the crystal stopper-第16章

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〃Dr。　Vernes？〃

〃Yes；　monsieur　le　depute；　Dr。　Vernes；　of　Saint…Germain。〃

〃And　I　see　that　you　come　from　Mme。　Mergy。　　A　patient　of　yours？〃

〃A　recent　patient。　　I　did　not　know　her　until　I　was　called　in　to　see　her；　the　other　day；　in　particularly　tragic　circumstances。

〃Is　she　ill？〃

〃Mme。　Mergy　has　taken　poison。〃

〃What！〃

Daubrecq　gave　a　start　and　he　continued；　without　concealing　his　distress：

〃What's　that　you　say？　　Poison！　　Is　she　dead？〃

〃No；　the　dose　was　not　large　enough。　　If　no　compilcations　ensue；　I　consider　that　Mme。　Mergy's　life　is　saved。〃

Daubrecq　said　nothing　and　sat　silent；　with　his　head　turned　to　Lupin。

〃Is　he　looking　at　me？　Are　his　eyes　open　or　shut？〃　　Lupin　asked　himself。

It　worried　Lupin　terribly　not　to　see　his　adversary's　eyes；　those　eyes　hidden　by　the　double　obstacle　of　spectaicles　and　black　glasses：　weak；　bloodshot　eyes；　Mme。　Mergy　had　told　him。　How　could　he　follow　the　secret　train　of　the　man's　thought　without　seeing　the　expression　of　his　face？　It　was　almost　like　fighting　an　enemy　who　wielded　an　invisible　sword。

Presently；　Daubrecq　spoke：

〃So　Mme。　Mergy's　life　is　saved。。。　　And　she　has　sent　you　to　me。。。　　I　don't　quite　understand。。。　　I　hardly　know　the　lady。〃

Now　for　the　ticklish　moment；〃　thought　Lupin。　　〃Have　at　him！〃

And；　in　a　genial；　good…natured　and　rather　shy　tone；　he　said：

〃No；　monsieur　le　depute；　there　are　cases　in　which　a　doctor's　duty　becomes　very　complex。。。　very　puzzling。。。　　And　you　may　think　that；　in　taking　this　step。。。　　However；　to　cut　a　long　story　short；　while　I　was　attending　Mine。　Mergy；　she　made　a　second　attempt　to　poison　herself。。。　　Yes；　the　bottle；　unfortunately；　had　been　left　within　her　reach。　　I　snatched　it　from　her。　We　had　a　struggle。　　And；　railing　in　her　fever；　she　said　to　me；　in　broken　words；　'He's　the　man。。。　　He's　the　man。。。　　Daubrecq　the　deputy。。。　　Make　him　give　me　back　my　son。　　Tell　him　to。。。　or　else　I　would　rather　die。。。　。。。　　Yes；　now；　to…night。。。　I　would　rather　die。'　　That's　what　she　said；　monsieur　le　depute。。。　　So　I　thought　that　I　ought　to　let　you　know。　　It　is　quite　certain　that；　in　the　lady's　highly　nervous　state　of　mind。。。　Of　course；　I　don't　know　the　exact　meaning　of　her　words。。。　　I　asked　no　questions　of　anybody。。。　obeyed　a　spontaneous　impulse　and　came　straight　to　you。

Daubrecq　reflected　for　a　little　while　and　said：

〃It　amounts　to　this；　doctor；　that　you　have　come　to　ask　me　if　I　know　the　whereabouts　of　this　child　whom　I　presume　to　have　disappeared。　　Is　that　it？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃And；　if　I　did　happen　to　know；　you　would　take　him　back　to　his　mother？〃

There　was　a　longer　pause。　　Lupin　asked　himself：

〃Can　he　by　chance　have　swallowed　the　story？　　Is　the　threat　of　that　death　enough？　　Oh；　nonsense　it's　out　of　the　question！。。。　　And　yet。。。　and　yet。。。　he　seems　to　be　hesitating。〃

