the crystal stopper-第34章

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　troops。

The　guillotine　was　set　up　in　silence；　in　the　middle　of　the　square　formed　by　the　boulevard　and　the　street；　and　the　sinister　sound　of　hammering　was　heard。

But；　at　five　o'clock；　the　crowd　gathered；　notwithstanding　the　rain；　and　people　began　to　sing。　　They　shouted　for　the　footlights；　called　for　the　curtain　to　rise；　were　exasperated　to　see　that；　at　the　distance　at　which　the　barriers　had　been　fixed；　they　could　hardly　distinguish　the　uprights　of　the　guillotine。

Several　carriages　drove　up；　bringing　official　persons　dressed　in　black。　There　were　cheers　and　hoots；　whereupon　a　troop　of　mounted　municipal　guards　scattered　the　groups　and　cleared　the　space　to　a　distance　of　three　hundred　yards　from　the　square。　　Two　fresh　companies　of　soldiers　lined　up。

And　suddenly　there　was　a　great　silence。　　A　vague　white　light　fell　from　the　dark　sky。　　The　rain　ceased　abruptly。

Inside　the　prison；　at　the　end　of　the　passage　containing　the　condemned　cells；　the　men　in　black　were　conversing　in　low　voices。　　Prasville　was　talking　to　the　pubhc　prosecutor；　who　expressed　his　fears：

〃No；　no；〃　declared　Prasville；　〃I　assure　you；　it　will　pass　without　an　incident　of　any　kind。〃

〃Do　your　reports　mention　nothing　at　all　suspicious；　monsieur　le　5ecretaire…general？〃

〃Nothing。　　And　they　can't　mention　anything；　for　the　simple　reason　that　we　have　Lupin。〃

〃Do　you　mean　that？〃

〃Yes；　we　know　his　hiding…place。　　The　house　where　he　lives；　on　the　Place　de　Clichy；　and　where　he　went　at　seven　o'clock　last　night；　is　surrounded。　Moreover；　I　know　the　scheme　which　he　had　contrived　to　save　his　two　accomplices。　　The　scheme　miscarried　at　the　last　moment。　　We　have　nothing　to　fear；　therefore。　　The　law　will　take　its　course。〃

Meanwhile；　the　hour　had　struck。

They　took　Vaucheray　first；　and　the　governor　of　the　prison　ordered　the　door　of　his　cell　to　be　opened。　　Vaucheray　leapt　out　of　bed　and　cast　eyes　dilated　with　terror　upon　the　men　who　entered。

〃Vaucheray；　we　have　come　to　tell　you。。。　〃

〃Stow　that；　stow　that；〃　he　muttered。　　〃No　words。　　I　all　about　it。　　Get　on　with　the　business。〃

One　would　have　thought　that　he　was　in　a　hurry　for　it　to　be　over　as　fast　as　possible；　so　readily　did　he　submit　to　the　usual　preparations。　　But　he　would　not　allow　any　of　them　to　speak　to　him：

〃No　words；〃　he　repeated。　　〃What？　　Confess　to　the　priest？　　Not　worth　while。　　I　have　shed　blood。　　The　law　sheds　my　blood。　　It's　the　good　old　rule。　　We're　quits。〃

Nevertheless；　he　stopped　short　for　a　moment：

〃I　say；　is　my　mate　going　through　it　too？〃

And；　when　he　heard　that　Gilbert　would　go　to　the　scaffold　at　the　same　time　as　himself；　he　had　two　or　three　seconds　of　hesitation；　glanced　at　the　bystanders；　seemed　about　to　speak；　was　silent　and；　at　last；　muttered：

〃It's　better　so。。。。　They'll　pull　us　through　together。。。　we'll　clink　glasses　together。〃

Gilbert　was　not　asleep　either；　when　the　men　entered　his　cell。

Sitting　on　his　bed；　he　listened　to　the　terrible　words；　tried　to　stand　up；　began　to　tremble　frightfully；　from　head　to　foot；　like　a　skeleton　when　shaken；　and　then　fell　back；　sobbing：

〃Oh；　my　poor　mummy；　poor　mummy1〃　he　stammered。

They　tried　to　question　him　about　that　mother；　of　whom　he　had　never　spoken；　but　his　tears　were　interrupted　by　a　sudden　fit　of　rebellion　and　he　cried：

〃I　have　done　no　murder。。。　　I　won't　die。　I　have　done　no　murder。。。　〃

〃Gilbert；〃　they　said；　〃show　yourself　a　man。〃

〃Yes；　yes。。。　but　I　have　done　no　murder。。。　Why　should　I　die？〃

His　teeth　chattered　so　loudly　that　words　which　he　uttered　became　unintelligible。　　He　let　the　men　do　their　work；　made　his　confession；　heard　mass　and　then；　growing　calmer　and　almost　docile；　with　the　voice　of　a　little　child　resigning　itself；　murmured：

