the crystal stopper-第4章

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ving　the　heads　of　his　two　companions。

　　　　　A　littie　memorandum；　which　I　have　copied　from　one　of　the　note…books　in　which　he　often　jots　down　a　summary　of　the　situations　that　perplex　him；　will　show　us　the　workings　of　his　brain：

〃One　definite　fact；　to　begin　with；　is　that　Gilbert　and　Vaucheray　　humbugged　me。　　The　Enghien　expedition；　undertaken　ostensibly　with　the　object　of　robbing　the　Villa　Marie…Therese；　had　a　secret　purpose。　　This　purpose　obsessed　their　minds　throughout　the　operations；　and　what　they　were　looking　for；　under　the　furniture　and　in　the　cupboards；　was　one　thing　and　one　thing　alone：　the　crystal　stopper。　　Therefore；　if　I　want　to　see　clear　ahead；　I　must　first　of　all　know　what　this　means。　　It　is　certain　that；　for　some　hidden　reason；　that　mysterious　piece　of　glass　possesses　an　incalculable　value　in　their　eyes。　　And　not　only　in　theirs；　for；　last　night；　some　one　was　bold　enough　and　clever　enough　to　enter　my　flat　and　steal　the　object　in　question　from　me。〃

This　theft　of　which　he　was　the　victim　puzzled　Lupin　curiously。

Two　problems；　both　equally　difficult　of　solution；　presented　themselves　to　his　mind。　　First；　who　was　the　mysterious　visitor？　　Gilbert；　who　enjoyed　his　entire　confidence　and　acted　as　his　private　secretary；　was　the　only　one　who　knew　of　the　retreat　in　the　Rue　Matignon。　　Now　Gilbert　was　in　prison。　　Was　Lupin　to　suppose　that　Gilbert　had　betrayed　him　and　put　the　police　on　his　tracks？　　In　that　case；　why　were　they　content　with　taking　the　crystal　stopper；　instead　of　arresting　him；　Lupin？

But　there　was　something　much　stranger　still。　　Admitting　that　they　had　been　able　to　force　the　doors　of　his　flat　…　and　this　he　was　compelled　to　admit；　though　there　was　no　mark　to　show　it　…　how　had　they　succeeded　in　entering　the　bedroom？　　He　turned　the　key　and　pushed　the　bolt　as　he　did　every　evening；　in　accordance　with　a　habit　from　which　he　never　departed。　And；　nevertheless　…　the　fact　was　undeniable　…　the　crystal　stopper　had　disappeared　without　the　lock　or　the　bolt　having　been　touched。　　And；　although　Lupin　flattered　himself　that　he　had　sharp　ears；　even　when　asleep；　not　a　sound　had　waked　him！

He　took　no　great　pains　to　probe　the　mystery。　　He　knew　those　problems　too　well　to　hope　that　this　one　could　be　solved　other　than　in　the　course　of　events。　　But；　feeling　very　much　put　out　and　exceedingly　uneasy；　he　then　and　there　locked　up　his　entresol　flat　in　the　Rue　Matignon　and　swore　that　he　would　never　set　foot　in　it　again。

And　he　applied　himself　forthwith　to　the　question　of　corresponding　with　Vaucheray　or　Gilbert。

Here　a　fresh　disappointment　awaited　him。　　It　was　so　clearly　understood；　both　at　the　Sante　Prison　and　at　the　Law　Courts；　that　all　communication　between　Lupin　and　the　prisoners　must　be　absolutely　prevented；　that　a　multitude　of　minute　precautions　were　ordered　by　the　prefect　of　police　and　minutely　observed　by　the　lowest　subordinates。　　Tried　policemen；　always　the　same　men；　watched　Gilbert　and　Vaucheray；　day　and　night；　and　never　let　them　out　of　their　sight。

Lupin；　at　this　time；　had　not　yet　promoted　himself　to　the　crowning　honour　of　his　career；　the　post　of　chief　of　the　detective~service；*　and；　consequently；　was　not　able　to　take　steps　at　the　Law　Courts　to　insure　the　execution　of　his　plans。　　After　a　fortnight　of　fruitless　endeavours；　he　was　obliged　to　bow。　__________________________________________________________________________

*See　813；　by　Maurice　Leblanc；　translated　by　Alexander　Teixeira　de　Mattos。　__________________________________________________________________________

He　did　so　with　a　raging　heart　and　a　growing　sense　of　anxiety。

〃The　difficult　part　of　a　business；〃　he　often　says；　〃is　not　the　finish；　but　the　start。〃

