the crystal stopper-第21章

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〃Is　this　where　Sebastiani　the　huntsman　lives？〃　asked　Lupin。

〃Yes；〃　said　the　Masher；　〃with　his　wife；　in　a　lodge　standing　in　the　midst　of　the　ruins。　　I　also　learnt　that　he　has　three　tall　sons　and　that　all　the　four　were　supposed　to　be　away　for　a　holiday　on　the　day　when　Daubrecq　was　carried　off。〃

〃Oho！〃　said　Lupin。　　〃The　coincidence　is　worth　remembering。　　It　seems　likely　enough　that　the　business　was　done　by　those　chaps　and　their　father。〃

Toward　the　end　of　the　afternoon　Lupin　availed　himself　of　a　breach　to　the　right　of　the　towers　to　scale　the　curtain。　　From　there　he　was　able　to　see　the　huntsman's　lodge　and　the　few　remains　of　the　old　fortress：　here；　a　bit　of　wall；　suggesting　the　mantel　of　a　chimney；　further　away；　a　water…tank；　on　this　side；　the　arches　of　a　chapel；　on　the　other；　a　heap　of　fallen　　stones。

A　patrol…path　edged　the　cliff　in　front；　and；　at　one　of　the　ends　of　this　patrol…path；　there　were　the　remains　of　a　formidable　donjon…keep　razed　almost　level　with　the　ground。

Lupin　returned　to　Clarisse　Mergy　in　the　evening。　　And　from　that　time　he　went　backward　and　forward　between　Amiens　and　Mortepierre；　leaving　the　Growler　and　the　Masher　permanently　on　the　watch。

And　six　days　passed。　　Sebastiani's　habits　seemed　to　be　subject　solely　to　the　duties　of　his　post。　　He　used　to　go　up　to　the　Chateau　de　Montmaur；　walk　about　in　the　forest；　note　the　tracks　of　the　game　and　go　his　rounds　at　night。

But；　on　the　seventh　day；　learning　that　there　was　to　be　a　meet　and　that　a　carriage　had　been　sent　to　Aumale　Station　in　the　morning；　Lupin　took　up　his　post　in　a　cluster　of　box　and　laurels　which　surrounded　the　little　esplanade　in　front　of　the　gate。

At　two　o'clock　he　heard　the　pack　give　tongue。　　They　approached；　accompanied　by　hunting…cries；　and　then　drew　farther　away。　　He　heard　them　again；　about　the　middle　of　the　afternoon；　not　quite　so　distinctly；　and　that　was　all。　　But　suddenly；　amid　the　silence；　the　sound　of　galloping　horses　reached　his　ears；　and；　a　few　minutes　later；　he　saw　two　riders　climbing　the　river…path。

He　recognized　the　Marquis　d'Albufex　and　Sebastiani。　　On　reaching　the　esplanade；　they　both　alighted；　and　a　woman　…　the　huntsman's　wife；　no　doubt　…　opened　the　gate。　　Sebastiani　fastened　the　horses'　bridles　to　rings　fixed　on　a　post　at　a　few　yards　from　Lupin　and　ran　to　join　the　marquis。　　The　gate　closed　behind　them。

Lupin　did　not　hesitate；　and；　though　it　was　still　broad　daylight；　relying　upon　the　solitude　of　the　place；　he　hoisted　himself　to　the　hollow　of　the　breach。　　Passing　his　head　through　cautiously；　he　saw　the　two　men　and　Sebastiani's　wife　hurrying　toward　the　ruins　of　the　keep。

The　huntsman　drew　aside　a　hanging　screen　of　ivy　and　revealed　the　entrance　to　a　stairway；　which　he　went　down；　as　did　d'Albufex；　leaving　his　wife　on　guard　on　the　terrace。

There　was　no　question　of　going　in　after　them；　and　Lupin　returned　to　his　hiding…place。　　He　did　not　wait　long　before　the　gate　opened　again。

The　Marquis　d'Albufex　seemed　in　a　great　rage。　　He　was　striking　the　leg　of　his　boot　with　his　whip　and　mumbling　angry　words　which　Lupin　was　able　to　distinguish　when　the　distance　became　less　great：

〃Ah；　the　hound！。。。　I'll　make　him　speak。。。　　I'll　come　back　to…night。。。　　to…night；　at　ten　o'clock；　do　you　hear；　Sebastiani？。。。　And　we　shall　do　what's　necessary。。。　Oh；　the　brute！〃

Sebastiani　unfastened　the　horses。　　D'Albufex　turned　to　the　woman：

〃See　that　your　sons　keep　a　good　watch。。。　If　any　one　attempts　to　deliver　him；　so　much　the　worse　for　him。　　The　trapdoor　is　there。　　Can　I　rely　upon　them？〃

〃As　thoroughly　as　on　myself；　monsieur　le　marquis；〃　declared　the　huntsman。　〃They　know　what　monsieur　le　marquis　has　done　for　me　and　what　he　means　to　do　for　them。　　They　will　shrink　at　nothing。〃

