the crystal stopper-第23章

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。　stop！　。。。　　That's　done　it！　　Oh；　my　dear　Daubrecq；　if　you　can't　speak　plainer　than　that；　it's　no　use！　　What？　　What　did　you　say？〃

Arsene　Lupin　muttered　an　oath。　　Daubrecq　was　speaking　and　he；　Lupin；　could　not　hear　a　word　of　what　he　said！　　In　vain；　he　pricked　up　his　ears；　suppressed　the　beating　of　his　heart　and　the　throbbing　of　his　temples：　not　a　sound　reached　him。

〃Confound　it！〃　he　thought。　　〃I　never　expected　this。　What　am　I　to　do？〃

He　was　within　an　ace　of　covering　Daubrecq　with　his　revolver　and　putting　a　bullet　into　him　which　would　cut　short　any　explanation。　　But　he　reflected　that　he　himself　would　then　be　none　the　wiser　and　that　it　was　better　to　trust　to　events　in　the　hope　of　making　the　most　of　them。

Meanwhile　the　confession　continued　beneath　him；　indistinctly；　interrupted　by　silences　and　mingled　with　moans。　　D'Albufex　clung　to　his　prey：

〃Go　on！。。。　Finish；　can't　you？。。。　〃

And　he　punctuated　the　sentences　with　exclamations　of　approval：

〃Good！。。。　Capital！。。。　Oh；　how　funny！。。。　　And　no　one　suspected？。。。　　Not　　even　Prasville？。。。　What　an　ass！。。。　　　　　　Loosen　a　bit；　Sebastiani：　don't　you　see　that　our　friend　is　out　of　breath？。。。　Keep　calm；　Daubrecq。。。　don't　tire　yourself。。。　And　so；　my　dear　fellow；　you　were　saying。。。　〃

That　was　the　last。　　There　was　a　long　whispering　to　which　d'Albufex　listened　without　further　interruption　and　of　which　Arsene　Lupin　could　not　catch　the　least　syllable。　　Then　the　marquis　drew　himself　up　and　exclaimed；　joyfully：

〃That's　it！。。。　Thank　you；　Daubrecq。　　And；　believe　me；　I　shall　never　forget　what　you　have　just　done。　　If　ever　you're　in　need；　you　have　only　to　knock　at　my　door　and　there　will　always　be　a　crust　of　bread　for　you　in　the　kitchen　and　a　glass　of　water　from　the　filter。　　Sebastiani；　look　after　monsieur　le　depute　as　if　he　were　one　of　your　sons。　　And；　first　of　all；　release　him　from　his　bonds。　　It's　a　heartless　thing　to　truss　one's　fellow…man　like　that；　like　a　chicken　on　the　spit！〃

〃Shall　we　give　him　something　to　drink？〃　suggested　the　huntsman。

〃Yes；　that's　it；　give　him　a　drink。〃

Sebastiani　and　his　sons　undid　the　leather　straps；　rubbed　the　bruised　wrists；　dressed　them　with　an　ointment　and　bandaged　them。　　Then　Daubrecq　swallowed　a　few　drops　of　brandy。

〃Feeling　better？〃　said　the　marquis。　　〃Pooh；　it's　nothing　much！　　In　a　few　hours；　it　won't　show；　and　you'll　be　able　to　boast　of　having　been　tortured；　as　in　the　good　old　days　of　the　Inquisition。　　You　lucky　dog！〃

He　took　out　his　watch。　　〃Enough　said！　　Sebastiani；　let　your　sons　watch　him　in　turns。　　You；　take　me　to　the　station　for　the　last　train。〃

〃Then　are　we　to　leave　him　like　that；　monsieur　le　marquis；　free　to　move　as　he　pleases？〃

〃Why　not？　　You　don't　imagine　that　we　are　going　to　keep　him　here　to　the　day　of　his　death？　　No；　Daubrecq；　sleep　quietly。　　I　shall　go　to　your　place　tomorrow　afternoon；　and；　if　the　document　is　where　you　told　me；　a　telegram　shall　be　sent　off　at　once　and　you　shall　be　set　free。　　You　haven't　told　me　a　lie；　I　suppose？〃

He　went　back　to　Daubrecq　and；　stooping　over　him　again：

〃No　humbug；　eh？　　That　wouid　be　very　silly　of　you。　　I　shouid　lose　a　day；　that's　all。　　Whereas　you　would　lose　all　the　days　that　remain　to　you　to　live。　　But　no；　the　hiding…place　is　too　good。　　A　fellow　doesn't　invent　a　thing　like　that　for　fun。　　Come　on；　Sebastiani。　　You　shall　have　the　telegram　to…morrow。〃

〃And　suppose　they　don't　let　you　into　the　house；　monsieur　le　marquis？〃

〃Why　shouldn't　they？〃

〃The　house　in　the　Square　Lamartine　is　occupied　by　Prasville's　men。〃

〃Don't　worry；　Sebastiani。　　I　shall　get　in。　　If　they　don't　open　the　door；　there's　always　the　window。　　And；　if　the　window　won't　open；　I　shall　arrange　with　one　of　Prasville's　men。　　It's　a　question　of　money；　that's　all。　　And；　thank　goodness；　I　shan't　be　short　of　that；　henceforth！　Good…night；　Daubrecq。〃

