章节正文
absioutely clean. Make them send you to parliament or appoint you a
minister, a councillor of State, an ambassador, in short, any post which
your success in the Daubrecq case entitles you to demand. But not
secretary-general of police; anything but that! The very thought of it
disgusts me."
Prasville reflected for a moment. He would have rejoiced in the sudden
destruction of his adversary and he racked his brain for the means to
effect it. But he was helpless.
He went to the door and called:
"M. Lartigue." And, sinking his voice, but not very low, for he wished
M. Nicole to hear, "M. Lartigue, dismiss your men. It's a mistake. And
let no one come into my office while I am gone. This gentleman will
wait for me here."
He came back, took the hat, stick and overcoat which M. Nicole handed
him and went out.
"Well done, sir," said Lupin, between his teeth, when the door was closed.
"You have behaved like a sportsman and a gentleman... So did I, for that
matter... perhaps with too obvious a touch of contempt... and a little
too bluntly. But, tush, this sort of business has to be carried through
with a high hand! The enemy's got to be staggered! Besides, when one's
own conscience is clear, one can't take up too bullying a tone with that
sort of individual. Lift your head, Lupin. You have been the champion
of outraged morality. Be proud of your work. And now take a chair,
stretch out your legs and have a rest. You've deserved it."
When Prasville returned, he found Lupin sound asleep and had to tap him
on the shoulder to wake him.
"Is it done? " asked Lupin.
"It's done. The pardon will be signed presently. Here is the written
promise."
"The forty thousand francs?"
"Here's your cheque?"
"Good. It but remains for me to thank you, monsieur."
"So the correspondence... "
"The Stanislas Vorenglade correspondence will be handed to you on the
conditions stated. However, I am glad to be able to give you, here and
now, as a sign of my gratitude, the four letters which I meant to send
to the papers this evening."
"Oh, so you had them on you?" said Prasville.
"I felt so certain, monsieur le secretaire-general, that we should end
by coming to an understanding."
He took from his hat a fat envelope, sealed with five red seals, which
was pinned inside the lining, and handed it to Prasville, who thrust it
into his pocket. Then he said:
"Monsieur le secretaire-general, I don't know when I shall have the
pleasure of seeing you again. If you have the least communication to
make to me, one line in the agony column of the Journal will be
sufficient. Just head it, 'M. Nicole.' Good-day to you."
And he withdrew.
Prasville, when he was alone, felt as if he were waking from a nightmare
during which he had performed incoherent actions over which his
conscious mind had no control. He was almost thinking of ringing and
causing a stir in the passages; but, just then, there was a tap at the
door and one of the office-messengers came hurrying in.
"What's the matter?" asked Prasville.
"Monsieur le se cretaire-generaI, it's Monsieur le Depute Daubrecq
asking to see you... on a matter of the highest importance."
"Daubrecq !" exclaimed Prasville, in bewilderment. "Daubrecq here!
Show him in."
Daubrecq had not waited for the order. He ran up to Prasville, out of
breath, with his clothes in disorder, a bandage over his left eye, no
tie, no collar, looking like an escaped lunatic; and the door was not
closed before he caught hold of Prasville with his two enormous hands;
"Have you the list?"
"Yes."
"Have you bought it?"
"Yes."
"At the price of Gilbert's pardon?"
"Yes."
"Is it signed?"
"Yes."
Daubrecq made a furious gesture:
"You fool! You fool! You've been trapped! For hatred of me, I expect?
And now you're going to take your revenge?"
"With a certain satisfaction, Daubrecq. Remember my little friend, the
opera-dancer, at Nice... It's your turn now to dance."
"So it means prison?"
"I should think so," said Prasville. "Besides, it doesn't matter.
You're done for, anyhow. Deprived of the list, without defence of any
kind, you're bound to fall to pieces of your own weight. And I shall be
present at the break-up. That's my revenge."
"And you believe that!" yelled Daubrecq, furiously. 'You believe that
they will wring my neck like a chicken's and that I shall not know how
to defend myself and that I have no claws left and no teeth to bite with!