〃Will　you　excuse　me？〃　asked　Daubrecq；　drawing　the　telephone；　on　his　writing…desk；　toward　him。　　〃I　have　an　urgent　message。　　〃

〃Certainly；　monsieur　le　depute。〃

Daubrecq　called　out：

〃Hullo！。。。　822。19；　please；　822。19。〃

Having　repeated　the　number；　he　sat　without　moving。

Lupin　smiled：

〃The　headquarters　of　police。　isn't　it？　　The　secretary…general's　　office。。。　　　〃Yes；　doctor。。。　　How　do　you　know？〃

〃Oh；　as　a　divisional　surgeon；　I　sometimes　have　to　ring　them　up。

And；　within　himself；　Lupin　asked：

〃What　the　devil　does　all　this　mean？　　The　secretary…general　is　　Prasville。。。　　Then；　what？。。。　〃

Daubrecq　put　both　receivers　to　his　ears　and　said：

〃Are　you　822。19？　　　　　　　　I　want　to　speak　to　M。　Prasville；　the　secretary…general　。。。　　Do　you　say　he's　not　there？。。。　　Yes；　yes；　he　is：　he's　always　in　his　office　at　this　time。。。　　Tell　him　it's　M。　Daubrecq。。。　　M。　Daubrecq　the　deputy。。。　a　most　important　communication。〃

〃Perhaps　I'm　in　the　way？〃　Lupin　suggested。

〃Not　at　all；　doctor；　not　at　all；〃　said　Daubrecq。　　〃Besides；　what　I　have　to　say　has　a　certain　bearing　on　your　errand。〃　　And；　into　the　telephone；　〃Hullo！　　M。　Prasville？。。。　　Ah；　it's　you；　Prasville；　old　cock！。。。　Why；　you　seem　quite　staggered！　　Yes；　you're　right；　it's　an　age　since　you　and　I　met。　　But；　after　all；　we've　never　been　far　away　in　thought。。。　And　I've　had　plenty　of　visits　from　you　and　your　henchmen。。。　In　my　absence；　it's　true。　　Hullo！。。。　　What？。。。　Oh；　you're　in　a　hurry？　　I　beg　your　pardon！。。。　So　am　I；　for　that　matter。。。　　Well；　to　come　to　the　point；　there's　a　little　service　I　want　to　do　you。。。　　Wait；　can't　you；　you　brute？。。。　You　won't　regret　it。。。　　It　concerns　your　renown。。。　　Hullo！。。。　　Are　you　　listening？。。。　Well；　take　half…a…dozen　men　with　you。。。　plain…clothes　detectives；　by　preference：　you'll　find　them　at　the　night…office。。。　Jump　into　a　taxi；　two　taxis；　and　come　along　here　as　fast　as　you　can。。。　　I've　got　a　rare　quarry　for　you；　old　chap。　　One　of　the　upper　ten。。。　a　lord；　a　marquis　Napoleon　himself。。。　in　a　word；　Arsene　Lupin！〃

Lupin　sprang　to　his　feet。　　He　was　prepared　for　everything　but　this。　　Yet　something　within　him　stronger　than　astonishment；　an　impulse　of　his　whole　nature；　made　him　say；　with　a　laugh：