〃Tell　my　mother　that　I　beg　her　forgiveness。〃

〃Your　mother？〃

〃Yes。。。　Put　what　I　say　in　the　papers。。。　She　will　understand。。。　And　then。。。　〃

〃What；　Gilbert？〃

〃Well；　I　want　the　governor　to　know　that　I　have　not　lost　confidence。〃

He　gazed　at　the　bystanders；　one　after　the　other；　as　though　be　entertained　the　mad　hope　that　〃the　govermor〃　was　one　of　them；　disguised　beyond　recognition　and　ready　to　carry　him　off　in　his　arms：

〃Yes；〃　he　said；　gently　and　with　a　sort　of　religious　piety；　〃yes；　I　still　have　confidence；　even　at　this　moment。。。　Be　sure　and　let　him　know；　won't　you？。。。　I　am　positive　that　he　will　not　let　me　die。　　I　am　certain　of　it。。。　〃

They　guessed；　from　the　fixed　look　in　his　eyes；　that　he　saw　Lupin；　that　he　felt　Lupin's　shadow　prowling　around　and　seeking　an　inlet　through　which　to　get　to　him。　　And　never　was　anything　more　touching　than　the　sight　of　that　stripling　…　clad　in　the　strait…jacket；　with　his　arms　and　legs　bound；　guarded　by　thousands　of　men　…　whom　the　executioner　already　held　in　his　inexorable　hand　and　who；　nevertheless；　hoped　on。

Anguish　wrung　the　hearts　of　all　the　beholders。　　Their　eyes　were　dimmed　with　tears：

〃Poor　little　chap！〃　stammered　some　one。

Prasville；　touched　like　the　rest　and　thinking　of　Clarisse；　repeated；　in　a　whisper：

〃Poor　little　chap！〃

But　the　hour　struck；　the　preparations　were　finished。　　They　set　out。

The　two　processions　met　in　the　passage。　　Vaurheray；　on　seeing　Gilbert；　snapped　out：

〃I　say；　kiddie；　the　governor's　chucked　us！〃

nd　he　added　a　sentence　which　nobody；　save　Prasville；　was　able　to　understand：

〃Expect　he　prefers　to　pocket　the　proceeds　of　the　crystal　stopper。〃

They　went　down　the　staircases。　　They　crossed　the　prison…yards。　　An　endless；　horrible　distance。

And；　suddenly；　in　the　frame　of　the　great　doorway；　the　wan　light　of　day；　the　rain；　the　street；　the　outlines　of　houses；　while　far…off　sounds　came　through　the　awful　silence。

They　walked　along　the　wall；　to　the　corner　of　the　boulevard。

A　few　steps　farther

Vaucheray　started　back：　he　had　seen！

Gilbert　crept　along；　with　lowered　head；　supported　by　an　executioner's　assistant　and　by　the　chaplain；　who　made　him　kiss　the　crucifix　as　he　went。

There　stood　the　guillotine。

〃No；　no；〃　shouted　Gilbert；　〃I　won；t　。。。　I　　　　　　　　won't。。。　Help！　　Help！〃

A　last　appeal；　lost　in　space。

The　executioner　gave　a　signal。　　Vaucheray　was　laid　hold　of；　lifted；　dragged　along；　almost　at　a　run。

And　then　came　this　staggering　thing：　a　shot；　a　shot　fired　from　the　other　side；　from　one　of　the　houses　opposite。

The　assistants　stopped　short。

The　burden　which　they　were　dragging　bad　collapsed　in　their　arms。

〃What　is　it？　What's　happened？〃　asked　everybody。

〃He's　wounded。。。　〃

Blood　spurted　from　Vaucheray's　forehead　and　covered　his　face。

He　spluttered：

〃That's　done　it　。。。　one　in　a　thousand！　　Thank　you；　governor；　thank　you。

〃Finish　him　off！　　Carry　him　there！〃　said　a　voice；　amid　the　general　confusion。

〃But　he's　dead！〃

〃Get　on　with　it。。。　flnish　him　off！〃

Tumult　was　at　its　height；　in　the　little　group　of　magistrates；　officials　and　policemen。　　Every　one　was　giving　orders：

〃Execute　him！。。。　The　law　must　take　its　course！。。。　We　have　no　right　to　delay！　It　would　be　cowardice！。。。　Execute　him！〃

〃But　the　man's　dead！〃

〃That　makes　no　difference！。。。　The　law　must　be　obeyed！。。。　Execute　him！〃

The　chaplain　protested；　while　two　warders　and　Prasville　kept　their　eyes　on　Gilbert。　　In　the　meantime；　the　assistants　had　taken　up　the　corpse　again　and　were　carrying　it　to　the　guillotine。

〃Hurry　up！〃　cried　the　executioner；　scared　and　hoarse…voiced。　　〃Hurry　up！　。。。　And　the　other　one　to　follow。　。　。　Waste　no　time。。。　〃

