the crystal stopper-第50章

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Prasville　lowered　his　head　and　put　his　hand　to　his　forehead　to　hide　his　flushed　face：　he　was　almost　possessing　the　list　of　the　Twenty…seven。　　It　lay　before　him；　on　the　table。

Mastering　his　emotion；　he　said；　in　a　casual　tone：

〃So　it　is　there　still？〃

〃At　least；　I　suppose　so；〃　declared　M。　Nicole。

〃Whatl　You　suppose　so？〃

〃I　have　not　opened　the　hiding…place。　　I　thought；　monsieur　le　　secreaire…general；　I　would　reserve　that　honour　for　you。〃

Prasville　put　out　his　hand；　took　the　thing　up　and　inspected　it。　　It　was　a　block　of　crystal；　imitating　nature　to　perfection；　with　all　the　details　of　the　eyeball；　the　iris；　the　pupil；　the　cornea。

He　at　once　saw　a　movable　part　at　the　back；　which　slid　in　a　groove。　　He　pushed　it。　　The　eye　was　hollow。

There　was　a　tiny　ball　of　paper　inside。　　He　unfolded　it；　smoothed　it　out　and；　quickly；　without　delaying　to　make　a　preliminary　examination　of　the　names；　the　hand…writing　or　the　signatures；　he　raised　his　arms　and　turned　the　paper　to　the　light　from　the　windows。

〃Is　the　cross　of　Lorraine　there？〃　asked　M。　Nicole。

〃Yes；　it　is　there；〃　replied　Prasville。　　〃This　is　the　genuine　list。〃

He　hesitated　a　few　seconds　and　remained　with　his　arms　raised；　while　reflecting　what　he　would　do。　　Then　he　folded　up　the　paper　again；　replaced　it　in　its　little　crystal　sheath　and　put　the　whole　thing　in　his　pocket。　M。　Nicole；　who　was　looking　at　him；　asked：

〃Are　you　convinced？〃

〃Absolutely。〃

〃Then　we　are　agreed？〃

〃We　are　agreed。〃

There　was　a　pause；　during　which　the　two　men　watched　each　other　without　appearing　to。　M。　Nicole　seemed　to　be　waiting　for　the　conversation　to　be　resumed。　　Prasville；　sheltered　behind　the　piles　of　books　on　the　table；　sat　with　one　hand　grasping　his　revolver　and　the　other　touching　the　push　of　the　electric　bell。　　He　felt　the　whole　strength　of　his　position　with　a　keen　zest。　　He　held　the　list。　　He　held　Lupin：

〃If　he　moves；〃　he　thought；　〃I　cover　him　with　my　revolver　and　I　ring。　　If　he　attacks　me；　I　shoot。〃

And　the　situation　appeared　to　him　so　pleasant　that　he　prolonged　it；　with　the　exquisite　relish　of　an　epicure。

In　the　end；　M。　Nicole　took　up　the　threads：

〃As　we　are　agreed；　monsieur　le　secretaire…general；　I　think　there　is　nothing　left　for　you　to　do　but　to　hurry。　　Is　the　execution　to　take　place　to…morrow？〃

〃Yes；　to　…　morrow。〃

〃In　that　case；　I　shall　wait　here。〃

〃Wait　for　what？〃　　　　　　　　　　〃The　answer　from　the　Elysee。〃

〃Oh；　is　some　one　to　bring　you　an　answer？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃You；　monsieur　le　secretaire…geneal。〃

rasville　shook　his　head：

You　must　not　count　on　me；　M。　Nicole。〃

〃Really？〃　said　M。　Nicole；　with　an　air　of　surprise。

May　I　ask　the　reason？〃

〃I　have　changed　my　mind。〃

〃Is　that　all？〃

〃That's　all。　　I　have　come　to　the　conclusion　that；　as　things　stand；　after　this　last　scandal；　it　is　impossible　to　try　to　do　anything　in　Gilbert's　favour。　　Besides；　an　attempt　in　this　direction　at　the　Elysee；　under　present　conditions；　would　constitute　a　regular　case　of　blackmail；　to　which　I　absolutely　decline　to　lend　myself。〃

〃You　are　free　to　do　as　you　please；　monsieur。　　Your　scruples　do　you　honour；　though　they　come　rather　late；　for　they　did　not　trouble　you　yesterday。　But；　in　that　case；　monsieur　le　secretaire…general；　as　the　compact　between　us　is　destroyed；　give　me　back　the　list　of　the　Twenty…seven。〃

〃What　for？〃

〃So　that　I　may　apply　to　another　spokesman。〃

〃What's　the　good？　　Gilbert　is　lost。〃

〃Not　at　all；　not　at　all。　　On　the　contrary；　I　consider　that；　now　that　his　accomplice　is　dead；　it　will　be　much　easier　to　grant　him　a　pardon　which　everybody　will　look　upon　as　fair　and　humane。　　Give　me　back　the　list。〃

〃Upon　my　word；　monsieur；　you　have　a　short　memory　and　none　too　nice　a　conscience。　　Have　you　forgotten　your　promise　of　yesterday？〃

〃Yesterday；　I　made　a　promise　to　a　M。　Nicole。〃

〃Well？〃

〃You　are　not　M。　Nicole。〃

〃Indeed！　　Then；　pray；　who　am　I？〃

〃Need　I　tell　you？〃

M。　Nicole　made　no　reply；　but　began　to　laugh　softly；　as　though　pleased　at　the　curious　turn　which　the　conversation　was　taking；　and　Prasville　felt　a　vague　misgiving　at　observing　that　fit　of　merriment。　　He　grasped　the　butt…end　of　his　revolver　and　wondered　whether　he　ought　not　to　ring　for　help。

