the crystal stopper-第37章
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trains； and they crawl！ We've lost over three hours。〃
The wait seemed interminable。 They booked their seats。 They telephoned to the proprietor of the Hotel Franklin to send on their letters to Monte Carlo。 They dined。 They read the papers。 At last； at half…past nine； the train started。
And so； by a really tragic series of circumstances； at the most critical moment of the contest； Lupin was turning his back on the battlefield and going away； at haphazard； to seek； he knew not where； and beat； he knew not how； the most formidable and elusive enemy that he had ever fought。
And this was happening four days； five days at most； before the inevitable execution of Gilbert and Vaucheray。
It was a bad and painful night for Lupin。 The more he studied the situation the more terrible it appeared to him。 On every side he was faced with uncertainty； darkness； confusion； helplessness。
True； he knew the secret of the crystal stopper。 But how was he to know that Daubrecq would not change or had not already changed his tactics？ How was he to know that the list of the Twenty…seven was still inside that crystal stopper or that the crystal stopper was still inside the object where Daubrecq had first hidden it？
And there was a further serious reason for alarm in the fact that Clarisse Mergy thought that she was shadowing and watching Daubrecq at a time when； on the contrary； Daubrecq was watching her； having her shadowed and dragging her； with diabolical cleverness； toward the places selected by himself； far from all help or hope of help。
Oh； Daubrecq's game was clear as daylight！ Did not Lupin know the unhappy woman's hesitations？ Did he not know … and the Growler and the Masher confirmed it most positively … that Clarisse looked upon the infamous bargain planned by Daubrecq in the light of a possible； an acceptable thing？ In that case； how could he； Lupin； succeed？ The logic of events； so powerfully moulded by Daubrecq； led to a fatal result： the mother must sacrifice herself and； to save her son； throw her scruples； her repugnance； her very honour； to the winds！
〃Oh； you scoundrel！〃 snarled Lupin； in a fit of rage。 〃If I get hold of you； I'll make you dance to a pretty tune！ I wouldn't be in your shoes for a great deal； when that happens。〃
They reached Monte Carlo at three o'clock in the afternoon。 Lupin was at once disappointed not to see Clarisse on the platform at the station。
He waited。 No messenger came up to him。
He asked the porters and ticket…collectors if they had noticed； among the crowd； two travellers answering to the description of Daubrecq and Clarisse。 They had not。
He had； therefore； to set to work and hunt through all the hotels and lodging…houses in the principality。 Oh； the time wasted！
By the following evening； Lupin knew； beyond a doubt； that Daubrecq and Clarisse were not at Monte Carlo； nor at Monaco； nor at the Cap d'Ail； nor at La Turbie； nor at Cap Martin。
〃Where can they be then？〃 he wondered； trembling with rage。
At last； on the Saturday； he received； at the poste restante； a telegram which had been readdressed from the Hotel Franklin and which said：
〃He got out at Cannes and is going on to San Remo； Hotel Palace des Ambassadeurs。 〃CLARISSE。〃
The telegram was dated the day before。
〃Hang it！〃 exclaimed Lupin 〃They passed through Monte Carlo。 One of us ought to have remained at the station。 I did think of it； but； in the midst of all that bustle。。。 〃
Lupin and his friends took the first train for Italy。
They crossed the frontier at twelve o'clock。 The train entered the station at San Remo at twelve…forty。
They at once saw an hotel…porter； with 〃Ambassadeurs…Palace〃 on his braided cap； who seemed to be looking for some one among the arrivals。
Lupin went up to him：
〃Are you looking for M。 Nicole？〃
〃Yes； M。 Nicole and two gentlemen。〃
〃From a lady？〃
〃Yes； Mme。 Mergy。〃
〃Is she staying at your hotel？〃
〃No。 She did not get out。 She beckoned to me； described you three gentlemen and told me to say that she was going on to Genoa； to the Hotel Continental。〃
〃Was she by herself？〃
〃Yes。〃
Lupin tipped the man； dismissed him and turned to his friends：
〃This is Saturday。 If the execution takes place on Monday； there's nothing to be done。 But Monday is not a likely day。。。 What I have to do is to lay hands on Daubrecq to…night and to be in Paris on Monday； with the document。 It's our last chance。 Let's take it。〃
The Growler went to the booking…office and returned with three tickets for Genoa。
The engine whistled。
Lupin had a last hesitation：
〃No； really； it's too childish！ What are we doing？ We ought to be in Paris； not here！。。。 Just think！。。。 〃
He was on the point of opening the door and jumping out on the permanent way。 But his companions held him back。 The train started。 He sat down again。
And they continued their mad pursuit； travelling at random； toward the unknown。。。 〃
And this happened two days before the inevitable execution of Gilbert and Vaucheray。
CHAPTER X
EXTRA…DRY？
On one of the hills that girdle Nice with the finest scenery in the world； between the Vallon de Saint…Silvestre and the Vallon de La Mantega； stands a huge hotel which overlooks the town and the wonderful Baie des Anges。 A crowd flocks to it from all parts； forming a medley of every class and nation。
On the evening of the same Saturday when Lupin； the Growler and the Masher were plunging into Italy； Clarisse Mergy entered this hotel； asked for a bedroom facing south and selected No。 130； on the second floor； a room which had been vacant since that morning。
The room was separated from No。 129 by two partition…doors。 As soon as she was alone； Clarisse pulled back the curtain that concealed the first door； noiselessly drew the bolt and put her ear to the second door：
〃He is here；〃 she thought。 〃He is dressing to go to the club。。。 as he dld yesterday。〃
When her neighbour had gone； she went into the passage and； availing herself of a moment when there was no one in sight； walked up to the door of No。 129。 The door was locked。
She waited all the evening for her neighbour's return and dld not go to bed until two o'clock。 On Sunday morning； she resumed her watch。
The neighbour went out at eleven。 This time he left the key in the door。
Hurriedly turning the key； Clarisse entered boldly； went to the partition…door； raised the curtain； drew the bolt and found herself in her own room。
In a few minutes； she heard two chambermaids doing the room in No。 129。
She waited until they were gone。 Then； feeling sure that she would not be dlsturbed； she once more slipped into the other room。
Her excitement made her lean against a chair。 After days and nights of stubborn pursuit； after alternate hopes and dlsappointments； she had at last succeeded in entering a room occupied by Daubrecq。 She could look about at her ease； and； if she dld not dlscover the crystal stopper； she could at least hide in the space between the partition…doors； behind the hanging； see Daubrecq； spy upon his movements and surprise his secret。
She looked around her。 A travelling…bag at once caught her attention。 She managed to open it； but her search was useless。
She ransacked the trays of a trunk and the compartments of a portmanteau。 She searched the wardrobe； the writing…table； the chest of drawers； the bathroom； all the tables； all the furniture。 She found nothing。
She gave a start when she saw a scrap of paper on the balcony； lying as though flung there by accident：
〃Can it be a trick of Daubrecq's？〃 she thought； out loud。 〃Can that scrap of paper contain。。。 〃
〃No；〃 said a voice behind her； as she put her hand on the latch。
She turned and saw Daubrecq。
She felt neither astonishment nor alann； nor even any embarrassment at finding herself face to face with him。 She had suffered too deeply for months to trouble about what Daubrecq could think of her or say； at catching her in the act of spying。
She sat down wearily。
He grinned：
〃No； you're out of it； dear friend。 As the children say； you're not 'burn
