章节正文
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 obvioushesitation, 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 anything in the world have thrown up the game at that point or
neglected this favourable opportunity of coming to an understanding
with his mortal enemy.
The woman sat in her corner, motionless, and watched them both.
Lupin said:
"Let us go outside, sir. That will make our interview easier.
"No, my lord, here," grinned the deputy. "It will take place here,
presently, during the entr'acte. Then we shall not be disturbing
anybody."
"But... "
"Save your breath, my man; you sha'n't budge."
And he took Lupin by the coat-collar, with the obviousintention of not
letting go of him before the interval.
A rash move! Was it likely that Lupin would consent to remain in such
an attitude, especially before a woman, a woman to whom he had offered
his alliance, a woman - and he now thought of it for the first time -
who was distinctlygood-looking and whose grave beauty attracted him.
His whole pride as a man rose at the thought.
However, he said nothing. He accepted the heavy weight of the hand on
his shoulder and even sat bent in two, as though beaten, powerless,
almost frightened.
"Eh, clever!" said the deputy, scoffingly. "We don't seem to be
swaggering quite so much."
The stage was full of actors who were arguing and making a noise.
Daubrecq had loosened his grasp slightly and Lupin felt that the moment
had come. With the edge of his hand, he gave him a violent blow in the
hollow of the arm, as he might have done with a hatchet.
The pain took Daubrecq off his guard. Lupin now released himself
entirely and sprang at the other to clutch him by the throat. But
Daubrecq had at once put himself on the defensive and stepped back
and their four hands seized one another.
They gripped with superhuman energy, the whole force of the two
adversaries concentrating in those hands. Daubrecq's were of monstrous
size; and Lupin, caught in that iron vise, felt as though he were
fighting not with a man, but with some terrible beast, a huge gorilla.
They held each other against the door, bending low, like a pair of
wrestlers groping and trying to lay hold of each other. Their bones
creaked. Whichever gave way first was bound to be caught by the throat
and strangled. And all this happened amid a sudden silence, for the
actors on the stage were now listening to one of their number, who was
speaking in a low voice.
The woman stood back flat against the partition, looking at them in
terror. Had she taken sides with either of them, with a single movement,
the victory would at once have been decided in that one's favour. But
which of them should she assist? What could Lupin represent in her eyes?
A friend? An enemy?
She briskly made for the front of the box, forced back the screen and,
leaning forward, seemed to give a signal. Then she returned and tried
to slip to the door.
Lupin, as though wishing to help her, said:
"Why don't you move the chair?"
He was speaking of a heavy chair which had fallen down between him and
Daubrecq and across which they were struggling.
The woman stooped and pulled away the chair. That was what Lupin was
waiting for. Once rid of the obstacle, he caught Daubrecq a smart kick
on the shin with the tip of his patent-leather boot. The result was
the same as with the blow which he had given him on the arm. The pain
caused a second's apprehension and distraction, of which he at once took
advantage to beat down Daubrecq's outstretched hands and to dig his ten
fingers into his adversary's throat and neck.
Daubrecq struggled. Daubrecq tried to pull away the hands that were
throttling him; but he was beginning to choke and felt his strength
decreasing.
"Aha, you old monkey!" growled Lupin, forcing him to the floor. "Why
don't you shout for help? How frightened you must be of a scandal!"
At the sound of the fall there came a knocking at the partition, on
the other side.
"Knock away, knock away," said Lupin, under his breath. "The play is on
the stage. This is my business and, until I've mastered this gorilla... "
It did not take him long. The deputy was choking. Lupin stunned him
with a blow on the jaw; and all that remained for him to do was to take
the woman away and make his escape with her before the alarm was given.
But, when he turned round, he saw that the woman was gone.
She could not be far. Darting from the box, he set off at a run,
regardless of the programme-sellers and check-takers.
On reaching the entrance-lobby, he saw her through an open door, crossing
the pavement of the Chaussee d'Antin.
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 obvioushesitation, 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 anything in the world have thrown up the game at that point or
neglected this favourable opportunity of coming to an understanding
with his mortal enemy.
The woman sat in her corner, motionless, and watched them both.
Lupin said:
"Let us go outside, sir. That will make our interview easier.
"No, my lord, here," grinned the deputy. "It will take place here,
presently, during the entr'acte. Then we shall not be disturbing
anybody."
"But... "
"Save your breath, my man; you sha'n't budge."
