the crystal stopper-第5章

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n　he　began　to　write　letters。

Presently　he　ceased　his　work　and　sat　thinking；　with　his　attention　fixed　on　a　spot　on　his　desk。

He　lifted　a　little　stamp…box　and　examined　it。　　Next；　he　verified　the　position　of　different　articles　which　Prasville　had　touched　and　replaced；　and　he　searched　them　with　his　eyes；　felt　them　with　his　hands；　bending　over　them　as　though　certain　signs；　known　to　himself　alone；　were　able　to　tell　him　what　he　wished　to　know。

Lastly；　he　grasped　the　knob　on　an　electric　bell…push　and　rang。　　The　portress　appeared　a　minute　later。

He　asked：

〃They've　been；　haven't　they？〃　

And；　when　the　woman　hesitated　about　replying；　he　insisted：

〃Come；　come；　Clemence；　did　you　open　this　stampbox？〃

〃No；　sir。〃

〃Well；　I　fastened　the　lid　down　with　a　little　strip　of　gummed　paper。　　The　strip　has　been　broken。〃

〃But　I　assure　you；。。。　〃　the　woman　began。

〃Why　tell　lies；〃　he　said；　〃considering　that　I　myself　instructed　you　to　lend　yourself　to　those　visits？〃

　　　　　〃The　fact　is。。。　〃

〃The　fact　is　that　you　want　to　keep　on　good　terms　with　both　sides。。。　Very　well！〃　He　handed　her　a　fifty…franc　note　and　repeated；　〃Have　they　been？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃The　same　men　as　in　the　spring？〃

〃Yes；　all　five　of　them。。。　with　another　one；　who　ordered　them　about。〃

〃A　tall；　dark　man？〃

Yes。〃

Lupin　saw　Daubrecq's　mouth　hardening；　and　Daubrecq　continued：

〃Is　that　all？〃

〃There　was　one　more；　who　came　after　they　did　and　joined　them。。。　and　then；　just　now；　two　more；　the　pair　who　usually　keep　watch　outside　the　house。〃

〃Did　they　remain　in　the　study？〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃And　they　went　away　when　I　came　back？　　A　few　minutes　before；　perhaps？〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃That　will　do。〃

The　woman　left　the　room。　　Daubrecq　returned　to　his　letter…writing。　　Then；　stretching　out　his　arm；　he　made　some　marks　on　a　white　writing…tablet；　at　the　end　of　his　desk；　and　rested　it　against　the　desk；　as　though　he　wished　to　keep　it　in　sight。　　The　marks　were　figures；　and　Lupin　was　able　to　read　the　following　subtraction…sum：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃9…　8　=1〃

And　Daubrecq；　speaking　between　his　teeth；　thoughtfully　uttered　the　syllables：

〃Eight　from　nine　leaves　one。。。　There's　not　a　doubt　about　that；〃　he　added；　aloud。　　He　wrote　one　more　letter；　a　very　short　one；　and　addressed　the　envelope　with　an　inscription　which　Lupin　was　able　to　decipher　when　the　letter　was　placed　beside　the　writing…tablet：

〃To　Monsieur　Prasville；　〃Secretary…general　of　the　Prefecture　of　Police。〃

Then　he　rang　the　bell　again：

〃Clemence；〃　he　said；　to　the　portress；　〃did　you　go　to　school　as　a　child？〃

〃Yes；　sir；　of　course　I　did。〃

〃And　were　you　taught　arithmetic？〃

〃Why；　sir。。。　〃

〃Well；　you're　not　very　good　at　subtraction。〃

〃What　makes　you　say　that？〃

〃Because　you　don't　know　that　nine　minus　eight　equals　one。　　And　that；　you　see；　is　a　fact　of　the　highest　importance。　Life　becomes　impossible　if　you　are　ignorant　of　that　fundamental　truth。〃

He　rose；　as　he　spoke；　and　walked　round　the　room；　with　his　hands　behind　his　back；　swaying　upon　his　hips。　　He　did　so　once　more。　　Then；　stopping　at　the　dining…room；　he　opened　the　door：

〃For　that　matter；　there's　another　way　of　putting　the　problem。　　Take　eight　from　nine；　and　one　remains。　　And　the　one　who　remains　is　here；　eh？　Correct！　　And　monsieur　supplies　us　with　a　striking　proof；　does　he　not？〃

He　patted　the　velvet　curtain　in　which　Lupin　had　hurriedly　wrapped　himself：

〃Upon　my　word；　sir；　you　must　be　stifling　under　this！　　Not　to　say　that　I　might　have　amused　myself　by　sticking　a　dagger　through　the　curtain。　Remember　Hamlet's　madness　and　Polonius'　death：　'How　now！　A　rat？　Dead；　for　a　ducat；　dead！'　　Come　along；　Mr。　Polonius；　come　out　of　your　hole。〃

