the crystal stopper-第1节

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The　Crystal　Stopper

by　Maurice　LeBlanc





CHAPTER　I

THE　ARRESTS


The　two　boats　fastened　to　the　little　pier　that　jutted　out　from　the　garden　lay　rocking　in　its　shadow。　　Here　and　there　lighted　windows　showed　through　the　thick　mist　on　the　margins　of　the　lake。　　The　Enghien　Casino　opposite　blazed　with　light；　though　it　was　late　in　the　season；　the　end　of　September。　A　few　stars　appeared　through　the　clouds。　　A　light　breeze　ruffled　the　surface　of　the　water。

Arsene　Lupin　left　the　summer…house　where　he　was　smoking　a　cigar　and；　bending　forward　at　the　end　of　the　pier：

〃Growler？〃　he　asked。　　〃Masher？。。。　　　Are　you　there？〃

A　man　rose　from　each　of　the　boats；　and　one　of　them　answered：

〃Yes；　governor。〃

〃Get　ready。　　I　hear　the　car　coming　with　Gilbert　and　Vaucheray。〃

He　crossed　the　garden；　walked　round　a　house　in　process　of　construction；　the　scaffolding　of　which　loomed　overhead；　and　cautiously　opened　the　door　on　the　Avenue　de　Ceinture。　　He　was　not　mistaken：　a　bright　light　flashed　round　the　bend　and　a　large；　open　motor…car　drew　up；　whence　sprang　two　men　in　great…coats；　with　the　collars　turned　up；　and　caps。

It　was　Gilbert　and　Vaucheray：　Gilbert；　a　young　fellow　of　twenty　or　twenty…two；　with　an　attractive　cast　of　features　and　a　supple　and　sinewy　frame；　Vaucheray；　older；　shorter；　with　grizzled　hair　and　a　pale；　sickly　face。

〃Well；〃　asked　Lupin；　〃did　you　see　him；　the　deputy？〃

〃Yes；　governor；〃　said　Gilbert；　〃we　saw　him　take　the　7。40　tram　for　Paris；　as　we　knew　he　would。〃

〃Then　we　are　free　to　act？〃

〃Absolutely。　　The　Villa　Marie…Therese　is　ours　to　do　as　we　please　with。〃

The　chauffeur　had　kept　his　seat。　　Lupin　gave　him　his　orders：

〃Don't　wait　here。　　It　might　attract　attention。　　Be　back　at　half…past　nine　exactly；　in　time　to　load　the　car　unless　the　whole　business　falls　through。〃


Why　should　it　fall　through？〃　observed　Gilbert。

The　motor　drove　away；　and　Lupin；　taking　the　road　to　the　lake　with　his　two　companions；　replied：

〃Why？　Because　I　didn't　prepare　the　plan；　and；　when　I　don't　do　a　thing　myself；　I　am　only　half…confident。〃

〃Nonsense；　governor！　　I've　been　working　with　you　for　three　years　now。。。　　I'm　beginning　to　know　the　ropes！〃

〃Yes；　my　lad；　you're　beginning；〃　said　Lupin；　〃and　that's　just　why　I'm　afraid　of　blunders。。。　Here；　get　in　with　me。。。　And　you；　Vaucheray；　take　the　other　boat。。。　That's　it。。。　And　now　push　off；　boys。。。　and　make　as　little　noise　as　you　can。〃

Growler　and　Masher；　the　two　oarsmen；　made　straight　for　the　opposite　bank；　a　little　to　the　left　of　the　casino。

They　met　a　boat　containing　a　couple　locked　in　each　other's　arms；　floating　at　random；　and　another　in　which　a　number　of　people　were　singing　at　the　top　of　their　voices。　　And　that　was　all。

Lupin　shifted　closer　to　his　companion　and　said；　under　his　breath：

〃Tell　me；　Gilbert；　did　you　think　of　this　job；　or　was　it　Vaucheray's　idea？〃

〃Upon　my　word；　I　couldn't　tell　you：　we've　both　of　us　been　discussing　it　for　weeks。〃

〃The　thing　is；　I　don't　trust　Vaucheray：　he's　a　low　ruflian　when　one　gets　to　know　him。。。　I　can't　make　out　why　I　don't　get　rid　of　him。。。　〃

