the crystal stopper-第24章

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y　often　did　it　at　the　time　of　the　Great　Revolution　and　Bonaparte。。。　　in　the　days　of　the　chauffeurs。*　　A　pretty　invention！　　Nice　and　clean。。。　no　bloodshed。。。　　And　it　didn't　last　long　either！　　In　twenty　minutes；　you　came　out　with　the　missing　word！〃　　Sebastiani　burst　out　laughing。　　〃By　the　way；　monsieur　le　depute；　my　congratulations！　　A　capital　hiding…place。　Who　would　ever　suspect　it？。。。　　You　see；　what　put　us　off；　monsieur　le　marquis　and　me；　was　that　name　of　Marie　which　you　let　out　at　first。　　You　weren't　telling　a　lie；　but　there　you　are；　you　know：　the　word　was　only　half…finished。　　We　had　to　know　the　rest。　　Say　what　you　like；　it's　amusing！　　Just　think；　on　your　study…table！　　Upon　my　word；　what　a　joke！〃

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　　　　　　　　*The　name　given　to　the　brigands　in　the　Vendee；　who　tortured　their　victims　with　fire　to　make　them　confess　where　their　money　was　hidden。　…　Translator's　Note。　_______________________________________________________________________


The　huntsman　rose　and　walked　up　and　down　the　room；　rubbing　his　hands：

〃Monsieur　le　marquis　is　jolly　well　pleased；　so　pleased；　in　fact；　that　he　himself　is　coming　to…morrow　evening　to　let　you　out。　　Yes；　he　has　thought　it　over；　there　will　be　a　few　formalities：　you　may　have　to　sign　a　cheque　or　two；　stump　up；　what；　and　make　good　monsieur　le　marquis'　expense　and　trouble。　　But　what's　that　to　you？　　A　trifle！　　Not　to　mention　that；　from　now　on；　there　will　be　no　more　chains；　no　more　straps　round　your　wrists；　in　short；　you　will　be　treated　like　a　king！　　And　I've　even　been　told　…　look　here！　…　to　allow　you　a　good　bottle　of　old　wine　and　a　flask　of　brandy。〃

Sebastiani　let　fly　a　few　more　jests；　then　took　the　lamp；　made　a　last　examination　of　the　room　and　said　to　his　sons：

〃Let's　leave　him　to　sleep。　　You　also；　take　a　rest；　all　three　of　you。　But　sleep　with　one　eye　open。　　One　never　can　tell。。。　〃　　They　withdrew。

Lupin　waited　a　little　longer　and　asked；　in　a　low　voice：

〃Can　I　begin？〃

〃Yes；　but　be　careful。　　It's　not　impossible　that　they　may　go　on　a　round　in　an　hour　or　two。〃

Lupin　set　to　work。　　He　had　a　very　powerful　file；　and　the　iron　of　the　bars；　rusted　and　gnawed　away　by　time；　was；　in　places；　almost　reduced　to　dust。　　Twice　Lupin　stopped　to　listen；　with　ears　pricked　up。　　But　it　was　only　the　patter　of　a　rat　over　the　rubbish　in　the　upper　story；　or　the　flight　of　some　night…bird；　and　he　continued　his　task；　encouraged　by　Daubrecq；　who　stood　by　the　door；　ready　to　warn　him　at　the　least　alarm。

〃Oof！〃　　he　said；　giving　a　last　stroke　of　the　file。　　〃I'm　glad　that's　over；　for；　on　my　word；　I've　been　a　bit　cramped　in　this　cursed　tunnel。。。　to　say　nothing　of　the　cold。。。　〃

He　bore　with　all　his　strength　upon　the　bar；　which　he　had　sawn　from　below；　and　succeeded　in　forcing　it　down　sufficiently　for　a　man's　body　to　slip　between　the　two　remaining　bars。　　Next；　he　had　to　go　back　to　the　end　of　the　embrasure；　the　wider　part；　where　he　had　left　the　rope…ladder。　　　After　fixing　it　to　the　bars；　he　called　Daubrecq：

〃Psst！。。。　It's　all　right。。。　　Are　you　ready？〃

〃Yes。。。　coming。。。　One　more　second；　while　I　listen。。。　　All　right。。。　　They're　asleep。。。　give　me　the　ladder。〃

Lupin　lowered　it　and　asked：

〃Must　I　come　down？〃

〃No。。。　。　I　feel　a　little　weak。。。　but　I　shall　manage。

Indeed；　he　reached　the　window　of　the　embrasure　pretty　quickly　and　crept　along　the　passage　in　the　wake　of　his　rescuer。　　The　open　air；　however；　seemed　to　make　him　giddy。　　Also；　to　give　himself　strength；　he　had　drunk　half　the　bottle　of　wine；　and　he　had　a　fainting…fit　that　kept　him　lying　on　the　stones　of　the　embrasure　for　half　an　hour。　　Lupin；　losing　patience；　was　fastening　him　to　one　end　of　the　rope；　of　which　the　other　end　was　knotted　round　the　bars　and　was　preparing　to　let　him　down　like　a　bale　of　goods；　when　Daubrecq　woke　up；　in　better　condition：