He　went　out；　accompanied　by　Sebastiani；　and　the　heavy　door　closed　after　them。

Lupin　at　once　effected　his　retreat；　in　accordance　with　a　plan　which　he　had　worked　out　during　this　scene。

The　plan　was　sunple　enough：　to　scramble；　by　means　of　his　rope；　to　the　bottom　of　the　cliff；　take　his　friends　with　him；　jump　into　the　motor…car　and　attack　d'Albufex　and　Sebastiani　on　the　deserted　road　that　leads　to　Aumale　Station。　　There　could　be　no　doubt　about　the　issue　of　the　contest。　With　d'Albufex　and　Sebastiani　prisoners；　it　would　be　an　easy　matter　to　make　one　of　them　speak。　　D'Albufex　had　shown　him　how　to　set　about　it；　and　Clarisse　Mergy　would　be　inflexible　where　it　was　a　question　of　saving　her　son。

He　took　the　rope　with　which　he　had　provided　himself　and　groped　about　to　find　a　jagged　piece　of　rock　round　which　to　pass　it；　so　as　to　leave　two　equal　lengths　hanging；　by　which　he　could　let　himself　down。　　But；　when　he　found　what　he　wanted；　instead　of　acting　swiftly　…　for　the　business　was　urgent　…　he　stood　motionless；　thinking。　　His　scheme　failed　to　satisfy　him　at　the　last　moment。

〃It's　absurd；　what　I'm　proposing；〃　he　said　to　himself。　　〃Absurd　and　illogical。　　How　can　I　tell　that　d'Albufex　and　Sebastiani　will　not　escape　me？　　How　can　I　even　tell　that；　once　they　are　in　my　power；　they　will　speak？　　No；　I　shall　stay。　　There　are　better　things　to　try。。。　much　better　things。　　It's　not　those　two　I　must　be　at；　but　Daubrecq。　　He's　done　for；　he　has　not　a　kick　left　in　him。　　If　he　has　told　the　marquis　his　secret；　there　is　no　reason　why　he　shouldn't　tell　it　to　Clarisse　and　me；　when　we　employ　the　same　methods。　　That's　settled！　　We'll　kidnap　the　Daubrecq　bird。〃　　And　he　continued；　〃Besides；　what　do　I　risk？　　If　the　scheme　miscarries；　Clarisse　and　I　will　rush　off　to　Paris　and；　together　with　Prasville；　organize　a　careful　watch　in　the　Square　Lamartine　to　prevent　d'Albufex　from　benefiting　by　Daubrecq's　revelations。　　The　great　thing　is　for　Prasville　to　be　warned　of　the　danger。　　He　shall　be。〃

The　church…clock　in　a　neighbouring　village　struck　twelve。　　That　gave　Lupin　six　or　seven　hours　to　put　his　new　plan　into　execution。　　He　set　to　work　forthwith。

When　moving　away　from　the　embrasure　which　had　the　window　at　the　bottom　of　it；　he　had　come　upon　a　clump　of　small　shrubs　in　one　of　the　hollows　of　the　cliff。　　He　cut　away　a　dozen　of　these；　with　his　knife；　and　whittled　them　all　down　to　the　same　size。　　Then　he　cut　off　two　equal　lengths　from　his　rope。　　These　were　the　uprights　of　the　ladder。　　He　fastened　the　twelve　little　sticks　between　the　uprights　and　thus　contrived　a　rope…ladder　about　six　yards　long。

When　he　returned　to　this　post；　there　was　only　one　of　the　three　sons　beside　Daubrecq's　bed　in　the　torture…chamber。　　He　was　smoking　his　pipe　by　the　lamp。　　Daubrecq　was　asleep。　　　〃Hang　it！〃　thought　Lupin。　　〃Is　the　fellow　going　to　sit　there　all　night？　In　that　case；　there's　nothing　for　me　to　do　but　to　slip　off。。。　　〃'

The　idea　that　d'Albufex　was　in　possession　of　the　secret　vexed　him　mightily。　　The　interview　at　which　he　had　assisted　had　left　the　clear　impression　in　his　mind　that　the　marquis　was　working　〃on　his　own〃　and　that；　in　securing　the　list；　he　intended　not　only　to　escape　Daubrecq's　activity；　but　also　to　gain　Daubrecq's　power　and　build　up　his　fortune　anew　by　the　identical　means　which　Daubrecq　had　employed。

That　would　have　meant；　for　Lupin；　a　fresh　battle　to　wage　against　a　fresh　enemy。　　The　rapid　march　of　events　did　not　allow　of　the　contemplation　of　such　a　possibility。　　He　must　at　all　costs　spike　the　Marquis　d'Albufex'　guns　by　warning　Prasville。

However；　Lupin　remained　held　back　by　the　stubborn　hope　of　some　incident　that　would　give　him　the　opportunity　of　acting。