It　was　one　of　those　positions　to　which　Lupin　was　not　accustomed　and　which　he　loathed。　　To　catch　others　in　a　trap　and　pull　their　leg　was　all　very　well；　but　it　was　a　very　different　thing　to　have　people　teasing　him　and　roaring　with　laughter　at　his　expense。　　Yet　what　could　he　answer　back？

〃You　look　a　little　pale；　Mr。　Polonius。。。　Hullo！　　Why；　it's　the　respectable　old　gentleman　who　has　been　hanging　about　the　square　for　some　days！　　So　you　belong　to　the　police　too；　Mr。　Polonius？　　There；　there；　pull　yourself　together；　I　sha'n't　hurt　you！。。。　　But　you　see；　Clemence；　how　right　my　calculation　was。　　You　told　me　that　nine　spies　had　been　to　the　house。　　I　counted　a　troop　of　eight；　as　I　came　along；　eight　of　them　in　the　distance；　down　the　avenue。　　Take　eight　from　nine　and　one　remains：　the　one　who　evidently　remained　behind　to　see　what　he　could　see。　　Ecce　homo！〃

〃Well？　　And　then？〃　　said　Lupin；　who　felt　a　mad　craving　to　fly　at　the　fellow　and　reduce　him　to　silence。

〃And　then？　　Nothing　at　all；　my　good　man。。。　What　more　do　you　want？　　The　farce　is　over。　　I　will　only　ask　you　to　take　this　little　note　to　Master　Prasville；　your　employer。　　Clemence；　please　show　Mr。　Polonius　out。　　And；　if　ever　he　calls　again；　fling　open　the　doors　wide　to　him。　　Pray　look　upon　this　as　your　home；　Mr。　Polonius。　　Your　servant；　sir！。。。　〃

Lupin　hesitated。　　He　would　have　liked　to　talk　big　and　to　come　out　with　a　farewell　phrase；　a　parting　speech；　like　an　actor　making　a　showy　exit　from　the　stage；　and　at　least　to　disappear　with　the　honours　of　war。　　But　his　defeat　was　so　pitiable　that　he　could　think　of　nothing　better　than　to　bang　his　hat　on　his　head　and　stamp　his　feet　as　he　followed　the　portress　down　the　hall。　　It　was　a　poor　revenge。

〃You　rascally　beggar！〃　he　shouted；　once　he　was　outside　the　door；　shaking　his　fist　at　Daubrecq's　windows。　　〃Wretch；　scum　of　the　earth；　deputy；　you　shall　pay　for　this！。。。　Oh；　he　allows　himself。。。！　　Oh；　he　has　the　cheek　to。。。！　　Well；　I　swear　to　you；　my　fine　fellow；　that；　one　of　these　days。。。　〃

He　was　foaming　with　rage；　all　the　more　as；　in　his　innermost　heart；　he　recognized　the　strength　of　his　new　enemy　and　could　not　deny　the　masterly　fashion　in　which　he　had　managed　this　business。　　Daubrecq's　coolness；　the　assurance　with　which　he　hoaxed　the　police…officials；　the　contempt　with　which　he　lent　himself　to　their　visits　at　his　house　and；　above　all；　his　wonderful　self…possession；　his　easy　bearing　and　the　impertinence　of　his　conduct　in　the　presence　of　the　ninth　person　who　was　spying　on　him：　all　this　denoted　a　man　of　character；　a　strong　man；　with　a　well…balanced　mind；　lucid；　bold；　sure　of　himself　and　of　the　cards　in　his　hand。

But　what　were　those　cards？　　What　game　was　he　playing？　　Who　held　the　stakes？　　And　how　did　the　players　stand　on　either　side？　　Lupin　could　not　tell。　　Knowing　nothing；　he　flung　himself　headlong　into　the　thick　of　the　fray；　between　adversaries　desperately　involved；　though　he　himself　was　in　total　ignorance　of　their　positions；　their　weapons；　their　resources　and　their　secret　plans。　　For；　when　all　was　said；　he　could　not　admit　that　the　object　of　all　those　efforts　was　to　obtain　possession　of　a　crystal　stopper！

One　thing　alone　pleased　him：　Daubrecq　had　not　penetrated　his　disguise。　Daubrecq　believed　him　to　be　in　the　employ　of　the　police。　　Neither　Daubrecq　nor　the　police；　therefore；　suspected　the　intrusion　of　a　third　thief　in　the　business。　　This　was　his　one　and　only　trump；　a　trump　that　gave　him　a　liberty　of　action　to　which　he　attached　the　greatest　importance。

Without　further　delay；　he　opened　the　letter　which　Daubrecq　had　handed　him　for　the　secretary…general　of　police。　　It　contained　these　few　lines：

