the crystal stopper-第8章

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prived　his　adversary　of　all　power　of　movement。　　Then；　holding　him　with　one　hand；　with　the　other　he　gave　him　two　great　smacks　in　the　face。

The　man　got　up；　slowly。　　He　was　livid　and　could　hardly　stand　on　his　legs。　He　waited　for　a　moment；　as　though　to　recover　his　self…possession。　　Then；　with　a　terrifying　calmness；　he　drew　a　revolver　from　his　pocket　and　levelled　it　at　Daubrecq。

Daubrecq　did　not　flinch。　　He　even　smiled；　with　a　defiant　air　and　without　displaying　more　excitement　than　if　he　had　been　aimed　at　with　a　toy　pistol。

The　man　stood　for　perhaps　fifteen　or　twenty　seconds；　facing　his　enemy；　with　outstretched　arm。　　Then；　with　the　same　deliberate　slowness；　revealing　a　sell…control　which　was　all　the　more　impressive　because　it　followed　upon　a　fit　of　extreme　excitement；　he　put　up　his　revolver　and；　from　another　pocket；　produced　his　note…case。

Daubrecq　took　a　step　forward。

The　man　opened　the　pocketbook。　　A　sheaf　of　banknotes　appeared　in　sight。

Daubrecq　seized　and　counted　them。　　They　were　thousand…franc　notes；　and　there　were　thirty　of　them。

The　man　looked　on；　without　a　movement　of　revolt；　without　a　protest。　　He　obviously　understood　the　futility　of　words。　　Daubrecq　was　one　of　those　who　do　not　relent。　　Why　should　his　visitor　waste　time　in　beseeching　him　or　even　in　revenging　himself　upon　him　by　uttering　vain　threats　and　insults？　　He　had　no　hope　of　stricking　that　unassailable　enemy。　　Even　Daubrecq's　death　would　not　deliver　him　from　Daubrecq。

He　took　his　hat　and　went　away。

At　eleven　o'clock　in　the　morning　Victoire；　on　returning　from　her　shopping；　handed　Lupin　a　note　from　his　accomplices。

He　opened　it　and　read：

〃The　man　who　came　to　see　Daubrecq　last　night　is　Langeroux　the　deputy；　leader　of　the　independent　left。　　A　poor　man；　with　a　large　family。〃

〃Come；〃　said　Lupin；　〃Daubrecq　is　nothing　more　nor　less　than　a　blackmailer；　but；　by　Jupiter；　he　has　jolly　effective　ways　of　going　to　work！〃

Events　tended　to　confirm　Lupin's　supposition。　　Three　days　later　he　saw　another　visitor　hand　Daubrecq　an　important　sum　of　money。　　And；　two　days　after　that；　one　came　and　left　a　pearl　necklace　behind　him。

The　first　was　called　Dachaumont；　a　senator　and　excabinet…minister。　　The　second　was　the　Marquis　d'Albufex；　a　Bonapartist　deputy；　formerly　chief　political　agent　in　France　of　Prince　Napoleon。

The　scene；　in　each　of　these　cases；　was　very　similar　to　Langeroux　the　deputy's　interview；　a　violent　tragic　scene；　ending　in　Daubrecq's　victory。

〃And　so　on　and　so　forth；〃　thought　Lupin；　when　he　received　these　particulars。　　〃I　have　been　present　at　four　visits。　　I　shall　know　no　more　if　there　are　ten；　or　twenty；　or　thirty。。。　It　is　enough　for　me　to　learn　the　names　of　the　visitors　from　my　friends　on　sentry…go　outside。　　Shall　I　go　and　call　on　them？。。。　What　for？　　They　have　no　reason　to　confide　in　me。。。　On　the　other　hand；　am　I　to　stay　on　here；　delayed　by　investigations　which　lead　to　nothing　and　which　Victoire　can　continue　just　as　well　without　me？〃

He　was　very　much　perplexed。　　The　news　of　the　inquiry　into　the　case　of　Gilbert　and　Vaucheray　was　becoming　worse　and　worse；　the　days　were　slipping　by；　and　not　an　hour　passed　without　his　asking　himself；　in　anguish；　whether　all　his　efforts　…　granting　that　he　succeeded　…　would　not　end　in　farcical　results；　absolutely　foreign　to　the　aim　which　he　was　pursuing。

For；　after　all；　supposing　that　he　did　fathom　Daubrecq's　underhand　dealings；　would　that　give　him　the　means　of　rescuing　Gilbert　and　Vaucheray？

That　day　an　incident　occurred　which　put　an　end　to　his　indecision。　　After　lunch　Victoire　heard　snatches　of　a　conversation　which　Daubrecq　held　with　some　one　on　the　telephone。　　Lupin　gathered；　from　what　Victoire　reported；　that　the　deputy　had　an　appointment　with　a　lady　for　half…past　eight　and　that　he　was　going　to　take　her　to　a　theatre：

