the crystal stopper-第14章

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e　for　her　son；　whatever　he　may　do；　whatever　he　may　have　done。　　And　then　Gilbert　has　such　a　way　with　him。。。　well；　you　know　him。　　He　cried；　kissed　my　little　Jacques；　his　brother　and　I　forgave　him。〃

She　stopped　and；　weary…voiced；　with　her　eyes　fixed　on　the　floor；　continued：

〃Would　to　Heaven　that　I　had　not　forgiven　him！　　Ah；　if　that　hour　could　but　return；　how　readily　I　should　find　the　horrible　courage　to　turn　him　away！　　My　poor　child。。。　it　was　I　who　ruined　him！。。。　　And；　pensively；　〃I　should　have　had　that　or　any　sort　of　courage；　if　he　had　been　as　I　pictured　him　to　myself　and　as　he　himself　told　me　that　he　had　long　been：　bearing　the　marks　of　vice　and　dissipation；　coarse；　deteriorated。

But；　though　he　was　utterly　changed　in　appearance；　so　much　so　that　I　could　hardly　recognize　him；　there　was；　from　the　point　of　view　of　…　how　shall　I　put　it？　…　from　the　moral　point　of　view；　an　undoubted　improvement。　You　had　helped　him；　lifted　him；　and；　though　his　mode　of　life　was　hateful　to　me；　nevertheless　he　retained　a　certain　self…respect。。。　a　sort　of　underlying　decency　that　showed　itself　on　the　surface　once　more。。。　He　was　gay；　careless；　happy。。。　　And　he　used　to　talk　of　you　with　such　affection！〃

She　picked　her　words；　betraying　her　embarrassment；　not　daring；　in　Lupin's　presence；　to　condemn　the　line　of　life　which　Gilbert　had　selected　and　yet　unable　to　speak　in　favour　of　it。

〃What　happened　next？〃　asked　Lupin。

〃I　saw　him　very　often。　　He　would　come　to　me　by　stealth；　or　else　I　went　to　him　and　we　would　go　for　walks　in　the　country。　　In　this　way；　I　was　gradually　induced　to　tell　him　our　story；　of　his　father's　suicide　and　the　object　which　I　was　pursuing。　　He　at　once　took　fire。　　He　too　wanted　to　avenge　his　father　and；　by　stealing　the　crystal　stopper；　to　avenge　himself　on　Daubrecq　for　the　harm　which　he　had　done　him。　　His　first　idea　…　from　which；　I　am　bound　to　tell　you；　he　never　swerved　…　was　to　arrange　with　you。〃

〃Well；　then；〃　cried　Lupin；　〃he　ought　to　have。。。　！〃

〃Yes；　I　know。。。　and　I　was　of　the　same　opinion。　　Unfortunately；　my　poor　Gilbert　…　you　know　how　weak　he　is！　…　was　under　the　influence　of　one　of　his　comrades。〃

〃Vaucheray？〃

〃Yes；　Vaucheray；　a　saturnine　spirit；　full　of　bitterness　and　envy；　an　ambitious；　unscrupulous；　gloomy；　crafty　man；　who　had　acquired　a　great　empire　over　my　son。　　Gilbert　made　the　mistake　of　confiding　in　him　and　asking　his　advice。　　That　was　the　origin　of　all　the　mischief。　　Vaucheray　convinced　him　and　convinced　me　as　well　that　it　would　be　better　if　we　acted　by　ourselves。　　He　studied　the　business；　took　the　lead　and　finally　organized　the　Enghien　expedition　and；　under　your　direction；　the　burglary　at　the　Villa　Marie…Therese；　which　Prasville　and　his　detectives　had　been　unable　to　search　thoroughly；　because　of　the　active　watch　maintained　by　Leonard　the　valet。　　It　was　a　mad　scheme。　　We　ought　either　to　have　trusted　in　your　experience　entirely；　or　else　to　have　left　you　out　altogether；　taking　the　risk　of　fatal　mistakes　and　dangerous　hesitations。　But　we　could　not　help　ourselves。　　Vaucheray　ruled　us。　　I　agreed　to　meet　Daubrecq　at　the　theatre。　　During　this　time　the　thing　took　place。　　When　I　came　home；　at　twelve　o'clock　at　night；　I　heard　the　terrible　result：　Leonard　murdered；　my　son　arrested。　　I　at　once　received　an　intuition　of　the　future。　　Daubrecq's　appalling　prophecy　was　being　realized：　it　meant　trial　and　sentence。　　And　this　through　my　fault；　through　the　fault　of　me；　the　mother；　who　had　driven　my　son　toward　the　abyss　from　which　nothing　could　extricate　him　now。〃

Clarisse　wrung　her　hands　and　shivered　from　head　to　foot。　　What　suffering　can　compare　with　that　of　a　mother　trembling　for　the　head　of　her　son？　Stirred　with　pity；　Lupin　said：