〃Oh；　well　done；　well　done！〃

Daubrecq　bowed　his　head；　by　way　of　thanks；　and　muttered：

〃I　haven't　quite　finished。。。　A　little　patience；　if　you　don't　mind。〃　And　he　continued；　〃Hullo！　　Prasville！。。。　No；　no；　old　chap；　I'm　not　　humbugging。。。　You'll　find　Lupin　here；　with　me；　in　my　study。。。　Lupin；　who's　worrying　me　like　the　rest　of　you。。。　　Oh；　one　more　or　less　makes　no　difference　to　me！　　But；　all　the　same；　this　one's　a　bit　too　pushing。　And　I　am　appealing　to　your　sense　of　kindness。　　Rid　me　of　the　fellow；　do。。。　　Half…a…dozen　of　your　satellites　and　the　two　who　are　pacing　up　and　down　outside　my　house　will　be　enough。。。　　Oh；　while　you're　about　it；　go　up　to　the　third　floor　and　rope　in　my　cook　as　well。。。　She's　the　famous　Victoire：　you　know；　Master　Lupin's　old　nurse。。。　And；　look　here；　one　more　tip；　to　show　you　how　I　love　you：　send　a　squad　of　men　to　the　Rue　Chateaubriand；　at　the　corner　of　the　Rue　Balzac。。。　That's　where　our　national　hero　lives；　under　the　name　of　Michel　Beaumont。。。　　Do　you　twig；　old　cockalorum？　　And　now　to　business。　　Hustle！〃

When　Daubrecq　turned　his　head；　Lupin　was　standing　up；　with　clenched　fists。　　His　burst　of　admiration　had　not　survived　the　rest　of　the　speech　and　the　revelations　which　Daubrecq　had　made　about　Victoire　and　the　flat　in　the　Rue　Chateaubriand。　　The　humiliation　was　too　great；　and　Lupin　no　longer　bothered　to　play　the　part　of　the　small　general　practitioner。　　He　had　but　one　idea　in　his　head：　not　to　give　way　to　the　tremendous　fit　of　rage　that　was　urging　him　to　rush　at　Daubrecq　like　a　bull。

Daubrecq　gave　the　sort　of　little　cluck　which；　with　him；　did　duty　for　a　laugh。　　He　came　waddling　up；　with　his　hands　in　his　trouser…pockets；　and　said；　incisively：　

〃Don't　you　think　that　this　is　all　for　the　best？　　I've　cleared　the　ground；　relieved　the　situation。。。　　At　least；　we　now　know　where　we　stand。　　Lupin　versus　Daubrecq；　and　that's　all　about　it。　　Besides；　think　of　the　time　saved！　　Dr。　Vernes；　the　divisional　surgeon；　would　have　taken　two　hours　to　spin　his　yarn！　　Whereas；　like　this；　Master　Lupin　will　be　compelled　to　get　his　little　story　told　in　thirty　minutes。。。　unless　he　wants　to　get　himself　collared　and　his　accomplices　nabbed。　　What　a　shock！　　What　a　bolt　from　the　blue！　　Thirty　minutes　and　not　a　minute　more。　　In　thirty　minutes　from　now；　you'll　have　to　clear　out；　scud　away　like　a　hare　and　beat　a　disordered　retreat。　　Ha；　ha；　ha；　what　fun！　　I　say；　Polonius；　you　really　are　unlucky；　each　time　you　come　up　against　Bibi　Daubrecq！　　For　it　was　you　who　were　hiding　behind　that　curtain；　wasn't　it；　my　ill…starred　Polonius？〃

Lupin　did　not　stir　a　muscle。　　The　one　and　only　solution　that　would　have　calmed　his　feelings；　that　is　to　say；　for　him　to　throttle　his　adversary　then　and　there；　was　so　absurd　that　he　preferred　to　accept　Daubrecq's　gibes　without　attempting　to　retort；　though　each　of　them　cut　him　like　the　lash　of　a　whip。　　It　was　the　second　time；　in　the　same　room　and　in　similar　circumstances；　that　he　had　to　bow　before　that　Daubrecq　of　misfortune　and　maintain　the　most　ridiculous　attitude　in　silence。　　And　he　felt　convinced　in　his　innermost　being　that；　if　he　opened　his　mouth；　it　would　be　to　spit　words　of　anger　and　insult　in　his　victor's　face。　　What　was　the　good？　　Was　it　not　essential　that　he　should　keep　cool　and　do　the　things　which　the　new　situation　called　for？