〃I　shall　get　a　pit…tier　box；　like　the　one　we　had　six　weeks　ago；〃　Daubrecq　had　said。　And　he　added；　with　a　laugh；　〃I　hope　that　I　shall　not　have　the　burglars　in　during　that　time。〃

There　was　not　a　doubt　in　Lupin's　mind。　　Daubrecq　was　about　to　spend　his　evening　in　the　same　manner　in　which　he　had　spent　the　evening　six　weeks　ago；　while　they　were　breaking　into　his　villa　at　Enghien。　　To　know　the　person　whom　he　was　to　meet　and　perhaps　thus　to　discover　how　Gilbert　and　Vaucheray　had　learnt　that　Daubrecq　would　be　away　from　eight　o'clock　in　the　evening　until　one　o'clock　in　the　morning：　these　were　matters　of　the　utmost　importance。

Lupin　left　the　house　in　the　afternoon；　with　Victoire's　assistance。　　He　knew　through　her　that　Daubrecq　was　coming　home　for　dinner　earlier　than　usual。

He　went　to　his　flat　in　the　Rue　Chateaubriand；　telephoned　for　three　of　his　friends；　dressed　and　made　himself　up　in　his　favourite　character　of　a　Russian　prince；　with　fair　hair　and　moustache　and　short…cut　whiskers。

The　accomplices　arrived　in　a　motor…car。

At　that　moment；　Achille；　his　man；　brought　him　a　telegram；　addressed　to　M。　Michel　Beaumont；　Rue　Chateaubriand；　which　ran：

　　　　　　　　〃Do　not　come　to　theatre　this　evening。　　Danger　of　your　　　　　　　　　　　intervention　spoiling　everything。〃

There　was　a　flower…vase　on　the　chimney…piece　beside　him。　Lupin　took　it　and　smashed　it　to　pieces。

〃That's　it；　that's　it；〃　he　snarled。　　〃They　are　playing　with　me　as　I　usually　play　with　others。　　Same　behaviour。　　Same　tricks。　　Only　there's　this　difference。。。　〃

What　difference？　　He　hardiy　knew。　　The　truth　was　that　he　too　was　baffled　and　disconcerted　to　the　inmost　recesses　of　his　being　and　that　he　was　continuing　to　act　only　from　obstinacy；　from　a　sense　of　duty；　so　to　speak；　and　without　putting　his　ordinary　good　humour　and　high　spirits　into　the　work。

〃Come　along；〃　he　said　to　his　accomplices。

By　his　instructions；　the　chauffeur　set　them　down　near　the　Square　Lamartine；　but　kept　the　motor　going。　　Lupin　foresaw　that　Daubrecq；　in　order　to　escape　the　detectives　watching　the　house；　would　jump　into　the　first　taxi；　and　he　did　not　intend　to　be　outdistanced。

He　had　not　allowed　for　Daubrecq's　cleverness。

At　half…past　seven　both　leaves　of　the　garden…gate　were　flung　open；　a　bright　light　flashed　and　a　motor…cycle　darted　across　the　road；　skirted　the　square；　turned　in　front　of　the　motor…car　and　shot　away　toward　the　Bois　at　a　speed　so　great　that　they　would　have　been　mad　to　go　in　pursuit　of　it。

〃Good…bye；　Daisy！〃　said　Lupin；　trying　to　jest；　but　really　overcome　with　rage。

He　eyed　his　accomplices　in　the　hope　that　one　of　them　would　venture　to　give　a　mocking　smile。　　How　pleased　he　would　have　been　to　vent　his　nerves　on　them！

〃Let's　go　home；〃　he　said　to　his　companions。

He　gave　them　some　dinner；　then　he　smoked　a　cigar　and　they　set　off　again　in　the　car　and　went　the　round　of　the　theatres；　beginning　with　those　which　were　giving　light　operas　and　musical　comedies；　for　which　he　presumed　that　Daubrecq　and　his　lady　would　have　a　preference。　　He　took　a　stall；　inspected　the　lower…tier　boxes　and　went　away　again。

He　next　drove　to　the　more　serious　theatres：　the　Renaissance；　the　Gymnase。

At　last；　at　ten　o'clock　in　the　evening；　he　saw　a　pit…tier　box　at　the　Vaudeville　almost　entirely　protected　from　inspection　by　its　two　screens；　and；　on　tipping　the　boxkeeper；　was　told　that　it　contained　a　short；　stout；　elderly　gentleman　and　a　lady　who　was　wearing　a　thick　lace　veil。

The　next　box　was　free。　　He　took　it；　went　back　to　his　friends　to　give　them　their　instructions　and　sat　down　near　the　couple。

During　the　entr'acte；　when　the　lights　went　up；　he　perceived　Daubrecq's　profile。　　The　lady　remained　at　the　back　of　the　box；　invisible。　　The　two　were　speaking　in　a　low　voice；　and；　when　the　curtain　rose　again；　they　went　on　speaking；　but　in　such　a　way　that　Lupin　could　not　distinguish　a　word。

Ten　minutes　passed。　　Some　one　tapped　at　their　door。　　It　was　one　of　the　men　from　the　box…office。

