the crystal stopper-第29章

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rt；　isn't　it？　　Afterward；　when　that　noodle　of　a　Daubrecq　comes　with　his　engagement…ring；　not　a　bit　of　it！　　Nothing　doing！　　We'll　laugh　in　his　face！。。。　　No；　no；　enough　of　empty　words。　　I　don't　want　promises　that　won't　be　kept：　I　want　facts；　immediate　facts。〃

He　came　and　sat　close　beside　her　and　stated；　plainly：

〃This　is　what　I　propose。。。　what　must　be。。。　what　shall　be。。。　I　will　ask；　or　rather　I　will　demand；　not　Gilbert's　pardon；　to　begin　with；　but　a　reprieve；　a　postponement　of　the　execution；　a　postponement　of　three　or　four　weeks。　　They　will　invent　a　pretext　of　some　sort：　that's　not　my　affair。　　And；　when　Mme。　Mergy　has　become　Mme。　Daubrecq；　then　and　not　till　then　I　will　ask　for　his　pardon；　that　is　to　say；　the　commutation　of　his　sentence。　　And　make　yourself　quite　easy：　they'll　grant　it。〃

〃I　accept。。。　I　accept；〃　she　stammered。

He　laughed　once　more：

〃Yes；　you　accept；　because　that　will　happen　in　a　month's　time。。。　and　meanwhile　you　reckon　on　finding　some　trick；　an　assistance　of　some　kind　or　another。。。　M。　Arsene　Lupin。。。　〃

〃I　swear　it　on　the　head　of　my　son。〃

〃The　head　of　your　son！。。。　Why；　my　poor　pet；　you　would　sell　yourself　to　the　devil　to　save　it　from　falling！。。。　〃

〃Oh；　yes；〃　she　whispered；　shuddering　〃I　would　gladly　sell　my　soul！〃

He　sidled　up　against　her　and；　in　a　low　voice：

〃Clarisse；　it's　not　your　soul　I　ask　for。。。　It's　something　else。。。　For　more　than　twenty　years　my　life　has　spun　around　that　longing。　You　are　the　only　woman　I　have　ever　loved。。。　Loathe　me；　hate　me　…　I　don't　care　…　but　do　not　spurn　me。。。　Am　I　to　wait？　　To　wait　another　month？。。。　No；　Clarisse；　I　have　waited　too　many　years　already。。。　〃

He　ventured　to　touch　her　hand。　　Clarisse　shrank　back　with　such　disgust　that　he　was　seized　with　fury　and　cried：

〃Oh；　I　swear　to　heaven；　my　beauty；　the　executioner　won't　stand　on　such　ceremony　when　he　catches　hold　of　your　son！。。。　And　you　give　yourself　airs！　Why；　think；　it'll　happen　in　forty　hours！　　Forty　hours；　no　more；　and　you　hesitate。。。　and　you　have　scruples；　when　your　son's　life　is　at　stake！　Come；　come；　no　whimpering；　no　silly　sentimentality。。。　Look　things　in　the　face。　　By　your　own　oath；　you　are　my　wife；　you　are　my　bride　from　this　moment。。。　Clarisse；　Clarisse；　give　me　your　lips。。。　〃

Half…fainting；　she　had　hardly　the　strength　to　put　out　her　arm　and　push　him　away；　and；　with　a　cynicism　in　which　all　his　abominable　nature　stood　revealed；　Daubrecq；　mingling　words　of　cruelty　and　words　of　passion；　continued：

〃Save　your　son！。。。　Think　of　the　last　morning：　the　preparations　for　the　scaffold；　when　they　snip　away　his　shirt　and　cut　his　hair。。。　Clarisse；　Clarisse；　I　will　save　him。。。　Be　sure　of　it。　。　All　my　life　shall　be　yours　。。。　Clarisse　。。。　〃

She　no　longer　resisted。　　It　was　over。　The　loathsome　brute's　lips　were　about　to　touch　hers；　and　it　had　to　be；　and　nothing　could　prevent　it。　　It　was　her　duty　to　obey　the　decree　of　fate。　　She　had　long　known　it。　　She　understood　it；　and；　closing　her　eyes；　so　as　not　to　see　the　foul　face　that　was　slowly　raised　to　hers；　she　repeated　to　herself：

〃My　son。。。　my　poor　son。〃　　　A　few　seconds　passed：　ten；　twenty　perhaps。　　Daubrecq　did　not　move。　Daubrecq　did　not　speak。　　And　she　was　astounded　at　that　great　silence　and　that　sudden　quiet。　　Did　the　monster；　at　the　last　moment；　feel　a　scruple　of　remorse？

She　raised　her　eyelids。

The　sight　which　she　beheld　struck　her　with　stupefaction。　　Instead　of　the　grinning　features　which　she　expected　to　see；　she　saw　a　motionless；　unrecognizable　face；　contorted　by　an　expression　of　unspeakable　terror：　and　the　eyes；　invisible　under　the　double　impediment　of　the　spectacles；　seemed　to　be　staring　above　her　head；　above　the　chair　in　which　she　lay　prostrate。