　　　　　　　　〃Within　reach　of　your　hand；　my　dear　Prasville；　within　reach　of　your　　　　　　　　　hand！　　You　touched　it！　　A　little　more　and　the　trick　was　done。。。　But　　　　　　　　　you're　too　big　a　fool。　　And　to　think　that　they　couldn't　hit　upon　　　　　　　　　　any　one　better　than　you　to　make　me　bite　the　dust。　　Poor　old　France！　　　　　　　　　〃Good…bye；　Prasville。　　But；　if　I　catch　you　in　the　act；　it　will　be　a　　　　　　　　　bad　lookout　for　you：　my　maxim　is　to　shoot　at　sight。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃DAUBRECQ〃

〃Within　reach　of　your　hand；〃　repeated　Lupin；　after　reading　the　note。　〃And　to　think　that　the　rogue　may　be　writing　the　truth！　　The　most　elementary　hiding…places　are　the　safest。　　We　must　look　into　this；　all　the　same。　　And；　also；　we　must　find　out　why　Daubrecq　is　the　object　of　such　strict　supervision　and　obtain　a　few　particulars　about　the　fellow　generally。〃

The　information　supplied　to　Lupin　by　a　private　inquiry…office　consisted　of　the　following　details：

　　　　　　〃ALEXIS　DAUBRECQ；　deputy　of　the　Bouches…du…　Rh6ne　for　the　past　two　　　　　　　　　years；　sits　among　the　independent　members。　　Political　opinions　not　　　　　　　　　very　clearly　defined；　but　electoral　position　exceedingly　strong；　　　　　　　　　because　of　the　enormous　sums　which　he　spends　in　nursing　his　　　　　　　　　constituency。　　No　private　income。　　Nevertheless；　has　a　house　in　　　　　　　　　Paris；　a　villa　at　Enghien　and　another　at　Nice　and　loses　heavily　at　　　　　　　　　play；　though　no　one　knows　where　the　money　comes　from。　　Has　great　　　　　　　　　influence　and　obtains　all　he　wants　without　making　up　to　ministers　　　　　　　　　or；　apparently；　having　either　friends　or　connections　in　political　　　　　　　　　circles。〃

〃That's　a　trade　docket；〃　said　Lupin　to　himself。　　〃What　I　want　is　a　domestic　docket；　a　police　docket；　which　will　tell　me　about　the　gentleman's　private　life　and　enable　me　to　work　more　easily　in　this　darkness　and　to　know　if　I'm　not　getting　myself　into　a　tangle　by　bothering　about　the　Daubrecq　bird。　　And　time's　getting　short；　hang　it！〃

One　of　the　residences　which　Lupin　occupied　at　that　period　and　which　he　used　oftener　than　any　of　the　others　was　in　the　Rue　Chateaubriand；　near　the　Arc　de　l'Etoile。　　He　was　known　there　by　the　name　of　Michel　Beaumont。　He　had　a　snug　flat　here　and　was　looked　after　by　a　manservant；　Achille；　who　was　utterly　devoted　to　his　interests　and　whose　chief　duty　was　to　receive　and　repeat　the　telephone…messages　addressed　to　Lupin　by　his　followers。

Lupin；　on　returning　home；　learnt；　with　great　astonishment；　that　a　woman　had　been　waiting　to　see　him　for　over　an　hour：

〃What！　　Why；　no　one　ever　comes　to　see　me　here！　　Is　she　young？〃

〃No。。。　I　don't　think　so。〃

〃You　don't　think　so！〃

〃She's　wearing　a　lace　shawl　over　her　head；　instead　of　a　hat；　and　you　can't　see　her　face。。。　She's　more　like　a　clerk。。。　or　a　woman　employed　in　a　shop。　　She's　not　well…dressed　。。。〃

〃Whom　did　she　ask　for？〃

〃M。　Michel　Beaumont；〃　replied　the　servant。

〃Queer。　　And　why　has　she　called？〃

〃All　she　said　was　that　it　was　about　the　Enghien　business。。。　So　I　thought　that。。。　〃

〃What！　　The　Enghien　business！　　Then　she　knows　that　I　am　mixed　up　in　that　business。。。　She　knows　that；　by　applying　here。。。　〃

〃I　could　not　get　anything　out　of　her；　but　I　thought；　all　the　same；　that　I　had　better　let　her　in。〃

〃Quite　right。　Where　is　she？〃

〃In　the　drawing…room。　　I've　put　on　the　lights。〃

Lupin　walked　briskly　across　the　hall　and　opened　the　door　of　the　drawing…room：

〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃　he　said；　to　his　man。　　〃There's　no　one　here。〃

〃No　one　here？〃　said　Achille；　running　up。

And　the　room；　in　fact；　was　empty。

〃Well；　on　my　word；　this　takes　the　cake！〃　cried　the　servant。　　〃It　wasn't　twenty　minutes　ago　that　I　came　and　had　a　look；　to　make　sure。　　She　was　sitting　over　there。　　And　there's　nothing　wrong　with　my　eyesight；　you　know。〃

〃Look　here；　look　here；〃　said　Lupin；　irritably。　　〃Where　were　you　while　the　woman　was　waiting？〃

〃In　the　hail；　governor！　　I　never　left　the　hail　for　a　second！　　I　should　have　see