The Essential Maurice Leblanc Collection. Морис ЛебланЧитать онлайн книгу.
Mr. Shears. Now it involves a woman ... and a woman whom I love. You see, we have very peculiar ideas about these things in France, and it does not follow that, because a man's name is Lupin, he will act differently: on the contrary!"
He said this quite simply. Shears gave him an imperceptible nod and whispered:
"Where is the blue diamond?"
"Take my cane, over there, in the chimney corner. Hold the knob in one hand and turn the iron ferrule with the other."
Shears took the cane, turned the ferrule and, as he turned it, perceived that the knob became unscrewed. Inside the knob was a ball of putty. Inside the putty a diamond.
He examined it. It was the blue diamond.
"Mlle. Destange is free, M. Lupin."
"Free in the future as in the present? She has nothing to fear from you?"
"Nor from any one else."
"Whatever happens?"
"Whatever happens. I have forgotten her name and where she lives."
"Thank you. And _au revoir_. For we shall meet again, Mr. Shears, shall we not?"
"I have no doubt we shall."
A more or less heated explanation followed between the Englishman and Ganimard and was cut short by Shears with a certain roughness:
"I am very sorry, M. Ganimard, that I can't agree with you. But I have no time to persuade you now. I leave for England in an hour."
"But ... the blonde lady?"
"I know no such person."
"Only a moment ago...."
"You must take it or leave it. I have already caught Lupin for you. Here is the blue diamond ... which you may have the pleasure of handing to the countess yourself. I can't see that you have anything to complain of."
"But the blonde lady?"
"Find her."
He settled his hat on his head and walked away with a brisk step, like a gentleman who has no time to loiter once his business is done.
* * * * *
"Good-bye, matre!" cried Lupin. "And a pleasant journey! I shall always remember the cordial relations between us. My kind regards to Mr. Wilson!"
He received no reply and chuckled:
"That's what we call taking English leave. Ah, those worthy islanders do not possess that elegant courtesy which distinguishes us. Just think, Ganimard, of the exit which a Frenchman would have made in similar circumstances! Under what exquisite politeness would he not have concealed his triumph!... But, Lord bless my soul, Ganimard, what are you doing? Well, I never: a search! But there's nothing left, my poor friend, not a scrap of paper! My archives have been moved to a place of safety."
"One can never tell."
Lupin looked on in resignation. Held by two inspectors and surrounded by all the rest, he patiently watched the various operations. But, after twenty minutes, he sighed:
"Come along, Ganimard; you'll never be finished, at this rate."
"Are you in a great hurry?"
"Yes, I should think I was! I have an important engagement!"
"At the police-station?"
"No, in town."
"Tut, tut! At what time?"
"At two o'clock."
"It's past three."
"Exactly: I shall be late; and there's nothing I detest so much as being late."
"Will you give me five minutes?"
"Not a minute longer."
"You're too good.... I'll try...."
"Don't talk so much.... What, that cupboard too? Why, it's empty!"
"There are some letters, for all that."
"Old bills."
"No, a bundle done up in ribbon."
"A pink ribbon, is it? Oh, Ganimard, don't untie it, for heaven's sake!"
"Are they from a woman?"
"Yes."
"A lady?"
"Rather!"
"What's her name?"
"Mme. Ganimard."
"Very witty! Oh, very witty!" cried the inspector, in an affected tone.
At that moment, the men returned from the other rooms and declared that their search had led to nothing. Lupin began to laugh:
"Of course not! Did you expect to find a list of my friends, or a proof of my relations with the German Emperor? What you ought to have looked for, Ganimard, are the little mysteries of this flat. For instance, that gas-pipe is a speaking tube. The chimney contains a staircase. This wall here is hollow. And such a tangle of bell-wires! Look here, Ganimard: just press that button."
Ganimard did as he was asked.
"Did you hear anything?"
"No."
"Nor I. And yet you have instructed the captain of my balloon-park to get ready the airship which is soon to carry us up to the sky."
"Come," said Ganimard, who had finished his inspection. "Enough of this nonsense. Let us start."
He took a few steps, followed by his men.
Lupin did not budge a foot's breadth.
His custodians pushed him. In vain.
"Well," said Ganimard, "do you refuse to come?"
"Not at all."
"Then ..."
"It all depends."
"Depends on what?"
"On where you're taking me."
"To the police-station, of course."
"Then I shan't come. I have nothing to do at the station."
"You're mad!"
"Didn't I tell you I had an important engagement?"
"Lupin!"
"Come, Ganimard, the blonde lady must be getting quite anxious about me; and do you think I could have the rudeness to keep her waiting? It would not be the conduct of a gentleman!"
"Listen to me, Lupin," said the inspector, who was beginning to lose his temper under all this chaff. "So far, I have treated you with excessive consideration. But there are limits. Follow me."
"Impossible. I have an engagement and that engagement I mean to keep."
"For the last time?"
"Im-possible!"
Ganimard made a sign. Two men seized Lupin under the arms and lifted him from the floor. But they dropped him at once with howls of pain: with his two hands, Arsne Lupin had dug two long needles into their flesh.
Maddened with rage, the others rushed upon him, wreaking their hatred at last, burning to avenge their comrades and themselves for the numberless affronts put upon them, and they rained a shower of blows upon his body. One