the crystal stopper-第10章

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But　the　fact　remained；　visible　and　palpable。　　He　recognized　by　its　shape；　by　its　size；　by　the　worn　gilding　of　its　facets；　recognized　beyond　any　possible　doubt　the　crystal　stopper　which　he　had　seen　before。　　He　even　remarked　a　tiny；　hardly　noticeable　little　scratch　on　the　stem　which　he　remembered　perfectly。

However；　while　the　thing　presented　all　the　same　characteristics；　it　possessed　no　other　that　seemed　out　of　the　way。　　It　was　a　crystal　stopper；　that　was　all。　　There　was　no　really　special　mark　to　distinguish　it　from　other　stoppers。　　There　was　no　sign　upon　it；　no　stamp；　and；　being　cut　from　a　single　piece；　it　contained　no　foreign　object。

〃What　then？〃

And　Lupin　received　a　quick　insight　into　the　depth　of　his　mistake。　　What　good　could　the　possession　of　that　crystal　stopper　do　him　so　long　as　he　was　ignorant　of　its　value？　　That　bit　of　glass　had　no　existence　in　itself；　it　counted　only　through　the　meaning　that　attached　to　it。　　Before　taking　it；　the　thing　was　to　be　certain。　　And　how　could　he　tell　that；　in　taking　it；　in　robbing　Daubrecq　of　it；　he　was　not　committing　an　act　of　folly？

It　was　a　question　which　was　impossible　of　solution；　but　which　forced　itself　upon　him　with　singular　directness。

〃No　blunders！〃　he　said　to　himself；　as　he　pocketed　the　stopper。　　〃In　this　confounded　business；　blunders　are　fatal。〃

He　had　not　taken　his　eyes　off　Victoire。　　Accompanied　by　a　shopman；　she　went　from　counter　to　counter；　among　the　throng　of　customers。　　She　next　stood　for　some　little　while　at　the　pay…desk　and　passed　in　front　of　Lupin。

He　whispered　her　instructions：

〃Meet　me　behind　the　Lycee　Janson。〃

She　joined　him　in　an　unfrequented　street：

〃And　suppose　I'm　followed？〃　she　said。

〃No；〃　he　declared。　　〃I　looked　carefully。　　Listen　to　me。　　Where　did　you　find　the　stopper？〃

〃In　the　drawer　of　the　table　by　his　bed。〃

〃But　we　had　felt　there　already。〃

〃Yes；　and　I　did　so　again　this　morning。　　I　expect　he　put　it　there　last　night。〃

〃And　I　expect　he'll　want　to　take　it　from　there　again；〃　said　Lupin。

〃Very　likely。〃

〃And　suppose　he　finds　it　gone？〃

Victoire　looked　frightened。

〃Answer　me；〃　said　Lupin。　　〃If　he　finds　it　gone；　he'll　accuse　you　of　taking　it；　won't　he？〃

〃Certainly。〃

〃Then　go　and　put　it　back；　as　fast　as　you　can。〃

Oh　dear；　oh　dear！〃　she　moaned。　　〃I　hope　he　won't　have　had　time　to　find　out。　　Give　it　to　me；　quick。〃

Here　you　are；〃　said　Lupin。

He　felt　in　the　pocket　of　his　overcoat。

〃Well？〃　said　Victoire；　holding　out　her　hand。

〃Well；〃　he　said；　after　a　moment；　〃it's　gone。〃

〃What！〃

〃Yes；　upon　my　word；　it's　gone。。。　somebody's　taken　it　from　me。〃

He　burst　into　a　peal　of　laughter；　a　laughter　which；　this　time；　was　free　from　all　bitterness。

Victoire　flew　out　at　him：

〃Laugh　away！　。。。　Putting　me　in　such　a　predicament！。。。　〃

〃How　can　I　help　laughing？　　You　must　confess　that　it's　funny。　　It's　no　longer　a　tragedy　that　we're　acting；　but　a　fairy…tale；　as　much　a　fairy…tale　as　Puss　in　Boots　or　Jack　the　Beanstalk。　　I　must　write　it　when　I　get　a　few　weeks　to　myself：　The　Magic　Stopper；　or；　The　Mishaps　of　Poor　Arsene。〃

〃Well。。。　who　has　taken　it　from　you？〃

〃What　are　you　talking　about？。。。　It　has　flown　away。。。　vanished　from　my　pocket：　hey　presto；　begone！〃

He　gave　the　old　servant　a　gentle　push　and；　in　a　more　serious　tone：

〃Go　home；　Victoire；　and　don't　upset　yourself。　　Of　course；　some　one　saw　you　give　me　the　stopper　and　took　advantage　of　the　crowd　in　the　shop　to　pick　my　pocket　of　it。　　That　only　shows　that　we　are　watched　more　closely　than　I　thought　and　by　adversaries　of　the　first　rank。　　But；　once　more；　be　easy。　　Honest　men　always　come　by　their　own。。。　Have　you　anything　else　to　tell　me？〃

