the crystal stopper-第20节

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not　survived　the　rest　of　the　speech　and　the　revelations　which　Daubrecq　had　made　about　Victoire　and　the　flat　in　the　Rue　Chateaubriand。　　The　humiliation　was　too　great；　and　Lupin　no　longer　bothered　to　play　the　part　of　the　small　general　practitioner。　　He　had　but　one　idea　in　his　head：　not　to　give　way　to　the　tremendous　fit　of　rage　that　was　urging　him　to　rush　at　Daubrecq　like　a　bull。

Daubrecq　gave　the　sort　of　little　cluck　which；　with　him；　did　duty　for　a　laugh。　　He　came　waddling　up；　with　his　hands　in　his　trouser…pockets；　and　said；　incisively：　

〃Don't　you　think　that　this　is　all　for　the　best？　　I've　cleared　the　ground；　relieved　the　situation。。。　　At　least；　we　now　know　where　we　stand。　　Lupin　versus　Daubrecq；　and　that's　all　about　it。　　Besides；　think　of　the　time　saved！　　Dr。　Vernes；　the　divisional　surgeon；　would　have　taken　two　hours　to　spin　his　yarn！　　Whereas；　like　this；　Master　Lupin　will　be　compelled　to　get　his　little　story　told　in　thirty　minutes。。。　unless　he　wants　to　get　himself　collared　and　his　accomplices　nabbed。　　What　a　shock！　　What　a　bolt　from　the　blue！　　Thirty　minutes　and　not　a　minute　more。　　In　thirty　minutes　from　now；　you'll　have　to　clear　out；　scud　away　like　a　hare　and　beat　a　disordered　retreat。　　Ha；　ha；　ha；　what　fun！　　I　say；　Polonius；　you　really　are　unlucky；　each　time　you　come　up　against　Bibi　Daubrecq！　　For　it　was　you　who　were　hiding　behind　that　curtain；　wasn't　it；　my　ill…starred　Polonius？〃

Lupin　did　not　stir　a　muscle。　　The　one　and　only　solution　that　would　have　calmed　his　feelings；　that　is　to　say；　for　him　to　throttle　his　adversary　then　and　there；　was　so　absurd　that　he　preferred　to　accept　Daubrecq's　gibes　without　attempting　to　retort；　though　each　of　them　cut　him　like　the　lash　of　a　whip。　　It　was　the　second　time；　in　the　same　room　and　in　similar　circumstances；　that　he　had　to　bow　before　that　Daubrecq　of　misfortune　and　maintain　the　most　ridiculous　attitude　in　silence。　　And　he　felt　convinced　in　his　innermost　being　that；　if　he　opened　his　mouth；　it　would　be　to　spit　words　of　anger　and　insult　in　his　victor's　face。　　What　was　the　good？　　Was　it　not　essential　that　he　should　keep　cool　and　do　the　things　which　the　new　situation　called　for？

〃Well；　M。　Lupin；　well？〃　resumed　the　deputy。　　〃You　look　as　if　your　nose　were　out　of　joint。　　Come；　console　yourself　and　admit　that　one　sometimes　comes　across　a　joker　who's　not　quite　such　a　mug　as　his　fellows。　　So　you　thought　that；　because　I　wear　spectades　and　eye…glasses；　I　was　blind？　Bless　my　soul；　I　don't　say　that　I　at　once　suspected　Lupin　behind　Polonius　and　Polonius　behind　the　gentleman　who　came　and　bored　me　in　the　box　at　the　Vaudeville。　　No；　no！　　But；　all　the　same；　it　worried　me。　　I　could　see　that；　between　the　police　and　Mme。　Mergy；　there　was　a　third　bounder　trying　to　get　a　finger　in　the　pie。　　And；　gradually；　what　with　the　words　let　fall　by　the　portress；　what　with　watching　the　movements　of　my　cook　and　making　inquiries　about　her　in　the　proper　quarter；　I　began　to　understand。　　Then；　the　other　night；　came　the　lightning…flash。　　I　heard　the　row　in　the　house；　in　spite　of　my　being　asleep。　　I　managed　to　reconstruct　the　incident；　to　follow　up　Mme。　Mergy's　traces；　first；　to　the　Rue　Chateaubriand　and；　afterward；　to　Saint…Germain。。。　And　then　。。。　what　then？　　I　put　different　facts　together：　the　Enghien　burglary。。。　Gilbert's　arrest　。。。　the　inevitable　treaty　of　alliance　between　the　weeping　mother　and　the　leader　of　the　gang。。。　the　old　nurse　installed　as　cook。。。　all　these　people　entering　my　house　through　the　doors　or　through　the　windows。。。　　And　I　knew　what　I　had　to　do。　　Master　Lupin　was　sniffing　at　the　secret。　　The　scent　of　the　Twenty…seven　attracted　him。　　I　had　only　to　wait　for　his　visit。　　The　hour　has　arrived。　　Good…evening；　Master　Lupin。〃