And he took Lupin by the coat-collar, with the obviousintention of not
letting go of him before the interval.
A rash move! Was it likely that Lupin would consent to remain in such
an attitude, especially before a woman, a woman to whom he had offered
his alliance, a woman - and he now thought of it for the first time -
who was distinctlygood-looking and whose grave beauty attracted him.
His whole pride as a man rose at the thought.
However, he said nothing. He accepted the heavy weight of the hand on
his shoulder and even sat bent in two, as though beaten, powerless,
almost frightened.
"Eh, clever!" said the deputy, scoffingly. "We don't seem to be
swaggering quite so much."
The stage was full of actors who were arguing and making a noise.
Daubrecq had loosened his grasp slightly and Lupin felt that the moment
had come. With the edge of his hand, he gave him a violent blow in the
hollow of the arm, as he might have done with a hatchet.
The pain took Daubrecq off his guard. Lupin now released himself
entirely and sprang at the other to clutch him by the throat. But
Daubrecq had at once put himself on the defensive and stepped back
and their four hands seized one another.
They gripped with superhuman energy, the whole force of the two
adversaries concentrating in those hands. Daubrecq's were of monstrous
size; and Lupin, caught in that iron vise, felt as though he were
fighting not with a man, but with some terrible beast, a huge gorilla.
They held each other against the door, bending low, like a pair of
wrestlers groping and trying to lay hold of each other. Their bones
creaked. Whichever gave way first was bound to be caught by the throat
and strangled. And all this happened amid a sudden silence, for the
actors on the stage were now listening to one of their number, who was
speaking in a low voice.
The woman stood back flat against the partition, looking at them in
terror. Had she taken sides with either of them, with a single movement,
the victory would at once have been decided in that one's favour. But
which of them should she assist? What could Lupin represent in her eyes?
A friend? An enemy?
She briskly made for the front of the box, forced back the screen and,
leaning forward, seemed to give a signal. Then she returned and tried
to slip to the door.
Lupin, as though wishing to help her, said:
"Why don't you move the chair?"
He was speaking of a heavy chair which had fallen down between him and
Daubrecq and across which they were struggling.
The woman stooped and pulled away the chair. That was what Lupin was
waiting for. Once rid of the obstacle, he caught Daubrecq a smart kick
on the shin with the tip of his patent-leather boot. The result was
the same as with the blow which he had given him on the arm. The pain
caused a second's apprehension and distraction, of which he at once took
advantage to beat down Daubrecq's outstretched hands and to dig his ten
fingers into his adversary's throat and neck.
Daubrecq struggled. Daubrecq tried to pull away the hands that were
throttling him; but he was beginning to choke and felt his strength
decreasing.
"Aha, you old monkey!" growled Lupin, forcing him to the floor. "Why
don't you shout for help? How frightened you must be of a scandal!"
At the sound of the fall there came a knocking at the partition, on
the other side.
"Knock away, knock away," said Lupin, under his breath. "The play is on
the stage. This is my business and, until I've mastered this gorilla... "
It did not take him long. The deputy was choking. Lupin stunned him
with a blow on the jaw; and all that remained for him to do was to take
the woman away and make his escape with her before the alarm was given.
But, when he turned round, he saw that the woman was gone.
She could not be far. Darting from the box, he set off at a run,
regardless of the programme-sellers and check-takers.
On reaching the entrance-lobby, he saw her through an open door, crossing
the pavement of the Chaussee d'Antin.