〃Let　us　mount　and　get　back　to　the　hounds；〃　said　d'Albufex。

So　things　were　going　as　Lupin　had　supposed。　　During　these　runs；　d'Albufex；　taking　a　line　of　his　own；　would　push　off　to　Mortepierre；　without　anybody's　suspecting　his　trick。　　Sebastiani；　who　was　devoted　to　him　body　and　soul；　for　reasons　connected　with　the　past　into　which　it　was　not　worth　while　to　inquire；　accompanied　him；　and　together　they　went　to　see　the　captive；　who　was　closely　watched　by　the　huntsman's　wife　and　his　three　sons。

〃That's　where　we　stand；〃　said　Lupin　to　Clarisse　Mergy；　when　he　joined　her　at　a　neighbouring　inn。　　〃This　evening　the　marquis　will　put　Daubrecq　to　the　question　…　a　littie　brutally；　but　indispensably　…　as　I　intended　to　do　myself。〃

〃And　Daubrecq　wrn　give　up　his　secret；〃　said　Clarisse；　already　quite　upset。

〃I'm　afraid　so。〃

〃Then。。。　〃

〃I　am　hesitating　between　two　plans；〃　said　Lupin；　who　seemed　very　calm。　〃Either　to　prevent　the　interview。。。　〃

〃How？〃

〃By　forestalling　d'Albufex。　　At　nine　o'clock；　the　Growler；　the　Masher　and　I　climb　the　ramparts；　burst　into　the　fortress；　attack　the　keep；　disarm　the　garrison。。。　　and　the　thing's　done：　Daubrecq　is　ours。〃

〃Unless　Sebastiani's　sons　fling　him　through　the　trapdoor　to　which　the　marquis　alluded。。。　〃　　　〃For　that　reason；〃　said　Lupin；　〃I　intend　to　risk　that　violent　measure　only　as　a　last　resort　and　in　case　my　other　plan　should　not　be　practicable。〃

〃What　is　the　other　plan？〃

〃To　witness　the　interview。　　If　Daubrecq　does　not　speak；　it　will　give　us　the　time　to　prepare　to　carry　him　off　under　more　favourable　conditions。　If　he　speaks；　if　they　compel　him　to　reveal　the　place　where　the　list　of　the　Twenty…seven　is　hidden；　I　shall　know　the　truth　at　the　same　time　as　d'Albufex；　and　I　swear　to　God　that　I　shall　turn　it　to　account　before　he　does。〃

〃Yes；　yes；〃　said　Clarisse。　　〃But　how　do　you　propose　to　be　present？〃

〃I　don't　know　yet；〃　Lupin　confessed。　　〃It　depends　on　certain　particulars　which　the　Masher　is　to　bring　me　and　on　some　which　I　shall　find　out　for　myself。〃

He　left　the　inn　and　did　not　return　until　an　hour　later　as　night　was　falling。　　The　Masher　joined　him。

〃Have　you　the　little　book？〃　asked　Lupin。

〃Yes；　governor　　It　was　what　I　saw　at　the　Aumale　newspaper…shop。　　I　got　it　for　ten　sous。〃

〃Give　it　me。〃

The　Masher　handed　him　an　old；　soiled；　torn　pamphlet；　entitled；　on　the　cover；　A　Visit　to　Mortepierre；　1824；　with　plans　and　illustrations。

Lupin　at　once　looked　for　the　plan　of　the　donjon…keep。

〃That's　it；〃　he　said。　　〃Above　the　ground　were　three　stories；　which　have　been　razed；　and　below　the　ground；　dug　out　of　the　rock；　two　stories；　one　of　which　was　blocked　up　by　the　rubbish；　while　the　other。。。　　There；　that's　where　our　friend　Daubrecq　lies。　　The　name　is　significant：　the　　torture…chamber　。。。　　Poor；　dear　friend！。。。　　Between　the　staircase　and　the　torture…chamber；　two　doors。　　Between　those　two　doors；　a　recess　in　which　the　three　brothers　obviously　sit；　gun　in　hand。〃

〃So　it　is　impossible　for　you　to　get　in　that　way　without　being　seen。〃

〃Impossible。。。　unless　I　come　from　above；　by　the　story　that　has　fallen　in；　and　look　for　a　means　of　entrance　through　the　ceiling。。。　But　that　is　very　risky。。。　〃

He　continued　to　turn　the　pages　of　the　book。　　Clarisse　asked：

〃Is　there　no　window　to　the　room？〃

〃Yes；〃　he　said。　　〃From　below；　from　the　river　…　I　have　just　been　there　　…　you　can　see　a　little　opening；　which　is　also　marked　on　the　plan。　　But　it　is　fifty　yards　up；　sheer；　and　even　then　the　rock　overhangs　the　water。　So　that　again　is　out　of　the　question。〃

He　glanced　through　a　few　pages　of　the　book。　　The　title　of　one　chapter　struck　him：　The　Lovers'　Towers　He　read　the　opening　lines：