Clarisse　turned　her　face。　　Two　revolver…barrels；　pointed　at　Daubrecq；　showed　on　the　right；　a　little　above　the　chair。　　She　saw　only　that：　those　two　huge；　formidable　revolvers；　gripped　in　two　clenched　hands。　　She　saw　only　that　and　also　Daubrecq's　face；　which　fear　was　discolouring　littie　by　little；　until　it　turned　livid。　　And；　almost　at　the　same　time；　some　one　slipped　behind　Daubrecq；　sprang　up　fiercely；　flung　one　of　his　arms　round　Daubrecq's　neck；　threw　him　to　the　ground　with　incredible　violence　and　applied　a　pad　of　cotton…wool　to　his　face。　　A　sudden　smell　of　chloroform　filled　the　room。

Clarisse　had　recognized　M。　Nicole。

〃Come　along；　Growler！〃　he　cried。　　〃Come　along；　Masher！　　Drop　your　shooters：　I've　got　him！　　He's　a　limp　rag。。。　Tie　him　up。〃

Daubrecq；　in　fact；　was　bending　in　two　and　falling　on　his　knees　like　a　　isjointed　doll。　　Under　the　action　of　the　chloroform；　the　fearsome　brute　sank　into　impotence；　became　harmless　and　grotesque。

The　Growler　and　the　Masher　rolled　him　in　one　of　the　blankets　of　the　bed　and　tied　him　up　securely。

〃That's　it！　　That's　it！〃　shouted　Lupin；　leaping　to　his　feet。

And；　in　a　sudden　reaction　of　mad　delight；　he　began　to　dance　a　wild　jig　in　the　middle　of　the　room；　a　jig　mingled　with　bits　of　can…can　and　the　contortions　of　the　cakewalk　and　the　whirls　of　a　dancing　dervish　and　the　acrobatic　movements　of　a　clown　and　the　lurching　steps　of　a　drunken　man。　And　he　announced；　as　though　they　were　the　numbers　in　a　music…hall　performance：

〃The　prisoner's　dance！。。。　The　captive's　hornpipe！。。。　A　fantasia　on　the　corpse　of　a　representative　of　the　people！。。。　The　chloroform　polka！。。。　The　two…step　of　the　conquered　goggles！　　Olle！　　Olle！　　The　blackmailer's　fandango！　　Hoot！　　Hoot！　　The　McDaubrecq's　fling！。。。　The　turkey　trot！。。。　And　the　bunny　hug！。。。　And　the　grizzly　bear！。。。　The　Tyrolean　dance：　tra…la…liety！。。。　Allons；　enfants　de　la　partie！。。。　Zing；　boum；　boum！　Zing；　boum；　boum！。。。〃

All　his　street…arab　nature；　all　his　instincts　of　gaiety；　so　long　suppressed　by　his　constant　anxiety　and　disappointment；　came　out　and　betrayed　themselves　in　roars　of　laughter；　bursts　of　animal　spirits　and　a　picturesque　need　of　childlike　exuberance　and　riot。

He　gave　a　last　high　kick；　turned　a　series　of　cartwheels　round　the　room　and　ended　by　standing　with　his　hands　on　his　hips　and　one　foot　on　Daubrecq's　lifeless　body。

〃An　allegorical　tableau！〃　he　announced。　　〃The　angel　of　virtue　destroying　the　hydra　of　vice！〃

And　the　humour　of　the　scene　was　twice　as　great　because　Lupin　was　　ppearing　under　the　aspect　of　M。　Nicole；　in　the　clothes　and　figure　of　that　wizened；　awkward；　nervous　private　tutor。

A　sad　smile　Bickered　across　Mme。　Mergy's　face；　her　first　smile　for　many　a　long　month。　　But；　at　once　returning　to　the　reality　of　things；　she　besought　him：

〃Please；　please。。。　think　of　Gilbert！〃

He　ran　up　to　her；　caught　her　in　his　arms　and；　obeying　a　spontaneous　impulse；　so　frank　that　she　could　but　laugh　at　it；　gave　her　a　resounding　kiss　on　either　cheek：

〃There；　lady；　that's　the　kiss　of　a　decent　man！　　Instead　of　Daubrecq；　it's　I　kissing　you。。。　Another　word　and　I'll　do　it　again。。。　and　I'll　call　you　darling　next。。。　Be　angry　with　me；　if　you　dare。　　Oh；　how　happy　I　am！〃

He　knelt　before　her　on　one　knee。　　And；　respectfully：

〃I　beg　your　pardon；　madame。　　The　fit　is　over。〃

And；　getting　up　again；　resuming　his　whimsical　manner；　he　continued；　while　Clarisse　wondered　what　he　was　driving　at：

〃What's　the　next　article；　madame？　　Your　son's　pardon；　perhaps？　Certainly！　　Madame；　I　have　the　honour　to　grant　you　the　pardon　of　your　son；　the　commutation　of　his　sentence　to　penal　servitude　for　life　and；　to　wind　up　with；　his　early　escape。　　It's　settled；　eh；　Growler？　　Settled；　Masher；　what？　　You'll　both　go　with　the　boy　to　New　Caledonia　and　arrange　for　everything。　　Oh；　my　dear　Daubrecq；　we　owe　you　a　great　debt！　　But　I'm　not　forgetting　you；　believe　me！　　What　would　you　like？　　A　last　pipe？　Coming；　coming！〃

