The Blonde Lady
Maurice Leblanc
THE BLONDE LADY
Being a Record of the Duel of Witsbetween Arsene Lupin and theEnglish Detective
by
MAURICE LEBLANC
Translated by Alexander Teixeira De Mattos
Illustrated by H. Richard Boehm
New YorkDoubleday, Page & Company1910
All Rights Reserved, Including That of Translationinto Foreign Languages, Including the Scandinavian
Copyright, 1907, by Maurice LeblancCopyright, 1909, 1910, by the Short Stories Company, Ltd.Copyright, 1910, by Maurice LeblancPublished, June, 1910
This book appeared in England under the title of Arsene Lupin versusHolmlock Shears
CONTENTS
FIRST EPISODE: THE BLONDE LADY
CHAPTER PAGE
I. Number 514, Series 23 3
II. The Blue Diamond 49
III. Holmlock Shears Opens Hostilities 91
IV. A Glimmer in the Darkness 131
V. Kidnapped 166
VI. The Second Arrest of Arsene Lupin 207
SECOND EPISODE: THE JEWISH LAMP
I. 249
II. 296
FIRST EPISODE
THE BLONDE LADY
CHAPTER I
NUMBER 514, SERIES 23
On the 8th of December last, M. Gerbois, professor of mathematics atVersailles College, rummaging among the stores at a second-handdealer's, discovered a small mahogany writing-desk, which took his fancybecause of its many drawers.
"That's just what I want for Suzanne's birthday," he thought.
M. Gerbois' means were limited and, anxious as he was to please hisdaughter, he felt it his duty to beat the dealer down. He ended bypaying sixty-five francs. As he was writing down his address, awell-groomed and well-dressed young man, who had been hunting throughthe shop in every direction, caught sight of the writing-desk and asked:
"How much for this?"
"It's sold," replied the dealer.
"Oh ... to this gentleman?"
M. Gerbois bowed and, feeling all the happier that one of his fellow-menenvied him his purchase, left the shop. But he had not taken ten stepsin the street before the young man caught him up and, raising his hat,said, very politely:
"I beg a thousand pardons, sir.... I am going to ask you an indiscreetquestion.... Were you looking for this desk rather than anything else?"
"No. I went to the shop to see if I could find a cheap set of scales formy experiments."
"Therefore, you do not want it very particularly?"
"I want it, that's all."
"Because it's old I suppose?"
"Because it's useful."
"In that case, would you mind exchanging it for another desk, quite asuseful, but in better condition?"
"This one is in good condition and I see no point in exchanging it."
"Still ..."
M. Gerbois was a man easily irritated and quick to take offense. Hereplied curtly:
"I must ask you to drop the subject, sir."
The young man placed himself in front of him.
"I don't know how much you paid, sir ... but I offer you double theprice."
"No, thank you."
"Three times the price."
"Oh, that will do," exclaimed the professor, impatiently. "The deskbelongs to me and is not for sale."
The young man stared at him with a look that remained imprinted on M.Gerbois' memory, then turned on his heel, without a word, and walkedaway.
* * * * *
An hour later, the desk was brought to the little house on the ViroflayRoad where the professor lived. He called his daughter:
"This is for you, Suzanne; that is, if you like it."
Suzanne was a pretty creature, of a demonstrative temperament and easilypleased. She threw her arms round her father's neck and kissed him asrapturously as though he had made her a present fit for a queen.
That evening, assisted by Hortense the maid, she carried up the desk toher room, cleaned out the drawers and neatly put away her papers, herstationery, her correspondence, her picture postcards and a few secretsouvenirs of her cousin Philippe.
M. Gerbois went to the college at half-past seven the next morning. Atten o'clock Suzanne, according to her daily custom, went to meet him atthe exit; and it was a great pleasure to him to see her graceful,smiling figure waiting on the pavement opposite the gate.
They walked home together.
"And how do you like the desk?"
"Oh, it's lovely! Hortense and I have polished up the brass handles tillthey shine like gold."
"So you're pleased with it?"
"I should think so! I don't know how I did without it all this time."
They walked up the front garden. The professor said:
"Let's go and look at it before lunch."
"Yes, that's a good idea."
She went up the stairs first, but, on reaching the door of her room, shegave a cry of dismay.
"What's the matter?" exclaimed M. Gerbois.
He followed her into the room. The writing-desk was gone.
* * * * *
What astonished the police was the wonderful simplicity of the meansemployed. While Suzanne was out and the maid making her purchases forthe day, a ticket-porter, wearing his badge, had stopped his cart beforethe garden, in sight of the neighbours, and rung the bell twice. Theneighbours, not knowing that the servant had left the house, suspectednothing, so that the man was able to effect his object absolutelyundisturbed.
This fact must be noted: not a cupboard had been broken open, not somuch as a clock displaced. Even Suzanne's purse, which she had left onthe marble slab of the desk, was found on the adjacent table, with thegold which it contained. The object of the theft was clearly determined,therefore, and this made it the more difficult to understand; for, afterall, why should a man run so great a risk to secure so trivial a spoil?
The only clue which the professor could supply was the incident of theday before:
"From the first, that young man displayed a keen annoyance at myrefusal; and I have a positive impression that he left me under athreat."
It was all very vague. The dealer was questioned. He knew neither of thetwo gentlemen. As for the desk, he had bought it for forty francs atChevreuse, at the sale of a person deceased, and he considered that hehad re-sold it at a fair price. A persistent inquiry revealed nothingfurther.