〃That's　over；〃　he　said。　　〃I　feel　fit　now。　　Will　it　take　long？〃

〃Pretty　long。　　We　are　a　hundred　and　fifty　yards　up。〃

〃How　was　it　that　d'Albufex　did　not　foresee　that　it　was　possible　to　escape　this　way？〃

〃The　cliff　is　perpendicular。〃

〃And　you　were　able　to。。。　〃

〃Well；　your　cousins　insisted。。。　And　then　one　has　to　live；　you　know；　and　they　were　free　with　their　money。〃

〃The　dear；　good　souls！〃　said　Daubrecq。　　〃Where　are　they？〃

〃Down　below；　in　a　boat。〃

〃Is　there　a　river；　then？〃

〃Yes；　but　we　won't　talk；　if　you　don't　mind。　　It's　dangerous。〃

〃One　word　more。　　Had　you　been　there　long　when　you　threw　me　the　letter？〃

〃No；　no。　　A　quarter　of　an　hour　or　so。　　I'll　tell　you　all　about　it。。。　　　Meanwhile；　we　must　hurry。〃

Lupin　went　first；　after　recommending　Daubrecq　to　hold　tight　to　the　rope　and　to　come　down　backward。　　He　would　give　him　a　hand　at　the　difficult　places。

It　took　them　over　forty　minutes　to　reach　the　platform　of　the　ledge　formed　by　the　cliff；　and　Lupin　had　several　times　to　help　his　companion；　whose　wrists；　still　bruised　from　the　torture；　had　lost　all　their　strength　and　suppleness。

Over　and　over　again；　he　groaned：

〃Oh；　the　swine；　they've　done　for　me！。。。　The　swine！。。。　Ah；　d'Albufex；　I'll　make　you　pay　dear　for　this！。。。　〃

〃Ssh！〃　said　Lupin。

〃What's　the　matter？〃

〃A　noise。。。　up　above。。。　〃

Standing　motionless　on　the　platform；　they　listened。　　Lupin　thought　of　the　Sire　de　Tancarville　and　the　sentry　who　had　killed　him　with　a　shot　from　his　harquebus。　　He　shivered；　feeling　all　the　anguish　of　the　silence　and　the　darkness。

〃No；〃　he　said；　〃I　was　mistaken。。。　Besides；　it's　absurd。。。　They　can't　hit　us　here。〃

〃Who　would　bit　us？〃

〃No　one。。。　no　one。。。　it　was　a　silly　notion。。。　〃

He　groped　about　till　he　found　the　uprights　of　the　ladder；　then　he　said：

〃There；　here's　the　ladder。　　It　is　fixed　in　the　bed　of　the　river。　　A　friend　of　mine　is　looking　after　it；　as　well　as　your　cousins。〃

He　whistled：

〃Here　I　am；〃　he　said；　in　a　low　voice。　　〃Hold　the　ladder　fast。〃　　And；　to　Daubrecq；　〃I'll　go　first。〃

Daubrecq　objected：

〃Perhaps　it　would　be　better　for　me　to　go　down　first。〃

〃Why？〃

〃I　am　very　tired。　　You　can　tie　your　rope　round　my　waist　and　hold　me。。。　　Otherwise；　there　is　a　danger　that　I　might。。。　　。〃

〃Yes；　you　are　right；〃　said　Lupin。　〃Come　nearer。

Daubrecq　came　nearer　and　knelt　down　on　the　rock。　　Lupin　fastened　the　rope　to　him　and　then；　stooping　over；　grasped　one　of　the　uprights　in　both　hands　to　keep　the　ladder　from　shaking：

〃Off　you　go；〃　he　said。

At　the　same　moment；　he　felt　a　violent　pain　in　the　shoulder：

〃Blast　it！〃　he　said；　sinking　to　the　ground。

Daubrecq　had　stabbed　him　with　a　knife　below　the　nape　of　the　neck；　a　　little　to　the　right。

〃You　blackguard！　　You　blackguard！〃

He　half…saw　Daubrecq；　in　the　dark；　ridding　himself　of　his　rope；　and　heard　him　whisper：

〃You're　a　bit　of　a　fool；　you　know！。。。　You　bring　me　a　letter　from　my　Rousselot　cousins；　in　which　I　recognize　the　writing　of　the　elder；　Adelaide；　but　which　that　sly　puss　of　an　Adelaide；　suspecting　something　and　meaning　to　put　me　on　my　guard；　if　necessary；　took　care　to　sign　with　the　name　of　the　younger　sister；　Euphrasie　Rousselot。　　You　see；　I　tumbled　to　it！　　So；　with　a　little　reflection。。。　　you　are　Master　Arsene　Lupin；　are　you　not？　　Clarisse's　protector；　Gilbert's　saviour。。。　　Poor　Lupin；　I　fear　you're　in　a　bad　way。。。　　I　don't　use　the　knife　often；　but；　when　I　do；　I　use　it　with　a　vengeance。〃