〃We　shall　save　him。　　Of　that　there　is　not　the　shadow　of　a　doubt。　　But；　it　is　necessary　that　I　should　know　all　the　details。　　Finish　your　story；　please。　　How　did　you　know；　on　the　same　night；　what　had　happened　at　Enghien？〃

She　mastered　herself　and；　with　a　face　wrung　with　fevered　anguish；　replied：

〃Through　two　of　your　accomplices；　or　rather　two　accomplices　of　Vaucheray；　to　whom　they　were　wholly　devoted　and　who　had　chosen　them　to　row　the　boats。〃

〃The　two　men　outside：　the　Growler　and　the　Masher？〃

〃Yes。　　On　your　return　from　the　villa；　when　you　landed　after　being　pursued　on　the　lake　by　the　commissary　of　police；　you　said　a　few　words　to　them；　by　way　of　explanation；　as　you　went　to　your　car。　　Mad　with　fright；　they　rushed　to　my　place；　where　they　had　been　before；　and　told　me　the　hideous　news。　　Gilbert　was　in　prison！　　Oh；　what　an　awful　night！　　What　was　I　to　do？　　Look　for　you？　　Certainly；　and　implore　your　assistance。　　But　where　was　I　to　find　you？。。。　　It　was　then　that　the　two　whom　you　call　the　Growler　and　the　Masher；　driven　into　a　corner　by　circumstances；　decided　to　tell　me　of　the　part　played　by　Vaucheray；　his　ambitions；　his　plan；　which　had　long　been　ripening。。。　〃

〃To　get　rid　of　me；　I　suppose？〃　said　Lupin；　with　a　grin。

〃Yes。　　As　Gilbert　possessed　your　complete　confidence；　Vaucheray　watched　him　and；　in　this　way；　got　to　know　all　the　places　which　you　live　at。　　A　few　days　more　and；　owning　the　crystal　stopper；　holding　the　list　of　the　Twenty…seven；　inheriting　all　Daubrecq's　power；　he　would　have　delivered　you　to　the　police；　without　compromising　a　single　member　of　your　gang；　which　he　looked　upon　as　thenceforth　his。〃

〃The　ass！〃　muttered　Lupin。　　〃A　muddler　like　that！〃　　And　he　added；　〃So　the　panels　of　the　doors。。。　〃

〃Were　cut　out　by　his　instructions；　in　anticipation　of　the　contest　on　which　he　was　embarking　against　you　and　against　Daubrecq；　at　whose　house　he　did　the　same　thing。　　He　had　under　his　orders　a　sort　of　acrobat；　an　extraordinarily　thin　dwarf；　who　was　able　to　wriggle　through　those　apertures　and　who　thus　detected　all　your　correspondence　and　all　your　secrets。　　That　is　what　his　two　friends　revealed　to　me。　　I　at　once　conceived　the　idea　of　saving　my　elder　son　by　making　use　of　his　brother；　my　little　Jacques；　who　is　himself　so　slight　and　so　intelligent；　so　plucky；　as　you　have　seen。　　We　set　out　that　night。　　Acting　on　the　information　of　my　companions；　I　went　to　Gilbert's　rooms　and　found　the　keys　of　your　flat　in　the　Rue　Matignon；　where　it　appeared　that　you　were　to　sleep。　　Unfortunately；　I　changed　my　mind　on　the　way　and　thought　much　less　of　asking　for　your　help　than　of　recovering　the　crystal　stopper；　which；　if　it　had　been　discovered　at　Enghien；　must　obviously　be　at　your　flat。　　I　was　right　in　my　calculations。　　In　a　few　minutes；　my　little　Jacques；　who　had　slipped　into　your　bedroom；　brought　it　to　me。　　I　went　away　quivering　with　hope。　　Mistress　in　my　turn　of　the　talisman；　keeping　it　to　myself；　without　telling　Prasville；　I　had　absolute　power　over　Daubrecq。　　I　could　make　him　do　all　that　I　wanted；　he　would　become　the　slave　of　my　will　and；　instructed　by　me；　would　take　every　step　in　Gilbert's　favour　and　obtain　that　he　should　be　given　the　means　of　escape　or　else　that　he　should　not　be　sentenced。　　It　meant　my　boy's　safety。〃

〃‘Well？〃

Clarisse　rose　from　her　seat；　with　a　passionate　movement　of　her　whole　being；　leant　over　Lupin　and　said；　in　a　hollow　voice：

〃There　was　nothing　in　that　piece　of　crystal；　nothing；　do　you　understand？　No　paper；　no　hiding…place！　　The　whole　expedition　to　Enghien　was　futile！　The　murder　of　Leonard　was　useless！　　The　arrest　of　my　son　was　useless！　All　my　efforts　were　useless！〃

〃But　why？　　Why？〃

〃Why？　　Because　what　you　stole　from　Daubrecq　was　not　the　stopper　made　by　his　instructions；　but　the　stopper　which　was　sent　to　John　Howard；　the　Stourbridge　glassworker；　to　serve　as　a　model。〃