But M. Gerbois remained convinced that he had suffered an enormous loss.A fortune must have been concealed in some secret drawer and that waswhy the young man, knowing of the hiding-place, had acted with suchdecision.
"Poor father! What should we have done with the fortune?" Suzanne keptsaying.
"What! Why, with that for your dowry, you could have made the finestmatch going!"
Suzanne aimed at no one higher than her cousin Philippe, who had not apenny to bless himself with, and she gave a bitter sigh. And life in thelittle house at Versailles went on gaily, less carelessly than before,shadowed over as it now was with regret and disappointment.
* * * * *
Two months elapsed. And suddenly, one after the other, came a sequenceof the most serious events, forming a surprising run of alternate luckand misfortune.
On the 1st of February, at half-past five, M. Gerbois, who had just comehome, with an evening paper in his hand, sat down, put on his spectaclesand began to read. The political news was uninteresting. He turned thepage and a paragraph at once caught his e
ye, headed:
"THIRD DRAWING OF THE PRESS-ASSOCIATION LOTTERY"
"First prize, 1,000,000 francs: No. 514, Series 23."
The paper dropped from his hands. The walls swam before his eyes and hisheart stopped beating. Number 514, series 23, was the number of histicket! He had bought it by accident, to oblige one of his friends, forhe did not believe in luck; and now he had won!
He took out his memorandum-book, quick! He was quite right: number 514,series 23, was jotted down on the fly-leaf. But where was the ticket?
He flew to his study to fetch the box of stationery in which he had putthe precious ticket away; and he stopped short as he entered andstaggered back, with a pain at his heart: the box was not thereand--what an awful thing!--he suddenly realized that the box had notbeen there for weeks.
"Suzanne! Suzanne!"
She had just come in and ran up the stairs hurriedly. He stammered, in achoking voice:
"Suzanne ... the box ... the box of stationery...."
"Which one?"
"The one I bought at Louvre ... on a Thursday ... it used to stand atthe end of the table."
"But don't you remember, father?... We put it away together...."
"When?"
"That evening ... you know, the day before...."
"But where?... Quick, tell me ... it's more than I can bear...."
"Where?... In the writing-desk."
"In the desk that was stolen?"
"Yes."
"In the desk that was stolen!"
He repeated the words in a whisper, with a sort of terror. Then he tookher hand, and lower still:
"It contained a million, Suzanne...."
"Oh, father, why didn't you tell me?" she murmured innocently.
"A million!" he repeated. "It was the winning number in the presslottery."
The hugeness of the disaster crushed them and, for a long time, theymaintained a silence which they had not the courage to break. At lastSuzanne said:
"But, father, they will pay you all the same."
"Why? On what evidence?"
"Does it require evidence?"
"Of course!"
"And have you none?"
"Yes, I have."
"Well?"
"It was in the box."
"In the box that has disappeared?"
"Yes. And the other man will get the money."
"Why, that would be outrageous! Surely, father, you can stop thepayment?"
"Who knows? Who knows? That man must be extraordinarily clever! He hassuch wonderful resources.... Remember ... think how he got hold of thedesk...."
His energy revived; he sprang up and, stamping his foot on the floor.
"No, no, no," he shouted, "he shan't have that million, he shan't! Whyshould he? After all, sharp as he may be, he can do nothing, either. Ifhe calls for the money, they'll lock him up! Ah, we shall see, myfriend!"
"Have you thought of something, father?"
"I shall defend our rights to the bitter end, come what may! And weshall succeed!... The million belongs to me and I mean to have it!"
A few minutes later, he dispatched this telegram:
"Governor, "Credit Foncier, "Rue Capucines, "Paris.
"Am owner number 514, series 23; oppose by every legal method payment to any other person. "GERBOIS."
At almost the same time, the Credit Foncier received another telegram:
"Number 514, series 23, is in my possession. "ARSENE LUPIN."
* * * * *
Whenever I sit down to tell one of the numberless adventures whichcompose the life of Arsene Lupin, I feel a genuine embarrassment,because it is quite clear to me that even the least important of theseadventures is known to every one of my readers. As a matter of fact,there is not a move on the part of "our national thief," as he has beenhappily called, but has been described all over the country, not anexploit but has been studied from every point of view, not an action buthas been commented upon with an abundance of detail generally reservedfor stories of heroic deeds.
Who, for instance, does not know that strange case of the blonde lady,with the curious episodes which were reported under flaring headlines as"NUMBER 514, SERIES 23!" ... "THE MURDER IN THE AVENUE HENRI-MARTIN!"... and "THE BLUE DIAMOND!" ... What an excitement there was about theintervention of Holmlock Shears, the famous English detective! What aneffervescence surrounded the varying fortunes that marked the strugglebetween those two great artists! And what a din along the boulevards onthe day when the newsboys shouted:
"Arrest of Arsene Lupin!"
My excuse is that I can supply something new: I can furnish the key tothe puzzle. There is always a certain mystery about these adventures: Ican dispel it. I reprint articles that have been read over and overagain; I copy out old interviews: but all these things I rearrange andclassify and put to the exact test of truth. My collaborator in thiswork is Arsene Lupin himself, whose kindness to me is inexhaustible. Iam also under an occasional obligation to the unspeakable Wilson, thefriend and confidant of Holmlock Shears.
* * * * *
My readers will remember the Homeric laughter that greeted thepublication of the two telegrams. The name of Arsene Lupin alone was aguarantee of originality, a promise of amusement for the gallery. Andthe gallery, in this case, was the whole world.