The　clock　struck　half…past　twelve。

It　struck　one。

The　waiting　became　terrible；　all　the　more　so　as　an　icy　mist　rose　from　the　valley　and　Lupin　felt　the　cold　penetrate　to　his　very　marrow。

He　heard　the　trot　of　a　horse　in　the　distance：

〃Sebastiani　returning　from　the　station；〃　he　thought。

But　the　son　who　was　watching　in　the　torture…chamber；　having　finished　his　packet　of　tobacco；　opened　the　door　and　asked　his　brothers　if　they　had　a　pipeful　for　him。　　They　made　some　reply；　and　he　went　out　to　go　to　the　lodge。

And　Lupin　was　astounded。　　No　sooner　was　the　door　closed　than　Daubrecq；　who　had　been　so　sound　asleep；　sat　up　on　his　couch；　listened；　put　one　foot　to　the　ground；　followed　by　the　other；　and；　standing　up；　tottering　a　little；　but　firmer　on　his　legs　than　one　would　have　expected；　tried　his　strength。

〃Well〃　said　Lupin；　〃the　beggar　doesn't　take　long　recovering。　　He　can　very　well　help　in　his　own　escape。　　There's　just　one　point　that　ruffles　me：　will　he　allow　himself　to　be　convinced？　　Will　he　consent　to　go　with　me？　　Will　he　not　think　that　this　miraculous　assistance　which　comes　to　him　straight　from　heaven　is　a　trap　laid　by　the　marquis？〃

But　suddenly　Lupin　remembered　the　letter　which　he　had　made　Daubrecq's　old　cousins　write；　the　letter　of　recommendation；　so　to　speak；　which　the　elder　of　the　two　　sisters　Rousselot　had　signed　with　her　Christian　name；　Euphrasie。

It　was　in　his　pocket。　　He　took　it　and　listened。　　Not　a　sound；　except　the　faint　noise　of　Daubrecq's　footsteps　on　the　flagstones。　　Lupin　considered　that　the　moment　had　come。　　He　thrust　his　arm　through　the　bars　and　threw　the　letter　in。

Daubrecq　seemed　thunderstruck。

The　letter　had　fluttered　through　the　room　and　lay　on　the　floor；　at　three　steps　from　him。　　Where　did　it　come　from？　　He　raised　his　head　toward　the　window　and　tried　to　pierce　the　darkness　that　hid　all　the　upper　part　of　the　room　from　his　eyes。　　Then　he　looked　at　the　envelope；　without　yet　daring　to　touch　it；　as　though　he　dreaded　a　snare。　　Then；　suddenly；　after　a　glance　at　the　door；　he　stooped　briskly；　seized　the　envelope　and　opened　it。

〃Ah　〃　he　said；　with　a　sigh　of　delight；　when　he　saw　the　signature。

He　read　the　letter　half…aloud：

　　　　　　　　〃Rely　implicitly　on　the　bearer　of　this　note。　　He　has　succeeded　　　　　　　　　in　discovering　the　marquis'　secret；　with　the　money　which　we　gave　　　　　　　　　him；　and　has　contrived　a　plan　of　escape。　　Everything　is　prepared　　　　　　　　　for　your　flight。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃EUPHRASIE　ROUSSELOT〃

He　read　the　letter　again；　repeated；　〃Euphrasie　。。。　　Euphrasie。。。　〃　and　raised　his　head　once　more。

Lupin　whispered：

〃It　will　take　me　two　or　three　hours　to　file　through　one　of　the　bars。　Are　Sebastiani　and　his　sons　coming　back？〃

〃Yes；　they　are　sure　to；〃　replied　Daubrecq；　in　the　same　low　voice；　〃but　I　expect　they　will　leave　me　to　myself。〃

〃But　they　sleep　next　door？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Won't　they　hear？〃

〃No；　the　door　is　too　thick。〃

〃Very　well。　　In　that　case；　it　will　soon　be　done。　　I　have　a　rope…ladder。　Will　you　be　able　to　climb　up　alone；　without　my　assistance？〃

〃I　think　so。。。　I'll　try。。。　It's　my　wrists　that　they've　broken。。。　Oh；　the　brutes！　　I　can　hardiy　move　my　hands。。。　and　I　have　very　little　strength　left。　　But　I'll　try　all　the　same。。。　needs　must。。。　〃

He　stopped；　listened　and；　with　his　finger　to　his　mouth；　whispered：

〃Hush！〃

When　Sebastiani　and　his　sons　entered　the　room；　Daubrecq；　who　had　hidden　the　letter　and　lain　down　on　his　bed；　pretended　to　wake　with　a　start。

The　huntsman　brought　him　a　bottle　of　wine；　a　glass　and　some　food：

〃How　goes　it；　monsieur　le　depute？〃　he　cried。　　〃Well；　perhaps　we　did　squeeze　a　little　hard。。。　It's　very　painful；　that　thumbscrewing。　　Seems　they　often　did　it　at　the　time　of　the　Great　Revolution　and　Bonaparte。。。　　in　the　days　of　the　chauffeurs。*