Daubrecq　paused。　　He　had　delivered　his　speech　with　the　evident　satisfaction　of　a　man　entitled　to　claim　the　appreciation　of　the　most　captious　critics。

As　Lupin　did　not　speak；　he　took　out　his　watch：　　〃I　say！　　Only　twenty…three　minutes！　　How　time　flies！　　At　this　rate；　we　sha'n't　have　time　to　come　to　an　explanation。〃　　And；　stepping　still　closer　to　Lupin；　〃I'm　bound　to　say；　I'm　disappointed。　　I　thought　that　Lupin　was　a　different　sort　of　gentleman。　　So；　the　moment　he　meets　a　more　or　less　serious　adversary；　the　colossus　falls　to　pieces？　　Poor　young　man！　　Have　a　glass　of　water；　to　bring　you　round！〃　　Lupin　did　not　utter　a　word；　did　not　betray　a　gesture　of　irritation。　　With　absolute　composure；　with　a　precision　of　movement　that　showed　his　perfect　self…control　and　the　clear　plan　of　conduct　which　he　had　adopted；　he　gently　pushed　Daubrecq　aside；　went　to　the　table　and；　m　his　turn；　took　down　the　receiver　of　the　telephone：

〃I　want　565。34；　please；〃　he　said。

He　waited　until　he　was　through；　and　then；　speaking　in　a　slow　voice　and　picking　out　every　syllable；　he　said：

〃Hullo！。。。　Rue　Chateaubriand？。。。　Is　that　you；　Achille？。。。　Yes；　it's　the　governor。　　　　　　　Listen　to　me　carefully；　Achille。。。　You　must　leave　the　flat！　Hullo！　。。。　　Yes；　at　once。　　The　police　are　coming　in　a　few　minutes。　　No；　no；　don't　lose　your　head。。。　You've　got　time。　　Only；　do　what　I　tell　you。　Is　your　bag　still　packed？。。。　Good。　　And　is　one　of　the　sides　empty；　as　I　told　you？。。。　　Good。　　Well；　go　to　my　bedroom　and　stand　with　your　face　to　the　chimney…piece。　　Press　with　your　left　hand　on　the　little　carved　rosette　in　front　of　the　marble　slab；　in　the　middle；　and　with　your　right　hand　on　the　top　of　the　mantel…shelf。　　You'll　see　a　sort　of　drawer；　with　two　little　boxes　in　it。　　Be　careful。　　One　of　them　contains　all　our　papers；　the　other；　bank…notes　and　jewellery。　　Put　them　both　in　the　empty　compartment　of　the　bag。　　Take　the　bag　in　your　hand　and　go　as　fast　as　you　can；　on　foot；　to　the　corner　of　the　Avenue　Victor…Hugo　and　the　Avenue　de　Montespan。　　You'll　find　the　car　waiting；　with　Victoire。　　I'll　join　you。　there。。。　　What？。。。　　My　clothes？　　My　knickknacks？。。。　　Never　mind　about　all　that。。。　　You　be　off。　　See　you　presently。〃

Lupin　quietly　pushed　away　the　telephone。　　Then；　taking　Daubrecq　by　the　arm；　he　made　him　sit　in　a　chair　by　his　side　and　said：