He　bent　over　the　wounded　man　and　felt　in　his　pockets：

〃Give　me　your　revolver；　can't　you？　　You　see；　your　friends　will　know　at　once　that　it　is　not　their　governor；　and　they　will　try　to　secure　me。。。　　And；　as　I　have　not　much　strength　left；　a　bullet　or　two。。。　Good…bye；　Lupin。　　We　shall　meet　in　the　next　world；　eh？　　Book　me　a　nice　flat；　with　all　the　latest　conveniences。

Good…bye；　Lupin。　　And　my　best　thanks。　　For　really　I　don't　know　what　I　should　have　done　without　you。　By　Jove；　d'Albufex　was　hitting　me　hard！　It'll　be　a　joke　to　meet　the　beggar　again！〃

Daubrecq　had　completed　his　preparations。　　He　whistled　once　more。　　A　reply　came　from　the　boat。

〃Here　I　am；〃　he　said。

With　a　last　effort；　Lupin　put　out　his　arm　to　stop　him。　　But　his　hand　touched　nothing　but　space。　　He　tried　to　call　out；　to　warn　his　accomplices：　his　voice　choked　in　his　throat。

He　felt　a　terrible　numbness　creep　over　his　whole　being。　　His　temples　buzzed。

Suddenly；　shouts　below。　　Then　a　shot。　　Then　another；　followed　by　a　triumphant　chuckle。　　And　a　woman's　wail　and　moans。　　And；　soon　after；　two　more　shots。

Lupin　thought　of　Clarisse；　wounded；　dead　perhaps；　of　Danbrecq；　fleeing　victoriously　of　d'Albufex；　of　the　crystal　stopper；　which　one　or　other　of　the　two　adversaries　would　recover　unresisted。　　Then　a　sudden　vision　showed　him　the　Sire　de　Tancarville　falling　with　the　woman　he　loved。　Then　he　murmured；　time　after　time：

〃Clarisse。。。　Clarisse。。。　Gilbert。。。　　　　　A　great　silence　overcame　him；　an　infinite　peace　entered　into　him；　and；　without　the　least　revolt；　he　received　the　impression　that　his　exhausted　body；　with　nothing　now　to　hold　it　back；　was　rolling　to　the　very　edge　of　the　rock；　toward　the　abyss。


CHAPTER　IX

IN　THE　DARK


An　hotel　bedroom　at　Amiens。

Lupin　was　recovering　a　little　consciousness　for　the　first　time。　Clarisse　and　the　Masher　were　seated　by　his　bedside。

Both　were　talking；　and　Lupin　listened　to　them；　without　opening　his　eyes。　He　learned　that　they　had　feared　for　his　life；　but　that　all　danger　was　now　removed。　　Next；　in　the　course　of　the　conversation；　he　caught　certain　words　that　revealed　to　him　what　had　happened　in　the　tragic　night　at　Mortepierre：　Daubrecq's　descent；　the　dismay　of　the　accomplices；　when　they　saw　that　it　was　not　the　governor；　then　the　short　struggle：　Clarisse　flinging　herself　on　Daubrecq　and　receiving　a　wound　in　the　shoulder；　Daubrecq　leaping　to　the　bank；　the　Growler　firing　two　revolver…shots　and　darting　off　in　pursuit　of　him；　the　Masher　clambering　up　the　ladder　and　finding　the　governor　in　a　swoon：　

〃True　as　I　live；〃　said　the　Masher；　〃I　can't　make　out　even　now　how　he　did　not　roll　over。　　There　was　a　sort　of　hollow　at　that　place；　but　it　was　a　sloping　hollow；　and；　half　dead　as　he　was；　he　must　have　hung　on　with　his　ten　fingers。　　Crikey；　it　was　time　I　came！〃

Lupin　listened；　listened　in　despair。　　He　collected　his　strength　to　grasp　and　understand　the　words。　　But　suddenly　a　terrible　sentence　was　uttered：　Clarisse；　weeping；　spoke　of　the　eighteen　days　that　had　elapsed；　eighteen　more　days　lost　to　Gilbert's　safety。

Eighteen　days！　　The　figure　terrified　Lupin。　　He　felt　that　all　was　over；　that　he　would　never　be　able　to　recover　his　strength　and　resume　the　struggle　and　that　Gilbert　and　Vaucheray　were　doomed。。。　　　His　brain　slipped　away　from　him。　　The　fever　returned　and　the　delirium。

And　more　days　came　and　went。　　It　was　perhaps　the　time　of　his　life　of　which　Lupin　speaks　with　the　greatest　horror。　　He　retained　just　enough　consciousness　and　had　sufficiently　lucid　moments　to　realize　the　position　exactly。　　But　he　was　not　able　to　coordinate　his　ideas；　to　follow　a　line　of　argument　nor　to　instruct　or　forbid　his　friends　to　adopt　this　or　that　line　of　conduct。

Often；　when　he　emerged　from　his　torpor；　he　found　his　hand　in　Clarisse's　and；　in　that　half…slumbering　condition　in　which　a　fever　keeps　you；　he　would　address　strange　words　to　her；　words　of　love　and　passion；　imploring　her　and　thanking　her　and　blessing　her　for　all　the　light　and　joy　which　she　had　brought　into