〃Oh；　governor！〃

〃Yes；　yes；　I　mean　what　I　say：　he's　a　dangerous　fellow；　to　say　nothing　of　the　fact　that　he　has　some　rather　serious　peccadilloes　on　his　conscience。〃

He　sat　silent　for　a　moment　and　continued：

〃So　you're　quite　sure　that　you　saw　Daubrecq　the　deputy？〃

〃Saw　him　with　my　own　eyes；　governor。〃

〃And　you　know　that　he　has　an　appointment　in　Paris？〃

〃He's　going　to　the　theatre。〃

〃Very　well；　but　his　servants　have　remained　behind　at　the　Enghien　　　villa。。。　。〃

〃The　cook　has　been　sent　away。　　As　for　the　valet；　Leonard；　who　is　Daubrecq's　confidential　man；　he'll　wait　for　his　master　in　Paris。　　They　can't　get　back　from　town　before　one　o'clock　in　the　morning。　　But。。。　〃

〃But　what？〃

〃We　must　reckon　with　a　possible　freak　of　fancy　on　Daubrecq's　part；　a　change　of　mind；　an　unexpected　return；　and　so　arrange　to　have　everything　finished　and　done　with　in　an　hour。〃

〃And　when　did　you　get　these　details？〃

〃This　morning。　　Vaucheray　and　I　at　once　thought　that　it　was　a　favourable　moment。　　I　selected　the　garden　of　the　unfinished　house　which　we　have　just　left　as　the　best　place　to　start　from；　for　the　house　is　not　watched　at　night。　　I　sent　for　two　mates　to　row　the　boats；　and　I　telephoned　to　you。　That's　the　whole　story。〃

〃Have　you　the　keys？〃

〃The　keys　of　the　front…door。〃

〃Is　that　the　villa　which　I　see　from　here；　standing　in　its　own　grounds？〃

〃Yes；　the　Villa　Marie…Therese；　and　as　the　two　others；　with　the　gardens　touching　it　on　either　side；　have　been　unoccupied　since　this　day　week；　we　shall　be　able　to　remove　what　we　please　at　our　leisure；　and　I　swear　to　you；　governor；　it's　well　worth　while。〃

〃The　job's　much　too　simple；〃　mumbled　Lupin。　　〃No　charm　about　it！〃

They　landed　in　a　little　creek　whence　rose　a　few　stone　steps；　under　cover　of　a　mouldering　roof。　　Lupin　reflected　that　shipping　the　furniture　would　be　easy　work。　　But；　suddenly；　he　said：

〃There　are　people　at　the　villa。　　Look。。。　a　light。〃

〃It's　a　gas…jet；　governor。　　The　light's　not　moving。〃

The　Growler　stayed　by　the　boats；　with　instructions　to　keep　watch；　while　the　Masher；　the　other　rower；　went　to　the　gate　on　the　Avenue　de　Ceinture；　and　Lupin　and　his　two　companions　crept　in　the　shadow　to　the　foot　of　the　steps。

Gilbert　went　up　first。　　Groping　in　the　dark；　he　inserted　first　the　big　door…key　and　then　the　latch…key。　　Both　turned　easily　in　their　locks；　the　door　opened　and　the　three　men　walked　in。

A　gas…jet　was　flaring　in　the　hall。

〃You　see；　governor。。。　〃　said　Gilbert。

　〃Yes；　yes；〃　said　Lupin；　in　a　low　voice；　〃but　it　seems　to　me　that　the　light　which　I　saw　shining　did　not　come　from　here。。。　〃

〃Where　did　it　come　from　then？〃

〃I　can't　say。。。　Is　this　the　drawing…room？〃

〃No；〃　replied　Gilbert；　who　was　not　afraid　to　speak　pretty　loudly；　〃no。　By　way　of　precaution；　he　keeps　everything　on　the　first　floor；　in　his　bedroom　and　in　the　two　rooms　on　either　side　of　it。〃

〃And　where　is　the　staircase？〃

〃On　the　right；　behind　the　curtain。〃

Lupin　moved　to　the　curtain　and　was　drawing　the　hanging　aside　when；　suddenly；　at　four　steps　on　the　left；　a　door　opened　and　a　head　appeared；　a　pallid　man's　head；　with　terrified　eyes。