An inquiry was immediately set on foot by the Credit Foncier and it wasascertained that number 514, series 23, had been sold by the Versaillesbranch of the Credit Lyonnais to Major Bressy of the artillery. Now themajor had died of a fall from his horse; and it appeared that he toldhis brother officers, some time before his death, that he had beenobliged to part with his ticket to a friend.
"That friend was myself," declared M. Gerbois.
"Prove it," objected the governor of the Credit Foncier.
"Prove it? That's quite easy. Twenty people will tell you that I kept upconstant relations with the major and that we used to meet at the cafeon the Place d'Armes. It was there that, one day, to oblige him in amoment of financial embarrassment, I took his ticket off him and gavehim twenty francs for it."
"Have you any witnesses to the transaction?"
"No."
"Then upon what do you base your claim?"
"Upon the letter which he wrote me on the subject."
"What letter?"
"A letter pinned to the ticket."
"Produce it."
"But it was in the stolen writing-desk!"
"Find it."
* * * * *
The letter was communicated to the press by Arsene Lupin. A paragraphinserted in the _Echo de France_--which has the honour of being hisofficial organ and in which he seems to be one of the principalshareholders--announced that he was placing in the hands of MaitreDetinan, his counsel, the letter which Major Bressy had written to him,Lupin, personally.
There was a burst of delight: Arsene Lupin was represented by counsel!Arsene Lupin, respecting established customs, had appointed a member ofthe bar to act for him!
The reporters rushed to interview Maitre Detinan, an influential radicaldeputy, a man endowed with the highest integrity and a mind of uncommonshrewdness, which was, at the same time, somewhat skeptical and given toparadox.
Maitre Detinan was exceedingly sorry to say that he had never had thepleasure of meeting Arsene Lupin, but he had, in point of fact, receivedhis instructions, was greatly flattered at being selected, keenly aliveto the honour shown him and determined to defend his client's rights tothe utmost. He opened his brief and without hesitation showed themajor's letter. It proved the sale of the ticket, but did not mentionthe purchaser's name. It began, "My dear friend," simply.
"'My dear friend' means me," added Arsene Lupin, in a note enclosing themajor's letter. "And the best proof is that I have the letter."
The bevy of reporters at once flew off to M. Gerbois, who could donothing but repeat:
"Tell him to prove it," was Lupin's rejoinder to the journalists.
"But he stole the desk!" exclaimed M. Gerbois in front of the samejournalists.
"Tell him to prove it!" retorted Lupin once again.
And a delightful entertainment was provided for the public by this duelbetween the two owners of number 514, series 23, by the constant comingand going of the journalists and by the coolness of Arsene Lupin asopposed to the frenzy of poor M. Gerbois.
Unhappy man! The press was full of his lamentations! He confessed thefull extent of his misfortunes in a touchingly ingenuous way:
"It's Suzanne's dowry, gentlemen, that the villain has stolen!... Formyself, personally, I don't care; but for Suzanne! Just think, amillion! Ten hundred thousand francs! Ah, I always said the deskcontained a treasure!"
He was told in vain that his adversary, when taking away the desk, knewnothing of the existence of the lottery-ticket and that, in any case, noone could have foreseen that this particular ticket would win the firstprize. All he did was to moan:
"Don't talk to me; of course he knew!... If not, why should he havetaken the trouble to steal that wretched desk?"
"For unknown reasons, but certainly not to get hold of a scrap of paperwhich, at that time, was worth the modest sum of twenty francs."
"The sum of a million! He knew it.... He knows everything!... Ah, youdon't know the sort of a man he is, the ruffian!... He hasn't defraudedyou of a million, you see!..."
This talk could have gone on a long time yet. But, twelve days later,M. Gerbois received a letter from Arsene Lupin, marked "Private andconfidential," which worried him not a little:
"DEAR SIR:
"The gallery is amusing itself at our expense. Do you not think that the time has come to be serious? I, for my part, have quite made up my mind.
"The position is clear: I hold a ticket which I am not entitled to cash and you are entitled to cash a ticket which you do not hold. Therefore neither of us can do anything without the other.
"Now you would not consent to surrender _your_ rights to _me_ nor I to give up _my_ ticket to _you_.
"What are we to do?
"I see only one way out of the difficulty: let us divide. Half a million for you, half a million for me. Is not that fair? And would not this judgment of Solomon satisfy the sense of justice in each of us?
"I propose this as an equitable solution, but also an immediate solution. It is not an offer which you have time to discuss, but a necessity before which circumstances compel you to bow. I give you three days for reflection. I hope that, on Friday morning, I may have the pleasure of seeing a discreet advertisement in the agony-column of the _Echo de France_, addressed to 'M. Ars. Lup.' and containing, in veiled terms, your unreserved assent to the compact which I am suggesting to you. In that event, you will at once recover possession of the ticket and receive the million, on the understanding that you will hand me five hundred thousand francs in a way which I will indicate hereafter.
"Should you refuse, I have taken measures that will produce exactly the same result; but, apart from the very serious trouble which your obstinacy would bring upon you, you would be the poorer by twenty-five thousand francs, which I should have to deduct for additional expenses.
"I am, dear sir, "Very respectfully yours, "ARSENE LUPIN."