If　Lupin　had　not　been　in　the　presence　of　so　deep　a　grief；　he　could　not　have　refrained　from　one　of　those　satirical　outbursts　with　which　the　mischievous　tricks　of　fate　are　wont　to　inspire　him。　　As　it　was；　he　muttered　between　his　teeth：

〃How　stupid！　　And　still　more　stupid　as　Daubrecq　had　been　given　the　warning。〃

〃No；〃　she　said。　　〃I　went　to　Enghien　on　the　same　day。　　In　all　that　business　Daubrecq　saw　and　sees　nothing　but　an　ordinary　burglary；　an　annexation　of　his　treasures。　　The　fact　that　you　took　part　in　it　put　him　off　the　scent。〃

〃Still；　the　disappearance　of　the　stopper。。。　〃

〃To　begin　with；　the　thing　can　have　had　but　a　secondary　importance　for　him；　as　it　is　only　the　model。〃

〃How　do　you　know？〃

〃There　is　a　scratch　at　the　bottom　of　the　stem；　and　I　have　made　inquiries　in　England　since。〃

〃Very　well；　but　why　did　the　key　of　the　cupboard　from　which　it　was　stolen　never　leave　the　man…servant's　possession？　　And　why；　in　the　second　place；　was　it　found　afterward　in　the　drawer　of　a　table　in　Daubrecq's　house　in　Paris？〃

〃Of　course；　Daubrecq　takes　care　of　it　and　clings　to　it　in　the　way　in　which　one　clings　to　the　model　of　any　valuable　thing。　　And　that　is　why　I　replaced　the　stopper　in　the　cupboard　before　its　absence　was　noticed。　　And　that　also　is　why；　on　the　second　occasion；　I　made　my　little　Jacques　take　the　stopper　from　your　overcoat…pocket　and　told　the　portress　to　put　it　back　in　the　drawer。〃

〃Then　he　suspects　nothing？〃

〃Nothing。　　He　knows　that　the　list　is　being　looked　for；　but　he　does　not　know　that　Prasville　and　I　are　aware　of　the　thing　in　which　he　hides　it。〃

Lupin　had　risen　from　his　seat　and　was　walking　up　and　down　the　room；　thinking。　　Then　he　stood　still　beside　Clarisse　and　asked：

〃When　all　is　said；　since　the　Enghien　incident；　you　have　not　advanced　a　single　step？〃

〃Not　one。　　I　have　acted　from　day　to　day；　led　by　those　two　men　or　leading　them；　without　any　definite　plan。〃

〃Or；　at　least；〃　he　said；　〃without　any　other　plan　than　that　of　getting　the　list　of　the　Twenty…seven　from　Daubrecq。〃

〃Yes；　but　how？　　Besides；　your　tactics　made　things　more　difficult　for　me。　It　did　not　take　us　long　to　recognize　your　old　servant　Victoire　in　Daubrecq's　new　cook　and　to　discover；　from　what　the　portress　told　us；　that　Victoire　was　putting　you　up　in　her　room；　and　I　was　afraid　of　your　schemes。〃

〃It　was　you；　was　it　not；　who　wrote　to　me　to　retire　from　the　contest？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃You　also　asked　me　not　to　go　to　the　theatre　on　the　Vaudeville　night？〃

〃Yes；　the　portress　caught　Victoire　listening　to　Daubrecq's　conversation　with　me　on　the　telephone；　and　the　Masher；　who　was　watching　the　house；　saw　you　go　out。　　I　suspected；　therefore；　that　you　would　follow　Daubrecq　that　evening。〃

〃And　the　woman　who　came　here；　late　one　afternoon　。。。　〃

〃Was　myself。　　I　felt　disheartened　and　wanted　to　see　you。〃

〃And　you　intercepted　Gilbert's　letter？〃

〃Yes；　I　recognized　his　writing　on　the　envelope。〃

〃But　your　little　Jacques　was　not　with　you？〃

〃No；　he　was　outside；　in　a　motor…car；　with　the　Masher；　who　lifted　him　up　to　me　through　the　drawing…room　window；　and　he　slipped　into　your　bedroom　through　the　opening　in　the　panel。〃

〃What　was　in　the　letter？〃

〃As　ill…luck　would　have　it；　reproaches。　　Gilbert　accused　you　of　forsaking　him；　of　taking　over　the　business　on　your　own　account。　　In　short；　it　confirmed　me　in　my　distrust；　and　I　ran　away。〃

Lupin　shrugged　his　shoulders　with　irritation：

〃What　a　shocking　waste　of　time！　　And　what　a　fatality　that　we　were　not　able　to　come　to　an　understanding　earlier！　　You　and　I　have　been　playing　at　hide…and…seek；　laying　absurd　traps　for　each　other；　while　the　days　were　passing；　precious　days　beyond　repair。〃

〃You　see；　you　see；〃　she　said；　shivering；　〃you　too　are　afraid　of　the　future！〃

〃No；　I　am　not　afraid；〃　c