He　had　not　finished　speaking；　when　a　second　report　rang　out。　　He　spun　round　on　his　heels　and　fell；　groaning：

〃It's　nothing　。。。　a　wound　in　the　shoulder。。。　Go　on。。。　The　next　one's　turn！〃

But　his　assistants　were　running　away；　yelling　with　terror。　　The　space　around　the　guillotine　was　cleared。　　And　the　prefect　of　police；　rallying　his　men；　drove　everybody　back　to　the　prison；　helter…skelter；　like　a　disordered　rabble：　the　magistrates；　the　officials；　the　condemned　man；　the　chaplain；　all　who　had　passed　through　the　archway　two　or　three　minutes　before。

In　the　meanwhile；　a　squad　of　policemen；　detectives　and　soldiers　were　rushing　upon　the　house；　a　little　o1d…fashioned；　three…storied　house；　with　a　ground…floor　occupied　by　two　shops　which　happened　to　be　empty。　Immediately　after　the　first　shot；　they　had　seen；　vaguely；　at　one　of　the　windows　on　the　second　floor；　a　man　holding　a　rifle　in　his　hand　and　surrounded　with　a　cloud　of　smoke。

Revolver…shots　were　fired　at　him；　but　missed　him。　　He；　standing　calmly　on　a　table；　took　aim　a　second　time；　fired　from　the　shoulder；　and　the　crack　of　the　second　report　was　heard。　　Then　he　withdrew　into　the　room。

Down　below；　as　nobody　answered　the　peal　at　the　bell；　the　assailants　demolished　the　door；　which　gave　way　almost　immediately。　　They　made　for　the　staircase；　but　their　onrush　was　at　once　stopped；　on　the　first　floor；　by　an　accumulation　of　beds；　chairs　and　other　furniture；　forming　a　regular　barricade　and　so　close…entangled　that　it　took　the　aggressors　four　or　five　minutes　to　clear　themselves　a　passage。

Those　four　or　five　minutes　lost　were　enough　to　render　all　pursuit　hopeless。　　When　they　reached　the　second　floor　they　heard　a　voice　shouting　from　above：

〃This　way；　friends！　　Eighteen　stairs　more。　　A　thousand　apologies　for　giving　you　so　much　trouble！〃

They　ran　up　those　eighteen　stairs　and　nimbly　at　that！　　But；　at　the　top；　above　the　third　story；　was　the　garret；　which　was　reached　by　a　ladder　and　a　trapdoor。　　And　the　fugitive　had　taken　away　the　ladder　and　bolted　the　trapdoor。

The　reader　will　not　have　forgotten　the　sensation　created　by　this　amazing　action；　the　editions　of　the　papers　issued　in　quick　succession；　the　newsboys　tearing　and　shouting　through　the　streets；　the　whole　metropolis　on　edge　with　indignation　and；　we　may　say；　with　anxious　curiosity。

But　it　was　at　the　headquarters　of　police　that　the　excitement　developed　into　a　paroxysm。　　Men　flung　themselves　about　on　every　side。　　Messages；　telegrams；　telephone　calls　followed　one　upon　the　other。

At　last；　at　eleven　o'clock　in　the　morning；　there　was　a　meeting　in　the　office　of　the　prefect　of　police；　and　Prasville　was　there。　　The　　chief…detective　read　a　report　of　his　inquiry；　the　results　of　which　amounted　to　this：　shortly　before　midnight　yesterday　some　one　had　rung　at　the　house　on　the　Boulevard　Arago。　　The　portress；　who　slept　in　a　small　room　on　the　ground…floor；　behind　one　of　the　shops　pulled　the　rope。　A　man　came　and　tapped　at　her　door。　　He　said　that　he　had　come　from　the　police　on　an　urgent　matter　concerning　to…morrow's　execution。　　The　portress　opened　the　door　and　was　at　once　attacked；　gagged　and　bound。

Ten　minutes　later　a　lady　and　gentleman　who　lived　on　the　first　floor　and　who　had　just　come　home　were　also　reduced　to　helplessness　by　the　same　individual　and　locked　up；　each　in　one　of　the　two　empty　shops。　　The　third…floor　tenant　underwent　a　similar　fate；　but　in　his　own　flat　and　his　own　bedroom；　which　the　man　was　able　to　enter　without　being　heard。　　The　second　floor　was　unoccupied；　and　the　man　took　up　his　quarters　there。　　He　was　now　master　of　the　house。

〃And　there　we　are！〃　said　the　prefect　of　police；　beginning　to　laugh；　with　a　certain　bitterness。　　〃There　we　are！　　It's　as　simple　as　shelling　peas。　Only；　what　surprises　me　is　that　he　was　able　to　get　away　so　easily。〃

〃I　will　ask　you　to　observe；　monsieur　le　prefet；　that；　being　absolute　master　of　the　house　from　one　o'clock　in　the　morning；