M. Gerbois, in his exasperation, was guilty of the colossal blunder ofshowing this letter and allowing it to be copied. His indignation drovehim to every sort of folly:
"Not a penny! He shall not have a penny!" he shouted before theassembled reporters. "Share what belongs to me? Never! Let him tear uphis ticket if he likes!"
"Still, half a million francs is better than nothing."
"It's not a question of that, but of my rights; and those rights I shallestablish in a court of law."
"Go to law with Arsene Lupin? That would be funny!"
"No, but the Credit Foncier. They are bound to hand me the million."
"Against the ticket or at least against evidence that you bought it?"
"The evidence exists, seeing that Arsene Lupin admits that he stole thedesk."
"What judge is going to take Arsene Lupin's word?"
"I don't care, I shall go to law!"
The gallery was delighted. Bets were made, some people being certainthat Lupin would bring M. Gerbois to terms, others that he would not gobeyond threats. And the people felt a sort of apprehension; for theadversaries were unevenly matched, the one being so fierce in hisattacks, while the other was as frightened as a hunted deer.
On Friday, there was a rush for the _Echo de France_ and theagony-column on the fifth page was scanned with feverish eyes. There wasnot a line addressed to "M. Ars. Lup." M. Gerbois had replied to ArseneLupin's demands with silence. It was a declaration of war.
That evening the papers contained the news that Mlle. Gerbois had beenkidnapped.
* * * * *
The most delightful factor in what I may call the Arsene Lupinentertainment is the eminently ludicrous part played by the police.Everything passes outside their knowledge. Lupin speaks, writes, warns,orders, threatens, carries out his plans, as though there were nopolice, no detectives, no magistrates, no impediment of any kind inexistence. They seem of no account to him whatever. No obstacle entersinto his calculations.
And yet the police struggle to do their best. The moment the name ofArsene Lupin is mentioned, the whole force, from top to bottom, takesfire, boils and foams with rage. He is the enemy, the enemy who mocksyou, provokes you, despises you, or, even worse, ignores you. And whatcan one do against an enemy like that?
According to the evidence of the servant, Suzanne went out at twentyminutes to ten. At five minutes past ten, her father, on leaving thecollege, failed to see her on the pavement where she usually waited forhim. Everything, therefore, must have taken place in the course of theshort twenty minutes' walk which brought Suzanne from her door to thecollege, or at least quite close to the college.
Two neighbours declared that they had passed her about three hundredyards from the house. A lady had seen a girl walking along the avenuewhose description corresponded with Suzanne's. After that, all wasblank.
Inquiries were made on every side. The officials at the railway-stationsand the customs-barriers were questioned. They had seen nothing on thatday which could relate to the kidnapping of a young girl. However, agrocer at Ville-d'Avray stated that he had supplied a closed motor-car,coming from Paris, with petrol. There was a chauffeur on the front seatand a lady with fair hair--exceedingly fair hair, the witnesssaid--inside. The car returned from Versailles an hour later. A block inthe traffic compelled it to slacken speed and the grocer was able toperceive that there was now another lady seated beside the blonde ladywhom he had seen first. This second lady was wrapped up in veils andshawls. No doubt it was Suzanne Gerbois.
Consequently, the abduction must have taken place in broad daylight, ona busy road, in the very heart of the town! How? At what spot? Not a cryhad been heard, not a suspicious movement observed.
The grocer described the car, a Peugeot limousine, 24 horse-power, witha dark blue body. Inquiries were made, on chance, of Mme. Bob-Walthour,the manageress of the Grand Garage, who used to make a specialty ofmotor-car elopements. She had, in fact, on Friday morning, hired out aPeugeot limousine for the day to a fair-haired lady, whom she had notseen since.
"But the driver?"
"He was a man called Ernest, whom I engaged the day before on thestrength of his excellent testimonials."
"Is he here?"
"No, he brought back the car and has not been here since."
"Can't we get hold of him?"
"Certainly, by applying to the people who recommended him. I will giveyou the addresses."
> The police called on these persons. None of them knew the man calledErnest.
And every trail which they followed to find their way out of thedarkness led only to greater darkness and denser fogs.
M. Gerbois was not the man to maintain a contest which had opened in sodisastrous a fashion for him. Inconsolable at the disappearance of hisdaughter and pricked with remorse, he capitulated. An advertisementwhich appeared in the _Echo de France_ and aroused general commentproclaimed his absolute and unreserved surrender. It was a completedefeat: the war was over in four times twenty-four hours.
Two days later, M. Gerbois walked across the courtyard of the CreditFoncier. He was shown in to the governor and handed him number 514,series 23. The governor gave a start:
"Oh, so you have it? Did they give it back to you?"
"I mislaid it and here it is," replied M. Gerbois.
"But you said.... There was a question...."
"That's all lies and tittle-tattle."
"But nevertheless we should require some corroborative document."
"Will the major's letter do?"
"Certainly."
"Here it is."
"Very well. Please leave these papers with us. We are allowed afortnight in which to verify them. I will let you know when you can callfor the money. In the meanwhile, I think that you would be well-advisedto say nothing and to complete this business in the most absolutesilence."
"That is what I intend to do."
M. Gerbois did not speak, nor the governor either. But there are certainsecrets which leak out without any indiscretion having been committed,and the public suddenly learnt that Arsene Lupin had had the pluck tosend number 514, series 23, back to M. Gerbois! The news was receivedwith a sort of stupefied admiration. What a bold player he must be, tofling so important a trump as the precious ticket upon the table! True,he had parted with it wittingly, in exchange for a card which equalizedthe chances. But suppose the girl escaped? Suppose they succeeded inrecapturing his hostage?
