The Essential Maurice Leblanc Collection. Морис Леблан
"He knows all."
"Ah, my dear matre, what did I tell you? The harm's done now, beyond repair. Would it not have been better to let me go to work in my own way? A day or two more and I should have recovered the Jewish lamp and the other things from Bresson and sent them back to the d'Imblevalles; and those two good people would have gone on living peacefully together. Instead of which...."
"Instead of which," snarled Shears, "I have muddled everything up and brought discord into a family which you were protecting."
"Well, yes, if you like, protecting! Is it indispensable that one should always steal, cheat and do harm?"
"So you do good also?"
"When I have time. Besides, it amuses me. I think it extremely funny that, in the present adventure, I should be the good genius who rescues and saves and you the wicked genius who brings despair and tears."
"Certainly! The d'Imblevalle home is broken up and Alice Demun is weeping."
"She could not have remained.... Ganimard would have ended by discovering her ... and through her they would have worked back to Mme. d'Imblevalle."
"Quite of your opinion, matre; but whose fault was it?"
* * * * *
Two men passed in front of them. Shears said to Lupin, in a voice the tone of which seemed a little altered:
"Do you know who those two gentlemen are?"
"I think one was the captain of the boat."
"And the other?"
"I don't know."
"It is Mr. Austin Gilett. And Mr. Austin Gilett occupies in England a post which corresponds with that of your M. Dudouis."
"Oh, what luck! Would you have the kindness to introduce me? M. Dudouis is a great friend of mine and I should like to be able to say as much of Mr. Austin Gilett."
The two gentlemen reappeared.
"And, suppose I were to take you at your word, M. Lupin...?" said Shears, rising.
He had seized Arsne Lupin's wrist and held it in a grip of steel.
"Why grip me so hard, matre? I am quite ready to go with you."
He allowed himself, in fact, to be dragged along, without the least resistance. The two gentlemen were walking away from them.
Shears increased his pace. His nails dug into Lupin's very flesh.
"Come along, come along!" he said, under his breath, in a sort of fevered haste to settle everything as quickly as possible. "Come along! Quick!"
But he stopped short: Alice Demun had followed them.
"What are you doing, mademoiselle? You need not trouble to come!"
It was Lupin who replied:
"I beg you to observe, matre, that mademoiselle is not coming of her own free will. I am holding her wrist with an energy similar to that which you are applying to mine."
"And why?"
"Why? Well, I am bent upon introducing her also. Her part in the story of the Jewish Lamp is even more important than mine. As an accomplice of Arsne Lupin, and of Bresson as well, she too must tell the adventure of the Baronne d'Imblevalle ... which is sure to interest the police immensely. And in this way you will have pushed your kind interference to its last limits, O generous Shears!"
The Englishman had released his prisoner's wrist. Lupin let go of mademoiselle's.
They stood, for a few seconds, without moving, looking at one another. Then Shears went back to his bench and sat down. Lupin and the girl resumed their places.
* * * * *
A long silence divided them. Then Lupin said:
"You see, matre, do what we may, we shall never be in the same camp. You will always be on one side of the ditch, I on the other. We can nod, shake hands, exchange a word or two; but the ditch is always there. You will always be, Holmlock Shears, detective, and I Arsne Lupin, burglar. And Holmlock Shears will always, more or less spontaneously, more or less seasonably, obey his instinct as a detective, which is to hound down the burglar and 'run him in' if possible. And Arsne Lupin will always be consistent with his burglar's soul in avoiding the grasp of the detective and laughing at him if he can. And, this time, he can! Ha, ha, ha!"
He burst into a cunning, cruel and detestable laugh.... Then, suddenly becoming serious, he leaned toward the girl:
"Be sure, mademoiselle, that, though reduced to the last extremity, I would not have betrayed you. Arsne Lupin never betrays, especially those whom he likes and admires. And you must permit me to say that I like and admire the dear, plucky creature that you are."
He took a visiting-card from his pocketbook, tore it in two, gave one-half to the girl and, in a touched and respectful voice:
"If Mr. Shears does not succeed in his steps, mademoiselle, pray go to Lady Strongborough, whose address you can easily find out, hand her this half-card and say, 'Faithful memories!' Lady Strongborough will show you the devotion of a sister."
"Thank you," said the girl, "I will go to her to-morrow."
"And now, matre," cried Lupin, in the satisfied tone of a man who has done his duty, "let me bid you good night. The mist has delayed us and there is still time to take forty winks." He stretched himself at full length and crossed his hands behind his head.
* * * * *
The sky had opened before the moon. She shed her radiant brightness around the stars and over the sea. It floated upon the water; and space, in which the last mists were dissolving, seemed to belong to it.
The line of the coast stood out against the dark horizon. Passengers came up on deck, which was now covered with people. Mr. Austin Gilett passed in the company of two men whom Shears recognized as members of the English detective-force.
On his bench, Lupin slept....
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