〃Yes。　　Some　one　came　yesterday　evening；　while　M。　Daubrecq　was　out。　　I　saw　lights　reflected　upon　the　trees　in　the　garden。〃

〃The　portress'　bedroom？〃

〃The　portress　was　up。〃

〃Then　it　was　some　of　those　detective…fellows；　they　are　still　hunting。　I'll　see　you　later；　Victoire。　　You　must　let　me　in　again。〃

〃What！　You　want　to。。。　〃

〃What　do　I　risk？　　Your　room　is　on　the　third　floor。　　Daubrecq　suspects　nothing。〃

〃But　the　others！〃

〃The　others？　　If　it　was　to　their　interest　to　play　me　a　trick；　they'd　have　tried　before　now。　　I'm　in　their　way；　that's　all。　　They're　not　afraid　of　me。　　So　till　later；　Victoire；　at　five　o'clock　exactly。〃

One　further　surprise　awaited　Lupin。　　In　the　evening　his　old　nurse　told　him　that；　having　opened　the　drawer　of　the　bedside　table　from　curiosity；　she　had　found　the　crystal　stopper　there　again。

Lupin　was　no　longer　to　be　excited　by　these　miraculous　incidents。　　He　simply　said　to　himself：

〃So　it's　been　brought　back。　　And　the　person　who　brought　it　back　and　who　enters　this　house　by　some　unexplained　means　considered；　as　I　did；　that　the　stopper　ought　not　to　disappear。　　And　yet　Daubrecq；　who　knows　that　he　is　being　spied　upon　to　his　very　bedroom；　has　once　more　left　the　stopper　in　a　drawer；　as　though　he　attached　no　importance　to　it　at　all！　　Now　what　is　one　to　make　of　that？

Though　Lupin　did　not　make　anything　of　it；　nevertheless　he　could　not　escape　certain　arguments；　certain　associations　of　ideas　that　gave　him　the　same　vague　foretaste　of　light　which　one　receives　on　approaching　the　outlet　of　a　tunnel。

〃It　is　inevitable；　as　the　case　stands；〃　he　thought；　〃that　there　must　soon　be　an　encounter　between　myself　and　the　others。　　From　that　moment　I　shall　be　master　of　the　situation。〃

Five　days　passed；　during　which　Lupin　did　not　glean　the　slightest　particular。　　On　the　sixth　day　Daubrecq　received　a　visit；　in　the　small　hours；　from　a　gentleman；　Laybach　the　deputy；　who；　like　his　colleagues；　dragged　himself　at　his　feet　in　despair　and；　when　all　was　done；　handed　him　twenty　thousand　francs。

Two　more　days；　and　then；　one　night；　posted　on　the　landing　of　the　second　floor；　Lupin　heard　the　creaking　of　a　door；　the　front…door；　as　he　perceived；　which　led　from　the　hall　into　the　garden。　　In　the　darkness　he　distinguished；　or　rather　divined；　the　presence　of　two　persons；　who　climbed　the　stairs　and　stopped　on　the　first　floor；　outside　Daubrecq's　bedroom。

What　were　they　doing　there？　　It　was　not　possible　to　enter　the　room；　because　Daubrecq　bolted　his　door　every　night。　　Then　what　were　they　hoping？

Manifestly；　a　handiwork　of　some　kind　was　being　performed；　as　Lupin　discovered　from　the　dull　sounds　of　rubbing　against　the　door。　　Then　words；　uttered　almost　beneath　a　whisper；　reached　him：

〃Is　it　all　right？〃

〃Yes；　quite；　but；　all　the　same；　we'd　better　put　it　off　till　to…morrow；　　because。。。　〃

Lupin　did　not　hear　the　end　of　the　sentence。　　The　men　were　already　groping　their　way　downstairs。　　The　hall…door　was　closed；　very　gently；　and　then　the　gate。

〃It's　curious；　say　what　one　likes；〃　thought　Lupin。　　〃Here　is　a　house　in　which　Daubrecq　carefully　conceals　his　rascalities　and　is　on　his　guard；　not　without　good　reason；　against　spies；　and　everybody　walks　in　and　out　as　in　a　booth　at　a　fair。　　Victoire　lets　me　in；　the　portress　admits　the　emissaries　of　the　police：　that's　well　and　good；　but　who　is　playing　false　in　these　people's　favour？　　Are　we　to　suppose　that　they　are　acting　alone？　But　what　fearlessness！　　And　how　well　they　know　their　way　about！〃

In　the　afternoon；　during　Daubrecq's　absence；　he　examined　the　door　of　the　first…floor　bedroom。　　And；　at　the　first　glance；　he　understood：　one　of　the　lower　panels　had　been　skilfully　cut　out　and　was　only　held　in　place　by　invisible　tacks。　　The　people；　therefore；　who　had　done　this　work　were　the　same　who　had　acted　at　his　two　places；　in　the　Rue　Matiguon　and　the　Rue　Chateaubriand。

