the crystal stopper-第31章

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〃Oh；　what　a　dirty　business！〃

〃Perhaps　that's　enough　for　to…day；〃　said　the　huntsman；　whose　rough　face　betrayed　a　certain　emotion。　　〃We　might　try　again　to…morrow　or　the　next　day。。。　〃

The　marquis　was　silent。　　One　of　the　sons　handed　him　a　flask　of　brandy。　He　poured　out　half　a　glass　and　drank　it　down　at　a　draught：

〃To…morrow？〃　he　said。　　〃No。　　Here　and　now。　　One　little　effort　more。　　At　the　stage　which　he　has　reached；　it　won't　be　difficult。〃　　And；　taking　the　huntsman　aside；　〃Did　you　hear　what　he　said？　　What　did　he　mean　by　that　word；　'Marie'？　　He　repeated　it　twice。〃

〃Yes；　twice；〃　said　the　huntsman。　　〃Perhaps　he　entrusted　the　document　to　a　person　called　Marie。〃

〃Not　he！〃　protested　d'Albufex。　　〃He　never　entrusts　anything　to　anybody。　It　means　something　different。〃

〃But　what；　monsieur　le　marquis？〃

〃We'll　soon　find　out；　I'll　answer　for　it。〃

At　that　moment；　Daubrecq　drew　a　long　breath　and　stirred　on　his　couch。

D'Albufex；　who　had　now　recovered　all　his　composure　and　who　did　not　take　his　eyes　off　the　enemy；　went　up　to　him　and　said：

〃You　see；　Daubrecq；　it's　madness　to　resist。。。　　　Once　you're　beaten；　there's　nothing　for　it　but　to　submit　to　your　conqueror；　instead　of　allowing　yourself　to　be　tortured　like　an　idiot。。。　　Come；　be　sensible。〃

He　turned　to　Sebastiani：

〃Tighten　the　rope。。。　let　him　feel　it　a　little　that　will　wake　him　up。。。　　　He's　shamming　death。。。　　Sebastiani　took　hold　of　the　stick　again　and　turned　until　the　cord　touched　the　swollen　flesh。　　Daubrecq　gave　a　start。

〃That'll　do；　Sebastiani；〃　said　the　marquis。　　〃Our　friend　seems　favourably　disposed　and　understands　the　need　for　coming　to　terms。　　That's　so；　Daubrecq；　is　it　not？　　You　prefer　to　have　done　with　it？　　And　you're　quite　right！〃

The　two　men　were　leaning　over　the　sufferer；　Sebastiani　with　his　hand　on　the　stick；　d'Albufex　holding　the　lamp　so　as　to　throw　the　light　on　Daubrecq's　face：　〃His　　　lips　are　moving。。。　　he's　going　to　speak。　　Loosen　the　rope　a　little；　Sebastiani：　I　don't　want　our　friend　to　be　hurt。。。　　No；　tighten　it：　I　believe　our　friend　is　hesitating。。。　One　turn　more。。。　stop！　。。。　　That's　done　it！　　Oh；　my　dear　Daubrecq；　if　you　can't　speak　plainer　than　that；　it's　no　use！　　What？　　What　did　you　say？〃

Arsene　Lupin　muttered　an　oath。　　Daubrecq　was　speaking　and　he；　Lupin；　could　not　hear　a　word　of　what　he　said！　　In　vain；　he　pricked　up　his　ears；　suppressed　the　beating　of　his　heart　and　the　throbbing　of　his　temples：　not　a　sound　reached　him。

〃Confound　it！〃　he　thought。　　〃I　never　expected　this。　What　am　I　to　do？〃

He　was　within　an　ace　of　covering　Daubrecq　with　his　revolver　and　putting　a　bullet　into　him　which　would　cut　short　any　explanation。　　But　he　reflected　that　he　himself　would　then　be　none　the　wiser　and　that　it　was　better　to　trust　to　events　in　the　hope　of　making　the　most　of　them。

Meanwhile　the　confession　continued　beneath　him；　indistinctly；　interrupted　by　silences　and　mingled　with　moans。　　D'Albufex　clung　to　his　prey：

〃Go　on！。。。　Finish；　can't　you？。。。　〃

And　he　punctuated　the　sentences　with　exclamations　of　approval：

〃Good！。。。　Capital！。。。　Oh；　how　funny！。。。　　And　no　one　suspected？。。。　　Not　　even　Prasville？。。。　What　an　ass！。。。　　　　　　Loosen　a　bit；　Sebastiani：　don't　you　see　that　our　friend　is　out　of　breath？。。。　Keep　calm；　Daubrecq。。。　don't　tire　yourself。。。　And　so；　my　dear　fellow；　you　were　saying。。。　〃

That　was　the　last。　　There　was　a　long　whispering　to　which　d'Albufex　listened　without　further　interruption　and　of　which　Arsene　Lupin　could　not　catch　the　least　syllable。　　Then　the　marquis　drew　himself　up　and　exclaimed；　joyfully：

〃That's　it！。。。　Thank　you；　Daubrecq。　　And；　believe　me；　I　shall　never　forget　what　you　have　just　done。　　If　ever　you're　in　need；　you　have　only　to　knock　at　my　door　and　there　will　always　be　a　crust　of　bread　for　you　in　the　kitchen　and　a　glass　of　water　from　the　filter。　　Sebastiani；　look　after　monsieur　le　depute　as　if　he　were　one　of　your　sons。　　And；　first　of　all；　release　him　from　his　bonds。　　It's　a　heartless　thing　to　truss　one's　fellow…man　like　that；　like　a　chicken　on　the　spit！〃