〃And　now　listen　to　me；　Daubrecq。〃

〃Oho！〃　grinned　the　deputy。　　〃Calling　each　other　by　our　surnames；　are　we？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Lupin；　〃I　allowed　you　to。〃　　And；　when　Daubrecq　released　his　arm　with　a　certain　misgiving；　he　said；　〃No；　don't　be　afraid。　　We　sha'n't　come　to　blows。　　Neither　of　us　has　anything　to　gain　by　doing　away　with　the　other。　　A　stab　with　a　knife？　　What's　the　good？　　No；　sir！　　Words；　nothing　but　words。　　Words　that　strike　home；　though。　　Here　are　mine：　they　are　plain　and　to　the　point。　　Answer　me　in　the　same　way；　without　reflecting：　that's　far　better。　　The　boy？〃

〃I　have　him。〃

〃Give　him　back。〃

〃No。〃

〃Mme。　Mergy　will　kill　herself。〃

〃No；　she　won't。〃

〃I　tell　you　she　will。〃

〃And　I　tell　you　she　will　not。〃

〃But　she's　tried　to；　once。〃

〃That's　just　the　reason　why　she　won't　try　again。〃

〃Well；　then。。。　〃

〃No。〃

Lupin；　after　a　moment；　went　on：

〃I　expected　that。　　Also；　I　thought；　on　my　way　here；　that　you　would　hardly　tumble　to　the　story　of　Dr。　Vernes　and　that　I　should　have　to　use　other　methods。〃

〃Lupin's　methods。〃

〃As　you　say。　　I　had　made　up　my　mind　to　throw　off　the　mask。　　You　pulled　it　off　for　me。　　Well　done　you！　　But　that　doesn't　change　my　plans。〃

〃Speak。〃

Lupin　took　from　a　pocketbook　a　double　sheet　of　foolscap　paper；　unfolded　it　and　handed　it　to　Daubrecq；　saying：

〃Here　is　an　exact；　detailed　inventory；　with　consecutive　numbers；　of　the　things　removed　by　my　friends　and　myself　from　your　Villa　Marie…Tberese　on　the　Lac　d'Enghien。　A　s　you　see；　there　are　one　hundred　and　thirteen　items。　Of　those　one　hundred　and　thirteen　items；　sixty…eight；　which　have　a　red　cross　against　them；　have　been　sold　and　sent　to　America。　　The　remainder；　numbering　forty…five；　are　in　my　possession　。。。　until　further　orders。　They　happen　to　be　the　pick　of　the　bunch。　　I　offer　you　them　in　return　for　the　immediate　surrender　of　the　child。

Daubrecq　could　not　suppress　a　movement　of　surprise：

〃Oho！〃　he　said。　〃You　seem　very　much　bent　upon　it。〃

〃Infinitely；〃　said　Lupin；　〃for　I　am　persuaded　that　a　longer　separation　from　her　son　will　mean　death　to　Mme。　Mergy。〃

〃And　that　upsets　you；　does　it。。。　Lothario？〃

〃What！〃

Lupin　planted　himself　in　front　of　the　other　and　repeated：

〃What！　What　do　you　mean？〃

〃Nothing。。。　Nothing。。。　Something　that　crossed　my　mind。。。　Clarisse　Mergy　is　a　young　woman　still　and　a　pretty　woman　at　that。〃

Lupin　shrugged　his　shoulders：

〃You　brute！〃　he　mumbled。　　〃You　imagine　that　everybody　is　like　yourself；　heartless　and　pitiless。　　It　takes　your　breath　away；　what；　to　think　that　a　shark　like　me　can　waste　his　time　playing　the　Don　Quixote？　　And　you　wonder　what　dirty　motive　I　can　have？　　Don't　try　to　find　out：　it's　beyond　your　powers　of　perception。　　Answer　me；　instead：　do　you　accept？〃

〃So　you're　serious？〃　asked　Daubrecq；　who　seemed　but　little　disturbed　by　Lupin's　contemptuous　tone。

〃Absolutely。　　The　forty…five　pieces　are　in　a　shed；　of　which　I　will　give　you　the　address；　and　they　will　be　handed　over　to　you；　if　you　call　there；　at　nine　o'clock　this　evening；　with　the　child。〃

There　was　no　doubt　about　Daubrecq's　reply。　　To　him；　the　kidnapping　of　little　Jacques　had　represented　only　a　means　of　working　upon　Clarisse　Mergy's　feelings　and　perhaps　also　a　warning　for　her　to　cease　the　co