Arsène Lupin versus Herlock Sholmes (17 page)

“Ah! What’s the matter, Monsieur Lupin? You seem to be displeased about something.”

Lupin turned around. Herlock Sholmes stood before him!

And when the Englishman spoke his words were tinged with that keen sarcasm and mocking politeness with which his adversary had so often lashed him. He said:

Herlock Sholmes! … Lupin gazed at him with squinting eyes as if his sight were defective and misleading. Herlock Sholmes in Paris! Herlock Sholmes, whom he had shipped to England only the day before as a dangerous person, now stood before him free and victorious! … Ah! Such a thing was nothing less than a miracle; it was contrary to all natural laws; it was the culmination of all that is illogical and abnormal … Herlock Sholmes here—before his face!

“Monsieur Lupin, in, the first place I have the honor to inform you that at this time and place I blot from my memory forever all thoughts of the miserable night that you forced me to endure in the house of Baron d’Hautrec, of the injury done to my friend Wilson, of my abduction in the automobile, and of the voyage I took yesterday under your orders, bound to a very uncomfortable couch. But the joy of this moment effaces all those bitter memories. I forgive everything. I forget everything—I wipe out the debt. I am paid—and royally paid.”

Lupin made no reply. So the Englishman continued:

“Don’t you think so yourself?”

He appeared to insist as if demanding an acquiescence, as a sort of receipt in regard to the part.

After a moment’s reflection, during which the Englishman felt that he was scrutinized to the very depth of his soul, Lupin declared:

“I presume, monsieur, that your conduct is based upon serious motives?”

“Very serious.”

“The fact that you have escaped from my captain and his crew is only a secondary incident of our struggle. But the fact that you are here before me alone—understand, alone—face to face with Arsène Lupin, leads me to think that your revenge is as complete as possible.”

“As complete as possible.”

“This house?”

“Surrounded.”

“The two adjoining houses?”

“Surrounded.”

“The apartment above this?”

“The 
three
 apartments on the fifth floor that were formerly occupied by Monsieur Dubreuil are surrounded.”

“So that—”

“So that you are captured, Monsieur Lupin—absolutely captured.”

The feelings that Sholmes had experienced during his trip in the automobile were now suffered by Lupin, the same concentrated fury, the same revolt, and also, let us admit, the same loyalty of submission to force of circumstances. Equally brave in victory or defeat.

“Our accounts are squared, monsieur,” said Lupin, frankly.

The Englishman was pleased with that confession. After a short silence Lupin, now quite self-possessed, said smiling:

“And I am not sorry! It becomes monotonous to win all the time. Yesterday I had only to stretch out my hand to finish you forever. To-day I belong to you. The game is yours.” Lupin laughed heartily and then continued: “At last the gallery will be entertained! Lupin in prison! How will he get out? In prison! … What an adventure! … Ah! Sholmes, life is just one damn thing after another!”

He pressed his closed hands to his temples as if to suppress the tumultuous joy that surged within him, and his actions indicated that he was moved by an uncontrollable mirth. At last, when he had recovered his self-possession, he approached the detective and said:

“And now what are you waiting for?”

“What am I waiting for?”

“Yes; Ganimard is here with his men—why don’t they come in?”

“I asked him not to.”

“And he consented?”

“I accepted his services on condition that he would be guided by me. Besides, he thinks that Felix Davey is only an accomplice of Arsène Lupin.”

“Then I will repeat my question in another form. Why did you come in alone?”

“Because I wished to speak to you alone.”

“Ah! Ah! You have something to say to me.”

That idea seemed to please Lupin immensely. There are certain circumstances in which words are preferable to deeds.

“Monsieur Sholmes, I am sorry I cannot offer you an easy chair. How would you like that broken box? Or perhaps you would prefer the window ledge? I am sure a glass of beer would be welcome … light or dark? … But sit down, please.”

“Thank you; we can talk as well standing up.”

“Very well—proceed.”

“I will be brief. The object of my sojourn in France was not to accomplish your arrest. If I have been led to pursue you, it was because I saw no other way to achieve my real object.”

“Which was?”

“To recover the blue diamond.”

“The blue diamond!”