He　also　found　that　the　work　dated　back　to　an　earlier　period　and　that；　as　in　his　case；　the　opening　had　been　prepared　beforehand；　in　anticipation　of　favourable　circumstances　or　of　some　immediate　need。

The　day　did　not　seem　long　to　Lupin。　　Knowledge　was　at　hand。　　Not　only　would　he　discover　the　manner　in　which　his　adversaries　employed　those　little　openings；　which　were　apparently　unemployable；　since　they　did　not　allow　a　person　to　reach　the　upper　bolts；　but　he　would　learn　who　the　ingenious　and　energetic　adversaries　were　with　whom　he　repeatediy　and　inevitably　found　himself　confronted。

One　incident　annoyed　him。　　In　the　evening　Daubrecq；　who　had　complained　of　feeling　tired　at　dinner；　came　home　at　ten　o'clock　and；　contrary　to　his　usual　custom；　pushed　the　bolts　of　the　hall…door。　　In　that　case；　how　would　the　others　be　able　to　carry　out　their　plan　and　go　to　Daubrecq's　room？　　Lupin　waited　for　an　hour　after　Daubrecq　put　out　his　light。　　Then　he　went　down　to　the　deputy's　study；　opened　one　of　the　windows　ajar　and　returned　to　the　third　floor　and　fixed　his　rope…ladder　so　that；　in　case　of　need；　he　could　reach　the　study　without　passing　though　the　house。　Lastly；　he　resumed　his　post　on　the　second…floor　landing。　　

He　did　not　have　to　wait　long。　　An　hour　earlier　than　on　the　previous　night　some　one　tried　to　open　the　hall…door。　　When　the　attempt　failed；　a　few　minutes　of　absolute　silence　followed。　　And　Lupin　was　beginning　to　think　that　the　men　had　abandoned　the　idea；　when　he　gave　a　sudden　start。　　Some　one　had　passed；　without　the　least　sound　to　interrupt　the　silence。　　He　would　not　have　known　it；　so　utterly　were　the　thing's　steps　deadened　by　the　stair…carpet；　if　the　baluster…rail；　which　he　himself　held　in　his　hand；　had　not　shaken　slightly。　　Some　one　was　coming　upstairs。

And；　as　the　ascent　continued；　Lupin　became　aware　of　the　uncanny　feeling　that　he　heard　nothing　more　than　before。　　He　knew；　because　of　the　rail；　that　a　thing　was　coming　and　he　could　count　the　number　of　steps　climbed　by　noting　each　vibration　of　the　rail；　but　no　other　indication　gave　him　that　dim　sensation　of　presence　which　we　feel　in　distinguishing　movements　which　we　do　not　see；　in　perceiving　sounds　which　we　do　not　hear。　　And　yet　a　blacker　darkness　ought　to　have　taken　shape　within　the　darkness　and　something　ought；　at　least；　to　modify　the　quality　of　the　silence。　　No；　he　might　well　have　believed　that　there　was　no　one　there。

And　Lupin；　in　spite　of　himself　and　against　the　evidence　of　his　reason；　ended　by　believing　it；　for　the　rail　no　longer　moved　and　he　thought　that　he　might　have　been　the　sport　of　an　illusion。

And　this　lasted　a　long　time。　　He　hesitated；　not　knowing　what　to　do；　not　knowing　what　to　suppose。　　But　an　odd　circumstance　impressed　him。　　A　clock　struck　two。　　He　recognized　the　chime　of　Daubrecq's　clock。　　And　the　chime　was　that　of　a　clock　from　which　one　is　not　separated　by　the　obstacle　of　a　door。

Lupin　slipped　down　the　stairs　and　went　to　the　door。　　It　was　closed；　but　there　was　a　space　on　the　left；　at　the　bottom；　a　space　left　by　the　removal　of　the　little　panel。

He　listened。　　Daubrecq；　at　that　moment；　turned　in　his　bed；　and　his　breathing　was　resumed；　evenly　and　a　little　stertorously。　　And　Lupin　plainly　heard　the　sound　of　rumpling　garments。　　Beyond　a　doubt；　the　thing　was　there；　fumbling　and　feeling　through　the　clothes　which　Daubrecq　had　laid　beside　his　bed。

〃Now；〃　thought　Lupin；　〃we　shall　learn　something。　　But　how　the　deuce　did　the　beggar　get　in？　　Has　he　managed　to　draw　the　bolts　and　open　the　door？　But；　if　so；　why　did　he　make　the　mistake　of　shutting　it　again？〃

Not　for　a　second　…　a　curious　anomaly　in　a　man　like　Lupin；　an　anomaly　to　be　explained　only　by　the　uncanny　feeling　which　the　whole　adventure　produced　in　him　…　not　for　a　second　did　he　suspect　the　very　simple　truth　wh