There was a constraint between them which increased as the awful day drew nigh.In her injustice, forgetting or wishing to forget that it was she who had forced her son into the Enghien enterprise, Mme.Mergy did not forget that the law was pursuing Gilbert with such rigour not so much because he was a criminal as because he was an accomplice of Arsene Lupin's.And then, notwithstanding all his efforts, notwithstanding his prodigious expenditure of energy, what result had Lupin achieved, when all was said? How far had his intervention benefited Gilbert?
After a pause, she rose and left him alone.
The next day he was feeling rather low.But on the day after, the Wednesday, when his doctor wanted him to keep quiet until the end of the week, he said:
"If not, what have I to fear?"
"A return of the fever."
"Nothing worse?"
"No.The wound is pretty well healed."
"Then I don't care.I'll go back with you in your car.We shall be in Paris by mid-day."What decided Lupin to start at once was, first, a letter in which Clarisse told him that she had found Daubrecq's traces, and, also, a telegram, published in the Amiens papers, which stated that the Marquis d'Albufex had been arrested for his complicity in the affair of the canal.
Daubrecq was taking his revenge.
Now the fact that Daubrecq was taking his revenge proved that the marquis had not been able to prevent that revenge by seizing the document which was on the writing-desk in the study.It proved that Chief-inspector Blanchon and the detectives had kept a good watch.It proved that the crystal stopper was still in the Square Lamartine.
It was still there; and this showed either that Daubrecq had not ventured to go home, or else that his state of health hindered him from doing so, or else again that he had sufficient confidence in the hiding-place not to trouble to put himself out.
In any case, there was no doubt as to the course to be pursued: Lupin must act and he must act smartly.He must forestall Daubrecq and get hold of the crystal stopper.
When they had crossed the Bois de Boulogne and were nearing the Square Lamartine, Lupin took leave of the doctor and stopped the car.The Growler and the Masher, to whom he had wired, met him.
"Where's Mme.Mergy?" he asked.
"She has not been back since yesterday; she sent us an express message to say that she saw Daubrecq leaving his cousins' place and getting into a cab.She knows the number of the cab and will keep us informed.""Nothing further?"
"Nothing further."
"No other news?"
"Yes, the Paris-Midi says that d'Albufex opened his veins last night, with a piece of broken glass, in his cell at the Sante.He seems to have left a long letter behind him, confessing his fault, but accusing Daubrecq of his death and exposing the part played by Daubrecq in the canal affair.""Is that all?"
"No.The same paper stated that it has reason to believe that the pardoning commission, after examining the record, has rejected Vaucheray and Gilbert's petition and that their counsel will probably be received in audience by the president on Friday."Lupin gave a shudder.
"They're losing no time," he said."I can see that Daubrecq, on the very first day, put the screw on the old judicial machine.One short week more...and the knife falls.My poor Gilbert! If, on Friday next, the papers which your counsel submits to the president of the Republic do not contain the conditional offer of the list of the Twenty-seven, then, my poor Gilbert, you are done for!""Come, come, governor, are you losing courage?""I? Rot! I shall have the crystal stopper in an hour.In two hours, Ishall see Gilbert's counsel.And the nightmare will be over.""Well done, governor! That's like your old self.Shall we wait for you here?""No, go back to your hotel.I'll join you later."They parted.Lupin walked straight to the house and rang the bell.
A detective opened the door and recognized him:
"M.Nicole, I believe?"
"Yes," he said."Is Chief-inspector Blanchon here?""He is."
"Can I speak to him?"
The man took him to the study, where Chief-inspector Blanchon welcomed him with obvious pleasure.
"Well, chief-inspector, one would say there was something new?""M.Nicole, my orders are to place myself entirely at your disposal; and I may say that I am very glad to see you to-day.""Why so?"
Because there is something new."
Something serious?"
"Something very serious."
"Quick, speak."
"Daubrecq has returned."
"Eh, what!" exclaimed Lupin, with a start."Daubrecq returned? Is he here?""No, he has gone."
And did he come in here, in the study?"
Yes."
"This morning."
And you did not prevent him?"
"What right had I?"
"And you left him alone?"
"By his positive orders, yes, we left him alone."Lupin felt himself turn pale.Daubrecq had come back to fetch the crystal stopper!
He was silent for some time and repeated to himself:
"He came back to fetch it...He was afraid that it would be found and he has taken it...Of course, it was inevitable...with d'Albufex arrested, with d'Albufex accused and accusing him, Daurecq was bound to defend himself.It's a difficult game for him.After months and months of mystery, the public is at last learning that the infernal being who contrived the whole tragedy of the Twenty-Seven and who ruins and kills his adversaries is he, Daubrecq.What would become of him if, by a miracle, his talisman did not protect him? He has taken it back."And, trying to make his voice sound firm, he asked:
"Did he stay long?"
"Twenty seconds, perhaps."
"What! Twenty seconds? No longer?"
"No longer."
"What time was it?"
"Ten o'clock."