“Certainly; since the one found in Herr Bleichen’s tooth-powder was only an imitation.”

“Quite right; the genuine diamond was taken by the Blonde Lady. I made an exact duplicate of it and then, as I had designs on other jewels belonging to the Countess and as the Consul Herr Bleichen was already under suspicion, the aforesaid Blonde Lady, in order to avert suspicion, slipped the false stone into the aforesaid Consul’s luggage.”

“While you kept the genuine diamond?”

“Of course.”

“That diamond—I want it.”

“I am very sorry, but it is impossible.”

“I have promised it to the Countess de Crozon. I must have it.”

“How will you get it, since it is in my possession?”

“That is precisely the reason—because it is in your possession.”

“Oh! I am to give it to you?”

“Yes.”

“Voluntarily?”

“I will buy it.”

“Ah!” exclaimed Lupin, in an access of mirth, “You are certainly an Englishman. You treat this as a matter of business.”

“It is a matter of business.”

“Well! What is your offer?”

“The liberty of Mademoiselle Destange.”

“Her liberty? … I didn’t know she was under arrest.”

“I will give Monsieur Ganimard the necessary information. When deprived of your protection, she can readily be taken.”

Lupin laughed again, and said:

“My dear monsieur, you are offering me something you do not possess. Mademoiselle Destange is in a place of safety, and has nothing to fear. You must make me another offer.”

The Englishman hesitated, visibly embarrassed and vexed. Then, placing his hand on the shoulder of his adversary, he said:

“And if I should propose to you-”

“My liberty?”

“No … but I can leave the room to consult with Ganimard.”

“And leave me alone?”

“Yes.”

“Ah! Mon dieu, what good would that be? The cursed mechanism will not work,” said Lupin, at the same time savagely pushing the moulding of the mantel. He stifled a cry of surprise; this time fortune favored him—the block of marble moved. It was his salvation; his hope of escape. In that event, why submit to the conditions imposed by Sholmes? He paced up and down the room, as if he were considering his reply. Then, in his turn, he placed his hand on the shoulder of his adversary, and said:

“All things considered, Monsieur Sholmes, I prefer to do my own business in my own way.”

“But—”

“No, I don’t require anyone’s assistance.”

“When Ganimard gets his hand on you, it will be all over. You can’t escape from them.”

“Who knows?”

“Come, that is foolish. Every door and window is guarded.”

“Except one.”

“Which?”

“
The one I will choose
.”

“Mere words! Your arrest is as good as made.”

“Oh! No—not at all.”

“Well?”

“I shall keep the blue diamond.”

Sholmes looked at his watch, and said:

“It is now ten minutes to three. At three o’clock I shall call Ganimard.”

“Well, then, we have ten minutes to chat. And to satisfy my curiosity, Monsieur Sholmes, I should like to know how you procured my address and my name of Felix Davey?”

Although his adversary’s easy manner caused Sholmes some anxiety, he was willing to give Lupin the desired information since it reflected credit on his professional astuteness; so he replied:

“Your address? I got it from the Blonde Lady.”

“Clotilde!”

“Herself. Do you remember, yesterday morning, when I wished to take her away in the automobile, she telephoned to her dressmaker.”

“Well?”

“Well, I understood, later, that you were the dressmaker. And last night, on the boat, by exercising my memory—and my memory is something I have good reason to be proud of—I was able to recollect the last two figures of your telephone number—73. Then, as I possessed a list of the houses you had ‘improved,’ it was an easy matter, on my arrival in Paris at eleven o’clock this morning, to search in the telephone directory and find there the name and address of Felix Davey. Having obtained that information, I asked the aid of Monsieur Ganimard.”
“Admirable! I congratulate you. But bow did you manage to catch the eight o’clock train at Havre! How did you escape from 
The Swallow
?”

“I did not escape.”

“But—”

“You ordered the captain not to reach Southampton before one o’clock. He landed me there at midnight. I was able to catch the twelve o’clock boat for Havre.”

“Did the captain betray me? I can’t believe it.”

“No, he did not betray you.”

“Well, what then?”

“It was his watch.”

“His watch?”

“Yes, I put it ahead one hour.”

“How?”

