the crystal stopper-第19部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

ake…up　box；　a　trunk　filled　with　every　variety　of　wearing…apparel；　another　crammed　with　〃properties〃　　…　umbrellas；　walking…sticks；　scarves；　eye…glasses　and　so　on　…　in　short；　a　complete　set　of　paraphernalia　which　enabled　him　to　alter　his　appearance　from　top　to　toe　in　the　course　of　a　drive。

The　man　who　rang　at　Daubrecq　the　deputy's　gate；　at　six　o…clock　that　evening；　was　a　stout；　elderly　gentleman；　in　a　black　frock…coat；　a　bowler　hat；　spectacles　and　whiskers。

The　portress　took　him　to　the　front…door　of　the　house　and　rang　the　bell。　Victoire　appeared。

Lupin　asked：

〃Can　M。　Daubrecq　see　Dr。　Vernes？〃

〃M。　Daubrecq　is　in　his　bedroom；　and　it　is　rather　late。。。　〃

〃Give　him　my　card；　please。〃

He　wrote　the　words；　〃From　Mme。　Mergy；〃　in　the　margin　and　added：

〃There；　he　is　sure　to　see　me。〃

〃But。。。　〃　Victoire　began。

〃Oh；　drop　your　buts；　old　dear；　do　as　I　say；　and　don't　make　such　a　fuss　about　it！〃

She　was　utterly　taken　aback　and　stammered：

〃You！。。。　is　it　you？〃

No；　it's　Louis　XIV。！〃　　And；　pushing　her　into　a　corner　of　the　hall；　〃Listen。。。　　The　moment　I'm　done　with　him；　go　up　to　your　room；　put　your　things　together　anyhow　and　clear　out。〃

What！〃

〃Do　as　I　tell　you。　　You'll　find　my　car　waiting　down　the　avenue。　　Come；　stir　your　stumps！　　Announce　me。　　I'll　wait　in　the　study。〃

〃But　it's　dark　in　there。〃

〃Turn　on　the　light。〃

She　switched　on　the　electric　light　and　left　Lupin　alone。

〃It's　here；〃　he　reflected；　as　he　took　a　seat；　〃it's　here　that　the　crystal　stopper　byes。。。　Unless　Daubrecq　always　keeps　it　by　him。。。　　But　no；　when　people　have　a　good　hiding…place；　they　make　use　of　it。　　And　this　is　a　capital　one；　for　none　of　us。。。　so　far。。。　〃

Concentrating　all　his　attention；　he　examined　the　objects　in　the　room；　and　he　remembered　the　note　which　Daubrecq　wrote　to　Prasville：

　　　　　　　　〃Within　reach　of　your　hand；　my　dear　Prasville！。。。　　　　　　　　　　You　touched　it！　　A　little　more　and　the　trick　was　done。。。

Nothing　seemed　to　have　moved　since　that　day。　　The　same　things　were　lying　about　on　the　desk：　books；　account…books；　a　bottle　of　ink；　a　stamp…box；　pipes；　tobacco；　things　that　had　been　searched　and　probed　over　and　over　again。

〃The　bounder！〃　thought　Lupin。　　〃He's　organized　his　business　jolly　cleverly。　　It's　all　dove…tailed　like　a　well…made　play。〃

In　his　heart　of　hearts；　though　he　knew　exactly　what　he　had　come　to　do　and　how　he　meant　to　act；　Lupin　was　thoroughly　aware　of　the　danger　and　uncertainty　attending　his　visit　to　so　powerful　an　adversary。　　It　was　quite　within　the　bounds　of　possibility　that　Dauhrecq；　armed　as　he　was；　would　remain　master　of　the　field　and　that　the　conversation　would　take　an　absolutely　different　turn　from　that　which　Lupin　anticipated。

And　this　prospect　angered　him　somewhat。

He　drew　himself　up；　as　he　heard　a　sound　of　footsteps　approaching。

Daubrecq　entered。

He　entered　without　a　word；　made　a　sign　to　Lupin；　who　had　risen　from　his　chair；　to　resume　his　seat　and　himself　sat　down　at　the　writing…desk。　Glancing　at　the　card　which　he　held　in　his　hand：

