the crystal stopper-第25章

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imploring　her　and　thanking　her　and　blessing　her　for　all　the　light　and　joy　which　she　had　brought　into　his　darkness。

Then；　growing　calmer　and　not　fully　understanding　what　he　had　said；　he　tried　to　jest：

〃I　have　been　delirious；　have　I　not？　　What　a　heap　of　nonsense　I　must　have　talked！〃

But　Lupin　felt　by　Clarisse's　silence　that　he　could　safely　talk　as　much　nonsense　as　ever　his　fever　suggested　to　him。　　She　did　not　hear。　　The　care　and　attention　which　she　lavished　on　the　patient；　her　devotion；　her　vigilance；　her　alarm　at　the　least　relapse：　all　this　was　meant　not　for　him；　but　for　the　possible　saviour　of　Gilbert。　　She　anxiously　watched　the　progress　of　his　convalescence。　　How　soon　would　he　be　fit　to　resume　the　campaign？　　Was　it　not　madness　to　linger　by　his　side；　when　every　day　carried　away　a　little　hope？

Lupin　never　ceased　repeating　to　himself；　with　the　inward　belief　that；　by　so　doing；　he　could　influence　the　course　of　his　illness：

〃I　will　get　well。。。　I　will　get　well。。。　〃

And　he　lay　for　days　on　end　without　moving；　so　as　not　to　disturb　the　dressing　of　his　wound　nor　increase　the　excitement　of　his　nerves　in　the　smallest　degree。

He　also　strove　not　to　think　of　Daubrecq。　　But　the　image　of　his　dire　adversary　haunted　him；　and　he　reconstituted　the　various　phases　of　the　escape；　the　descent　of　the　cliff。。。。　　One　day；　struck　by　a　terrible　memory；　he　exclaimed：

〃The　list！　　The　list　of　the　Twenty…seven！　　Daubrecq　must　have　it　by　now。。。　or　else　d'Albufex。　　It　was　on　the　table！〃

Clarisse　reassured　him：

〃No　one　can　have　taken　it；〃　she　declared。　　〃The　Growler　was　in　Paris　that　same　day；　with　a　note　from　me　for　Prasville；　entreating　him　to　redouble　his　watch　in　the　Square　Lamartine；　so　that　no　one　should　enter；　especially　d'Albufex。。。　〃

〃But　Daubrecq？〃

〃He　is　wounded。　　He　cannot　have　gone　home。〃

〃Ah；　well；〃　he　said；　〃that's　all　right！。。。　　But　you　too　were　wounded。。。　〃

〃A　mere　scratch　on　the　shoulder。〃

Lupin　was　easier　in　his　mind　after　these　revelations。　　Nevertheless；　he　was　pursued　by　stubborn　notions　which　he　was　unable　either　to　drive　from　his　brain　or　to　put　into　words。　　Above　all；　he　thought　incessantly　of　that　name　of　〃Marie〃　which　Daubrecq's　sufferings　had　drawn　from　him。　What　did　the　name　refer　to？　　Was　it　the　title　of　one　of　the　books　on　the　shelves；　or　a　part　of　the　title？　　Would　the　book　in　question　supply　the　key　to　the　mystery？　　Or　was　it　the　combination　word　of　a　safe？　　Was　it　a　series　of　letters　written　somewhere：　on　a　wall；　on　a　paper；　on　a　wooden　panel；　on　the　mount　of　a　drawing；　on　an　invoice？

These　questions；　to　which　he　was　unable　to　find　a　reply；　obsessed　and　exhausted　him。

One　morning　Arsene　Lupin　woke　feeling　a　great　deal　better。　　The　wound　was　closed；　the　temperature　almost　normal。　　The　doctor；　a　personal　friend；　who　came　every　day　from　Paris；　promised　that　he　might　get　up　two　days　later。　　And；　on　that　day；　in　the　absence　of　his　accomplices　and　of　Mme。　Mergy；　all　three　of　whom　had　left　two　days　before；　in　quest　of　information；　he　had　himself　moved　to　the　open　window。

He　felt　life　return　to　him　with　the　sunlight；　with　the　balmy　air　that　announced　the　approach　of　spring。　　He　recovered　the　concatenation　of　his　ideas；　and　facts　once　more　took　their　place　in　his　brain　in　their　logical　sequence　and　in　accordance　with　their　relations　one　to　the　other。

In　the　evening　he　received　a　telegram　from　Clarisse　to　say　that　things　were　going　badiy　and　that　she；　the　Growler　and　the　Masher　were　all　staying　in　Paris。　　He　was　much　disturbed　by　this　wire　and　had　a　less　quiet　night。　　What　could　the　news　be　that　had　given　rise　to　Clarisse's　telegram？

But；　the　next　day；　she　arrived　in　his　room　looking　very　pale；　her　eyes　red　with　weeping；　and；　utterly　worn　out；　dropped　into　a　chair：

