the crystal stopper-第28章

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〃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　bottle　of　champagne　in　an　ice…pail。

Then　the　two　waiters　withdrew。

〃Sit　down；　dear　lady。　　As　you　see；　I　was　thinking　of　you　and　your　cover　is　laid。〃

And；　without　seeming　to　observe　that　Clarisse　was　not　at　all　prepared　to　do　honour　to　his　invitation；　he　sat　down；　began　to　eat　and　continued：

〃Yes；　upon　my　word；　I　hoped　that　you　would　end　by　consenting　to　this　little　private　meeting。　　During　the　past　week；　while　you　were　keeping　so　assiduous　a　watch　upon　me；　I　did　nothing　but　say　to　myself；　'I　wonder　which　she　prefers：　sweet　champagne；　dry　champagne；　or　extra…dry？'　　I　was　really　puzzled。　　Especially　after　our　departure　from　Paris。　　I　had　lost　your　tracks；　that　is　to　say；　I　feared　that　you　had　lost　mine　and　abandoned　the　pursuit　which　was　so　gratifying　to　me。　　When　I　went　for　a　walk；　I　missed　your　beautiful　dark　eyes；　gleaming　with　hatred　under　your　hair　just　touched　with　gray。　　But；　this　morning；　I　understood：　the　room　next　to　mine　was　empty　at　last；　and　my　friend　Clarisse　was　able　to　take　up　her　quarters；　so　to　speak；　by　my　bedside。　　From　that　moment　I　was　reassured。　　I　felt　certain　that；　on　coming　back　…　instead　of　lunching　in　the　restaurant　as　usual　…　I　should　find　you　arranging　my　things　to　your　convenience　and　suiting　your　own　taste。　　That　was　why　I　ordered　two　covers：　one　for　your　humble　servant；　the　other　for　his　fair　friend。〃

She　was　listening　to　him　now　and　in　the　greatest　terror。　　So　Daubrecq　knew　that　he　was　spied　upon！　　For　a　whole　week　he　had　seen　through　her　and　all　her　schemes！

In　a　low　voice；　anxious…eyed；　she　asked：

〃You　did　it　on　purpose；　did　you　not？　　You　only　went　away　to　drag　me　with　you？〃

〃Yes；〃　he　said。

〃But　why？　　Why？〃

〃Do　you　mean　to　say　that　you　don't　know？〃　retorted　Daubrecq；　laughing　with　a　little　cluck　of　delight。

She　half…rose　from　her　chair　and；　bending　toward　him；　thought；　as　she　thought　each　time；　of　the　murder　which　she　could　commit；　of　the　murder　which　she　would　commit。　　One　revolver…shot　and　the　odious　brute　was　done　for。

Slowly　her　hand　glided　to　the　weapon　conoealed　in　her　bodice。

Daubrecq　said：

〃One　second；　dear　friend。。。　You　can　shoot　presently；　but　I　beg　you　first　to　read　this　wire　which　I　have　just　received。〃

She　hesitated；　not　knowing　what　trap　he　was　laying　for　her；　but　he　went　on；　as　he　produced　a　telegram：

〃It's　about　your　son。〃

〃Gilbert？〃　she　asked；　greatly　concerned。

〃Yes；　Gilbert。。。　Here；　read　it。〃

She　gave　a　yell　of　dismay。　　She　had　read：

　　　　　　　　〃Execution　on　Tuesday　morning。〃

And　she　at　once　flung　herself　on　Daubrecq；　crying：

〃It's　not　true！。。。　It's　a　lie。。。　to　madden　me。。。　Oh；　I　know　you：　you　are　capable　of　anything！　　Confess！　　It　won't　be　on　Tuesday；　will　it？　　In　two　days！　　No；　no。。。　I　tell　you；　we　have　four　days　yet；　five　days；　in　which　to　save　him。。。　Confess　it；　confess　it！〃

She　had　no　strength　left；　exhausted　by　this　fit　of　rebellion；　and　her　voice　uttered　none　but　inarticulate　sounds。

He　looked　at　her　for　a　moment；　then　poured　himself　out　a　glass　of　champagne　and　drank　it　down　at　a　gulp。　　He　took　a　few　steps　up　and　down　the　room；　came　back　to　her　and　said：

〃Listen　to　me；　darling。。。　〃

The　insult　made　her　quiver　with　an　unexpected　energy。　　She　drew　herself　up　and；　panting　with　indignation；　said：

〃I　forbid　you。。。　I　forbid　you　to　speak　to　me　like　that。　　I　will　not　accept　such　an　outrage。　　You　wretch！。。。　〃