Well, my boy, if I do come to grief, there's always one who will fall
with me and that is Master Prasville, the partner of Stanislas Vorenglade,
who is going to hand me every proof in existence against him, so that I
may get him sent to gaol without delay. Aha, I've got you fixed, old
chap! With those letters, you'll go as I please, hang it all, and there
will be fine days yet for Daubrecq the deputy! What! You're laughing,
are you? Perhaps those letters don't exist?"
Prasville shrugged his shoulders:
"Yes, they exist. But Vorenglade no longer has them in his possession.
"Since when?"
"Since this morning. Vorenglade sold them, two hours ago, for the sum
of forty thousand francs; and I have bought them back at the same price."
Daubrecq burst into a great roar of laughter:
"Lord, how funny! Forty thousand francs! You've paid forty thousand
francs! To M. Nicole, I suppose, who sold you the list of the
Twenty-seven? Well, would you like me to tell you the real name of M.
Nicole? It's Arsene Lupin!"
"I know that."
"Very likely. But what you don't know, you silly ass, is that I have
come straight from Stanislas Vorenglade's and that Stanislas Vorenglade
left Paris four days ago! Oh, what a joke! They've sold you waste
paper! And your forty thousand francs! What an ass! What an ass!"
He walked out of the room, screaming with laughter and leaving Prasville
absolutely dumbfounded.
So Arsene Lupin possessed no proof at all; and, when he was threatening
and commanding and treating Prasvile with that airy insolence, it was
all a farce, all bluff!
"No, no, it's impossible," thought the secretary-general. "I have the
sealed envelope. ... It's here. ... I have only to open it."
He dared not open it. He handled it, weighed it, examined it... And
doubt made its way so swiftly into his mind that he was not in the least
surprised, when he did open it, to find that it contained four blank
sheets of note-paper.
"Well, well," he said, "I am no match for those rascals. But all is not
over yet."
And, in point of fact, all was not over. If Lupin had acted so daringly,
it showed that the letters existed and that he relied upon buying them
from Stanislas Vorenglade. But, as, on the other hand, Vorenglade was
not in Paris, Prasville's business was simply to forestall Lupin's steps
with regard to Vorenglade and obtain the restitution of those dangerous
letters from Vorenglade at all costs. The first to arrive would be the
victor.
Prasville once more took his hat, coat and stick, went downstairs,
stepped into a taxi and drove to Vorenglade's flat.
Here he was told that the ex-deputy was expected home from London at
six o'clock that evening.
It was two o'clock in the afternoon. Prasville therefore had plenty of
time to prepare his plan.
He arrived at the Gare du Nord at five o'clock and posted all around,
in the waiting-rooms and in the railway-offices, the three or four
dozen detectives whom he had brought with him.
This made him feel easy. If M. Nicole tried to speak to Vorenglade,
they would arrest Lupin. And, to make assurancedoubly sure, they
would arrest whosoever could be suspected of being either Lupin or one
of Lupin's emissaries.
Moreover, Prasville made a close inspection of the whole station. He
discovered nothing suspicious. But, at ten minutes to six,
Chief-inspector Blanchon, who was with him, said:
"Look, there's Daubrecq."
Daubrecq it was; and the sight of his enemy exasperated the
secretary-general to such a pitch that he was on the verge of having him
arrested. But he reflected that he had no excuse, no right, no warrant
for the arrest.
Besides, Daubrecq's presence proved, with still greater force, that
everything now depended on Stanislas Vorenglade. Vorenglade possessed
the letters: who would end by having them? Daubrecq? Lupin? Or he,
Prasville?
Lupin was not there and could not be there. Daubrecq was not in a
position to fight. There could be no doubt, therefore, about the result:
Prasville would reenter into possession of his letters and, through this
very fact, would escape Daubrecq's threats and Lupin's threats and
recover all his freedom of action against them.
The train arrived.
In accordance with orders, the stationmaster had issued instructions
that no one was to be admitted to the platform. Prasville, therefore,
walked on alone, in front of a number of his men, with Chief-inspector
Blanchon at their head.
The train drew up.
Prasville almost at once saw Stanislas Vorenglade at the window of a
first-class compartment, in the middle of the train.
The ex-deputy alighted and then held out his hand to assist an old
gentleman who was travelling with him.
