the crystal stopper-第18章

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　the　breakfast。　　Does　that　suit　you？　　No？　　You　persist　in　your　sinister　designs？　　Well；　good　luck；　lay　your　traps；　spread　your　nets；　rub　up　your　weapons　and　grind　away　at　the　Complete　Foreign…post…paper　Burglar's　Handbook。　　You'll　need　it。　　And　now；　good…night。　　The　rules　of　open…handed　and　disinterested　hospitality　demand　that　I　should　turn　you　out　of　doors。　　Hop　it！〃

Lupin　remained　silent　for　some　time。　　With　his　eyes　fixed　on　Daubrecq；　he　seemed　to　be　taking　his　adversary's　size；　gauging　his　weight；　estimating　his　physical　strength；　discussing；　in　fine；　in　which　exact　part　to　attack　him。　　Daubrecq　clenched　his　fists　and　worked　out　his　plan　of　defence　to　meet　the　attack　when　it　came。

Half　a　minute　passed。　　Lupin　put　his　hand　to　his　hip…pocket。　　Daubrecq　　id　the　same　and　grasped　the　handie　of　his　revolver。

A　few　seconds　more。　　Coolly；　Lupin　produced　a　little　gold　box　of　the　kind　that　ladies　use　for　holding　sweets；　opened　it　and　handed　it　to　Daubrecq：

〃A　lozenge？〃

〃What's　that？〃　asked　the　other；　in　surprise。

〃Cough…drops。〃

〃What　for？〃

〃For　the　draught　you're　going　to　feel！〃

And；　taking　advantage　of　the　momentary　fluster　into　which　Daubrecq　was　thrown　by　his　sally；　he　quickly　took　his　hat　and　slipped　away。

〃Of　course；〃　he　said；　as　he　crossed　the　hall；　〃I　am　knocked　into　fits。　But　all　the　same；　that　bit　of　commercial…traveller's　waggery　was　rather　novel；　in　the　circumstances。　　To　expect　a　pill　and　receive　a　cough…drop　is　by　way　of　being　a　sort　of　disappointment。　　It　left　the　old　chimpanzee　quite　flummoxed。〃

As　he　closed　the　gate；　a　motor…car　drove　up　and　a　man　sprang　out　briskly；　followed　by　several　others。

Lupin　recognized　Prasville：

〃Monsieur　le　secretaire…general；〃　he　muttered；　〃your　humble　servant。　I　have　an　idea　that；　some　day；　fate　will　bring　us　face　to　face：　and　I　am　sorry；　for　your　sake；　for　you　do　not　inspire　me　with　any　particular　esteem　and　you　have　a　bad　time　before　you；　on　that　day。　　Meanwhile；　if　I　were　not　in　such　a　hurry；　I　should　wait　till　you　leave　and　I　should　follow　Daubrecq　to　find　out　in　whose　charge　he　has　placed　the　child　whom　he　is　going　to　hand　back　to　me。　　But　I　am　in　a　hurry。　　Besides；　I　can't　tell　that　Daubrecq　won't　act　by　telephone。　　So　let　us　not　waste　ourselves　in　vain　efforts；　but　rather　join　Victoire；　Achille　and　our　precious　bag。〃

Two　hours　later；　Lupin；　after　taking　all　his　measures；　was　on　the　lookout　in　his　shed　at　Neullly　and　saw　Daubrecq　turn　out　of　an　adjoining　street　and　walk　along　with　a　distrustful　air。

Lupin　himself　opened　the　double　doors：

〃Your　things　are　in　here；　monsieur　le　depute；〃　he　said。　　〃You　can　go　round　and　look。　　There　is　a　job…master's　yard　next　door：　you　have　only　to　ask　for　a　van　and　a　few　men。　　Where　is　the　child？〃

Daubrecq　first　inspected　the　articles　and　then　took　Lupin　to　the　Avenue　de　Neullly；　where　two　closely　veiled　old　ladies　stood　waiting　with　little　Jacques。

Lupin　carried　the　child　to　his　car；　where　Victoire　was　waiting　for　him。

All　this　was　done　swiftly；　without　useless　words　and　as　though　the　parts　had　been　got　by　heart　and　the　various　movements　settled　in　advance；　like　so　many　stage　entrances　and　exits。

At　ten　o'clock　in　the　evening　Lupin　kept　his　promise　and　handed　little　Jacques　to　his　mother。　　But　the　doctor　had　to　be　hurriedly　called　in；　for　the　child；　upset　by　all　those　happenings；　showed　great　signs　of　excitement　and　terror。　　It　was　more　than　a　fortnight　before　he　was　sufficiently　recovered　to　bear　the　strain　of　the　removal　which　Lupin　considered　necessary。　　Mme。　Mergy　herself　was　oniy　just　fit　to　travel　when　the　time　came。　　The　journey　took　place　at　night；　with　every　possible　precaution　and　under　Lupin's　escort。