〃Dr。　Vernes？〃

〃Yes；　monsieur　le　depute；　Dr。　Vernes；　of　Saint…Germain。〃

〃And　I　see　that　you　come　from　Mme。　Mergy。　　A　patient　of　yours？〃

〃A　recent　patient。　　I　did　not　know　her　until　I　was　called　in　to　see　her；　the　other　day；　in　particularly　tragic　circumstances。

〃Is　she　ill？〃

〃Mme。　Mergy　has　taken　poison。〃

〃What！〃

Daubrecq　gave　a　start　and　he　continued；　without　concealing　his　distress：

〃What's　that　you　say？　　Poison！　　Is　she　dead？〃

〃No；　the　dose　was　not　large　enough。　　If　no　compilcations　ensue；　I　consider　that　Mme。　Mergy's　life　is　saved。〃

Daubrecq　said　nothing　and　sat　silent；　with　his　head　turned　to　Lupin。

〃Is　he　looking　at　me？　Are　his　eyes　open　or　shut？〃　　Lupin　asked　himself。

It　worried　Lupin　terribly　not　to　see　his　adversary's　eyes；　those　eyes　hidden　by　the　double　obstacle　of　spectaicles　and　black　glasses：　weak；　bloodshot　eyes；　Mme。　Mergy　had　told　him。　How　could　he　follow　the　secret　train　of　the　man's　thought　without　seeing　the　expression　of　his　face？　It　was　almost　like　fighting　an　enemy　who　wielded　an　invisible　sword。

Presently；　Daubrecq　spoke：

〃So　Mme。　Mergy's　life　is　saved。。。　　And　she　has　sent　you　to　me。。。　　I　don't　quite　understand。。。　　I　hardly　know　the　lady。〃

Now　for　the　ticklish　moment；〃　thought　Lupin。　　〃Have　at　him！〃

And；　in　a　genial；　good…natured　and　rather　shy　tone；　he　said：

〃No；　monsieur　le　depute；　there　are　cases　in　which　a　doctor's　duty　becomes　very　complex。。。　very　puzzling。。。　　And　you　may　think　that；　in　taking　this　step。。。　　However；　to　cut　a　long　story　short；　while　I　was　attending　Mine。　Mergy；　she　made　a　second　attempt　to　poison　herself。。。　　Yes；　the　bottle；　unfortunately；　had　been　left　within　her　reach。　　I　snatched　it　from　her。　We　had　a　struggle。　　And；　railing　in　her　fever；　she　said　to　me；　in　broken　words；　'He's　the　man。。。　　He's　the　man。。。　　Daubrecq　the　deputy。。。　　Make　him　give　me　back　my　son。　　Tell　him　to。。。　or　else　I　would　rather　die。。。　。。。　　Yes；　now；　to…night。。。　I　would　rather　die。'　　That's　what　she　said；　monsieur　le　depute。。。　　So　I　thought　that　I　ought　to　let　you　know。　　It　is　quite　certain　that；　in　the　lady's　highly　nervous　state　of　mind。。。　Of　course；　I　don't　know　the　exact　meaning　of　her　words。。。　　I　asked　no　questions　of　anybody。。。　obeyed　a　spontaneous　impulse　and　came　straight　to　you。

Daubrecq　reflected　for　a　little　while　and　said：

〃It　amounts　to　this；　doctor；　that　you　have　come　to　ask　me　if　I　know　the　whereabouts　of　this　child　whom　I　presume　to　have　disappeared。　　Is　that　it？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃And；　if　I　did　happen　to　know；　you　would　take　him　back　to　his　mother？〃

There　was　a　longer　pause。　　Lupin　asked　himself：

〃Can　he　by　chance　have　swallowed　the　story？　　Is　the　threat　of　that　death　enough？　　Oh；　nonsense　it's　out　of　the　question！。。。　　And　yet。。。　and　yet。。。　he　seems　to　be　hesitating。〃

〃Will　you　excuse　me？〃　asked　Daubrecq；　drawing　the　telephone；　on　his　writing…desk；　toward　him。　　〃I　have　an　urgent　message。　　〃

〃Certainly；　monsieur　le　depute。〃

Daubrecq　called　out：

〃Hullo！。。。　822。19；　please；　822。19。〃

Having　repeated　the　number；　he　sat　without　moving。

Lupin　smiled：

〃The　headquarters　of　police。　isn't　it？　　The　secretary…general's　　office。。。　　　〃Yes；　doctor。。。　　How　do　you　know？〃