The police perceived the enemy's weak point and redoubled their efforts.With Arsene Lupin disarmed and despoiled by himself, caught in his owntoils, receiving not a single sou of the coveted million ... the laughwould at once be on the other side.
But the question was to find Suzanne. And they did not find her, nor didshe escape!
"Very well," people said, "that's settled: Arsene has won the firstgame. But the difficult part is still to come! Mlle. Gerbois is in hishands, we admit, and he will not hand her over without the five hundredthousand francs. But how and where is the exchange to take place? Forthe exchange to take place, there must be a meeting; and what is toprevent M. Gerbois from informing the police and thus both recoveringhis daughter and keeping the money?"
The professor was interviewed. Greatly cast down, longing only forsilence, he remained impenetrable:
"I have nothing to say; I am waiting."
"And Mlle. Gerbois?"
"The search is being continued."
"But Arsene Lupin has written to you?"
"No."
"Do you swear that?"
"No."
"That means yes. What are his instructions?"
"I have nothing to say."
Maitre Detinan was next besieged and showed the same discretion.
"M. Lupin is my client," he replied, with an affectation of gravity."You will understand that I am bound to maintain the most absolutereserve."
All these mysteries annoyed the gallery. Plots were evidently hatchingin the dark. Arsene Lupin was arranging and tightening the meshes of hisnets, while the police were keeping up a watch by day and night roundM. Gerbois. And people discussed the only three possible endings: arrest,triumph, or grotesque and pitiful failure.
But, as it happened, public curiosity was destined to be only partiallysatisfied; and the exact truth is revealed for the first time in thesepages.
On Thursday, the 12th of March, M. Gerbois received the notice from theCredit Foncier, in an ordinary envelope.
At one o'clock on Friday, he took the train for Paris. A thousand notesof a thousand francs each were handed to him at two.
While he was counting them over, one by one, with trembling hands--forwas this money not Suzanne's ransom?--two men sat talking in a cab drawnup at a short distance from the main entrance. One of these men hadgrizzled hair and a powerful face, which contrasted oddly with his dressand bearing, which was that of a small clerk. It was Chief-InspectorGanimard, old Ganimard, Lupin's implacable enemy. And Ganimard said toDetective-Sergeant Folenfant:
"The old chap won't be long ... we shall see him come out in fiveminutes. Is everything ready?"
"Quite."
"How many are we?"
"Eight, including two on bicycles."
"And myself, who count as three. It's enough, but not too many. ThatGerbois must not escape us at any price ... if he does, we're diddled:he'll meet Lupin at the place they have agreed upon; he'll swap theyoung lady for the half-million; and the trick's done."
"But why on earth won't the old chap act with us? It would be so simple!By giving us a hand in the game, he could keep the whole million."
"Yes, but he's afraid. If he tries to jockey the other, he won't get hisdaughter back."
"What other?"
"Him."
Ganimard pronounced this word "him" in a grave and rather awe-strucktone, as though he were speaking of a supernatural being who had alreadyplayed him a nasty trick or two.
"It's very strange," said Sergeant Folenfant, judiciously, "that weshould be reduced to protecting that gentleman against himself."
"With Lupin, everything is upside down," sighed Ganimard.
A minute elapsed.
"Look out!" he said.
M. Gerbois was leaving the bank. When he came to the end of the Rue desCapucines, he turned down the boulevard, keeping to the left-hand side.He walked away slowly, along the shops, and looked into the windows.
"Our friend's too quiet," said Ganimard. "A fellow with a million in hispocket does not keep so quiet as all that."
"What can he do?"
"Oh, nothing, of course.... No matter, I mistrust him. It's Lupin,Lupin...."
At that moment M. Gerbois went to a kiosk, bought some newspapers, tookhis change, unfolded one of the sheets and, with outstretched arms,began to read, while walking on with short steps. And, suddenly, with abound, he jumped into a motor-cab which was waiting beside the curb. Thepower must have been on, for the car drove off rapidly, turned thecorner of the Madeleine and disappeared.
"By Jupiter!" cried Ganimard. "Another of his inventions!"
He darted forward and other men, at the same time as himself, ran roundthe Madeleine. But he burst out laughing. The motor-car had broken downat the beginning of the Boulevard Malesherbes and M. Gerbois was gettingout.
"Quick, Folenfant ... the driver ... perhaps it's the man calledErnest."
Folenfant tackled the chauffeur. It was a man called Gaston, one of themotor-cab company's drivers; a gentleman had engaged him ten minutesbefore and had told him to wait by the newspaper-kiosk, "with steam up,"until another gentleman came.
"And what address did the second fare give?" asked Folenfant.
"He gave me no address.... 'Boulevard Malesherbes ... Avenue de Messine... give you an extra tip': that's all he said."
* * * * *
During this time, however, M. Gerbois, without losing a minute, hadsprung into the first passing cab:
"Drive to the Concorde tube-station!"
The professor left the tube at the Place du Palais-Royal, hurried intoanother cab and drove to the Place de la Bourse. Here he went by tubeagain, as far as the Avenue de Villiers, where he took a third cab:
"25, Rue Clapeyron!"
No. 25, Rue Clapeyron, is separated from the Boulevard des Batignollesby the house at the corner. The professor went up to the first floor andrang. A gentleman opened the door.
"Does Maitre Detinan live here?"
"I am Maitre Detinan. M. Gerbois, I presume?"