〃Shall　we　give　him　something　to　drink？〃　suggested　the　huntsman。

〃Yes；　that's　it；　give　him　a　drink。〃

Sebastiani　and　his　sons　undid　the　leather　straps；　rubbed　the　bruised　wrists；　dressed　them　with　an　ointment　and　bandaged　them。　　Then　Daubrecq　swallowed　a　few　drops　of　brandy。

〃Feeling　better？〃　said　the　marquis。　　〃Pooh；　it's　nothing　much！　　In　a　few　hours；　it　won't　show；　and　you'll　be　able　to　boast　of　having　been　tortured；　as　in　the　good　old　days　of　the　Inquisition。　　You　lucky　dog！〃

He　took　out　his　watch。　　〃Enough　said！　　Sebastiani；　let　your　sons　watch　him　in　turns。　　You；　take　me　to　the　station　for　the　last　train。〃

〃Then　are　we　to　leave　him　like　that；　monsieur　le　marquis；　free　to　move　as　he　pleases？〃

〃Why　not？　　You　don't　imagine　that　we　are　going　to　keep　him　here　to　the　day　of　his　death？　　No；　Daubrecq；　sleep　quietly。　　I　shall　go　to　your　place　tomorrow　afternoon；　and；　if　the　document　is　where　you　told　me；　a　telegram　shall　be　sent　off　at　once　and　you　shall　be　set　free。　　You　haven't　told　me　a　lie；　I　suppose？〃

He　went　back　to　Daubrecq　and；　stooping　over　him　again：

〃No　humbug；　eh？　　That　wouid　be　very　silly　of　you。　　I　shouid　lose　a　day；　that's　all。　　Whereas　you　would　lose　all　the　days　that　remain　to　you　to　live。　　But　no；　the　hiding…place　is　too　good。　　A　fellow　doesn't　invent　a　thing　like　that　for　fun。　　Come　on；　Sebastiani。　　You　shall　have　the　telegram　to…morrow。〃

〃And　suppose　they　don't　let　you　into　the　house；　monsieur　le　marquis？〃

〃Why　shouldn't　they？〃

〃The　house　in　the　Square　Lamartine　is　occupied　by　Prasville's　men。〃

〃Don't　worry；　Sebastiani。　　I　shall　get　in。　　If　they　don't　open　the　door；　there's　always　the　window。　　And；　if　the　window　won't　open；　I　shall　arrange　with　one　of　Prasville's　men。　　It's　a　question　of　money；　that's　all。　　And；　thank　goodness；　I　shan't　be　short　of　that；　henceforth！　Good…night；　Daubrecq。〃

He　went　out；　accompanied　by　Sebastiani；　and　the　heavy　door　closed　after　them。

Lupin　at　once　effected　his　retreat；　in　accordance　with　a　plan　which　he　had　worked　out　during　this　scene。

The　plan　was　sunple　enough：　to　scramble；　by　means　of　his　rope；　to　the　bottom　of　the　cliff；　take　his　friends　with　him；　jump　into　the　motor…car　and　attack　d'Albufex　and　Sebastiani　on　the　deserted　road　that　leads　to　Aumale　Station。　　There　could　be　no　doubt　about　the　issue　of　the　contest。　With　d'Albufex　and　Sebastiani　prisoners；　it　would　be　an　easy　matter　to　make　one　of　them　speak。　　D'Albufex　had　shown　him　how　to　set　about　it；　and　Clarisse　Mergy　would　be　inflexible　where　it　was　a　question　of　saving　her　son。

He　took　the　rope　with　which　he　had　provided　himself　and　groped　about　to　find　a　jagged　piece　of　rock　round　which　to　pass　it；　so　as　to　leave　two　equal　lengths　hanging；　by　which　he　could　let　himself　down。　　But；　when　he　found　what　he　wanted；　instead　of　acting　swiftly　…　for　the　business　was　urgent　…　he　stood　motionless；　thinking。　　His　scheme　failed　to　satisfy　him　at　the　last　moment。

〃It's　absurd；　what　I'm　proposing；〃　he　said　to　himself。　　〃Absurd　and　illogical。　　How　can　I　tell　that　d'Albufex　and　Sebastiani　will　not　escape　me？　　How　can　I　even　tell　that；　once　they　are　in　my　power；　they　will　speak？　　No；　I　shall　stay。　　There　are　better　things　to　try。。。　much　better　things。　　It's　not　those　two　I　must　be　at；　but　Daubrecq。　　He's　done　for；　he　has　not　a　kick　left　in　him。　　If　he　has　told　the　marquis　his　secret；　there　is　no　reason　why　he　shouldn't　tell　it　to　Clarisse　and　me；　when　we　employ　the　same　methods。　　That's　settled！　　We'll　kidnap　the　Daubrecq　bird。〃　　And　he　continued；　〃Besides；　what　do　I　risk？　　If　the　scheme　miscarries；　Clarisse　and　I　will　rush　off　to　Paris　and；　together　with　Prasville；　organize　a　careful　watch　in　the　Square　Lamartine　to　prevent　d'Albufex　from　benefiting　by　Daubrecq's　revelations。　　The　great　thing　is　for　Prasville　to　be　warned　of　the　danger。　　He　shall　be。〃

The　church…clock　in　a　neighbouring　village　struck　twelve。　　That　gave　Lupin　six　or　seven　hours　to　put　his　new　plan　into　execution。　　He　set　to　work　forthwith。

When　moving　away　from　the　embrasure　which　had　the　window　at　the　bottom　of　it；　he　had　come　upon　a　clump　of　small　shrubs　in　one　of　the　hollows　of　the　cliff。　　He　cut　away　a　dozen　of　these；　with　his　knife；　and　whittled