Prasville ran up to him and said, eagerly:
"Vorenglade... I want to speak to you... "
At the same moment, Daubrecq, who had managed to pass the barrier,
appeared and exclaimed:
"M. Vorenglade, I have had your letter. I am at your disposal."
Vorenglade looked at the two men, recognized Prasvile, recognized
Daubrecq, and smiled:
"Oho, it seems that my return was awaited with some impatience! What's
it all about? Certain letters, I expect?"
"Yes... yes..." replied the two men, fussing around him.
"You're too late," he declared.
"Eh? What? What do you mean?"
"I mean that the letters are sold."
"Sold! To whom?"
"To this gentleman," said Vorenglade, pointing to his travelling-companion,
"to this gentleman, who thought that the business was worth going out of
his way for and who came to Amiens to meet me."
The old gentleman, a very old man wrapped in furs and leaning on his
stick, took off his hat and bowed.
"It's Lupin," thought Prasville, "it's Lupin, beyond a doubt."
And he glanced toward the detectives, was nearly calling them, but the
old gentleman explained:
"Yes, I thought the letters were good enough to warrant a few hours'
railway journey and the cost of two return tickets."
"Two tickets?"
"One for me and the other for one of my friends."
"One of your friends?"
"Yes, he left us a few minutes ago and reached the front part of the
train through the corridor. He was in a great hurry."
Prasville understood: Lupin had taken the precaution to bring an
accomplice, and the accomplice was carrying off the letters. The game
was lost, to a certainty. Lupin had a firm grip on his victim. There
was nothing to do but submit and accept the conqueror's conditions.
"Very well, sir," said Prasville. "We shall see each other when, the
time comes. Good-bye for the present, Daubrecq: you shall hear from
me." And, drawing Vorenglade aside, "As for you, Vorenglade, you are
minister, a councillor of State, an ambassador, in short, any post which
your success in the Daubrecq case entitles you to demand. But not
secretary-general of police; anything but that! The very thought of it
disgusts me."
Prasville reflected for a moment. He would have rejoiced in the sudden
destruction of his adversary and he racked his brain for the means to
effect it. But he was helpless.
He went to the door and called:
"M. Lartigue." And, sinking his voice, but not very low, for he wished
M. Nicole to hear, "M. Lartigue, dismiss your men. It's a mistake. And
let no one come into my office while I am gone. This gentleman will
wait for me here."
He came back, took the hat, stick and overcoat which M. Nicole handed
him and went out.
"Well done, sir," said Lupin, between his teeth, when the door was closed.
"You have behaved like a sportsman and a gentleman... So did I, for that
matter... perhaps with too obvious a touch of contempt... and a little
too bluntly. But, tush, this sort of business has to be carried through
with a high hand! The enemy's got to be staggered! Besides, when one's
own conscience is clear, one can't take up too bullying a tone with that
sort of individual. Lift your head, Lupin. You have been the champion
of outraged morality. Be proud of your work. And now take a chair,
stretch out your legs and have a rest. You've deserved it."
When Prasville returned, he found Lupin sound asleep and had to tap him
on the shoulder to wake him.
"Is it done? " asked Lupin.
"It's done. The pardon will be signed presently. Here is the written
promise."
"The forty thousand francs?"
"Here's your cheque?"
"Good. It but remains for me to thank you, monsieur."
"So the correspondence... "
"The Stanislas Vorenglade correspondence will be handed to you on the
conditions stated. However, I am glad to be able to give you, here and
now, as a sign of my gratitude, the four letters which I meant to send
to the papers this evening."
"Oh, so you had them on you?" said Prasville.
"I felt so certain, monsieur le secretaire-general, that we should end
by coming to an understanding."
He took from his hat a fat envelope, sealed with five red seals, which
was pinned inside the lining, and handed it to Prasville, who thrust it
into his pocket. Then he said:
"Monsieur le secretaire-general, I don't know when I shall have the
pleasure of seeing you again. If you have the least communication to
make to me, one line in the agony column of the Journal will be
sufficient. Just head it, 'M. Nicole.' Good-day to you."
And he withdrew.
Prasville, when he was alone, felt as if he were waking from a nightmare
during which he had performed incoherent actions over which his
conscious mind had no control. He was almost thinking of ringing and
causing a stir in the passages; but, just then, there was a tap at the
door and one of the office-messengers came hurrying in.
"What's the matter?" asked Prasville.
"Monsieur le se cretaire-generaI, it's Monsieur le Depute Daubrecq
asking to see you... on a matter of the highest importance."
"Daubrecq !" exclaimed Prasville, in bewilderment. "Daubrecq here!
Show him in."
Daubrecq had not waited for the order. He ran up to Prasville, out of
breath, with his clothes in disorder, a bandage over his left eye, no
tie, no collar, looking like an escaped lunatic; and the door was not
closed before he caught hold of Prasville with his two enormous hands;
"Have you the list?"
"Yes."
"Have you bought it?"
"Yes."
"At the price of Gilbert's pardon?"
"Yes."
"Is it signed?"
"Yes."
Daubrecq made a furious gesture:
"You fool! You fool! You've been trapped! For hatred of me, I expect?
And now you're going to take your revenge?"
"With a certain satisfaction, Daubrecq. Remember my little friend, the
opera-dancer, at Nice... It's your turn now to dance."
"So it means prison?"
"I should think so," said Prasville. "Besides, it doesn't matter.
You're done for, anyhow. Deprived of the list, without defence of any
kind, you're bound to fall to pieces of your own weight. And I shall be
present at the break-up. That's my revenge."
"And you believe that!" yelled Daubrecq, furiously. 'You believe that
they will wring my neck like a chicken's and that I shall not know how
to defend myself and that I have no claws left and no teeth to bite with!
Well, my boy, if I do come to grief, there's always one who will fall
with me and that is Master Prasville, the partner of Stanislas Vorenglade,
who is going to hand me every proof in existence against him, so that I
may get him sent to gaol without delay. Aha, I've got you fixed, old
chap! With those letters, you'll go as I please, hang it all, and there
will be fine days yet for Daubrecq the deputy! What! You're laughing,
are you? Perhaps those letters don't exist?"
Prasville shrugged his shoulders:
"Yes, they exist. But Vorenglade no longer has them in his possession.
"Since when?"
"Since this morning. Vorenglade sold them, two hours ago, for the sum
of forty thousand francs; and I have bought them back at the same price."
Daubrecq burst into a great roar of laughter:
"Lord, how funny! Forty thousand francs! You've paid forty thousand
francs! To M. Nicole, I suppose, who sold you the list of the
Twenty-seven? Well, would you like me to tell you the real name of M.
Nicole? It's Arsene Lupin!"
"I know that."
"Very likely. But what you don't know, you silly ass, is that I have
come straight from Stanislas Vorenglade's and that Stanislas Vorenglade
left Paris four days ago! Oh, what a joke! They've sold you waste
paper! And your forty thousand francs! What an ass! What an ass!"
He walked out of the room, screaming with laughter and leaving Prasville
absolutely dumbfounded.
So Arsene Lupin possessed no proof at all; and, when he was threatening
and commanding and treating Prasvile with that airy insolence, it was
all a farce, all bluff!
"No, no, it's impossible," thought the secretary-general. "I have the
sealed envelope. ... It's here. ... I have only to open it."
He dared not open it. He handled it, weighed it, examined it... And
doubt made its way so swiftly into his mind that he was not in the least
surprised, when he did open it, to find that it contained four blank
sheets of note-paper.
"Well, well," he said, "I am no match for those rascals. But all is not
over yet."
And, in point of fact, all was not over. If Lupin had acted so daringly,
it showed that the letters existed and that he relied upon buying them
from Stanislas Vorenglade. But, as, on the other hand, Vorenglade was
not in Paris, Prasville's business was simply to forestall Lupin's steps
with regard to Vorenglade and obtain the restitution of those dangerous
letters from Vorenglade at all costs. The first to arrive would be the
victor.
Prasville once more took his hat, coat and stick, went downstairs,
stepped into a taxi and drove to Vorenglade's flat.
Here he was told that the ex-deputy was expected home from London at
six o'clock that evening.
It was two o'clock in the afternoon. Prasville therefore had plenty of
time to prepare his plan.
He arrived at the Gare du Nord at five o'clock and posted all around,
in the waiting-rooms and in the railway-offices, the three or four
dozen detectives whom he had brought with him.