He　took　one　of　the　pipes　from　the　mantel…piece；　stooped　over　the　prisoner；　shifted　his　pad　and　thrust　the　amber　mouth…piece　between　his　teeth：

〃Draw；　old　chap；　draw。　　Lord；　how　funny　you　look；　with　your　plug　over　your　nose　and　your　cutty　in　your　mouth。　　Come；　puff　away。　　By　Jove；　I　forgot　to　fill　your　pipe！　　Where's　your　tobacco；　your　favourite　Maryland？　。。。　Oh；　here　we　are！。。。　〃

He　took　from　the　chimney　an　unopened　yellow　packet　and　tore　off　the　government　band：

〃His　lordship's　tobacco！　　Ladies　and　gentlemen；　keep　your　eyes　on　me！　This　is　a　great　moment。　　I　am　about　to　fill　his　lordship's　pipe：　by　Jupiter；　what　an　honour！　　Observe　my　movements！　　You　see；　I　have　nothing　in　my　hands；　nothing　up　my　sleeves！。。。　〃

He　turned　back　his　cuffs　and　stuck　out　his　elbows。　　Then　he　opened　the　packet　and　inserted　his　thumb　and　fore…finger；　slowly；　gingerly；　like　a　conjurer　performing　a　sleight…of…hand　trick　before　a　puzzled　audience；　and；　beaming　all　over　his　face；　extracted　from　the　tobacco　a　glittering　object　which　he　held　out　before　the　spectators。

Clarisse　uttered　a　cry。

It　was　the　crystal　stopper。

She　rushed　at　Lupin　and　snatched　it　from　him：

〃That's　it；　that's　the　one！〃　she　exclaimed；　feverishiy。　　〃There's　no　scratch　on　the　stem！　　And　look　at　this　line　running　down　the　middle；　where　the　gilt　finishes。。。　That's　it；　it　unscrews！。。。　Oh；　dear；　my　　trength's　going！。。。　〃　　　She　trembled　so　violently　that　Lupin　took　back　the　stopper　and　unscrewed　it　himself。

The　inside　of　the　knob　was　hollow；　and　in　the　hollow　space　was　a　piece　of　paper　rolled　into　a　tiny　pellet。

〃The　foreign…post…paper；〃　he　whispered；　himself　greatly　excited；　with　quivering　hands。

There　was　a　long　silence。　　All　four　felt　as　if　their　hearts　were　ready　to　burst　from　their　bodies；　and　they　were　afraid　of　what　was　coming。

〃Please；　please。。。　〃stammered　Clarisse。

Lupin　unfolded　the　paper。

There　was　a　set　of　names　written　one　below　the　other；　twenty…seven　of　them；　the　twenty…seven　names　of　the　famous　list：　Langeroux；　Dechaumont；　Vorenglade；　d'Albufex；　Victorien　Mergy　and　the　rest。

And；　at　the　foot；　the　signature　of　the　chairman　of　the　Two…Seas　Canal　Company；　the；　signature　written　in　letters　of　blood。

Lupin　looked　at　his　watch：

〃A　quarter　to　one；〃　he　said。　〃We　have　twenty　minutes　to　spare。　　Let's　have　some　lunch。〃

〃But；〃　said　Clarisse；　who　was　already　beginning　to　lose　her　head；　〃don't　forget。。。　〃

He　simply　said：

〃All　I　know　is　that　I'm　dying　of　hunger。〃

He　sat　down　at　the　table；　cut　himself　a　large　slice　of　cold　pie　and　said　to　his　accomplices：

〃Growler？　　A　bite？　　You；　Masher？〃

〃I　could　do　with　a　mouthful；　governor。〃

〃Then　hurry　up；　lads。　　And　a　glass　of　champage　to　wash　it　down　with：　it's　the　chioroform…patient's　treat。　　Your　health；　Daubrecq！　　Sweet　champagne？　　Dry　champagne？　　Extra…dry？〃


CHAPTER　XI

THE　CR055　OF　LORRAINE


The　moment　Lupin　had　finished　lunch；　he　at　once　and；　so　to　speak；　without　transition；　recovered　all　his　mastery　and　authority。　　The　time　for　joking　was　past；　and　he　must　no　longer　yield　to　his　love　of　astonishing　people　with　claptrap　and　conjuring　tricks。　　Now　that　he　had　discovered　the　crystal　stopper　in　the　hiding…place　which　he　had　guessed　with　absolute　certainty；　now　that　he　possessed　the　list　of　the　Twenty…seven；　it　became　a　question　of　playing　off　the　last　game　of　the　rubber　without　delay。

It　was　child's　play；　no　doubt；　and　what　remained　to　be　done　presented　no　difficulty。　　Nevertheless；　it　was　essential　that　he　should　perform　these　final　actions　with　promptness；　decision　and　infallible　perspicacity。　The　smallest　blunder　was　irretrievable。　　Lupin　knew　this；　but　his　strangely　lucid　b