He　took　the　mother　and　son　to　a　little　seaside　place　in　Brittany　and　entrusted　them　to　Victoire's　care　and　vigilance。

〃At　last；〃　he　reflected；　when　he　had　seen　them　settled；　〃there　is　no　one　between　the　Daubrecq　bird　and　me。　　He　can　do　nothing　more　to　Mme。　Mergy　and　the　kid；　and　she　no　longer　runs　the　risk　of　diverting　the　struggle　through　her　intervention。　　By　Jingo；　we　have　made　blunders　enough！　　First；　I　have　had　to　disclose　myself　to　Daubrecq。　　Secondly；　I　have　had　to　surrender　my　share　of　the　Enghien　movables。　　True；　I　shall　get　those　back；　sooner　or　later；　of　that　there　is　not　the　least　doubt。　　But；　all　the　same；　we　are　not　getting　on；　and；　in　a　week　from　now；　Gilbert　and　Vaucheray　will　be　up　for　trial。〃

What　Lupin　felt　most　in　the　whole　business　was　Daubrecq's　revelation　of　the　whereabouts　of　the　flat。　　The　police　had　entered　his　place　in　the　Rue　Chateaubriand。　　The　identity　of　Lupin　and　Michel　Beaumont　had　been　recognized　and　certain　papers　discovered；　and　Lupin；　while　pursuing　his　aim；　while；　at　the　same　time；　managing　various　enterprises　on　which　he　had　embarked；　while　avoiding　the　searches　of　the　police；　which　were　becoming　more　zealous　and　persistent　than　ever；　had　to　set　to　work　and　reorganize　his　affairs　throughout　on　a　fresh　basis。

His　rage　with　Daubrecq；　therefore；　increased　in　proportion　to　the　worry　which　the　deputy　caused　him。　　He　had　but　one　longing；　to　pocket　him；　as　he　put　it；　to　have　him　at　his　bidding　by　fair　means　or　foul；　to　extract　his　secret　from　him。　　He　dreamt　of　tortures　fit　to　unloose　the　tongue　of　the　most　silent　of　men。　　The　boot；　the　rack；　red…hot　pincers；　nailed　planks：　no　form　of　suffering；　he　thought；　was　more　than　the　enemy　deserved；　and　the　end　to　be　attained　justified　every　means。

〃Oh；〃　he　said　to　himself；　〃oh；　for　a　decent　bench　of　inquisitors　and　a　couple　of　bold　executioners！。。。　　What　a　time　we　should　have！〃

Every　afternoon　the　Growler　and　the　Masher　watched　the　road　which　Daubrecq　took　between　the　Square　Lamartine；　the　Chamber　of　Deputies　and　his　club。　　Their　instructions　were　to　choose　the　most　deserted　street　and　the　most　favourable　moment　and；　one　evening；　to　hustle　him　into　a　motor…car。

Lupin；　on　his　side；　got　ready　an　old　building；　standing　in　the　middle　of　a　large　garden；　not　far　from　Paris；　which　presented　all　the　necessary　conditions　of　safety　and　isolation　and　which　he　called　the　Monkey's　Cage。

Unfortunately；　Daubrecq　must　have　suspected　something；　for　every　time；　so　to　speak；　he　changed　his　route；　or　took　the　underground　or　a　tram；　and　the　cage　remained　unoccupied。

Lupin　devised　another　plan。　　He　sent　to　Marseilles　for　one　of　his　associates；　an　elderly　retired　grocer　called　Brindebois；　who　happened　to　live　in　Daubrecq's　electoral　district　and　interested　himself　in　politics。　Old　Brindebois　wrote　to　Daubrecq　from　Marseilles；　announcing　his　visit。　Daubrecq　gave　this　important　constituent　a　hearty　welcome；　and　a　dinner　was　arranged　for　the　following　week。

The　elector　suggested　a　little　restaurant　on　the　left　bank　of　the　Seine；　where　the　food；　he　said；　was　something　wonderful。　　Daubrecq　accepted。

This　was　what　Lupin　wanted。　　The　proprietor　of　the　restaurant　was　one　of　his　friends。　　The　attempt；　which　was　to　take　place　on　the　following　Thursday；　was　this　time　bound　to　succeed。

Meanwhile；　on　the　Monday　of　the　same　week；　the　trial　of　Gilbert　and　Vaucheray　opened。

The　reader　will　remember　…　and　the　case　took　place　too　recently　for　me　to　recapitulate　its　details　…　the　really　incomprehensible　partiality　which　the　presiding　judge　showed　in　his　cross…examination　of　Gilbert。　The　thing　was　noticed　and　severely　criticised　at　the　time。　　Lupin　recognized　Daubrecq's　hateful　influence。