“In the usual way, by turning the hands. We were sitting side by side, talking, and I was telling him some funny stories … Why! He never saw me do it.”

“Bravo! A very clever trick. I shall not forget it. But the clock that was hanging on the wall of the cabin?”

“Ah! The clock was a more difficult matter, as my feet were tied, but the sailor, who guarded me during the captain’s absence, was kind enough to turn the hands for me.”

“He? Nonsense! He wouldn’t do it.”

“Oh! But he didn’t know the importance of his act. I told him I must catch the first train for London, at any price, and … he allowed himself to be persuaded—”

“By means of—”

“By means of a slight gift, which the excellent fellow, loyal and true to his master, intends to send to you.”

“What was it?”

“A mere trifle.”

“But what?”

“The blue diamond.”

“The blue diamond!”

“Yes, the false stone that you substituted for the Countess’ diamond. She gave it to me.”

There was a sudden explosion of violent laughter. Lupin laughed until the tears started in his eyes.

“Mon dieu, but it is funny! My false diamond palmed off on my innocent sailor! And the captain’s watch! And the hands of the clock!”

Sholmes felt that the duel between him and Lupin was keener than ever. His marvellous instinct warned him that, behind his adversary’s display of mirth, there was a shrewd intellect debating the ways and means to escape. Gradually Lupin approached the Englishman, who recoiled, and, unconsciously, slipped his hand into his watch-pocket.

“It is three o’clock, Monsieur Lupin.”

“Three o’clock, already? What a pity! We were enjoying our chat so much.”

“I am waiting for your answer.”

“My answer? Mon dieu! but you are particular! … And so this is the last move in our little game—and the stake is my liberty!”

“Or the blue diamond.”

“Very well. It’s your play. What are you going to do?”

“I play the king,” said Sholmes, as he fired his revolver.

“And I the ace,” replied Lupin, as he struck at Sholmes with his fist.

Sholmes had fired into the air, as a signal to Ganimard, whose assistance he required. But Lupin’s fist had caught Sholmes in the stomach, and caused him to double up with pain. Lupin rushed to the fireplace and set the marble slab in motion … Too late! The door opened.

“Surrender, Lupin, or I fire!”

Ganimard, doubtless stationed closer than Lupin had thought, Ganimard was there, with his revolver turned on Lupin. And behind Ganimard there were twenty men, strong and ruthless fellows, who would beat him like a dog at the least sign of resistance.

“Hands down! I surrender!” said Lupin, calmly; and he folded his arms across his breast.

Everyone was amazed. In the room, divested of its furniture and hangings, Arsène Lupin’s words sounded like an echo … “I surrender!” … It seemed incredible. No one would have been astonished if he had suddenly vanished through a trap, or if a section of the wall had rolled away and allowed him to escape. But he surrendered!

Ganimard advanced, nervously, and with all the gravity that the importance of the occasion demanded, he placed his hand on the shoulder of his adversary, and had the infinite pleasure of saying:

“I arrest you, Arsène Lupin.”

“Brrr!” said Lupin, “you make me shiver, my dear Ganimard. What a lugubrious face! One would imagine you were speaking over the grave of a friend. For Heaven’s sake, don’t assume such a funereal air.”

“I arrest you.”

“Don’t let that worry you! In the name of the law, of which he is a well-deserving pillar, Ganimard, the celebrated Parisian detective, arrests the wicked Arsène Lupin. An historic event, of which you will appreciate the true importance … And it is the second time that it has happened. Bravo, Ganimard, you are sure of advancement in your chosen profession!”

And he held out his wrists for the hand-cuffs. Ganimard adjusted them in a most solemn manner. The numerous policemen, despite their customary presumption and the bitterness of their feelings toward Lupin, conducted themselves with becoming modesty, astonished at being permitted to gaze upon that mysterious and intangible creature.

“My poor Lupin,” sighed our hero, “what would your aristocratic friends say if they should see you in this humiliating position?”

He pulled his wrists apart with all his strength. The veins in his forehead expanded. The links of the chain cut into his flesh. The chain fell off—broken.

“Another, comrades, that one was useless.”

They placed two on him this time.

“Quite right,” he said. “You cannot be too careful.”

Then, counting the detectives and policemen, he said: