That wall is hollow. And the marvellous system ofbells! Ah! Ganimard, just press that button!"
Ganimard obeyed.
"Did you hear anything?" asked Lupin.
"No."
"Neither did I. And yet you notified my aeronaut to prepare thedirigible balloon which will soon carry us into the clouds.
"Come!" said Ganimard, who had completed his search; "we've had enoughnonsense--let's be off."
He started away, followed by his men. Lupin did not move. His guardianspushed him in vain.
"Well," said Ganimard, "do you refuse to go?"
"Not at all. But it depends."
"On what?"
"Where you want to take me."
"To the station-house, of course."
"Then I refuse to go. I have no business there."
"Are you crazy?"
"Did I not tell you that I had an important appointment?"
"Lupin!"
"Why, Ganimard, I have an appointment with the blonde Lady, and do yousuppose I would be so discourteous as to cause her a moment's anxiety?That would be very ungentlemanly."
"Listen, Lupin," said the detective, who was becoming annoyed by thispersiflage; "I have been very patient with you, but I will endure nomore. Follow me."
"Impossible; I have an appointment and I shall keep it."
"For the last time--follow me!"
"Im-pos-sible!"
At a sign from Ganimard two men seized Lupin by the arms; but theyreleased him at once, uttering cries of pain. Lupin had thrust two longneedles into them. The other men now rushed at Lupin with cries of rageand hatred, eager to avenge their comrades and to avenge themselves forthe many affronts he had heaped upon them; and now they struck and beathim to their heart's desire. A violent blow on the temple felled Lupinto the floor.
"If you hurt him you will answer to me," growled Ganimard, in a rage.
He leaned over Lupin to ascertain his condition. Then, learning that hewas breathing freely, Ganimard ordered his men to carry the prisoner bythe head and feet, while he himself supported the body.
"Go gently, now!... Don't jolt him. Ah! the brutes would have killedhim.... Well, Lupin, how goes it!"
"None too well, Ganimard ... you let them knock me out."
"It was your own fault; you were so obstinate," replied Ganimard. "But Ihope they didn't hurt you."
They had left the apartment and were now on the landing. Lupin groanedand stammered:
"Ganimard ... the elevator ... they are breaking my bones."
"A good idea, an excellent idea," replied Ganimard. "Besides, thestairway is too narrow."
He summoned the elevator. They placed Lupin on the seat with thegreatest care. Ganimard took his place beside him and said to his men:
"Go down the stairs and wait for me below. Understand?"
Ganimard closed the door of the elevator. Suddenly the elevator shotupward like a balloon released from its cable. Lupin burst into a fit ofsardonic laughter.
"Good God!" cried Ganimard, as he made a frantic search in the dark forthe button of descent. Having found it, he cried:
"The fifth floor! Watch the door of the fifth floor."
His assistants clambered up the stairs, two and three steps at a time.But this strange circumstance happened: The elevator seemed to breakthrough the ceiling of the last floor, disappeared from the sight ofGanimard's assistants, suddenly made its appearance on the upperfloor--the servants' floor--and stopped. Three men were there waitingfor it. They opened the door. Two of them seized Ganimard, who,astonished at the sudden attack, scarcely made any defence. The otherman carried off Lupin.
"I warned you, Ganimard ... about the dirigible balloon. Another time,don't be so tender-hearted. And, moreover, remember that Arsene Lupindoesn't allow himself to be struck and knocked down without sufficientreason. Adieu."
The door of the elevator was already closed on Ganimard, and the machinebegan to descend; and it all happened so quickly that the old detectivereached the ground floor as soon as his assistants. Without exchanging aword they crossed the court and ascended the servants' stairway, whichwas the only way to reach the servants' floor through which the escapehad been made.
A long corridor with several turns and bordered with little numberedrooms led to a door that was not locked. On the other side of this doorand, therefore, in another house there was another corridor with similarturns and similar rooms, and at the end of it a servants' stairway.Ganimard descended it, crossed a court and a vestibule and found himselfin the rue Picot. Then he understood the situation: the two houses,built the entire depth of the lots, touched at the rear, while thefronts of the houses faced upon two streets that ran parallel to eachother at a distance of more than sixty metres apart.
He found the concierge and, showing his card, enquired:
"Did four men pass here just now?"
"Yes; the two servants from the fourth and fifth floors, with twofriends."
"Who lives on the fourth and fifth floors?"
"Two men named Fauvel and their cousins, whose name is Provost. Theymoved to-day, leaving the two servants, who went away just now."
"Ah!" thought Ganimard; "what a grand opportunity we have missed! Theentire band lived in these houses."
And he sank down on a chair in despair.
* * * * *
Forty minutes later two gentlemen were driven up to the station of theNorthern Railway and hurried to the Calais express, followed by a porterwho carried their valises. One of them had his arm in a sling, and thepallor of his face denoted some illness. The other man was in a jovialmood.
"We must hurry, Wilson, or we will miss the train.... Ah! Wilson, Ishall never forget these ten days."
"Neither will I."
"Ah! it was a great struggle!"
"Superb!"
"A few repulses, here and there--"
"Of no consequence."
"And, at last, victory all along the line. Lupin arrested! The bluediamond recovered!"
"My arm broken!"
"What does a broken arm count for in such a victory as that?"
"Especially when it is my arm."
"Ah! yes, don't you remember, Wilson, that it was at the very time youwere in the pharmacy, suffering like a hero, that I discovered the clueto the whole mystery!"
"How lucky!"
The doors of the carriages were being closed.
"All aboard. Hurry up, gentlemen!"
The porter climbed into an empty compartment and placed their valises inthe rack, whilst Sholmes assisted the unfortunate Wilson.
"What's the matter, Wilson? You're not done up, are you? Come, pull yournerves together."
"My nerves are all right."
"Well, what is it, then?"
"I have only one hand."
"What of it?" exclaimed Sholmes, cheerfully. "You are not the only onewho has had a broken arm. Cheer up!"
Sholmes handed the porter a piece of fifty centimes.
"Thank you, Monsieur Sholmes," said the porter.
The Englishman looked at him; it was Arsene Lupin.
"You!... you!" he stammered, absolutely astounded.
And Wilson brandished his sound arm in the manner of a man whodemonstrates a fact as he said:
"You! you! but you we
re arrested! Sholmes told me so. When he left youGanimard and thirty men had you in charge."
Lupin folded his arms and said, with an air of indignation:
"Did you suppose I would let you go away without bidding you adieu?After the very friendly relations that have always existed between us!That would be discourteous and ungrateful on my part."
The train whistled. Lupin continued:
"I beg your pardon, but have you everything you need? Tobacco andmatches ... yes ... and the evening papers? You will find in them anaccount of my arrest--your last exploit, Monsieur Sholmes. And now, aurevoir. Am delighted to have made your acquaintance. And if ever I canbe of any service to you, I shall be only too happy...." He leaped tothe platform and closed the door.
"Adieu," he repeated, waving his handkerchief. "Adieu.... I shall writeto you.... You will write also, eh? And your arm broken, Wilson.... I amtruly sorry.... I shall expect to hear from both of you. A postal card,now and then, simply address: Lupin, Paris. That is sufficient....Adieu.... See you soon."