This made him feel easy. If M. Nicole tried to speak to Vorenglade,
they would arrest Lupin. And, to make assurancedoubly sure, they
would arrest whosoever could be suspected of being either Lupin or one
of Lupin's emissaries.
Moreover, Prasville made a close inspection of the whole station. He
discovered nothing suspicious. But, at ten minutes to six,
Chief-inspector Blanchon, who was with him, said:
"Look, there's Daubrecq."
Daubrecq it was; and the sight of his enemy exasperated the
secretary-general to such a pitch that he was on the verge of having him
arrested. But he reflected that he had no excuse, no right, no warrant
for the arrest.
Besides, Daubrecq's presence proved, with still greater force, that
everything now depended on Stanislas Vorenglade. Vorenglade possessed
the letters: who would end by having them? Daubrecq? Lupin? Or he,
Prasville?
Lupin was not there and could not be there. Daubrecq was not in a
position to fight. There could be no doubt, therefore, about the result:
Prasville would reenter into possession of his letters and, through this
very fact, would escape Daubrecq's threats and Lupin's threats and
recover all his freedom of action against them.
The train arrived.
In accordance with orders, the stationmaster had issued instructions
that no one was to be admitted to the platform. Prasville, therefore,
walked on alone, in front of a number of his men, with Chief-inspector
Blanchon at their head.
The train drew up.
Prasville almost at once saw Stanislas Vorenglade at the window of a
first-class compartment, in the middle of the train.
The ex-deputy alighted and then held out his hand to assist an old
gentleman who was travelling with him.
Prasville ran up to him and said, eagerly:
"Vorenglade... I want to speak to you... "
At the same moment, Daubrecq, who had managed to pass the barrier,
appeared and exclaimed:
"M. Vorenglade, I have had your letter. I am at your disposal."
Vorenglade looked at the two men, recognized Prasvile, recognized
Daubrecq, and smiled:
"Oho, it seems that my return was awaited with some impatience! What's
it all about? Certain letters, I expect?"
"Yes... yes..." replied the two men, fussing around him.
"You're too late," he declared.
"Eh? What? What do you mean?"
"I mean that the letters are sold."
"Sold! To whom?"
"To this gentleman," said Vorenglade, pointing to his travelling-companion,
"to this gentleman, who thought that the business was worth going out of
his way for and who came to Amiens to meet me."
The old gentleman, a very old man wrapped in furs and leaning on his
stick, took off his hat and bowed.
"It's Lupin," thought Prasville, "it's Lupin, beyond a doubt."
And he glanced toward the detectives, was nearly calling them, but the
old gentleman explained:
"Yes, I thought the letters were good enough to warrant a few hours'
railway journey and the cost of two return tickets."
"Two tickets?"
"One for me and the other for one of my friends."
"One of your friends?"
"Yes, he left us a few minutes ago and reached the front part of the
train through the corridor. He was in a great hurry."
Prasville understood: Lupin had taken the precaution to bring an
accomplice, and the accomplice was carrying off the letters. The game
was lost, to a certainty. Lupin had a firm grip on his victim. There
was nothing to do but submit and accept the conqueror's conditions.
