the crystal stopper-第7章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



〃Vaucheray　I　don't　mind。。。　a　dirty　rascal　like　him！　　But　Gilbert。。。　〃

〃Have　you　seen　the　papers　this　evening？　　Things　are　looking　worse　than　ever。　　Vaucheray；　as　might　be　expected；　accuses　Gilbert　of　stabbing　the　valet；　and　it　so　happens　that　the　knife　which　Vaucheray　used　belonged　to　Gilbert。　　That　came　out　this　morning。　　Whereupon　Gilbert；　who　is　intelligent　in　his　way；　but　easily　frightened；　blithered　and　launched　forth　into　stories　and　lies　which　will　end　in　his　undoing。　　That's　how　the　matter　stands。　　Will　you　help　me？〃

Thenceforth；　for　several　days；　Lupin　moulded　his　existence　upon　Daubrecq's；　beginning　his　investigations　the　moment　the　deputy　left　the　house。　　He　pursued　them　methodically；　dividing　each　room　into　sections　which　he　did　not　abandon　until　he　had　been　through　the　tiniest　nooks　and　corners　and；　so　to　speak；　exhausted　every　possible　device。

Victoire　searched　also。　　And　nothing　was　forgotten。　　Table…legs；　chair…rungs；　floor…boards；　mouldings；　mirror…　and　picture…frames；　clocks；　plinths；　curtain…borders；　telephone…holders　and　electric　fittings：　everything　that　an　ingenious　imagination　could　have　selected　as　a　hiding…place　was　overhauled。

And　they　also　watched　the　deputy's　least　actions；　his　most　unconscious　movements；　the　expression　of　his　face；　the　books　which　he　read　and　the　letters　which　he　wrote。

It　was　easy　enough。　　He　seemed　to　live　his　life　in　the　light　of　day。　　No　door　was　ever　shut。　　He　received　no　visits。　　And　his　existence　worked　with　mechanical　regularity。　　He　went　to　the　Chamber　in　the　afternoon；　to　the　club　in　the　evening。

〃Still；〃　said　Lupin；　〃there　must　be　something　that's　not　orthodox　behind　all　this。〃

〃There's　nothing　of　the　sort；〃　moaned　Victoire。　　〃You're　wasting　your　time　and　we　shall　be　bowled　out。〃

　The　presence　of　the　detectives　and　their　habit　of　walking　up　and　down　outside　the　windows　drove　her　mad。　　She　refused　to　admit　that　they　were　there　for　any　other　purpose　than　to　trap　her；　Victoire。　　And；　each　time　that　she　went　shopping；　she　was　quite　surprised　that　one　of　those　men　did　not　lay　his　hand　upon　her　shoulder。

One　day　she　returned　all　upset。　　Her　basket　of　provisions　was　shaking　on　her　arm。

〃What's　the　matter；　my　dear　Victoire？〃　said　Lupin。　　〃You're　looking　green。〃

〃Green？　　I　dare　say　I　do。　　So　would　you　look　green。。。　〃

She　had　to　sit　down　and　it　was　only　after　making　repeated　efforts　that　she　succeeded　in　stuttering：

〃A　man。。。　a　man　spoke　to　me。。。　at　the　fruiterer's。〃

〃By　jingo！　　Did　he　want　you　to　run　away　with　him？〃

〃No；　he　gave　me　a　letter。。。　〃

〃Then　what　are　you　complaining　about？　　It　was　a　love…letter；　of　course！〃

〃No。　'It's　for　your　governor；'　said　he。　　'My　governor？'　I　said。　　'Yes；'　he　said；　'for　the　gentleman　who's　staying　in　your　room。'〃

〃What's　that？〃

This　time；　Lupin　had　started：

〃Give　it　here；〃　he　said；　snatching　the　letter　from　her。　　The　envelope　bore　no　address。　　But　there　was　another；　inside　it；　on　which　he　read：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Monsieur　Arsene　Lupin；　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃c/o　Victoire。〃


〃The　devil！〃　he　said。　　〃This　is　a　bit　thick！〃　　He　tore　open　the　second　envelope。　　It　contained　a　sheet　of　paper　with　the　following　words；　written　in　large　capitals：

　　　　　〃Everything　you　are　doing　is　useless　and　dangerous。。。　Give　it　up。〃

Victoire　uttered　one　moan　and　fainted。　　As　for　Lupin；　he　felt　himself　blush　up　to　his　eyes；　as　though　he　had　been　grossly　insulted。　　He　experienced　all　the　humiliation　which　a　duellist　would　undergo　if　he　heard　the　most　secret　advice　which　he　had　received　from　his　seconds　repeated　aloud　by　a　mocking　adversary。

However；　he　held　his　tongue。　　Victoire　went　back　to　her　work。　　As　for　him；　he　remained　in　his　room　all　day；　thinking。