Where　was　he　to　start　in　the　present　circumstances？　　What　road　was　he　to　follow？

His　thoughts　recurred　to　Daubrecq　the　deputy；　the　original　owner　of　the　crystal　stopper；　who　probably　knew　its　importance。　　On　the　other　hand；　how　was　Gilbert　aware　of　the　doings　and　mode　of　life　of　Daubrecq　the　deputy？　　What　means　had　he　employed　to　keep　him　under　observation？　　Who　had　told　him　of　the　place　where　Daubrecq　spent　the　evening　of　that　day？　These　were　all　interesting　questions　to　solve。

Daubrecq　had　moved　to　his　winter　quarters　in　Paris　immediately　after　the　burglary　at　the　Villa　Marie…Therese　and　was　now　living　in　his　own　house；　on　the　left…hand　side　of　the　little　Square　Lamartine　that　opens　out　at　the　end　of　the　Avenue　Victor…Hugo。

First　disguising　himself　as　an　old　gentleman　of　private　means；　strolling　about；　cane　in　hand；　Lupin　spent　his　time　in　the　neighbourhood；　on　the　benches　of　the　square　and　the　avenue。　　He　made　a　discovery　on　the　first　day。　　Two　men；　dressed　as　workmen；　but　behaving　in　a　manner　that　left　no　doubt　as　to　their　aims；　were　watching　the　deputy's　house。　　When　Daubrecq　went　out；　they　set　off　in　pursuit　of　him；　and　they　were　immediately　behind　him　when　he　came　home　again。　　At　night；　as　soon　as　the　lights　were　out；　they　went　away。

Lupin　shadowed　them　in　his　turn。　　They　were　detective…officers。

〃Hullo；　hullo！〃　he　said　to　himself。　　〃This　is　hardly　what　I　expected。　So　the　Daubrecq　bird　is　under　suspicion？〃

But；　on　the　fourth　day；　at　nightfall；　the　two　men　were　joined　by　six　others；　who　conversed　with　them　in　the　darkest　part　of　the　Square　Lamartine。　　And；　among　these　new　arrivals；　Lupin　was　vastly　astonished　to　recognize；　by　his　figure　and　bearing；　the　famous　Prasville；　the　erstwhile　barrister；　sportsman　and　explorer；　now　favourite　at　the　Elysee；　who；　for　some　mysterious　reason；　had　been　pitchforked　into　the　headquarters　of　police　as　secretary…general；　with　the　reversion　of　the　prefecture。

And；　suddenly；　Lupin　remembered：　two　years　ago；　Prasville　and　Daubrecq　the　deputy　had　had　a　personal　encounter　on　the　Place　du　Palais…Bourbon。　The　incident　made　a　great　stir　at　the　time。　　No　one　knew　the　cause　of　it。　Prasville　had　sent　his　seconds　to　Daubrecq　on　the　same　day；　but　Daubrecq　refused　to　fight。

A　little　while　later；　Prasville　was　appointed　secretary…general。

〃Very　odd；　very　odd；〃　said　Lupin；　who　remained　plunged　in　thought；　while　continuing　to　observe　Prasvile's　movements。

At　seven　o'clock　Prasville's　group　of　men　moved　away　a　few　yards；　in　the　direction　of　the　Avenue　Henri…Martin。　　The　door　of　a　small　garden　on　the　right　of　the　house　opened　and　Daubrecq　appeared。　　The　two　detectives　followed　close　behind　him　and；　when　he　took　the　Rue…Taitbout　train；　jumped　on　after　him。

Prasville　at　once　walked　across　the　square　and　rang　the　bell。　　The　garden…gate　was　between　the　house　and　the　porter's　lodge。　　The　portress　came　and　opened　it。　　There　was　a　brief　conversation；　after　which　Prasville　and　his　companions　were　admitted。

〃A　domiciliary　visit；〃　said　Lupin。　　〃Secret　and　illegal。　　By　the　strict　rules　of　politeness；　I　ought　to　be　invited。　　My　presence　is　indispensable。〃

Without　the　least　hesitation　he　went　up　to　the　house；　the　door　of　which　had　not　been　closed；　and；　passing　in　front　of　the　portress；　who　was　casting　her　eyes　outside；　he　asked；　in　the　hurried　tones　of　a　person　who　is　late　for　an　appointment：

〃Have　the　gentlemen　come？〃

〃Yes；　you　will　find　them　in　the　study。〃

His　plan　was　quite　simple：　if　any　one　met　him；　he　would　pretend　to　be　a　tradesman。　　But　there　was　no　need　for　this　subterfuge。　　He　was　able；　after　crossing　an　empty　hail；　to　enter　a　dining…room　which　also　had　no　one　in　it；　but　which；　through　the　panes　of　a　glass　partition　that　separated　the　dining…room　from　the　study；　afforded　him　a　view　of　Prasville　and　his　five　companions。