- character [´kæriktə]
n.特性；性质；人物；字 (初中英语单词) - prince [´prins] n.王子；亲王；君主 (初中英语单词)
- telegram [´teligræm] n.电报 (初中英语单词)
- humour [´hju:mə] n.幽默，诙谐 (初中英语单词)
- overcome [,əuvə´kʌm] vt.战胜，克服 (初中英语单词)
- venture [´ventʃə] n.投机 v.冒险；敢于 (初中英语单词)
- beginning [bi´giniŋ] n.开始，开端；起源 (初中英语单词)
- musical [´mju:zikəl] a.音乐的；悦耳的 (初中英语单词)
- invisible [in´vizəbəl] a.看不见的；无形的 (初中英语单词)
- sprang [spræŋ] spring 的过去式 (初中英语单词)
- extraordinary [ik´strɔ:dinəri] a.非常的；额外的 (初中英语单词)
- unusual [ʌn´ju:ʒuəl] a.不平常的；异常的 (初中英语单词)
- amazement [ə´meizmənt] n.惊愕；惊奇 (初中英语单词)
- movement [´mu:vmənt] n.活动；运动；动作 (初中英语单词)
- obvious [´ɔbviəs] a.明显的；显而易见的 (初中英语单词)
- knowing [´nəuiŋ] a.会意的，心照不宣的 (初中英语单词)
- breath [breθ] n.呼吸；气息 (初中英语单词)
- furious [´fjuəriəs] a.狂怒的；猛烈的 (初中英语单词)
- professional [prə´feʃənəl] a.职业的 n.自由职业 (初中英语单词)
- muscle [´mʌsəl] n.肌肉；体力；力量 (初中英语单词)
- interview [´intəvju:] n.&vt.接见；会见；交谈 (初中英语单词)
- intention [in´tenʃən] n.意图；打算；意义 (初中英语单词)
- alliance [ə´laiəns] n.联盟；同盟 (初中英语单词)
- distinctly [di´stiŋktli] ad.清楚地，明晰地 (初中英语单词)
- beaten [´bi:tn] beat 的过去分词 (初中英语单词)
- slightly [´slaitli] ad.轻微地；细长的 (初中英语单词)
- violent [´vaiələnt] a.强暴的；猛烈的 (初中英语单词)
- clutch [klʌtʃ] v.抓住 n.爪子；控制 (初中英语单词)
- throat [θrəut] n.咽喉；嗓子；出入口 (初中英语单词)
- energy [´enədʒi] n.活力，精力；能力 (初中英语单词)
- victory [´viktəri] n.胜利，战胜 (初中英语单词)
- assist [ə´sist] v.协助；援助；搀扶 (初中英语单词)
- screen [skri:n] n.银幕 vt.遮蔽 (初中英语单词)
- preference [´prefərəns] n.优先选择；偏爱(物) (高中英语单词)
- inspection [in´spekʃən] n.检查；视察；参观 (高中英语单词)
- marquis [´mɑ:kwis] n.侯爵 (高中英语单词)
- distrust [dis´trʌst] n.&vt.不信任，怀疑 (高中英语单词)
- hesitation [,hezi´teiʃən] n.犹豫，踌躇 (高中英语单词)
- half-way [´hɑ:fwei] ad.半途；几乎 (高中英语单词)
- mortal [´mɔ:tl] a.致命的 n.凡人 (高中英语单词)
- motionless [´məuʃənləs] a.静止的；固定的 (高中英语单词)
- deputy [´depjuti] n.代理人；代表 (高中英语单词)
- partition [pɑ:´tiʃən] n.分割；划分 (高中英语单词)
- decided [di´saidid] a.明显的；决定的 (高中英语单词)
- obstacle [´ɔbstəkl] n.障碍(物)；妨碍 (高中英语单词)
- apprehension [,æpri´henʃən] n.理解；忧虑；逮捕 (高中英语单词)
- pavement [´peivmənt] n.路面；铺筑材料 (高中英语单词)
- chauffeur [´ʃəufə,ʃeu´fə:] n.(汽车)司机 (英语四级单词)
- trying [´traiiŋ] a.难堪的；费劲的 (英语四级单词)
- renaissance [rə´neisəns] n.复兴；复活；新生 (英语四级单词)
- hurriedly [´hʌridli] ad.仓促地，忙乱地 (英语四级单词)
- dagger [´dægə] n.短剑，匕首 (英语四级单词)
- uneasiness [ʌn´i:zinis] n.不安，担忧；不自在 (英语四级单词)
- entreat [in´tri:t] vt.恳求，恳请 (英语四级单词)
- defensive [di´fensiv] a.&n.防御(的) (英语四级单词)
- briskly [´briskli] ad.轻快地；活泼地 (英语四级单词)
- obstinacy [´ɔbstinəsi] n.顽固；(病痛等)难治 (英语六级单词)
- speaking [´spi:kiŋ] n.说话 a.发言的 (英语六级单词)
- boulevard [´bu:ləvɑ:d] n.林荫大道 (英语六级单词)
- taking [´teikiŋ] a.迷人的 n.捕获物 (英语六级单词)
- good-looking [] a.漂亮的，美貌的 (英语六级单词)
- whichever [witʃ´evə] a.&pron.无论哪个(些) (英语六级单词)
- outstretched [,aut´stretʃt] a.扩张的；伸长的 (英语六级单词)
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