〃Oh；　as　a　divisional　surgeon；　I　sometimes　have　to　ring　them　up。

And；　within　himself；　Lupin　asked：

〃What　the　devil　does　all　this　mean？　　The　secretary…general　is　　Prasville。。。　　Then；　what？。。。　〃

Daubrecq　put　both　receivers　to　his　ears　and　said：

〃Are　you　822。19？　　　　　　　　I　want　to　speak　to　M。　Prasville；　the　secretary…general　。。。　　Do　you　say　he's　not　there？。。。　　Yes；　yes；　he　is：　he's　always　in　his　office　at　this　time。。。　　Tell　him　it's　M。　Daubrecq。。。　　M。　Daubrecq　the　deputy。。。　a　most　important　communication。〃

〃Perhaps　I'm　in　the　way？〃　Lupin　suggested。

〃Not　at　all；　doctor；　not　at　all；〃　said　Daubrecq。　　〃Besides；　what　I　have　to　say　has　a　certain　bearing　on　your　errand。〃　　And；　into　the　telephone；　〃Hullo！　　M。　Prasville？。。。　　Ah；　it's　you；　Prasville；　old　cock！。。。　Why；　you　seem　quite　staggered！　　Yes；　you're　right；　it's　an　age　since　you　and　I　met。　　But；　after　all；　we've　never　been　far　away　in　thought。。。　And　I've　had　plenty　of　visits　from　you　and　your　henchmen。。。　In　my　absence；　it's　true。　　Hullo！。。。　　What？。。。　Oh；　you're　in　a　hurry？　　I　beg　your　pardon！。。。　So　am　I；　for　that　matter。。。　　Well；　to　come　to　the　point；　there's　a　little　service　I　want　to　do　you。。。　　Wait；　can't　you；　you　brute？。。。　You　won't　regret　it。。。　　It　concerns　your　renown。。。　　Hullo！。。。　　Are　you　　listening？。。。　Well；　take　half…a…dozen　men　with　you。。。　plain…clothes　detectives；　by　preference：　you'll　find　them　at　the　night…office。。。　Jump　into　a　taxi；　two　taxis；　and　come　along　here　as　fast　as　you　can。。。　　I've　got　a　rare　quarry　for　you；　old　chap。　　One　of　the　upper　ten。。。　a　lord；　a　marquis　Napoleon　himself。。。　in　a　word；　Arsene　Lupin！〃

Lupin　sprang　to　his　feet。　　He　was　prepared　for　everything　but　this。　　Yet　something　within　him　stronger　than　astonishment；　an　impulse　of　his　whole　nature；　made　him　say；　with　a　laugh：

〃Oh；　well　done；　well　done！〃

Daubrecq　bowed　his　head；　by　way　of　thanks；　and　muttered：

〃I　haven't　quite　finished。。。　A　little　patience；　if　you　don't　mind。〃　And　he　continued；　〃Hullo！　　Prasville！。。。　No；　no；　old　chap；　I'm　not　　humbugging。。。　You'll　find　Lupin　here；　with　me；　in　my　study。。。　Lupin；　who's　worrying　me　like　the　rest　of　you。。。　　Oh；　one　more　or　less　makes　no　difference　to　me！　　But；　all　the　same；　this　one's　a　bit　too　pushing。　And　I　am　appealing　to　your　sense　of　kindness。　　Rid　me　of　the　fellow；　do。。。　　Half…a…dozen　of　your　satellites　and　the　two　who　are　pacing　up　and　down　outside　my　house　will　be　enough。。。　　Oh；　while　you're　about　it；　go　up　to　the　third　floor　and　rope　in　my　cook　as　well。。。　She's　the　famous　Victoire：　you　know；　Master　Lupin's　old　nurse。。。　And；　look　here；　one　more　tip；　to　show　you　how　I　love　you：　send　a　squad　of　men　to　the　Rue　Chateaubriand；　at　the　corner　of　the　Rue　Balzac。。。　That's　where　our　national　hero　lives；　under　the　name　of　Michel　Beaumont。。。　　Do　you　twig；　old　cockalorum？　　And　now　to　business。　　Hustle！〃

When　Daubrecq　turned　his　head；　Lupin　was　standing　up；　with　clenched　fists。　　His　burst　of　admiration　had　not　survived　the　rest　of　the　speech　and　the　revelations　which　Daubrecq　had　made　about　Victoire　and　t