The Essential Maurice Leblanc Collection. Морис Леблан
pulled himself together by a violent effort, and said jerkily, "Good-morning, Lupin."
"Good-morning, M. Guerchard," said Lupin, with an ambiguous smile and all the air of the Duke of Charmerace.
"You were expecting me? ... I hope I haven't kept you waiting," said Guerchard, with an air of bravado.
"No, thank you: the time has passed quite quickly. I have so much to do in the morning always," said Lupin. "I hope you had a good night after that unfortunate business of the coronet. That was a disaster; and so unexpected too."
Guerchard came a few steps into the room, still hesitating:
"You've a very charming house here," he said, with a sneer.
"It's central," said Lupin carelessly. "You must please excuse me, if I cannot receive you as I should like; but all my servants have bolted. Those confounded detectives of yours have frightened them away."
"You needn't bother about that. I shall catch them," said Guerchard.
"If you do, I'm sure I wish you joy of them. Do, please, keep your hat on," said Lupin with ironic politeness.
Guerchard came slowly to the middle of the room, raising his hand to his hat, letting it fall again without taking it off. He sat down slowly facing him, and they gazed at one another with the wary eyes of duellists crossing swords at the beginning of a duel.
"Did you get M. Formery to sign a little warrant?" said Lupin, in a caressing tone full of quiet mockery.
"I did," said Guerchard through his teeth.
"And have you got it on you?" said Lupin.
"I have," said Guerchard.
"Against Lupin, or against the Duke of Charmerace?" said Lupin.
"Against Lupin, called Charmerace," said Guerchard.
"Well, that ought to cover me pretty well. Why don't you arrest me? What are you waiting for?" said Lupin. His face was entirely serene, his eyes were careless, his tone indifferent.
"I'm not waiting for anything," said Guerchard thickly; "but it gives me such pleasure that I wish to enjoy this minute to the utmost. Lupin," said Guerchard; and his eyes gloated on him.
"Lupin, himself," said Lupin, smiling.
"I hardly dare believe it," said Guerchard.
"You're quite right not to," said Lupin.
"Yes, I hardly dare believe it. You alive, here at my mercy?"
"Oh, dear no, not yet," said Lupin.
"Yes," said Guerchard, in a decisive tone. "And ever so much more than you think." He bent forwards towards him, with his hands on his knees, and said, "Do you know where Sonia Kritchnoff is at this moment?"
"What?" said Lupin sharply.
"I ask if you know where Sonia Kritchnoff is?" said Guerchard slowly, lingering over the words.
"Do you?" said Lupin.
"I do," said Guerchard triumphantly.
"Where is she?" said Lupin, in a tone of utter incredulity.
"In a small hotel near the Star. The hotel has a telephone; and you can make sure," said Guerchard.
"Indeed? That's very interesting. What's the number of it?" said Lupin, in a mocking tone.
"555 Central: would you like to telephone to her?" said Guerchard; and he smiled triumphantly at the disabled instrument.
Lupin shock his head with a careless smile, and said, "Why should I telephone to her? What are you driving at?"
"Nothing ... that's all," said Guerchard. And he leant back in his chair with an ugly smile on his face.
"Evidently nothing. For, after all, what has that child got to do with you? You're not interested in her, plainly. She's not big enough game for you. It's me you are hunting ... it's me you hate ... it's me you want. I've played you tricks enough for that, you old scoundrel. So you're going to leave that child in peace? ... You're not going to revenge yourself on her? ... It's all very well for you to be a policeman; it's all very well for you to hate me; but there are things one does not do." There was a ring of menace and appeal in the deep, ringing tones of his voice. "You're not going to do that, Guerchard.... You will not do it.... Me--yes--anything you like. But her--her you must not touch." He gazed at the detective with fierce, appealing eyes.
"That depends on you," said Guerchard curtly.
"On me?" cried Lupin, in genuine surprise.
"Yes, I've a little bargain to propose to you," said Guerchard.
"Have you?" said Lupin; and his watchful face was serene again, his smile almost pleasant.
"Yes," said Guerchard. And he paused, hesitating.
"Well, what is it you want?" said Lupin. "Out with it! Don't be shy about it."
"I offer you--"
"You offer me?" cried Lupin. "Then it isn't true. You're fooling me."
"Reassure yourself," said Guerchard coldly. "To you personally I offer nothing."
"Then you are sincere," said Lupin. "And putting me out of the question?"
"I offer you liberty."
"Who for? For my concierge?" said Lupin.
"Don't play the fool. You care only for a single person in the world. I hold you through her: Sonia Kritchnoff."
Lupin burst into a ringing, irrepressible laugh:
"Why, you're trying to blackmail me, you old sweep!" he cried.
"If you like to call it so," said Guerchard coldly.
Lupin rose and walked backwards and forwards across the room, frowning, calculating, glancing keenly at Guerchard, weighing him. Twice he looked at the clock.
He stopped and said coldly: "So be it. For the moment you're the stronger.... That won't last.... But you offer me this child's liberty."
"That's my offer," said Guerchard; and his eyes brightened at the prospect of success.
"Her complete liberty? ... on your word of honour?" said Lupin; and he had something of the air of a cat playing with a mouse.
"On my word of honour," said Guerchard.
"Can you do it?" said Lupin, with a sudden air of doubt; and he looked sharply from Guerchard to the clock.
"I undertake to do it," said Guerchard confidently.
"But how?" said Lupin, looking at him with an expression of the gravest doubt.
"Oh, I'll put the thefts on your shoulders. That will let her out all right," said Guerchard.
"I've certainly good broad shoulders," said Lupin, with a bitter smile. He walked slowly up and down with an air that grew more and more depressed: it was almost the air of a beaten man. Then he stopped and faced Guerchard, and said: "And what is it you want in exchange?"
"Everything," said Guerchard, with the air of a man who is winning. "You must give me back the pictures, tapestry, Renaissance cabinets, the coronet, and all the information about the death of the Duke of Charmerace. Did you kill him?"
"If ever I commit suicide, you'll know all about it, my good Guerchard. You'll be there. You may even join me," said Lupin grimly; he resumed his pacing up and down the room.
"Done