the crystal stopper-第27章

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er；　between　the　Gare　de　l'Est　and　the　Gare　de　Lyon；*　I　am　presuming　that　his　business；　his　pleasure　and　his　health　are　more　likely　to　take　Daubrecq　in　the　direction　of　Marseilles　and　the　Riviera　than　to　the　Gare　de　l'Est。〃　________________________________________________________________________

*These　are　the　only　two　main…line　stations　in　Paris　with　the　word　de　in　their　name。　　The　others　have　du；　as　the　Gare　du　Nord　or　the　Gare　du　Luxembourg；　d'　as　the　Gare　d'Orleans；　or　no　particle　at　all；　as　the　Gare　Saint…Lazare　or　the　Gare　Montpamasse。　…　Translator's　Note。　________________________________________________________________________

It　was　past　seven　when　Lupin　and　his　companions　left　the　Hotel　Franklin。　A　motor…car　took　them　across　Paris　at　full　speed；　but　they　soon　saw　that　Clarisse　Mergy　was　not　outside　the　station；　nor　in　the　waiting…rooms；　nor　on　any　of　the　platforms。

〃Still；〃　muttered　Lupin；　whose　agitation　grew　as　the　obstacles　increased；　〃still；　if　Daubrecq　booked　a　berth　in　a　sleeping…car；　it　can　only　have　been　in　an　evening　train。　　And　it　is　barely　half…past　seven！〃

A　train　was　starting；　the　night　express。　　They　had　time　to　rush　along　the　corridor。　　Nobody。。。　　neither　Mme。　Mergy　nor　Daubrecq。。。

But；　as　they　were　all　three　going；　a　porter　accosted　them　near　the　refreshment…room：

〃Is　one　of　you　gentlemen　looking　for　a　lady？〃

〃Yes；　yes；。。。　I　am；〃　said　Lupin。　　〃Quick；　what　is　it？〃

〃Oh；　it's　you；　sir！　　The　lady　told　me　there　might　be　three　of　you　or　two　of　you。。。。　And　I　didn't　know。。。　〃

〃But；　in　heaven's　name；　speak；　man！　　What　lady？〃　

〃The　lady　who　spent　the　whole　day　on　the　pavement；　with　the　luggage；　waiting。〃

〃Well；　out　with　it！　　Has　she　taken　a　train？〃

〃Yes；　the　train…de…luxe；　at　six…thirty：　she　made　up　her　mind　at　the　last　moment；　she　told　me　to　say。　　And　I　was　also　to　say　that　the　gentleman　was　in　the　same　train　and　that　they　were　going　to　Monte　Carlo。〃

〃Damn　it！〃　muttered　Lupin。　　〃We　ought　to　have　taken　the　express　just　now！　There's　nothing　left　but　the　evening　trains；　and　they　crawl！　　We've　lost　over　three　hours。〃

The　wait　seemed　interminable。　　They　booked　their　seats。　　They　telephoned　to　the　proprietor　of　the　Hotel　Franklin　to　send　on　their　letters　to　Monte　Carlo。　　They　dined。　　They　read　the　papers。　　At　last；　at　half…past　nine；　the　train　started。

And　so；　by　a　really　tragic　series　of　circumstances；　at　the　most　critical　moment　of　the　contest；　Lupin　was　turning　his　back　on　the　battlefield　and　going　away；　at　haphazard；　to　seek；　he　knew　not　where；　and　beat；　he　knew　not　how；　the　most　formidable　and　elusive　enemy　that　he　had　ever　fought。

And　this　was　happening　four　days；　five　days　at　most；　before　the　inevitable　execution　of　Gilbert　and　Vaucheray。

It　was　a　bad　and　painful　night　for　Lupin。　　The　more　he　studied　the　situation　the　more　terrible　it　appeared　to　him。　　On　every　side　he　was　faced　with　uncertainty；　darkness；　confusion；　helplessness。

True；　he　knew　the　secret　of　the　crystal　stopper。　　But　how　was　he　to　know　that　Daubrecq　would　not　change　or　had　not　already　changed　his　tactics？　How　was　he　to　know　that　the　list　of　the　Twenty…seven　was　still　inside　that　crystal　stopper　or　that　the　crystal　stopper　was　still　inside　the　object　where　Daubrecq　had　first　hidden　it？

And　there　was　a　further　serious　reason　for　alarm　in　the　fact　that　Clarisse　Mergy　thought　that　she　was　shadowing　and　watching　Daubrecq　at　a　time　when；　on　the　contrary；　Daubrecq　was　watching　her；　having　her　shadowed　and　dragging　her；　with　diabolical　cleverness；　toward　the　places　selected　by　himself；　far　from　all　help　or　hope　of　help。