That　night　he　did　not　sleep。

And　he　kept　saying　to　himself：

〃What　is　the　good　of　thinking？　　I　am　up　against　one　of　those　problems　which　are　not　solved　by　any　amount　of　thought。　　It　is　certain　that　I　am　not　alone　in　the　matter　and　that；　between　Daubrecq　and　the　police；　there　is；　in　addition　to　the　third　thief　that　I　am；　a　fourth　thief　who　is　working　on　his　own　account；　who　knows　me　and　who　reads　my　game　clearly。　But　who　is　this　fourth　thief？　　And　am　I　mistaken；　by　any　chance？　　And。。。　　oh；　rot！。。。　Let's　get　to　sleep！。。。　〃

But　he　could　not　sleep；　and　a　good　part　of　the　night　went　in　this　way。

At　four　o'clock　in　the　morning　he　seemed　to　hear　a　noise　in　the　house。　He　jumped　up　quickly　and；　from　the　top　of　the　staircase；　saw　Daubrecq　go　down　the　first　flight　and　turn　toward　the　garden。

A　minute　later；　after　opening　the　gate；　the　deputy　returned　with　a　man　whose　head　was　buried　in　an　enormous　fur　collar　and　showed　him　into　his　study。

Lupin　had　taken　his　precautions　in　view　of　any　such　contingency。　　As　the　windows　of　the　study　and　those　of　his　bedroom；　both　of　which　were　at　the　back　of　the　house；　overlooked　the　garden；　he　fastened　a　rope…ladder　to　his　balcony；　unrolled　it　softly　and　let　himself　down　by　it　until　it　was　level　with　the　top　of　the　study　windows。

These　windows　were　closed　by　shutters；　but；　as　they　were　bowed；　there　remained　a　semi…circular　space　at　the　top；　and　Lupin；　though　he　could　not　hear；　was　able　to　see　all　that　went　on　inside。

He　then　realized　that　the　person　whom　he　had　taken　for　a　man　was　a　woman：　a　woman　who　was　still　young；　though　her　dark　hair　was　mingled　with　gray；　a　tall　woman；　elegantly　but　quite　unobtrusively　dressed；　whose　handsome　features　bore　the　expression　of　weariness　and　melancholy　which　long　suffering　gives。

〃Where　the　deuce　have　I　seen　her　before？〃　Lupin　asked　himself。　　〃For　I　certainly　know　that　face；　that　look；　that　expression。〃

She　stood　leaning　against　the　table；　listening　impassively　to　Daubrecq；　who　was　also　standing　and　who　was　talking　very　excitedly。　　He　had　his　back　turned　to　Lupin；　but　Lupin；　leaning　forward；　caught　sight　of　a　glass　in　which　the　deputy's　image　was　reflected。　　And　he　was　startled　to　see　the　strange　look　in　his　eyes；　the　air　of　fierce　and　brutal　desire　with　which　Daubrecq　was　staring　at　his　visitor。

It　seemed　to　embarrass　her　too；　for　she　sat　down　with　lowered　lids。　Then　Daubrecq　leant　over　her　and　it　appeared　as　though　he　were　ready　to　fling　his　long　arms；　with　their　huge　hands；　around　her。　　And；　suddenly；　Lupin　perceived　great　tears　rolling　down　the　woman's　sad　face。

Whether　or　not　it　was　the　sight　of　those　tears　that　made　Daubrecq　lose　his　head；　with　a　brusque　movement　he　clutched　the　woman　and　drew　her　to　him。　　She　repelled　him；　with　a　violence　full　of　hatred。　　And；　after　a　brief　struggle；　during　which　Lupin　caught　a　glimpse　of　the　man's　bestial　and　contorted　features；　the　two　of　them　stood　face　to　face；　railing　at　each　other　like　mortal　enemies。

Then　they　stopped。　　Daubrecq　sat　down。　　There　was　mischief　in　his　face；　and　sarcasm　as　well。　　And　he　began　to　talk　again；　with　sharp　taps　on　the　table；　as　though　he　were　dictating　terms。

She　no　longer　stirred。　She　sat　haughtily　in　her　chair　and　towered　over　him；　absent…minded；　with　roaming　eyes。　　Lupin；　captivated　by　that　powerful　and　sorrowful　countenance；　continued　to　watch　her；　and　he　was　vainly　seeking　to　remember　of　what　or　of　whom　she　reminded　him；　when　he　noticed　that　she　had　turned　her　head　slightly　and　that　she　was　imperceptibly　moving　her　arm。

And　her　arm　strayed　farther　and　farther　and　her　hand　crept　along　the　table　and　Lupin　saw　that；　at　the　end　of　the　table；　there　stood　a　water…bottle　with　a　gold…topped　stopper。　　The　hand　reached　the　water…bottle；　felt　it；　rose　gently　and　seized　the　stopper。　　A　quick　movement　of　the　head；　a　glance；　and　the　stopper　was　put　back　in　its　place。　　Obviously；　it　was　not　what　the　woman　hoped　to　find。