〃Well；　M。　Lupin；　well？〃　resumed　the　deputy。　　〃You　look　as　if　your　nose　were　out　of　joint。　　Come；　console　yourself　and　admit　that　one　sometimes　comes　across　a　joker　who's　not　quite　such　a　mug　as　his　fellows。　　So　you　thought　that；　because　I　wear　spectades　and　eye…glasses；　I　was　blind？　Bless　my　soul；　I　don't　say　that　I　at　once　suspected　Lupin　behind　Polonius　and　Polonius　behind　the　gentleman　who　came　and　bored　me　in　the　box　at　the　Vaudeville。　　No；　no！　　But；　all　the　same；　it　worried　me。　　I　could　see　that；　between　the　police　and　Mme。　Mergy；　there　was　a　third　bounder　trying　to　get　a　finger　in　the　pie。　　And；　gradually；　what　with　the　words　let　fall　by　the　portress；　what　with　watching　the　movements　of　my　cook　and　making　inquiries　about　her　in　the　proper　quarter；　I　began　to　understand。　　Then；　the　other　night；　came　the　lightning…flash。　　I　heard　the　row　in　the　house；　in　spite　of　my　being　asleep。　　I　managed　to　reconstruct　the　incident；　to　follow　up　Mme。　Mergy's　traces；　first；　to　the　Rue　Chateaubriand　and；　afterward；　to　Saint…Germain。。。　And　then　。。。　what　then？　　I　put　different　facts　together：　the　Enghien　burglary。。。　Gilbert's　arrest　。。。　the　inevitable　treaty　of　alliance　between　the　weeping　mother　and　the　leader　of　the　gang。。。　the　old　nurse　installed　as　cook。。。　all　these　people　entering　my　house　through　the　doors　or　through　the　windows。。。　　And　I　knew　what　I　had　to　do。　　Master　Lupin　was　sniffing　at　the　secret。　　The　scent　of　the　Twenty…seven　attracted　him。　　I　had　only　to　wait　for　his　visit。　　The　hour　has　arrived。　　Good…evening；　Master　Lupin。〃

Daubrecq　paused。　　He　had　delivered　his　speech　with　the　evident　satisfaction　of　a　man　entitled　to　claim　the　appreciation　of　the　most　captious　critics。

As　Lupin　did　not　speak；　he　took　out　his　watch：　　〃I　say！　　Only　twenty…three　minutes！　　How　time　flies！　　At　this　rate；　we　sha'n't　have　time　to　come　to　an　explanation。〃　　And；　stepping　still　closer　to　Lupin；　〃I'm　bound　to　say；　I'm　disappointed。　　I　thought　that　Lupin　was　a　different　sort　of　gentleman。　　So；　the　moment　he　meets　a　more　or　less　serious　adversary；　the　colossus　falls　to　pieces？　　Poor　young　man！　　Have　a　glass　of　water；　to　bring　you　round！〃　　Lupin　did　not　utter　a　word；　did　not　betray　a　gesture　of　irritation。　　With　absolute　composure；　with　a　precision　of　movement　that　showed　his　perfect　self…control　and　the　clear　plan　of　conduct　which　he　had　adopted；　he　gently　pushed　Daubrecq　aside；　went　to　the　table　and；　m　his　turn；　took　down　the　receiver　of　the　telephone：

〃I　want　565。34；　please；〃　he　said。

He　waited　until　he　was　through；　and　then；　speaking　in　a　slow　voice　and　picking　out　every　syllable；　he　said：

〃Hullo！。。。　Rue　Chateaubriand？。。。　Is　that　you；　Achille？。。。　Yes；　it's　the　governor。　　　　　　　Listen　to　me　carefully；　Achille。。。　You　must　leave　the　flat！　Hullo！　。。。　　Yes；　at　once。　　The　police　are　coming　in　a　few　minutes。　　No；　no；　don't　lose　your　head。。。　You've　got　time。　　Only；　do　what　I　tell　you。　Is　your　bag　still　packed？。。。　Good。　　And　is　one　of　the　sides　empty；　as　I　told　you？。。。　　Good。　　Well；　g