“Yes, M. Formery is probably at the Ritz with Gournay-Martin. They’re probably all of them there, weighing the coronet,” said Lupin, with a chuckle.
He hesitated a moment, reflecting; then he said, “How silly you are! If they wanted to arrest me, if they had the material proof which they haven’t got, Guerchard would be here already!”
“Then why did they chase you last night?” said Charolais.
“The coronet,” said Lupin. “Wasn’t that reason enough? But, as it turned out, they didn’t catch me: and when the detectives did come here, they disturbed me in my sleep. And that me was ever so much more me than the man they followed. And then the proofs ... they must have proofs. There aren’t any — or rather, what there are, I’ve got!” He pointed to a small safe let into the wall. “In that safe are the coronet, and, above all, the death certificate of the Duke of Charmerace ... everything that Guerchard must have to induce M. Formery to proceed. But still, there is a risk — I think I’d better have those things handy in case I have to bolt.”
He went into his bedroom and came back with the key of the safe and a kit-bag. He opened the safe and took out the coronet, the real coronet of the Princesse de Lamballe, and along with it a pocket-book with a few papers in it. He set the pocket-book on the table, ready to put in his coat-pocket when he should have dressed, and dropped the coronet into the kit-bag.
“I’m glad I have that death certificate; it makes it much safer,” he said. “If ever they do nab me, I don’t wish that rascal Guerchard to accuse me of having murdered the Duke. It might prejudice me badly. I’ve not murdered anybody yet.”
“That comes of having a good heart,” said Victoire proudly.
“Not even the Duke of Charmerace,” said Charolais sadly. “And it would have been so easy when he was ill — just one little draught. And he was in such a perfect place — so out of the way — no doctors.”
“You do have such disgusting ideas, Charolais,” said Lupin, in a tone of severe reproof.
“Instead of which you went and saved his life,” said Charolais, in a tone of deep discontent; and he went on clearing the table.
“I did, I did: I had grown quite fond of him,” said Lupin, with a meditative air. “For one thing, he was so very like one. I’m not sure that he wasn’t even better-looking.”
“No; he was just like you,” said Victoire, with decision. “Any one would have said you were twin brothers.”
“It gave me quite a shock the first time I saw his portrait,” said Lupin. “You remember, Charolais? It was three years ago, the day, or rather the night, of the first Gournay-Martin burglary at Charmerace. Do you remember?”
“Do I remember?” said Charolais. “It was I who pointed out the likeness to you. I said, ‘He’s the very spit of you, master.’ And you said, ‘There’s something to be done with that, Charolais.’ And then off you started for the ice and snow and found the Duke, and became his friend; and then he went and died, not that you’d have helped him to, if he hadn’t.”
“Poor Charmerace. He was indeed grand seigneur. With him a great name was about to be extinguished.... Did I hesitate? ... No.... I continued it,” said Lupin.
He paused and looked at the clock. “A quarter to eight,” he said, hesitating. “Shall I telephone to Sonia, or shall I not? Oh, there’s no hurry; let the poor child sleep on. She must be worn out after that night-journey and that cursed Guerchard’s persecution yesterday. I’ll dress first, and telephone to her afterwards. I’d better be getting dressed, by the way. The work I’ve got to do can’t be done in pyjamas. I wish it could; for bed’s the place for me. My wits aren’t quite as clear as I could wish them to deal with an awkward business like this. Well, I must do the best I can with them.”
He yawned and went to the bedroom, leaving the pocket-book on the table.
“Bring my shaving-water, Charolais, and shave me,” he said, pausing; and he went into the bedroom and shut the door.
“Ah,” said Victoire sadly, “what a pity it is! A few years ago he would have gone to the Crusades; and to-day he steals coronets. What a pity it is!”
“I think myself that the best thing we can do is to pack up our belongings,” said Charolais. “And I don’t think we’ve much time to do it either. This particular game is at an end, you may take it from me.”
“I hope to goodness it is: I want to get back to the country,” said Victoire.
He took up the tray; and they went out of the room. On the landing they separated; she went upstairs and he went down. Presently he came up with the shaving water and shaved his master; for in the house in University Street he discharged the double functions of valet and butler. He had just finished his task when there came a ring at the front-door bell.