Prasville　opened　all　the　drawers　with　the　aid　of　false　keys。　　Next；　he　examined　all　the　papers；　while　his　companions　took　down　the　books　from　the　shelves；　shook　the　pages　of　each　separately　and　felt　inside　the　bindings。

〃Of　course；　it's　a　paper　they're　looking　for；〃　said　Lupin。　　〃Bank…notes；　perhaps。。。　〃

Prasville　exclaimed：

〃Whatrot！　We　shan't　find　a　thing！〃

Yet　he　obviously　did　not　abandon　all　hope　of　discovering　what　he　wanted；　for　he　suddenly　seized　the　four　bottles　in　a　liqueur…stand；　took　out　the　four　stoppers　and　inspected　them。

〃Hullo！〃　thought　Lupin。　　〃Now　he's　going　for　decanter…stoppers！　　Then　it's　not　a　question　of　a　paper？　　Well；　I　give　it　up。〃

Prasville　next　lifted　and　examined　different　objects；　and　he　asked：

〃How　often　have　you　been　here？〃

〃Six　times　last　winter；〃　was　the　reply。

〃And　you　have　searched　the　house　thoroughly？〃

〃Every　one　of　the　rooms；　for　days　at　a　time；　while　he　was　visiting　his　constituency。〃

〃Still。。。　still　。。。　。〃　　And　he　added；　〃Has　he　no　servant　at　present？〃

〃No；　he　is　looking　for　one。　　He　has　his　meals　out　and　the　portress　keeps　the　house　as　best　she　can。　The　woman　is　devoted　to　us。。。　〃

Prasville　persisted　in　his　investigations　for　nearly　an　hour　and　a　half；　shifting　and　fingering　all　the　knickknacks；　but　taking　care　to　put　everything　back　exactly　where　he　found　it。　　At　nine　o'clock；　however；　the　two　detectives　who　had　followed　Daubrecq　burst　into　the　study：

〃He's　coming　back！〃

〃On　foot？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Have　we　time？〃

〃Oh；　dear；　yes！〃

Prasville　and　the　men　from　the　police…office　withdrew；　without　undue　haste；　after　taking　a　last　glance　round　the　room　to　make　sure　that　there　was　nothing　to　betray　their　visit。

The　position　was　becoming　critical　for　Lupin。　　He　ran　the　risk　of　knocking　up　against　Daubrecq；　if　he　went　away；　or　of　not　being　able　to　get　out；　if　he　remained。　　But；　on　ascertaining　that　the　dining…room　windows　afforded　a　direct　means　of　exit　to　the　square；　he　resolved　to　stay。　　Besides；　the　opportunity　of　obtaining　a　close　view　of　Daubrecq　was　too　good　to　refuse；　and；　as　Daubrecq　had　been　out　to　dinner；　there　was　not　much　chance　of　his　entering　the　dining…room。

Lupin；　therefore；　waited；　holding　himself　ready　to　hide　behind　a　velvet　curtain　that　could　be　drawn　across　the　glazed　partition　in　case　of　need。

He　heard　the　sound　of　doors　opening　and　shutting。　　Some　one　walked　into　the　study　and　switched　on　the　light。　　He　recognized　Daubrecq。

The　deputy　was　a　stout；　thickset；　bull…necked　man；　very　nearly　bald；　with　a　fringe　of　gray　whiskers　round　his　chin　and　wearing　a　pair　of　black　eye…glasses　under　his　spectacles；　for　his　eyes　were　weak　and　strained。　Lupin　noticed　the　powerful　features；　the　square　chin；　the　prominent　cheek…bones。　　The　hands　were　brawny　and　covered　with　hair；　the　legs　bowed；　and　he　walked　with　a　stoop；　bearing　first　on　one　hip　and　then　on　the　other；　which　gave　him　something　of　the　gait　of　a　gorilla。　　But　the　face　was　topped　by　an　enormous；　lined　forehead；　indented　with　hollows　and　dotted　with　bumps。

There　was　something　bestial；　something　savage；　something　repulsive　about　the　man's　whole　personality。　　Lupin　remembered　that；　in　the　Chamber　of　Deputies；　Daubrecq　was　nicknamed〃　The　Wild　Man　of　the　Woods〃　and　that　he　was　so　labelled　not　only　because　he　stood　aloof　and　hardly　ever　mixed　with　his　fellow…members；　but　also　because　of　his　appearance；　his　behaviour；　his　peculiar　gait　and　his　remarkable　muscular　development。

He　sat　down　to　his　desk；　took　a　meerschaum　pipe　from　his　pocket；　selected　a　packet　of　caporal　among　several　packets　of　tobacco　which　lay　drying　in　a　bowl；　tore　open　the　wrapper；　filled　his　pipe　and　lit　it。　　Then　he　began　to　write　letters。

Presently　he　ceased　his　work　and　sat　thinking；　with　his　attention　fi