　　　　　　　　〃In　the　old　days；　the　donjon　was　known　to　the　people　of　the　　　　　　　　　neighbourhood　as　the　Lovers'　Tower；　in　memory　of　a　fatal　tragedy　　　　　　　　　that　marked　it　in　the　Middle　Ages。　　The　Comte　de　Mortepierre；　　　　　　　　　having　received　proofs　of　his　wife's　faithlessness；　imprisoned　　　　　　　　　her　in　the　torture…chamber；　where　she　spent　twenty　years。　　One　　　　　　　　　night；　her　lover；　the　Sire　de　Tancarville；　with　reckless　courage；　　　　　　　　　set　up　a　ladder　in　the　river　and　then　clambered　up　the　face　of　　　　　　　　　the　cliff　till　he　came　to　the　window　of　the　room。　　After　filing　　　　　　　　　the　bars；　he　succeeded　in　releasing　the　woman　he　loved　and　　　　　　　　　bringing　her　down　with　him　by　means　of　a　rope。　　They　both　reached　　　　　　　　　the　top　of　the　ladder；　which　was　watched　by　his　friends；　when　a　　　　　　　　　shot　was　fired　from　the　patrol…path　and　hit　the　man　in　the　　　　　　　　　shoulder。　　The　two　lovers　were　hurled　into　space。。。。　〃

There　was　a　pause；　after　he　had　read　this；　a　long　pause　during　which　each　of　them　drew　a　mental　picture　of　the　tragic　escape。　　So；　three　or　four　centuries　earlier；　a　man；　risking　his　life；　had　attempted　that　surprising　feat　and　would　have　succeeded　but　for　the　vigilance　of　some　sentry　who　heard　the　noise。　　A　man　had　ventured！　　A　man　had　dared！　　A　man　done　it！

Lupin　raised　his　eyes　to　Clarisse。　　She　was　looking　at　him。。。　with　such　a　desperate；　such　a　beseeching　look！　　The　look　of　a　mother　who　demanded　the　impossible　and　who　would　have　sacrificed　anything　to　save　her　son。

〃Masher；〃　he　said；　〃get　a　strong　rope；　but　very　slender；　so　that　I　can　roll　it　round　my　waist；　and　very　long：　fifty　or　sixty　yards。　　You；　　Growler；　go　and　look　for　three　or　four　ladders　and　fasten　them　end　to　end。〃

〃Why；　what　are　you　thinking　of；　governor？〃　cried　the　two　accomplices。　〃What；　you　mean　to。。。　　But　it's　madness！〃

〃Madness？　　Why？　　What　another　has　done　I　can　do。〃

〃But　it's　a　hundred　chances　to　one　that　you　break　your　neck。〃

〃Well；　you　see；　Masher；　there's　one　chance　that　I　don't。〃

〃But；　governor。。。　〃

〃That's　enough；　my　friends。　　Meet　me　in　an　hour　on　the　river…bank。〃

The　preparations　took　long　in　the　making。　　It　was　difficult　to　find　the　material　for　a　fifty…foot　ladder　that　would　reach　the　first　ledge　of　the　cliff；　and　it　required　an　endless　effort　and　care　to　join　the　different　sections。

At　last；　a　little　after　nine　o'clock；　it　was　set　up　in　the　middle　of　the　river　and　held　in　position　by　a　boat；　the　bows　of　which　were　wedged　between　two　of　the　rungs；　while　the　stern　was　rammed　into　the　bank。

The　road　through　the　river…valley　was　little　used；　and　nobody　came　to　interrupt　the　work。　　The　night　was　dark；　the　sky　heavy　with　moveless　clouds。

Lupin　gave　the　Masher　and　the　Growler　their　final　instructions　and　said；　with　a　laugh：

〃I　can't　tell　you　how　amused　I　am　at　the　thought　of　seeing　Daubrecq's　face　when　they　proceed　to　take　his　scalp　or　slice　his　skin　into　ribbons。　Upon　my　word；　it's　worth　the　journey。〃

Clarisse　also　had　taken　a　seat　in　the　boat。　　He　said　to　her：

〃Until　we　meet　again。　　And；　above　all；　don't　stir。　　Whatever　happens；　not　a　movement；　not　a　cry。〃

〃Can　anything　happen？〃　she　asked。

〃Why；　remember　the　Sire　de　Tancarville！　　It　was　at　the　very　moment　when　he　was　achieving　his　object；　with　his　true　love　in　his　arms；　that　an　accident　betrayed　him。　　But　be　easy：　I　shall　be　all　right。〃

She　made　no　reply。　　She　seized　his　hand　and　grasped　it　warmly　between　her　own。

He　put　his　foot　on　the　ladder　and　made　sure　that　it　did　not　sway　too　much。　　Then　he　went　up。

He　soon　reached　the　top　rung。

This　was　where　the　dangerous　ascent　began；　a　difficult　ascent　at　the　start；　because　of　the　excessive　steepness；　and　developing；　mid…way；　into　an　absolute　escalade。

Fortunately；　here　and　there　were　little　hollows；　in　which　his　feet　found　a　resting…place；　and　projecting　stones；　to　which　his　hands　clung。　　But　twice　those　stones　gave　way　and　he