〃The　appeal　has　been　rejected；〃　she　stammered。

He　mastered　his　emotion　and　asked；　in　a　voice　of　surprise：

〃Were　you　relying　on　that？〃

〃No；　no；〃　she　said；　〃but；　all　the　same。。。　one　hopes　in　spite　of　one's　self。〃

〃Was　it　rejected　yesterday？〃

〃A　week　ago。　　The　Masher　kept　it　from　me；　and　I　have　not　dared　to　read　the　papers　lately。〃

〃There　is　always　the　commutation　of　sentence；〃　he　suggested。

〃The　commutation？　　Do　you　imagine　that　they　will　commute　the　sentence　of　Arsene　Lupin's　accomplices？〃

She　ejaculated　the　words　with　a　violence　and　a　bitterness　which　he　pretended　not　to　notice；　and　he　said：

〃Vaucheray　perhaps　not。。。　But　they　will　take　pity　on　Gilbert；　on　his　youth。。。　〃

〃They　will　do　nothing　of　the　sort。〃

〃How　do　you　know？〃

〃I　have　seen　his　counsel。〃

〃You　have　seen　his　counsel！　　And　you　told　him。。。　〃

〃I　told　him　that　I　was　Gilbert's　mother　and　I　asked　him　whether；　by　proclaiming　my　son's　identity；　we　could　not　influence　the　result。。。　or　at　least　delay　it。〃

〃You　would　do　that？〃　he　whispered。　　〃You　would　admit。。。　〃

〃Gilbert's　life　comes　before　everything。　　What　do　I　care　about　my　name！　What　do　I　care　about　my　husband's　name！〃

〃And　your　littie　Jacques？〃　he　objected。　　〃Have　you　the　right　to　ruin　Jacques；　to　make　him　the　brother　of　a　man　condemned　to　death？〃

She　hung　her　head。　　And　he　resumed：

〃What　did　the　counsel　say？〃

〃He　said　that　an　act　of　that　sort　would　not　help　Gilbert　in　the　remotest　degree。　　And；　in　spite　of　all　his　protests；　I　could　see　that；　as　far　as　he　was　concerned；　he　had　no　illusions　left　and　that　the　pardoning　commission　are　bound　to　find　in　favour　of　the　execution。〃

〃The　commission；　I　grant　you；　but　what　of　the　president　of　the　Republic？〃

〃The　president　always　goes　by　the　advice　of　the　commission。〃

〃He　will　not　do　so　this　time。〃

〃And　why　not？〃

〃Because　we　shall　bring　influence　to　bear　upon　him。〃

〃How？〃

〃By　the　conditional　surrender　of　the　list　of　the　Twenty…seven！〃

〃Have　you　it？〃

〃No；　but　I　shall　have　it。〃

His　certainty　had　not　wavered。　　He　made　the　statement　with　equal　calmness　and　faith　in　the　infinite　power　of　his　will。

She　had　lost　some　part　of　her　confidence　in　him　and　she　shrugged　her　shoulders　lightly：　　　　　　　　　〃If　d'Albufex　has　not　purloined　the　list；　one　man　lone　can　exercise　any　influence；　one　man　alone：　Daubrecq。〃

She　spoke　these　words　in　a　low　and　absent　voice　that　made　him　shudder。　Was　she　still　thinking；　as　he　had　often　seemed　to　feel；　of　going　back　to　Daubrecq　and　paying　him　for　Gilbert's　life？

〃You　have　sworn　an　oath　to　me；〃　he　said。　　〃I'm　reminding　you　of　it。　　It　was　agreed　that　the　struggle　with　Daubrecq　should　be　directed　by　me　and　that　there　would　never　be　a　possibility　of　any　arrangement　between　you　and　him。〃

She　retorted：

〃I　don't　even　know　where　he　is。　　If　I　knew；　wouldn't　you　know？〃

It　was　an　evasive　answer。　　But　he　did　not　insist；　resolving　to　watch　her　at　the　opportune　time；　and　he　asked　her；　for　he　had　not　yet　been　told　all　the　details：

〃Then　it's　not　known　what　became　of　Daubrecq？〃

〃No。　　Of　course；　one　of　the　Growler's　bullets　struck　him。　　For；　next　day；　we　picked　up；　in　a　coppice；　a　handkerchief　covered　with　blood。　　Also；　it　seems　that　a　man　was　seen　at　Aumale　Station；　looking　very　tired　and　walking　with　great　difficulty。　　He　took　a　ticket　for　Paris；　stepped　into　the　first　train　and　that　is　all。。。　〃

〃He　must　be　seriously　wounded；〃　said　Lupin；　〃and　he　is　nursing　himself　in　some　safe　retreat。　　Perhaps；　also；　he　considers　it　wise　to　lie　low　for　a　few　weeks　and　avoid　any　traps　on　the　part　of　the　police；　d'Albufex；　you；　myself　and　all　his　other　enemies。〃

He　stopped　to　think　and　continued：

〃What　has　happened　at　Mortepierre　since　Daubrecq's　escape？　　Has　there　been　no　talk　in　the　neighbourhood？〃