“You’d better go and see who it is,” said Lupin.
“Bernard is answering the door,” said Charolais. “But perhaps I’d better keep an eye on it myself; one never knows.”
He put away the razor leisurely, and went. On the stairs he found Bonavent, mounting — Bonavent, disguised in the livery and fierce moustache of a porter from the Ritz.
“Why didn’t you come to the servants’ entrance?” said Charolais, with the truculent air of the servant of a duke and a stickler for his master’s dignity.
“I didn’t know that there was one,” said Bonavent humbly. “Well, you ought to have known that there was; and it’s plain enough to see. What is it you want?” said Charolais.
“I’ve brought a letter — a letter for the Duke of Charmerace,” said Bonavent.
“Give it to me,” said Charolais. “I’ll take it to him.”
“No, no; I’m to give it into the hands of the Duke himself and to nobody else,” said Bonavent.
“Well, in that case, you’ll have to wait till he’s finished dressing,” said Charolais.
They went on up to the stairs into the ante-room. Bonavent was walking straight into the smoking-room.
“Here! where are you going to? Wait here,” said Charolais quickly. “Take a chair; sit down.”
Bonavent sat down with a very stolid air, and Charolais looked at him doubtfully, in two minds whether to leave him there alone or not. Before he had decided there came a thundering knock on the front door, not only loud but protracted. Charolais looked round with a scared air; and then ran out of the room and down the stairs.
On the instant Bonavent was on his feet, and very far from stolid. He opened the door of the smoking-room very gently and peered in. It was empty. He slipped noiselessly across the room, a pair of clippers ready in his hand, and cut the wires of the telephone. His quick eye glanced round the room and fell on the pocket-book on the table. He snatched it up, and slipped it into the breast of his tunic. He had scarcely done it — one button of his tunic was still to fasten — when the bedroom door opened, and Lupin came out:
“What do you want?” he said sharply; and his keen eyes scanned the porter with a disquieting penetration.
“I’ve brought a letter to the Duke of Charmerace, to be given into his own hands,” said Bonavent, in a disguised voice.
“Give it to me,” said Lupin, holding out his hand.
“But the Duke?” said Bonavent, hesitating.
“I am the Duke,” said Lupin.
Bonavent gave him the letter, and turned to go.
“Don’t go,” said Lupin quietly. “Wait, there may be an answer.”
There was a faint glitter in his eyes; but Bonavent missed it.
Charolais came into the room, and said, in a grumbling tone, “A run-away knock. I wish I could catch the brats; I’d warm them. They wouldn’t go fetching me away from my work again, in a hurry, I can tell you.”
Lupin opened the letter, and read it. As he read it, at first he frowned; then he smiled; and then he laughed joyously. It ran:
“SIR,”
“M. Guerchard has told me everything. With regard to Sonia I have judged you: a man who loves a thief can be nothing but a rogue. I have two pieces of news t
o announce to you: the death of the Duke of Charmerace, who died three years ago, and my intention of becoming engaged to his cousin and heir, M. de Relzieres, who will assume the title and the arms.”
“For Mademoiselle Gournay-Martin,”
“Her maid, IRMA.”
“She does write in shocking bad taste,” said Lupin, shaking his head sadly. “Charolais, sit down and write a letter for me.”
“Me?” said Charolais.
“Yes; you. It seems to be the fashion in financial circles; and I am bound to follow it when a lady sets it. Write me a letter,” said Lupin.
Charolais went to the writing-table reluctantly, sat down, set a sheet of paper on the blotter, took a pen in his hand, and sighed painfully.
“Ready?” said Lupin; and he dictated:
“MADEMOISELLE,”
“I have a very robust constitution, and my indisposition will very soon be over. I shall have the honour of sending, this afternoon, my humble wedding present to the future Madame de Relzieres.”
“For Jacques de Bartut, Marquis de Relzieres, Prince of Virieux, Duke of Charmerace.”
“His butler, ARSENE.”
“Shall I write Arsène?” said Charolais, in a horrified tone.