Oh；　Daubrecq's　game　was　clear　as　daylight！　　Did　not　Lupin　know　the　unhappy　woman's　hesitations？　　Did　he　not　know　…　and　the　Growler　and　the　Masher　confirmed　it　most　positively　…　that　Clarisse　looked　upon　the　infamous　bargain　planned　by　Daubrecq　in　the　light　of　a　possible；　an　acceptable　thing？　　In　that　case；　how　could　he；　Lupin；　succeed？　　The　logic　of　events；　so　powerfully　moulded　by　Daubrecq；　led　to　a　fatal　result：　the　mother　must　sacrifice　herself　and；　to　save　her　son；　throw　her　scruples；　her　repugnance；　her　very　honour；　to　the　winds！

〃Oh；　you　scoundrel！〃　snarled　Lupin；　in　a　fit　of　rage。　　〃If　I　get　hold　of　you；　I'll　make　you　dance　to　a　pretty　tune！　　I　wouldn't　be　in　your　shoes　for　a　great　deal；　when　that　happens。〃

They　reached　Monte　Carlo　at　three　o'clock　in　the　afternoon。　　Lupin　was　at　once　disappointed　not　to　see　Clarisse　on　the　platform　at　the　station。

He　waited。　　No　messenger　came　up　to　him。

He　asked　the　porters　and　ticket…collectors　if　they　had　noticed；　among　the　crowd；　two　travellers　answering　to　the　description　of　Daubrecq　and　Clarisse。　　They　had　not。

He　had；　therefore；　to　set　to　work　and　hunt　through　all　the　hotels　and　lodging…houses　in　the　principality。　　Oh；　the　time　wasted！

By　the　following　evening；　Lupin　knew；　beyond　a　doubt；　that　Daubrecq　and　Clarisse　were　not　at　Monte　Carlo；　nor　at　Monaco；　nor　at　the　Cap　d'Ail；　nor　at　La　Turbie；　nor　at　Cap　Martin。

〃Where　can　they　be　then？〃　he　wondered；　trembling　with　rage。

At　last；　on　the　Saturday；　he　received；　at　the　poste　restante；　a　telegram　which　had　been　readdressed　from　the　Hotel　Franklin　and　which　said：

　　　　　　　　〃He　got　out　at　Cannes　and　is　going　on　to　San　Remo；　Hotel　Palace　　　　　　　　　　des　Ambassadeurs。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃CLARISSE。〃

The　telegram　was　dated　the　day　before。

〃Hang　it！〃　exclaimed　Lupin　　〃They　passed　through　Monte　Carlo。　　One　of　us　ought　to　have　remained　at　the　station。　　I　did　think　of　it；　but；　in　the　midst　of　all　that　bustle。。。　〃

Lupin　and　his　friends　took　the　first　train　for　Italy。

They　crossed　the　frontier　at　twelve　o'clock。　　The　train　entered　the　station　at　San　Remo　at　twelve…forty。

They　at　once　saw　an　hotel…porter；　with　〃Ambassadeurs…Palace〃　on　his　braided　cap；　who　seemed　to　be　looking　for　some　one　among　the　arrivals。

Lupin　went　up　to　him：

〃Are　you　looking　for　M。　Nicole？〃

〃Yes；　M。　Nicole　and　two　gentlemen。〃

〃From　a　lady？〃

〃Yes；　Mme。　Mergy。〃

〃Is　she　staying　at　your　hotel？〃

〃No。　　She　did　not　get　out。　　She　beckoned　to　me；　described　you　three　gentlemen　and　told　me　to　say　that　she　was　going　on　to　Genoa；　to　the　Hotel　Continental。〃

〃Was　she　by　herself？〃

〃Yes。〃

Lupin　tipped　the　man；　dismissed　him　and　turned　to　his　friends：

〃This　is　Saturday。　　If　the　execution　takes　place　on　Monday；　there's　nothing　to　be　done。　　But　Monday　is　not　a　likely　day。。。　What　I　have　to　do　is　to　lay　hands　on　Daubrecq　to…night　and　to　be　in　Paris　on　Monday；　with　the　document。　　It's　our　last　chance。　Let's　take　it。〃

The　Growler　went　to　the　booking…office　and　returned　with　three　tickets　for　Genoa。

The　engine　whistled。

Lupin　had　a　last　hesitation：

〃No；　really；　it's　too　childish！　　What　are　we　doing？　　We　ought　to　be　in　Paris；　not　here！。。。　Just　think！。。。　〃

He　was　on　the　point　of　opening　the　door　and　jumping　out　on　the　permanent　way。　　But　his　companions　held　him　back。　　The　train　started。　　He　sat　down　again。

And　they　continued　their　mad　pursuit；　travelling　at　random；　toward　the　unknown。。。　〃

And　this　happened　two　days　before　the　inevitable　execution　of　Gilbert　and　Vaucheray。


CHAPTER　X

EXTRA…DRY？


On　one　of　the　hills　that　girdle　Nice　with　the　finest　scenery　in　the　world；　between　the　Vallon　de　Saint…Silvestre　and　the　Vallon　de　La　Mantega；　stands　a　huge　hotel　which　overlooks　the　town　and　the　wonderful　Baie　des　Anges。　　A　crowd　flocks　to　it　from　all　parts；　forming　a　medley　of　every　class　and　nation。