The　attitude　observed　by　the　two　prisoners　differed　greatiy。　　Vaucheray　was　gloomy；　silent；　hard…faced。　　He　cynically；　in　curt；　sneering；　almost　defiant　phrases；　admitted　the　crimes　of　which　he　had　formerly　been　guilty。　　But；　with　an　inconsistency　which　puzzled　everybody　except　Lupin；　he　denied　any　participation　in　the　murder　of　Leonard　the　valet　and　violently　accused　Gilbert。　　His　object；　in　thus　linking　his　fate　with　Gilbert's；　was　to　force　Lupin　to　take　identical　measures　for　the　rescue　of　both　his　accomplices。

Gilbert；　on　the　other　hand；　whose　frank　countenance　and　dreamy；　melancholy　eyes　won　every　sympathy；　was　unable　to　protect　himself　against　the　traps　laid　for　him　by　the　judge　or　to　counteract　Vaucheray's　lies。　He　burst　into　tears；　talked　too　much；　or　else　did　not　talk　when　he　should　have　talked。　　Moreover；　his　counsel；　one　of　the　Leaders　of　the　bar；　was　taken　ill　at　the　last　moment　…　and　here　again　Lupin　saw　the　hand　of　Daubrecq　…　and　he　was　replaced　by　a　junior　who　spoke　badiy；　muddied　the　whole　case；　set　the　jury　against　him　and　failed　to　wipe　out　the　impression　produced　by　the　speeches　of　the　advocate…general　and　of　Vaucheray's　counsel。

Lupin；　who　had　the　inconceivable　audacity　to　be　present　on　the　last　day　of　the　trial；　the　Thursday；　had　no　doubt　as　to　the　result。　　A　verdict　of　gullty　was　certain　in　both　cases。

It　was　certain　because　all　the　efforts　of　the　prosecution；　thus　supporting　Vaucheray's　tactics；　had　tended　to　link　the　two　prisoners　closely　together。　　It　was　certain；　also　and　above　all；　because　it　concerned　two　of　Lupin's　accomplices。　　From　the　opening　of　the　inquiry　before　the　magistrate　until　the　delivery　of　the　verdict；　all　the　proceedings　had　been　directed　against　Lupin；　and　this　in　spite　of　the　fact　that　the　prosecution；　for　want　of　sufficient　evidence　and　also　in　order　not　to　scatter　its　efforts　over　too　wide　an　area；　had　decided　not　to　include　Lupin　in　the　indictment。　　He　was　the　adversary　aimed　at；　the　leader　who　must　be　punished　in　the　person　of　his　friends；　the　famous　and　popular　scoundrel　whose　fascination　in　the　eyes　of　the　crowd　must　be　destroyed　for　good　and　all。　　With　Gilbert　and　Vaucheray　executed；　Lupin's　halo　would　fade　away　the　legend　would　be　exploded。

Lupin　。。。　Lupin。。。　Arsene　Lupin：　it　was　the　one　name　heard　throughout　the　four　days。　　The　advocate…general；　the　presiding　judge；　the　jury；　the　counsel；　the　witnesses　had　no　other　words　on　their　lips。　　Every　moment；　Lupin　was　mentioned　and　cursed　at；　scoffed　at；　insulted　and　held　responsible　for　all　the　crimes　committed。　　It　was　as　though　Gilbert　and　Vaucheray　figured　only　as　supernumeraries；　while　the　real　criminal　undergoing　trial　was　he；　Lupin；　Master　Lupin；　Lupin　the　burglar；　the　leader　of　a　gang　of　thieves；　the　forger；　the　incendiary；　the　hardened　offender；　the　ex…convict；　Lupin　the　murderer；　Lupin　stained　with　the　blood　of　his　victim；　Lupin　lurking　in　the　shade；　like　a　coward；　after　sending　his　friends　to　the　foot　of　the　scaffold。

〃Oh；　the　rascals　know　what　they're　about！〃　he　muttered。　　〃It's　my　debt　which　they　are　making　my　poor　old　Gilbert　pay。〃

And　the　terrible　tragedy　went　on。

At　seven　o'clock　in　the　evening；　after　a　long　deliberation；　the　jury　returned　to　court　and　the　foreman　read　out　the　answers　to　the　questions　put　from　the　bench。　　The　answer　was　〃Yes〃　to　every　count　of　the　indictment；　a　verdict　of　guilty　without　extenuating　circumstances。

The　prisoners　were　brought　in。　　Standing　up；　but　staggering　and　white…faced；　they　received　their　sentence　of　death。

And；　amid　the　great；　solemn　silence；　in　which　the　anxiety　of　the　onlookers　was　mingled　with　pity；　the　assize…president　asked：

〃Have　you　anything　more　to　say；　Vaucheray？〃

〃Nothing；　monsieur　le　president。　　Now　that　my　mate　is　sentenced　as　well　as　myself；　I　am　easy。。。　　We　are　both　on　the　same　footing。。。　　The　governor　must　find　a　way　to　save　the　two　of　us。〃

〃The