“Why not?” said Lupin. “It’s your charming name, isn’t it?”
Bonavent pricked up his ears, and looked at Charolais with a new interest.
Charolais shrugged his shoulders, finished the letter, blotted it, put it in an envelope, addressed it, and handed it to Lupin.
“Take this to Mademoiselle Gournay-Martin,” said Lupin, handing it to Bonavent.
Bonavent took the letter, turned, and had taken one step towards the door when Lupin sprang. His arm went round the detective’s neck; he jerked him backwards off his feet, scragging him.
“Stir, and I’ll break your neck!” he cried in a terrible voice; and then he said quietly to Charolais, “Just take my pocket-book out of this fellow’s tunic.”
Charolais, with deft fingers, ripped open the detective’s tunic, and took out the pocket-book.
“This is what they call Jiu-jitsu, old chap! You’ll be able to teach it to your colleagues,” said Lupin. He loosed his grip on Bonavent, and knocked him straight with a thump in the back, and sent him flying across the room. Then he took the pocket-book from Charolais and made sure that its contents were untouched.
“Tell your master from me that if he wants to bring me down he’d better fire the gun himself,” said Lupin contemptuously. “Show the gentleman out, Charolais.”
Bonavent staggered to the door, paused, and turned on Lupin a face livid with fury.
“He will be here himself in ten minutes,” he said.
“Many thanks for the information,” said Lupin quietly.
CHAPTER XXII
THE BARGAIN
CHAROLAIS CONDUCTED THE detective down the stairs and let him out of the front door, cursing and threatening vengeance as he went. Charolais took no notice of his words — he was the well-trained servant. He came back upstairs, and on the landing called to Victoire and Bernard. They came hurrying down; and the three of them went into the smoking-room.
“Now we know where we are,” said Lupin, with cheerful briskness. “Guerchard will be here in ten minutes with a warrant for my arrest. All of you clear out.”
“It won’t be so precious easy. The house is watched,” said Charolais. “And I’ll bet it’s watched back and front.”
“Well, slip out by the secret entrance. They haven’t found that yet,” said Lupin. “And meet me at the house at Passy.”
Charolais and Bernard wanted no more telling; they ran to the book-case and pressed the buttons; the book-case slid aside; the doors opened and disclosed the lift. They stepped into it. Victoire had followed them. She paused and said: “And you? Are you coming?”
“In an instant I shall slip out the same way,” he said.
“I’ll wait for him. You go on,” said Victoire; and the lift went down.
Lupin went to the telephone, rang the bell, and put the receiver to his ear.
“You’ve no time to waste telephoning. They may be here at any moment!” cried Victoire anxiously.
“I must. If I don’t telephone Sonia will come here. She will run right into Guerchard’s arms. Why the devil don’t they answer? They must be deaf!” And he rang the bell again.
“Let’s go to her! Let’s get out of here!” cried Victoire, more anxiously. “There really isn’t any time to waste.”
“Go to her? But I don’t know where she is. I lost my head last night,” cried Lupin, suddenly anxious himself. “Are you there?” he shouted into the telephone. “She’s at a little hotel near the Star. ... Are you there? ... But there are twenty hotels near the Star.... Are you there? ... Oh, I did lose my head last night. ... Are you there? Oh, hang this telephone! Here I’m fighting with a piece of furniture. And every second is important!”
He picked up the machine, shook it, saw that the wires were cut, and cried furiously: “Ha! They’ve played the telephone trick on me! That’s Guerchard.... The swine!”
“And now you can come along!” cried Victoire.
“But that’s just what I can’t do!” he cried.
“But there’s nothing more for you to do here, since you can no longer telephone,” said Victoire, bewildered.
Lupin caught her arm and shook her, staring into her face with panic-stricken eyes. “But don’t you understand that, since I haven’t telephoned, she’ll come here?” he cried hoarsely. “Five-and-twenty minutes past eight! At half-past eight she will start — start to come here.”
His face had suddenly grown haggard; this new fear had brought back all the exhaustion of the night; his eyes were panic-stricken.
“But what about you?” said Victoire, wringing her hands.