On　the　evening　of　the　same　Saturday　when　Lupin；　the　Growler　and　the　Masher　were　plunging　into　Italy；　Clarisse　Mergy　entered　this　hotel；　asked　for　a　bedroom　facing　south　and　selected　No。　130；　on　the　second　floor；　a　room　which　had　been　vacant　since　that　morning。

The　room　was　separated　from　No。　129　by　two　partition…doors。　　As　soon　as　she　was　alone；　Clarisse　pulled　back　the　curtain　that　concealed　the　first　door；　noiselessly　drew　the　bolt　and　put　her　ear　to　the　second　door：

〃He　is　here；〃　she　thought。　　〃He　is　dressing　to　go　to　the　club。。。　as　he　dld　yesterday。〃

When　her　neighbour　had　gone；　she　went　into　the　passage　and；　availing　herself　of　a　moment　when　there　was　no　one　in　sight；　walked　up　to　the　door　of　No。　129。　　The　door　was　locked。

She　waited　all　the　evening　for　her　neighbour's　return　and　dld　not　go　to　bed　until　two　o'clock。　　On　Sunday　morning；　she　resumed　her　watch。

The　neighbour　went　out　at　eleven。　　This　time　he　left　the　key　in　the　door。

Hurriedly　turning　the　key；　Clarisse　entered　boldly；　went　to　the　partition…door；　raised　the　curtain；　drew　the　bolt　and　found　herself　in　her　own　room。

In　a　few　minutes；　she　heard　two　chambermaids　doing　the　room　in　No。　129。

She　waited　until　they　were　gone。　　Then；　feeling　sure　that　she　would　not　be　dlsturbed；　she　once　more　slipped　into　the　other　room。

Her　excitement　made　her　lean　against　a　chair。　　After　days　and　nights　of　stubborn　pursuit；　after　alternate　hopes　and　dlsappointments；　she　had　at　last　succeeded　in　entering　a　room　occupied　by　Daubrecq。　　She　could　look　about　at　her　ease；　and；　if　she　dld　not　dlscover　the　crystal　stopper；　she　could　at　least　hide　in　the　space　between　the　partition…doors；　behind　the　hanging；　see　Daubrecq；　spy　upon　his　movements　and　surprise　his　secret。

She　looked　around　her。　　A　travelling…bag　at　once　caught　her　attention。　She　managed　to　open　it；　but　her　search　was　useless。

She　ransacked　the　trays　of　a　trunk　and　the　compartments　of　a　portmanteau。　She　searched　the　wardrobe；　the　writing…table；　the　chest　of　drawers；　the　bathroom；　all　the　tables；　all　the　furniture。　　She　found　nothing。

She　gave　a　start　when　she　saw　a　scrap　of　paper　on　the　balcony；　lying　as　though　flung　there　by　accident：

〃Can　it　be　a　trick　of　Daubrecq's？〃　she　thought；　out　loud。　　〃Can　that　scrap　of　paper　contain。。。　〃

〃No；〃　said　a　voice　behind　her；　as　she　put　her　hand　on　the　latch。

She　turned　and　saw　Daubrecq。

She　felt　neither　astonishment　nor　alann；　nor　even　any　embarrassment　at　finding　herself　face　to　face　with　him。　　She　had　suffered　too　deeply　for　months　to　trouble　about　what　Daubrecq　could　think　of　her　or　say；　at　catching　her　in　the　act　of　spying。

She　sat　down　wearily。

He　grinned：

〃No；　you're　out　of　it；　dear　friend。　　As　the　children　say；　you're　not　'burning'　at　all。　　Oh；　not　a　bit　of　it！　　And　it's　so　easy！　　Shall　I　help　you？　　It's　next　to　you；　dear　friend；　on　that　little　table。。。　And　yet；　by　Jove；　there's　not　much　on　that　little　table！　　Something　to　read；　something　to　write　with；　something　to　smoke；　something　to　eat。。。　and　that's　all。。。　Will　you　have　one　of　these　candied　fruits？。。。　Or　perhaps　you　would　rather　wait　for　the　more　substantial　meal　which　I　have　ordered？〃

Clarisse　made　no　reply。　　She　did　not　even　seem　to　listen　to　what　he　was　saying；　as　though　she　expected　other　words；　more　serious　words；　which　he　could　not　fail　to　utter。

He　cleared　the　table　of　all　the　things　that　lay　upon　it　and　put　them　on　the　mantel…piece。　　Then　he　rang　the　bell。

A　head…waiter　appeared。　Daubrecq　asked：

〃Is　the　lunch　which　I　ordered　ready？〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃It's　for　two；　isn't　it？〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃And　the　champagne？〃　

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃Extra…dry？〃

〃Yes；　sir。

Another　waiter　brought　a　tray　and　laid　two　covers　on　the　table：　a　cold　lunch；　some　fruit　and　a　bo