"That's it."
"I was expecting you. Pray come in."
When M. Gerbois entered the lawyer's office, the clock was strikingthree and he at once said:
"This is the time he appointed. Isn't he here?"
"Not yet."
M. Gerbois sat down, wiped his forehead, looked at his watch as thoughhe did not know the time and continued, anxiously:
"Will he come?"
The lawyer replied:
"You are asking me something, sir, which I myself am most curious toknow. I have never felt so impatient in my life. In any case, if hecomes, he is taking a big risk, for the house has been closely watchedfor the past fortnight.... They suspect me."
"And me even more," said the professor. "I am not at all sure that thedetectives set to watch me have been thrown off my track."
"But then...."
"It would not be my fault," cried the professor, vehemently, "and he canhave nothing to reproach me with. What did I promise to do? To obey hisorders. Well, I have obeyed his orders blindly: I cashed the ticket atthe time which he fixed and came on to you in the manner which heordered. I am responsible for my daughter's misfortune and I have keptmy engagements in all good faith. It is for him to keep his." And headded, in an anxious voice, "He will bring back my daughter, won't he?"
"I hope so."
"Still ... you've seen him?"
"I? No. He simply wrote asking me to receive you both, to send away myservants before three o'clock and to let no one into my flat between thetime of your arrival and his departure. If I did not consent to thisproposal, he begged me to let him know by means of two lines in the_Echo de France_. But I am only too pleased to do Arsene Lupin aservice and I consent to everything."
M. Gerbois moaned:
"Oh, dear, how will it all end?"
He took the bank-notes from his pocket, spread them on the table anddivided them into two bundles of five hundred each. Then the two men satsilent. From time to time, M. Gerbois pricked up his ears: wasn't that aring at the door-bell?... His anguish increased with every minute thatpassed. And Maitre Detinan also experienced an impression that wasalmost painful.
For a moment, in fact, the advocate lost all his composure. He roseabruptly from his seat:
"We shan't see him.... How can we expect to?... It would be madness onhis part! He trusts us, no doubt: we are honest men, incapable ofbetraying him. But the danger lies elsewhere."
And M. Gerbois, shattered, with his hands on the notes, stammered:
"If he would only come, oh, if he would only come! I would give all thisto have Suzanne back."
The door opened.
"Half will do, M. Gerbois."
Some one was standing on the threshold--a young man, fashionablydressed--and M. Gerbois at once recognized the person who had accostedhim outside the curiosity-shop. He leapt toward him:
"And Suzanne? Where is my daughter?"
Arsene Lupin closed the door carefully and, quietly unbuttoning hisgloves, said to the lawyer:
"My dear maitre, I can never thank you sufficiently for your kindness inconsenting to defend my rights. I shall not forget it."
Maitre Detinan could only murmur:
"But you never rang.... I did not hear the door...."
"Bells and doors are things that have to do their work without everbeing heard. I am here all the same; and that is the great thing."
"My daughter! Suzanne! What have you done with her?" repeated theprofessor.
"Heavens, sir," said Lupin, "what a hurry you're in! Come, calmyourself; your daughter will be in your arms in a moment."
He walked up and down the room and then, in the tone of a magnatedistributing praises:
"I congratulate you, M. Gerbois, on the skilful way in which you actedjust now. If the motor hadn't had that ridiculous accident we shouldsimply have met at the Etoile and saved Maitre Detinan the annoyance ofthis visit.... However, it was destined otherwise!"
He caught sight of the two bundles of bank-notes and cried:
"Ah, that's right! The million is there!... Let us waste no time....Will you allow me?"
"But," said Maitre Detinan, placing himself in front of the table,"Mlle. Gerbois is not here yet."
"Well?"
"Well, isn't her presence indispensable?"
"I see, I see! Arsene Lupin inspires only a partial confidence. Hepockets his half-million, without restoring the hostage. Ah, my dearmaitre, I am sadly misunderstood! Because fate has obliged me to performacts of a rather ... special character, doubts are cast upon my goodfaith ... mine! I, a man all scruples and delicacy!... However, my dearmaitre, if you're afraid, open your window and call out. There are quitea dozen detectives in the street."
"Do you think so?"
Arsene Lupin raised the blind:
"I doubt if M. Gerbois is capable of throwing Ganimard off the scent....What did I tell you? There he is, the dear old chap!"
"Impossible!" cried the professor. "I swear to you, though...."
"That you have not betrayed me?... I don't doubt it, but the fellows areclever. Look, there's Folenfant!... And Greaume!... And Dieuzy!... Allmy best pals, what?"
Maitre Detinan looked at him in surprise. What calmness! He was laughingwith a happy laugh, as though he were amusing himself at some child'sgame, with no danger threatening him.
This carelessness did even more than the sight of the detectives toreassure the lawyer. He moved away from the table on which thebank-notes lay.
Arsene Lupin took up the two bundles one after the other, countedtwenty-five notes from each of them and, handing the lawyer the fiftybank-notes thus obtained, said:
"M. Gerbois' share of your fee, my dear maitre, and Arsene Lupin's. Weowe you that."
"You owe me nothing," said Maitre Detinan.
"What! After all the trouble we've given you!"
"You forget the pleasure it has been to me to take that trouble."
"You mean to say, my dear maitre, that you refuse to accept anythingfrom Arsene Lupin. That's the worst," he sighed, "of having a badreputation." He held out the fifty thousand francs to the professor."Monsieur, let me give you this in memory of our pleasant meeting: itwill be my wedding-present to Mlle. Gerbois."