“What about her?” said Lupin; and his voice thrilled with anguished dread.
“But you’ll gain nothing by destroying both of you — nothing at all.”
“I prefer it,” said Lupin slowly, with a suddenly stubborn air.
“But they’re coming to take you,” cried Victoire, gripping his arm.
“Take me?” cried Lupin, freeing himself quietly from her grip. And he stood frowning, plunged in deep thought, weighing the chances, the risks, seeking a plan, saving devices.
He crossed the room to the writing-table, opened a drawer, and took out a cardboard box about eight inches square and set it on the table.
“They shall never take me alive,” he said gloomily.
“Oh, hush, hush!” said Victoire. “I know very well that you’re capable of anything ... and they too — they’ll destroy you. No, look you, you must go. They won’t do anything to her — a child like that — so frail. She’ll get off quite easily. You’re coming, aren’t you?”
“No, I’m not,” said Lupin stubbornly.
“Oh, well, if you won’t,” said Victoire; and with an air of resolution she went to the side of the lift-well, and pressed the buttons. The doors closed; the book-case slid across. She sat down and folded her arms.
“What, you’re not going to stop here?” cried Lupin.
“Make me stir if you can. I’m as fond of you as she is — you know I am,” said Victoire, and her face set stonily obstinate.
Lupin begged her to go; ordered her to go; he seized her by the shoulder, shook her, and abused her like a pickpocket. She would not stir. He abandoned the effort, sat down, and knitted his brow again in profound and painful thought, working out his plan. Now and again his eyes flashed, once or twice they twinkled. Victoire watched his face with just the faintest hope on her own.
It was past five-and-twenty minutes to nine when the front-door bell rang. They gazed at one another with an unspoken question on their lips. The eyes of Victoire were scared, but in the eyes of Lupin the light of battle was gathering.
“It’s her,” said Victoire under her breath.
“No,” said Lupin. “It’s Guerchard.”
He sprang to his feet with shining eyes. His lips were curved in a fighting smile. “The game isn’t lost yet,” he said in a tense, quiet voice. “I’m going to play it to the end. I’ve a card or two left still — good cards. I’m still the Duke of Charmerace.” He turned to her.
“Now listen to me,” he said. “Go down and open the door for him.”
“What, you want me to?” said Victoire, in a shaky voice.
“Yes, I do. Listen to me carefully. When you have opened the door, slip out of it and watch the house. Don’t go too far from it. Look out for Sonia. You’ll see her coming. Stop her from entering, Victoire — stop her from entering.” He spoke coolly, but his voice shook on the last words.
“But if Guerchard arrests me?” said Victoire.
“He won’t. When he comes in, stand behind the door. He will be too eager to get to me to stop for you. Besides, for him you don’t count in the game. Once you’re out of the house, I’ll hold him here for — for half an hour. That will leave a margin. Sonia will hurry here. She should be here in twelve minutes. Get her away to the house at Passy. If I don’t come keep her there; she’s to live with you. But I shall come.”
As he spoke he was pushing her towards the door.
The bell rang again. They were at the top of the stairs.
“And suppose he does arrest me?” said Victoire breathlessly.
“Never mind, you must go all the same,” said Lupin. “Don’t give up hope — trust to me. Go — go — for my sake.”
“I’m going, dearie,” said Victoire; and she went down the stairs steadily, with a brave air.
He watched her half-way down the flight; then he muttered:
“If only she gets to Sonia in time.”
He turned, went into the smoking-room, and shut the door. He sat quietly down in an easy chair, lighted a cigarette, and took up a paper. He heard the noise of the traffic in the street grow louder as the front door was opened. There was a pause; then he heard the door bang. There was the sound of a hasty footstep on the stairs; the door flew open, and Guerchard bounced into the room.
He stopped short in front of the door at the sight of Lupin, quietly reading, smoking at his ease. He had expected to find the bird flown. He stood still, hesitating, shuffling his feet — all his doubts had returned; and Lupin smiled at him over the lowered paper.
Delphi Collected Works of Maurice Leblanc (Illustrated) (Delphi Series Nine Book 17) Page 59