〃Are　you　M。　le　Depute　Daubrecq；　sir？〃　he　asked。

〃Yes；〃　said　Daubrecq；　in　a　voice　of　surprise。　　〃But　how　do　you　know　my　name？'

〃There's　a　gentleman　asking　for　you　on　the　telephone。　　He　told　me　to　go　to　Box　22〃

〃　But　who　is　it？〃

〃M。　le　marquis　d'Albufex。〃

〃Eh〃What　am　I　to　say；　sir？〃

〃I'm　coming。。。　I'm　coming。。。　〃

Daubrecq　rose　hurriedly　from　his　seat　and　followed　the　clerk　to　the　box…office。

He　was　not　yet　out　of　sight　when　Lupin　sprang　from　his　box；　worked　the　lock　of　the　next　door　and　sat　down　beside　the　lady。

She　gave　a　stifled　cry。

〃Hush！〃　he　said。　　〃I　have　to　speak　to　you。　　It　is　most　important。〃

〃Ah！〃　she　said；　between　her　teeth。　　〃Arsene　Lupin！〃　　He　was　dumbfounded。　For　a　moment　he　sat　quiet；　open…mouthed。　　The　woman　knew　him！　　And　not　only　did　she　know　him；　but　she　had　recognized　him　through　his　disguise！　Accustomed　though　he　was　to　the　most　extraordinary　and　unusual　events；　this　disconcerted　him。

He　did　not　even　dream　of　protesting　and　stammered：

〃So　you　know？。。。　So　you　know？。。。　〃

He　snatched　at　the　lady's　veil　and　pulled　it　aside　before　she　had　time　to　defend　herself：

〃What！〃　he　muttered；　with　increased　amazement。　　〃Is　it　possible？〃

It　was　the　woman　whom　he　had　seen　at　Daubrecq's　a　few　days　earlier；　the　woman　who　had　raised　her　dagger　against　Daubrecq　and　who　had　intended　to　stab　him　with　all　the　strength　of　her　hatred。

It　was　her　turn　to　be　taken　aback：

〃What！　Have　you　seen　me　before？。。。　〃

〃Yes；　the　other　night；　at　his　house。。。　I　saw　what　you　tried　to　do。。。　〃

She　made　a　movement　to　escape。　　He　held　her　back　and；　speaking　with　great　eagerness：

〃I　must　know　who　you　are；〃　he　said。　　〃That　was　why　I　had　Daubrecq　telephoned　for。〃

She　looked　aghast：

〃Do　you　mean　to　say　it　was　not　the　Marquis　d'Albufex？〃

〃No；　it　was　one　of　my　assistants。〃

〃Then　Daubrecq　will　come　back？。。。　〃　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Yes；　but　we　have　time。。。　Listen　to　me。。。　We　must　meet　again。。。　He　is　your　enemy。。。　　I　will　save　you　from　him。。。　〃

〃Why　should　you？　　What　is　your　object？〃

〃Do　not　distrust　me。。。　it　is　quite　certain　that　our　interests　are　identical。。。　　Where　can　I　see　you？　　To…morrow；　surely？　　At　what　time？　And　where？〃

〃Well。。。　〃

She　looked　at　him　with　obvious　hesitation；　not　knowing　what　to　do；　on　the　point　of　speaking　and　yet　full　of　uneasiness　and　doubt。

He　pressed　her：

〃Oh；　I　entreat　you。。。　answer　mejust　one　word。。。　and　at　once。。。　It　would　be　a　pity　for　him　to　find　me　here。。。　I　entreat　you。。。　〃

She　answered　sharply：

〃My　name　doesn't　matter。。。　We　will　see　each　other　first　and　you　shall　explain　to　me。。。　Yes；　we　will　meet。。。　Listen；　to…morrow；　at　　　　　three　o'clock；　at　the　corner　of　the　Boulevard。。。　　　〃

At　that　exact　moment；　the　door　of　the　box　opened；　so　　　　to　speak；　with　a　bang；　and　Daubrecq　appeared。

〃Rats！〃　Lupin　mumbled；　under　his　breath；　furious　at　being　caught　before　obtaining　what　he　wanted。

Daubrecq　gave　a　chuckle：

〃So　that's　it。。。　I　thought　something　was　up。。。　　Ah；　the　telephone…trick：　a　little　out　of　date；　sir！　　I　had　not　gone　half…way　when　I　turned　back。〃

He　pushed　Lupin　to　the　front　of　the　box　and；　sitting　down　beside　the　lady；　said：

〃And；　now　my　lord；　who　are　we？　　A　servant　at　the　police…office；　probably？　There's　a　professional　look　about　that　mug　of　yours。〃

He　stared　hard　at　Lupin；　who　did　not　move　a　muscle；　and　tried　to　put　a　name　to　the　face；　but　failed　to　recognize　the　man　whom　he　had　called　Polonius。

Lupin；　without　taking　his　eyes　from　Daubrecq　either；　reflected。　　He　would　not　for　a