〃Help！　Murder！〃　shouted　the　man。

And　he　rushed　back　into　the　room。

〃It's　Leonard；　the　valet！〃　cried　Gilbert。

　〃If　he　makes　a　fuss；　I'll　out　him；〃　growled　Vaucheray。

〃You'll　jolly　well　do　nothing　of　the　sort；　do　you　hear；　Vaucheray？〃　said　Lupin；　peremptorily。　　And　he　darted　off　in　pursuit　of　the　servant。　　He　first　went　through　a　dining…room；　where　he　saw　a　lamp　still　lit；　with　plates　and　a　bottle　around　it；　and　he　found　Leonard　at　the　further　end　of　a　pantry；　making　vain　efforts　to　open　the　window：

〃Don't　move；　sportie！　　No　kid！　　Ah；　the　brute！

He　had　thrown　himself　flat　on　the　floor；　on　seeing　Leonard　raise　his　arm　at　him。　　Three　shots　were　fired　in　the　dusk　of　the　pantry；　and　then　the　valet　came　tumbling　to　the　ground；　seized　by　the　legs　by　Lupin；　who　snatched　his　weapon　from　him　and　gripped　him　by　the　throat：

〃Get　out；　you　dirty　brute！〃　he　growled。　　〃He　very　nearly　did　for　me。。。　　Here；　Vaucheray；　secure　this　gentleman！

He　threw　the　light　of　his　pocket…lantern　on　the　servant's　face　and　chuckled：

〃He's　not　a　pretty　gentleman　either。。。　　You　can't　have　a　very　clear　conscience；　Leonard；　besides；　to　play　flunkey　to　Daubrecq　the　deputy。。。　！　Have　you　finished；　Vaucheray？　　I　don't　want　to　hang　about　here　for　ever！〃

〃There's　no　danger；　governor；〃　said　Gilbert。

〃Oh；　really？。。。　So　you　think　that　shots　can't　be　heard？。。。　〃

〃Quite　impossible。〃

〃No　matter；　we　must　look　sharp。　Vaucheray；　take　the　lamp　and　let's　go　upstairs。〃

He　took　Gilbert　by　the　arm　and；　as　he　dragged　him　to　the　first　floor：

〃You　ass；〃　he　said；　〃is　that　the　way　you　make　inquiries？　　Wasn't　I　right　to　have　my　doubts？〃

〃Look　here；　governor；　I　couldn't　know　that　he　would　change　his　mind　and　come　back　to　dinner。〃

〃One's　got　to　know　everything　when　one　has　the　honour　of　breaking　into　people's　houses。　　You　numskull！　　I'll　remember　you　and　Vaucheray。。。　a　nice　pair　of　gossoons！。。。　〃

The　sight　of　the　furniture　on　the　first　floor　pacified　Lupin　and　he　started　on　his　inventory　with　the　satisfied　air　of　a　collector　who　has　looked　in　to　treat　himself　to　a　few　works　of　art：

〃By　Jingo！　　There's　not　much　of　it；　but　what　there　is　is　pucka！　　There's　nothing　the　matter　with　this　representative　of　the　people　in　the　question　of　taste。　　Four　Aubusson　chairs。。。　A　bureau　signed　'Percier…Fontaine；'　for　a　wager。。。　Two　inlays　by　Gouttieres。。。　A　genuine　Fragonard　and　a　sham　Nattier　which　any　American　millionaire　will　swallow　for　the　asking：　in　short；　a　fortune。。。　And　there　are　curmudgeons　who　pretend　that　there's　nothing　but　faked　stuff　left。　　Dash　it　all；　why　don't　they　do　as　I　do？　They　should　look　about！〃

Gilbert　and　Vaucheray；　following　Lupin's　orders　and　instructions；　at　once　proceeded　methodically　to　remove　the　bulkier　pieces。　　The　first　boat　was　filled　in　half　an　hour；　and　it　was　decided　that　the　Growler　and　the　Masher　should　go　on　ahead　and　begin　to　load　the　motor…car。

Lupin　went　to　see　them　start。　　On　returning　to　the　house；　it　struck　him；　as　he　passed　through　the　hall；　that　he　heard　a　voice　in　t