He　shrugged　his　shoulders　and　resumed：

〃Pah；　I　see　you're　not　quite　alive　to　the　position。　　That　comes；　of　course；　because　you　still　hope　for　assistance　in　some　quarter。　　Prasville；　perhaps？　　The　excellent　Prasville；　whose　right　hand　you　are。。。　My　dear　friend；　a　forlorn　hope。。。　You　must　know　that　Prasville　is　mixed　up　in　the　Canal　affair！　　Not　directly：　that　is　to　say；　his　name　is　not　on　the　list　of　the　Twenty…seven；　but　it　is　there　under　the　name　of　one　of　his　friends；　an　ex…deputy　called　Vorenglade；　Stanislas　Vorenglade；　his　man　of　straw；　apparently：　a　penniless　individual　whom　I　left　alone　and　rightly。　　I　knew　nothing　of　all　that　until　this　morning；　when；　lo　and　behold；　I　received　a　letter　informing　me　of　the　existence　of　a　bundie　of　documents　which　prove　the　complicity　of　our　one　and　only　Prasville！　And　who　is　my　informant？　　Vorenglade　himself！　Vorenglade；　who；　tired　of　living　in　poverty；　wants　to　extort　money　from　Prasville；　at　the　risk　of　being　arrested；　and　who　will　be　delighted　to　come　to　terms　with　me。　　And　Prasville　will　get　the　sack。　　Oh；　what　a　lark！　　I　swear　to　you　that　he　will　get　the　sack；　the　villain！　　By　Jove；　but　he's　annoyed　me　long　enough！　　Prasville；　old　boy；　you've　deserved　it。。。　〃

He　rubbed　his　hands　together；　revelling　in　his　coming　revenge。　　And　he　continued：

〃You　see；　my　dear　Clarisse。。。　there's　nothing　to　be　done　in　that　direction。　　What　then？　　What　straw　will　you　cling　to？　　Why；　I　was　forgetting：　M。　Arsene　Lupin！　　Mr。　Growler！　　Mr。　Masher！。。。　　Pah；　you'll　admit　that　those　gentlemen　have　not　shone　and　that　all　their　feats　of　prowess　have　not　prevented　me　from　going　my　own　little　way。　　It　was　bound　to　be。　　Those　fellows　imagine　that　there's　no　one　to　equal　them。　When　they　meet　an　adversary　like　myself；　one　who　is　not　to　be　bounced；　it　upsets　them　and　they　make　blunder　after　blunder；　while　still　believing　that　they　are　hoodwinking　him　like　mad。　　Schoolboys；　that's　what　they　are！　　However；　as　you　seem　to　have　some　illusions　left　about　the　aforesaid　Lupin；　as　you　are　counting　on　that　poor　devil　to　crush　me　and　to　work　a　miracle　in　favour　of　your　innocent　Gilbert；　come；　let's　dispel　that　illusion。　　Oh！　　Lupin！　　Lord　above；　she　believes　in　Lupin！　　She　places　her　last　hopes　in　Lupin！　　Lupin！　　Just　wait　till　I　prick　you；　my　illustrious　windbag！〃

He　took　up　the　receiver　of　the　telephone　which　communicated　with　the　hall　of　the　hotel　and　said：

〃I'm　No。　129；　mademoiselle。　　Would　you　kindiy　ask　the　person　sitting　opposite　your　office　to　come　up　to　me？。。。　Hub！。。。　Yes；　mademoiselle；　the　gentleman　in　a　gray　felt　hat。　　He　knows。　　Thank　you；　mademoiselle。〃

Hanging　up　the　receiver；　he　turned　to　Clarisse：

〃Don't　be　afraid。　　The　man　is　discretion　itself。　　Besides；　it's　the　motto　of　his　trade：　'Discretion　and　dispatch。'　As　a　retired　detective；　he　has　done　me　a　number　of　services；　including　that　of　following　you　while　you　were　following　me。　　Since　our　arrival　in　the　south；　he　has　been　less　busy　with　you；　but　that　was　because　he　was　more　busy　elsewhere。　　Come　in；　Jacob。〃

He　himself　opened　the　door；　and　a　short；　thin　man；　with　a　red　moustache；　entered　the　room。

〃rlease　tell　this　lady；　Jacob；　in　a　few　brief　words；　what　you　have　done　since　Wednesday　evening；　when；　after　letting　her　get　into　the　train…de…luxe　which　was　taking　me　from　the　Gare　de　Lyon　to　the　south；　you　yourself　remained　on　the　platform　at　the　station。　　Of　course；　I　am　not　asking　how　you　spent　your　time；　except　in　so　far　as　concerns　the　lady　and　the　business　with　which　I　entrusted　you。〃

Jacob　dived　into　the　inside…pocket　of　his　jacket　and　produced　a　little　note…book　of　which　he　turned　over　the　pages　and　read　them　aloud　in　the　voice　of　a　man　reading　a　report：

〃Wednesday　evening；　8。15。　Gare　de　Lyon。　　Wait　for　two　gents；　Growler　and　Masher。　　They　come　with　another　whom　I　don't　know　yet；　but　who　can　only　be　M。　Nicole。　　Give　a　porter　ten　francs　for　the　loan　of　his　cap　and　blouse。　　Accost　the　gents　and　tell　them；　from　a　lady；　'that　they　were　gone　to　Monte　Carlo。'　　Next；　telephone　to　the　porter　at　the　Hotel　Franklin。　　All　telegrams　sent　to　his　boss　and　dispatched　by　said　boss　will　be　read　by　said　hotel…porter　and；　if　necessary；　intercepted。

〃Thursday。　　Monte　Carlo。　　The　three　gents　search　the　hotels。

〃Friday。　　Flying　visits　to　La　Turbie；　the　Cap　d'Ail；　Cap　Martin。　　M。　Daubrecq　rings　me　up。　　Thinks　it　wiser　to　send　the　gents　to　Italy。　　Make　the　porter　of　the　Hotel　Franklin　send　them　a　telegram　appointing　a　meeting　at　San　Remo。

〃Saturday。　　San　Remo。　　Station　platform。　　Give　the　porter　of　the　Ambassadeurs…Palace　ten　francs　for　the　loan　of　his　cap。　　The　three　gents　arrive。　　They　speak　to　me。　　Explain　to　them　that　a　lady　traveller；　Mme。　Mergy；　is　going　on　to　Genoa；　to　the　Hotel　Continental。　　The　gents　hesitate。　M。　Nicole　wants　to　get　out。　　The　others　hold　him　back。　　The　train　starts。　　Good　luck；　gents！　　An　hour　later；　I　take　the　train　for　France　and　get　out　at　Nice；　to　await　fresh　orders。〃

Jacob　closed　his　note…book　and　concluded：

〃That's　all。　　To…day's　doings　will　be　entered　this　evening。〃

〃You　can　enter　them　now；　M。　Jacob。　'12　noon。　M。　Daubrecq　sends　me　to　the　Wagon…Lits　Co。　　I　book　two　berths　in　the　Paris　sleeping…car；　by　the　2。48　train；　and　send　them　to　M。　Daubrecq　by　express　messenger。　　Then　I　take　the　12。58　train　for　Vintimille；　the　frontier…station；　where　I　spend　the　day　on　the　platform　watching　all　the　travellers　who　come　to　France。　Should　Messrs。　Nicole；　Growler　and　Masher　take　it　into　their　heads　to　leave　Italy　and　return　to　Paris　by　way　of　Nice；　my　instructions　are　to　telegraph　to　the　headquarters　of　police　that　Master　Arsene　Lupin　and　two　of　his　accomplices　are　in　train　number　so…and…so。〃

While　speaking；　Daubrecq　led　Jacob　to　the　door。　　He　closed　it　after　him；　turned　the　key；　pushed　the　bolt　and；　going　up　to　Clarisse；　said：

〃And　now；　darling；　listen　to　me。

This　time；　she　uttered　no　protest。　　What　could　she　do　against　such　an　enemy；　so　powerful；　so　resourceful；　who　provided　for　everything；　down　to　the　minutest　details；　and　who　toyed　with　his　adversaries　in　such　an　airy　fashion？　　Even　if　she　had　hoped　till　then　for　Lupin's　interference；　how　could　she　do　so　now；　when　he　was　wandering　through　Italy　in　pursuit　of　a　shadow？

She　understood　at　last　why　three　telegrams　which　she　had　sent　to　the　Hotel　Franklin　had　remained　unanswered。　　Daubrecq　was　there；　lurking　in　the　dark；　watching；　establishing　a　void　around　her；　separating　her　from　her　comrades　in　the　fight；　bringing　her　gradually；　a　beaten　prisoner；　within　the　four　walls　of　that　room。

She　felt　her　weakness。　　She　was　at　the　monster's　mercy。　　She　must　be　silent　and　resigned。

He　repeated；　with　an　evil　delight：

〃Listen　to　me；　darling。　　Listen　to　the　irrevocable　words　which　I　am　about　to　speak。　　Listen　to　them　well。　　It　is　now　12　o'clock。　　The　last　train　starts　at　2。48：　you　understand；　the　last　train　that　can　bring　me　to　Paris　to…morrow；　Monday；　in　time　to　save　your　son。　　The　evening…trains　would　arrive　too　late。　　The　trains…de…luxe　are　full　up。　　Therefore　I　shall　have　to　start　at　2。48。　　　　Am　I　to　start？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Our　berths　are　booked。　　Will　you　come　with　me？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃You　know　my　conditions　for　interfering？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Do　you　accept　them？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃You　will　marry　me？〃

〃Yes。〃

Oh；　those　horrible　answers！　　The　unhappy　woman　gave　them　in　a　sort　of　awful　torpor；　refusing　even　to　understand　what　she　was　promising。　　Let　him　start　first；　let　him　snatch　Gilbert　from　the　engine　of　death　whose　　ision　haunted　her　day　and　night。。。　And　then。。。　and　then。。。　let　what　must　come　come。。。　〃

He　burst　out　laughing：

〃Oh；　you　rogue；　it's　easily　said！。。。　　You're　ready　to　pledge　yourself　to　anything；　eh？　　The　great　thing　is　to　save　Gilbert；　isn't　it？　　A