M。　Nicole　drew　his　chair　close　to　the　desk；　put　his　two　elbows　on　the　table；　looked　Prasville　straight　in　the　face　and　jeered：

〃So；　M。　Prasvilie；　you　know　who　I　am　and　you　have　the　assurance　to　play　this　game　with　me？〃

〃I　have　that　assurance；〃　said　Prasvllle；　accepting　the　sneer　without　flinching。

〃Which　proves　that　you　consider　me；　Arsene　Lupin　…　we　may　as　well　use　the　name：　yes；　Arsene　Lupin　…　which　proves　that　you　consider　me　fool　enough；　dolt　enough　to　deliver　myself　like　this；　bound　hand　and　foot　into　your　hands。〃

〃Upon　my　word；〃　said　Prasville；　airily；　patting　the　waistcoat…pocket　in　which　he　had　secreted　the　crystal　ball；　〃I　don't　quite　see　what　you　can　do；　M。　Nicole；　now　that　Daubrecq's　eye　is　here；　with　the　list　of　the　Twenty…seven　inside　it。〃

〃What　I　can　do？〃　echoed　M。　Nicole；　ironically。

〃Yes！　　The　talisman　no　longer　protects　you；　and　you　are　now　no　better　off　than　any　other　man　who　might　venture　into　the　very　heart　of　the　police…office；　among　some　dozens　of　stalwart　fellows　posted　behind　each　of　those　doors　and　some　hundreds　of　others　who　will　hasten　up　at　the　first　signal。〃

M。　Nicole　shrugged　his　shoulders　and　gave　Prasville　a　look　of　great　commiseration：

〃Shall　I　tell　you　what　is　happening；　monsieur　le　secretaire…general？　Well；　you　too　are　having　your　head　turned　by　all　this　business　　Now　that　you　possess　the　list；　your　state　of　mind　has　suddenly　sunk　to　that　of　a　Daubrecq　or　a　d'Albufex。　　There　is　no　longer　even　a　question；　in　your　thoughts；　of　taking　it　to　your　superiors；　so　that　this　ferment　of　disgrace　and　discord　may　be　ended。　　No；　no；　a　sodden　temptation　has　seized　upon　you　and　intoxicated　you；　and；　losing　your　head；　you　say　to　yourself；　'It　is　here；　in　my　pocket。　　With　its　aid；　I　am　omnipotent。　　It　means　wealth；　absolute；　unbounded　power。　　Why　not　benefit　by　it？　　Why　not　let　Gi1hert　and　Clarisse　Mergy　die？　　Why　not　lock　up　that　idiot　of　a　Lupin？　　Why　not　seize　this　unparalleled　piece　of　fortune　by　the　forelock？〃'

He　bent　toward　Prasville　and；　very　softly；　in　a　friendly　and　confidential　tone；　said：

〃Don't　do　that；　my　dear　sir；　don't　do　it。〃

〃And　why　not？〃

〃It　is　not　to　your　interest；　believe　me。〃

〃Really！〃

〃No。　　Or；　if　you　absolutely　insist　on　doing　it；　have　the　kindness　first　to　consult　the　twenty…seven　names　on　the　list　of　which　you　have　just　robbed　me　and　reflect；　for　a　moment；　on　the　name　of　the　third　person　on　it。〃

〃Oh？　And　what　is　the　name　of　that　third　person？〃

〃It　is　the　name　of　a　friend　of　yours。〃

〃What　friend？

〃Stanislas　Vorenglade；　the　ex…deputy。〃

〃And　then？〃　said　Prasville；　who　seemed　to　be　losing　some　of　his　self…confidence。

〃Then？　Ask　yourself　if　an　inquiry；　however　summary；　would　not　end　by　discovering；　behind　that　Stanislas　Vorenglade；　the　name　of　one　who　shared　certain　little　profits　with　him。〃

〃And　whose　name　is？〃

〃Louis　Prasville。〃

M。　Nicole　banged　the　table　with　his　fist。

〃Enough　of　this　humbug；　monsieur！　　For　twenty　minutes；　you　and　I　have　been　beating　about　the　bush。　　That　will　do。　　Let　us　understand　each　other。　And；　to　begin　with；　drop　your　pistols。　　You　can't　imagine　that　I　am　frightened　of　those　playthings！　　Stand　up；　sir；　stand　up；　as　I　am　doing；　and　finish　the　business：　I　am　in　a　hurry。〃

He　put　his　hand　on　Prasville's　shoulder　and；　speaking　with　great　deliberation；　said：

〃If；　within　an　hour　from　now；　you　are　not　back　from　the　Elysee；　bringing　with　you　a　line　to　say　that　the　decree　of　pardon　has　been　signed；　if；　within　one　hour　and　ten　minutes；　I；　Arsene　Lupin；　do　not　walk　out　of　this　building　safe　and　sound　and　absolutely　free；　this　evening　four　Paris　newspapers　will　receive　four　letters　selected　from　the　　correspondence　exchanged　between　Stanislas　Vorenglade　and　yourself；　the　correspondence　which　Stanislas　Vorenglade　sold　me　this　morning。　　Here's　your　hat；　here's　your　overcoat；　here's　your　stick。　　Be　off。　　I　will　wait　for　you。〃

Then　happened　this　extraordinary　and　yet　easily　understood　thing；　that　Prasville　did　not　raise　the　slightest　protest　nor　make　the　least　s