M. Gerbois snatched at the notes, but protested:
"My daughter is not being married."
"She can't be married if you refuse your consent. But she is dying to bemarried."
"What do you know about it?"
"I know that young ladies often cherish dreams without Papa's consent.Fortunately, there are good geniuses, called Arsene Lupin, who discoverthe secret of those charming souls hidden away in their writing-desks."
"Did you discover nothing else?" asked Maitre Detinan. "I confess that Iam very curious to know why that desk was the object of yourattentions."
"Historical reasons, my dear maitre. Although, contrary to M. Gerbois'opinion, it contained no treasure beyond the lottery-ticket, of which Idid not know, I wanted it and had been looking for it for some time. Thedesk, which is made of yew and mahogany, decorated with acanthus-leafcapitals, was found in Marie Walewska's discreet little house atBoulogne-sur-Seine and has an inscription on one of the drawers:'_Dedicated to Napoleon I., Emperor of the French, by his most faithfulservant, Mancion._' Underneath are these words, carved with the point ofa knife: '_Thine, Marie._' Napoleon had it copied afterward for theEmpress Josephine, so that the writing-desk which people used to admireat the Malmaison and which they still admire at the Garde-Meuble is onlyan imperfect copy of the one which now forms part of my collection."
M. Gerbois sighed:
"Oh, dear! If I had only known this at the shop, how willingly I wouldhave let you have it!"
Arsene Lupin laughed:
"Yes; and you would, besides, have had the appreciable advantage ofkeeping the whole of number 514, series 23, for yourself."
"And you would not have thought of kidnapping my daughter, whom all
thisbusiness must needs have upset."
"All what business?"
"The abduction ..."
"But, my dear sir, you are quite mistaken. Mlle. Gerbois was notabducted."
"My daughter was not abducted!"
"Not at all. Kidnapping, abduction implies violence. Now Mlle. Gerboisacted as a hostage of her own free will."
"Of her own free will!" repeated the professor, in confusion.
"And almost at her own request! Why, a quick-witted young lady likeMlle. Gerbois, who, moreover, harbours a secret passion at the bottom ofher heart, was hardly likely to refuse the opportunity of securing herdowry. Oh, I assure you it was easy enough to make her understand thatthere was no other way of overcoming your resistance!"
Maitre Detanin was greatly amused. He put in:
"You must have found a difficulty in coming to terms. I can't believethat Mlle. Gerbois allowed you to speak to her."
"I didn't. I have not even the honour of knowing her. A lady of myacquaintance was good enough to undertake the negotiations."
"The blonde lady in the motor-car, I suppose?" said Maitre Detinan.
"Just so. Everything was settled at the first interview near thecollege. Since then, Mlle. Gerbois and her new friend have been abroad,have visited Belgium and Holland in the most agreeable and instructivemanner for a young girl. However, she will tell you everythingherself...."
The hall-door bell rang: three rings in quick succession, then a singlering, then another single ring.
"There she is," said Lupin. "My dear maitre, if you would not mind...."
The lawyer ran to open the door.
* * * * *
Two young women entered. One of them flung herself into M. Gerbois'arms. The other went up to Lupin. She was tall and shapely, with a verypale face, and her fair hair, which glittered like gold, was parted intotwo loosely waved bandeaux. Dressed in black, wearing no ornament beyonda five-fold jet necklace, she nevertheless struck a note of elegance andrefinement.
Arsene Lupin spoke a few words to her and then, bowing to Mlle. Gerbois,said:
"I must apologize to you, mademoiselle, for all this annoyance; but Ihope, nevertheless, that you have not been too unhappy...."
"Unhappy! I should even have been very happy, if it had not been for mypoor father."
"Then all is for the best. Embrace him once more and take theopportunity--you will never have a better--of speaking to him about yourcousin."
"My cousin?... What do you mean?... I don't understand...."
"Oh, I think you understand.... Your cousin Philippe ... the young manwhose letters you kept so preciously...."
Suzanne blushed, lost countenance and then, taking Lupin's advice, threwherself once more into her father's arms.
Lupin looked at them both with a melting eye:
"Ah, we are always rewarded for doing good! What a touching sight! Happyfather! Happy daughter! And to think that this happiness is your work,Lupin! Those two beings will bless you later.... Your name will bepiously handed down to their children and their children's children....Oh, family life!... Family life!..." He turned to the window. "Is ourdear Ganimard there still?... How he would love to witness this charmingdisplay of affection!... But no, he is not there.... There is nobody ...they're all gone.... By Jove, the position is growing serious!... Ishouldn't wonder if they were in the gateway by now ... or by theporter's lodge ... or even on the stairs!"
M. Gerbois made an involuntary movement. Now that his daughter wasrestored to him, he began to see things in their true light. The arrestof his adversary meant half a million to him. Instinctively, he took astep toward the door.... Lupin barred his way, as though by accident:
"Where are you going, M. Gerbois? To defend me against them? You are tookind! Pray don't trouble. Besides, I assure you they are more perplexedthan I." And he continued, reflectively: "What do they know, when all issaid? That you are here ... and, perhaps, that Mlle. Gerbois is heretoo, for they must have seen her come with an unknown lady. But theyhave no idea that I am here. How could I have entered a house which theysearched this morning from cellar to garret? No, in all probability theyare waiting for me to catch me on the wing ... poor fellows!... Unlessthey have guessed that the unknown lady was sent by me and presume thatshe has been commissioned to effect the exchange.... In that case, theyare preparing to arrest her when she leaves...."