"Very well, sir," said Prasville. "We shall see each other when, the
time comes. Good-bye for the present, Daubrecq: you shall hear from
me." And, drawing Vorenglade aside, "As for you, Vorenglade, you are
- parliament [´pɑ:ləmənt]
n.议(国)会 (初中英语单词) - appoint [ə´pɔint] vt.安排；委派；任命 (初中英语单词)
- ambassador [æm´bæsədə] n.大使 (初中英语单词)
- dismiss [dis´mis] vt.解散；下课；解雇 (初中英语单词)
- sportsman [´spɔ:tsmən] n.运动员；好运动的人 (初中英语单词)
- obvious [´ɔbviəs] a.明显的；显而易见的 (初中英语单词)
- conscience [´kɔnʃəns] n.良心；道德心 (初中英语单词)
- pardon [´pɑ:dən] n.&vt.原谅；饶恕；赦免 (初中英语单词)
- presently [´prezəntli] ad.不久；目前 (初中英语单词)
- gratitude [´grætitju:d] n.感激，感谢 (初中英语单词)
- monsieur [mə´sjə:] n.先生 (初中英语单词)
- envelope [´envələup] n.信封，封皮 (初中英语单词)
- thrust [θrʌst] v.&n.猛推；冲；刺；挤进 (初中英语单词)
- communication [kə,mju:ni´keiʃən] n.通信；通讯联系 (初中英语单词)
- column [´kɔləm] n.柱；柱状物；纵队 (初中英语单词)
- journal [´dʒə:nəl] n.日记；日报；杂志 (初中英语单词)
- collar [´kɔlə] n.衣领；(狗等的)项圈 (初中英语单词)
- enormous [i´nɔ:məs] a.巨大地，很，极 (初中英语单词)
- furious [´fjuəriəs] a.狂怒的；猛烈的 (初中英语单词)
- hatred [´heitrid] n.憎恨，敌意 (初中英语单词)
- satisfaction [,sætis´fækʃən] n.满意；满足 (初中英语单词)
- partner [´pɑ:tnə] n.伙伴 v.同....合作 (初中英语单词)
- existence [ig´zistəns] n.存在；生存；生活 (初中英语单词)
- laughter [´lɑ:ftə] n.笑，笑声 (初中英语单词)
- swiftly [´swiftli] ad.迅速地，敏捷地 (初中英语单词)
- obtain [əb´tein] v.获得；买到；得到承认 (初中英语单词)
- therefore [´ðeəfɔ:] ad.&conj.因此；所以 (初中英语单词)
- arrest [ə´rest] vt.逮捕 n.逮捕；停止 (初中英语单词)
- platform [´plætfɔ:m] n.(平)台；讲台；站台 (初中英语单词)
- assist [ə´sist] v.协助；援助；搀扶 (初中英语单词)
- victim [´viktim] n.牺牲者；受害者 (初中英语单词)
- submit [səb´mit] vt.使服从；使忍受 (初中英语单词)
- overcoat [´əuvəkəut] n.大衣 (高中英语单词)
- contempt [kən´tempt] n.轻蔑；受辱；不顾 (高中英语单词)
- correspondence [,kɔri´spɔndəns] n.通信；符合；相当 (高中英语单词)
- lining [´lainiŋ] n.衬里；衬料 (高中英语单词)
- seeing [si:iŋ] see的现在分词 n.视觉 (高中英语单词)
- disorder [dis´ɔ:də] n.杂乱 vt.扰乱 (高中英语单词)
- bandage [´bændidʒ] n.绷带 vt.用绷带包扎 (高中英语单词)
- furiously [´fjuəriəsli] ad.狂怒地；有力地 (高中英语单词)
- assurance [ə´ʃuərəns] n.保证；自信；信任 (高中英语单词)
- inspection [in´spekʃən] n.检查；视察；参观 (高中英语单词)
- suspicious [sə´spiʃəs] a.可疑的，多疑的 (高中英语单词)
- accordance [ə´kɔ:dəns] n.一致；调和 (高中英语单词)
- corridor [´kɔridɔ:] n.走廊；指定航路 (高中英语单词)
- precaution [pri´kɔ:ʃən] n.预防 vt.预先警告 (高中英语单词)
- certainty [´sə:tənti] n.确实(性)；确信 (高中英语单词)
- adversary [´ædvəsəri] n.敌手，对手 (英语四级单词)
- morality [mə´ræliti] n.道德；教训；伦理学 (英语四级单词)
- compartment [kəm´pɑ:tmənt] n.间隔；隔室 (英语四级单词)
- warrant [´wɔrənt] n.根据；委任书；权利 (英语四级单词)
- drawing [´drɔ:iŋ] n.画图；制图；图样 (英语四级单词)
- bluntly [´blʌntli] ad.钝，迟钝地；直率地 (英语六级单词)
- bewilderment [bi´wildəmənt] n.为难；狼狈；迷惑 (英语六级单词)
- lunatic [´lu:nətik] a.精神错乱的 n.疯子 (英语六级单词)
- insolence [´insələns] n.傲慢；无礼 (英语六级单词)
- doubly [´dʌbli] ad.加倍地，双重地 (英语六级单词)
- calling [´kɔ:liŋ] n.点名；职业；欲望 (英语六级单词)
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