〃No；　the　rope　was　removed　before　daybreak；　which　proves　that　Sebastiani　or　his　sons　discovered　Daubrecq's　flight　on　the　same　night。　　Sebastiani　was　away　the　whole　of　the　next　day。〃

〃Yes；　he　will　have　informed　the　marquis。　　And　where　is　the　marquis　himself？〃

〃At　home。　　And；　from　what　the　Growler　has　heard；　there　is　nothing　suspicious　there　either。〃

〃Are　they　certain　that　he　has　not　been　inside　Daubrecq's　house？〃

〃As　certain　as　they　can　be。〃

Nor　Daubrecq？〃　　　　　　　　　　Nor　Daubrecq。〃　　　　　　　　　　〃Have　you　seen　Prasville？〃

〃Prasville　is　away　on　leave。　　But　Chief…inspector　Blanchon；　who　has　charge　of　the　case；　and　the　detectives　who　are　guarding　the　house　declare　that；　in　accordance　with　Prasville's　instructions；　their　watch　is　not　relaxed　for　a　moment；　even　at　night；　that　one　of　them；　turn　and　turn　about；　is　always　on　duty　in　the　study；　and　that　no　one；　therefore；　can　have　gone　in。〃

〃So；　on　principle；〃　Arsene　Lupin　concluded；　〃the　crystal　stopper　must　still　be　in　Daubrecq's　study？〃

〃If　it　was　there　before　Daubrecq's　disappearance；　it　should　be　there　now。〃

〃And　on　the　study…table。〃

〃On　the　study…table？　Why　do　you　say　that？〃

〃Because　I　know；〃　said　Lupin；　who　had　not　forgotten　Sebastiani's　words。

〃But　you　don't　know　the　article　in　which　the　stopper　is　hidden？〃

〃No。　　But　a　study…table；　a　writing…desk；　is　a　limited　space。　　One　can　explore　it　in　twenty　minutes。　　One　can　demolish　it；　if　necessary；　in　ten。〃

The　conversation　had　tired　Arsene　Lupin　a　little。　　As　he　did　not　wish　to　commit　the　least　imprudence；　he　said　to　Clarisse：

〃Listen。　　I　will　ask　you　to　give　me　two　or　three　days　more。　　This　is　Monday；　the　4th　of　March。　　On　Wednesday　or　Thursday；　at　latest；　I　shall　be　up　and　about。　　And　you　can　be　sure　that　we　shall　succeed。〃

〃And；　in　the　meantime。。。　〃

〃In　the　meantime；　go　back　to　Paris。　　Take　rooms；　with　the　Growler　and　the　Masher；　in　the　Hotel　Franklin；　near　the　Trocadoro；　and　keep　a　watch　on　Daubrecq's　house。　You　are　free　to　go　in　and　out　as　you　please。　Stimulate　the　zeal　of　the　detectives　on　duty。〃

〃Suppose　Daubrecq　returns？〃

〃If　he　returns；　that　will　be　so　much　the　better：　we　shall　have　him。〃

〃And；　if　he　only　passes？〃

〃In　that　case；　the　Growler　and　the　Masher　must　follow　him。〃

〃And　if　they　lose　sight　of　him？〃

Lupin　did　not　reply。　　No　one　felt　more　than　he　how　fatal　it　was　to　remain　inactive　in　a　hotel　bedroom　and　how　useful　his　presence　would　have　been　on　the　battlefield！　　Perhaps　even　this　vague　idea　had　already　prolonged　his　illness　beyond　the　ordinary　limits。

He　murmured：

〃Go　now；　please。〃

There　was　a　constraint　between　them　which　increased　as　the　awful　day　drew　nigh。　　In　her　injustice；　forgetting　or　wishing　to　forget　that　it　was　she　who　had　forced　her　son　into　the　Enghien　enterprise；　Mme。　Mergy　did　not　forget　that　the　law　was　pursuing　Gilbert　with　such　rigour　not　so　much　because　he　was　a　criminal　as　because　he　was　an　accomplice　of　Arsene　Lupin's。　　And　then；　notwithstanding　all　his　efforts；　notwithstanding　his　prodigious　expenditure　of　energy；　what　result　had　Lupin　achieved；　when　all　was　said？　　How　far　had　his　intervention　benefited　Gilbert？

After　a　pause；　she　rose　and　left　him　alone。

The　next　day　he　was　feeling　rather　low。　　But　on　the　day　after；　the　Wednesday；　when　his　doctor　wanted　him　to　keep　quiet　until　the　end　of　the　week；　he　said：

〃If　not；　what　have　I　to　fear？〃

〃A　return　of　the　fever。〃

〃Nothing　worse？〃　　　　　　　　　　〃No。　　The　wound　is　pretty　well　healed。〃

〃Then　I　don't　care。　　I'll　go　back　with　you　in　your　car。　　We　shall　be　in　Paris　by　mid…day。〃

What　decided　Lupin　to　start　at　once　was；　first；　a　letter　in　which　Clarisse　told　him　that　she　had　found　Daubrecq's　traces；　and；　also；　a　telegram；　published　in