The bell rang.
Lupin stopped M. Gerbois with an abrupt gesture and, in a harsh andperemptory voice, said:
"Stay where you are, sir! Think of your daughter and be reasonable; ifnot.... As for you, Maitre Detinan, I have your word."
M. Gerbois stood rooted to the floor. The lawyer did not move.
Lupin took up his hat without the least show of haste. There was alittle dust on it; he brushed it with the back of his coat-sleeve:
"My dear maitre, if I can ever be of use to you.... My best wishes,Mlle. Suzanne, and kind regards to M. Philippe." He took a heavy goldhunter from his pocket. "M. Gerbois, it is now eighteen minutes to four:I authorize you to leave this room at fourteen minutes to four.... Not amoment before fourteen minutes to four.... Is it understood?"
"But they'll enter by force!" Maitre Detinan could not help saying.
"You forget the law, my dear maitre! Ganimard would never dare toviolate the sanctity of a Frenchman's home. We should have time for apleasant rubber. But forgive me, you all three seem a little upset and Iwould not for the world abuse...."
He placed the watch on the table, opened the door of the room and,addressing the fair-haired lady, said:
"Shall we go, dear?"
He stood back for her to pass, made a parting and very respectful bow toMlle. Gerbois, walked out and closed the door after him. And they heardhim, in the hall, saying aloud:
"Good-afternoon, Ganimard, how are you? Remember me very kindly to Mme.Ganimard.... I must drop in on her to lunch one of these days....Good-bye, Ganimard!"
The bell rang again, sharply, violently, followed by repeated knocks andby the sound of voices on the landing....
"A quarter to four," stammered M. Gerbois.
After a few seconds, he stepped boldly into the hall. Arsene Lupin andthe fair-haired lady were not there.
"Father!... You mustn't!... Wait!" cried Suzanne.
"Wait? You're mad!... Show consideration to that scoundrel!... And whatabout the half-million?..."
He opened the door.
Ganimard rushed in:
"Where's that lady?... And Lupin?"
"He was there ... he is there now."
Ganimard gave a shout of triumph:
"We've got him!... The house is surrounded."
Maitre Detinan objected:
"But the servants' staircase?"
"The servants' staircase leads to the courtyard and there's only oneoutlet, the front door: I have ten men watching it."
"But he did not come in by the front door.... He won't go out that wayeither...."
"Which way, then?" jeered Ganimard. "Through the air?"
He drew back a curtain. A long passage was revealed, leading to thekitchen. Ganimard ran down it and found that the door of the servants'staircase was double-locked.
Opening the window, he called to one of the detectives:
"Seen any one?"
"No, sir."
"Then," he exclaimed, "they are in the flat!... They are hiding in oneof the rooms!... It is physically impossible for them to haveescaped.... Ah, Lupin, my lad, you did me once, but I'm having myrevenge this time!..."
* * * * *
At seven o'clock in the evening, astonished at receiving no news, thehead of the detective-service, M. Dudouis, called at the Rue Clapeyronin person. He put a few questions to the men who were watching thehouse and then went up to Maitre Detinan, who took him to his room.There he saw a man, or rather a man's two legs struggling on the carpet,while the body to which they belonged was stuffed up the chimney.
"Hi!... Hi!..." yelped a stifled voice.
And a more distant voice, from right above, echoed:
"Hi!... Hi!..."
M. Dudouis laughed and exclaimed:
"Well, Ganimard, what are you playing sweep for?"
The inspector withdrew his body from the chimney. He was unrecognizable,with his black face, his sooty clothes and his eyes glowing with fever.
"I'm looking for him," he growled.
"For whom?"
"Arsene Lupin.... Arsene Lupin and his lady friend."
"But what next? You surely don't imagine they're hiding up the chimney?"
Ganimard rose to his feet, put his five soot-covered fingers on thesleeve of his superior's coat and, in a hollow, angry voice, said:
"Where would you have them be, chief? They must be somewhere. They arebeings of flesh and blood, like you and me; they can't vanish into thinair."
"No; but they vanish for all that."
"Where? Where? The house is surrounded! There are men on the roof!"
"What about the next house?"
"There's no communication."
"The flats on the other floors?"
"I know all the tenants. They have seen nobody. They have heard nobody."
"Are you sure you know them all?"
"Every one. The porter answers for them. Besides, as an additionalprecaution, I have posted a man in each flat."
"We must find them, you know."
"That's what I say, chief, that's what I say. We must and we shall,because they are both here ... they can't be anywhere else. Be easy,chief; if I don't catch them to-night, I shall to-morrow.... I shallspend the night here!... I shall spend the night here!..."
He did, in fact, spend the night there and the next night and the nightafter that. And, when three whole days and three nights had elapsed, notonly had he failed to discover the elusive Lupin and his no less elusivecompanion, but he had not even observed the slightest clue upon whichto found the slightest supposition.
And that is why he refused to budge from his first opinion:
"Once there's no trace of their flight, they must be here!"
It is possible that, in the depths of his mind, he was less firmlyconvinced. But he refused to admit as much to himself. No, a thousandtimes no: a man and a woman do not vanish into space like the wickedgenii in the fairy-tales! And, without losing courage, he continued hissearchings and investigations, as though he hoped to discover themhidden in some impenetrable retreat, bricked up in the walls of thehouse.