〃Dash　it！〃　said　Lupin。　　〃She's　after　the　crystal　stopper　too！　　The　matter　is　becoming　more　complicated　daily；　there's　no　doubt　about　it。〃

But；　on　renewing　his　observation　of　the　visitor；　he　was　astounded　to　note　the　sudden　and　unexpected　expression　of　her　countenance；　a　terrible；　implacable；　ferocious　expression。　　And　he　saw　that　her　hand　was　continuing　its　stealthy　progress　round　the　table　and　that；　with　an　uninterrupted　and　crafty　sliding　movement；　it　was　pushing　back　books　and；　slowly　and　surely；　approaching　a　dagger　whose　blade　gleamed　among　the　scattered　papers。

It　gripped　the　handle。

Daubrecq　went　on　talking。　　Behind　his　back；　the　hand　rose　steadily；　little　by　little；　and　Lupin　saw　the　woman's　desperate　and　furious　eyes　fixed　upon　the　spot　in　the　neck　where　she　intended　to　plant　the　knife：

　〃You're　doing　a　very　silly　thing；　fair　lady；〃　thought　Lupin。

And　he　already　began　to　turn　over　in　his　mind　the　best　means　of　escaping　and　of　taking　Victoire　with　him。

She　hesitated；　however；　with　uplifted　arm。　　But　it　was　only　a　momentary　weakness。　　She　clenched　her　teeth。　　Her　whole　face；　contracted　with　hatred；　became　yet　further　convulsed。　　And　she　made　the　dread　movement。

At　the　same　instant　Daubrecq　crouched　and；　springing　from　his　seat；　turned　and　seized　the　woman's　frail　wrist　in　mid…air。

Oddly　enough；　he　addressed　no　reproach　to　her；　as　though　the　deed　which　she　had　attempted　surprised　him　no　more　than　any　ordinary；　very　natural　and　simple　act。　　He　shrugged　his　shoulders；　like　a　man　accustomed　to　that　sort　of　danger；　and　strode　up　and　down　in　silence。

She　had　dropped　the　weapon　and　was　now　crying；　holding　her　head　between　her　hands；　with　sobs　that　shook　her　whole　frame。

He　next　came　up　to　her　and　said　a　few　words；　once　more　tapping　the　table　as　he　spoke。

She　made　a　sign　in　the　negative　and；　when　he　insisted；　she；　in　her　turn；　stamped　her　foot　on　the　floor　and　exclaimed；　loud　enough　for　Lupin　to　hear：

〃Never！。。。　Never！。。。　〃

Thereupon；　without　another　word；　Daubrecq　fetched　the　fur　cloak　which　she　had　brought　with　her　and　hung　it　over　the　woman's　shoulders；　while　she　shrouded　her　face　in　a　lace　wrap。

And　he　showed　her　out。

Two　minutes　later；　the　garden…gate　was　locked　again。　　〃Pity　I　can't　run　after　that　strange　person；〃　thought　Lupin；　〃and　have　a　chat　with　her　about　the　Daubrecq　bird。　　Seems　to　me　that　we　two　could　do　a　good　stroke　of　business　together。〃

In　any　case；　there　was　one　point　to　be　cleared　up：　Daubrecq　the　deputy；　whose　life　was　so　orderly；　so　apparently　respectable；　was　in　the　habit　of　receiving　visits　at　night；　when　his　house　was　no　longer　watched　by　the　police。

He　sent　Victoire　to　arrange　with　two　members　of　his　gang　to　keep　watch　for　several　days。　　And　he　himself　remained　awake　next　night。　

As　on　the　previous　morning；　he　heard　a　noise　at　four　o'clock。　　As　on　the　previous　morning；　the　deputy　let　some　one　in。

Lupin　ran　down　his　ladder　and；　when　he　came　to　the　free　space　above　the　shutters；　saw　a　man　crawling　at　Daubrecq's　feet；　flinging　his　arms　round　Daubrecq's　knees　in　frenzied　despair　and　weeping；　weeping　convulsively。

Daubrecq；　laughing；　pushed　him　away　repeatedly；　but　the　man　clung　to　him。　　He　behaved　aimost　like　one　out　of　his　mind　and；　at　last；　in　a　genuine　fit　of　madness；　half　rose　to　his　feet；　took　the　deputy　by　the　throat　and　flung　him　back　in　a　chair。　　Daubrecq　struggled；　powerless　at　first；　while　his　veins　swelled　in　his　temples。　　But　soon；　with　a　strength　far　beyond　the　ordinary；　he　regained　the　mastery　and　deprived　his　adversary　of　all　power　of　movement。　　Then；　holding　him　with　one　hand；　wit