The Extraordinary Adventures of Arsene Lupin, Gentleman-Burglar

and of a most affable man. The passengers constituted a select and delightful society. The charm of new acquaintances and improvised amusements served to make the time pass agr

emned to lead a life of extreme intimacy, jointly defying the anger of the ocean, the terrible onslaught of the waves, the violence of the tempest and the agonizing monotony of the calm and sleepy water? Such a

legraph, by means of which we receive news in the most mysterious manner. We know full well that the message is not transported by the medium of a hollow wire. No, the mystery is even more inexplicable, more romantic, and we must have recourse to the wings of the air in order to explain this new miracle.

the French coast, in the midst of a violent storm, we receiv

abin, blonde hair, wound right fore-arm,

c waves were interrupted. The remainder of the dispatch never reached us. Of the

well as by the officers of the vessel. But it was one of those events calculated to escape from the most rigorous discretion. The same day, no

ng and picturesque surroundings. Arsène Lupin, the eccentric gentleman who operates only in the chateaux and salons, and who, one night, entered the residence of Baron Schormann, but emerged empty-handed, leaving, however, his card on which he had scribbled these wo

steamer; in that very small corner of the world, in that dining saloon, in that smoking room, in that music room! Ar

days!" exclaimed Miss Nelly Underdown, next mornin

essing me,

are on intimate terms with the c

lly. She was one of those magnificent creatures who inevitably attract attention in ever

ow going to visit her father, the millionaire Underdown of Chi

n degree of favor. She condescended to laugh at my witticisms and display an interest in my stories. Yet I felt that I had a rival in the person of a young man with quiet and refined tastes; and it struck me, at times, that she preferred his taciturn humor to my Parisian

can not we, ourselves, investigate the mystery quite as well a

progressing ver

first place, let me ask, do you fi

compli

key we hold for the so

at

, Lupin calls himse

information,

he is trave

help you?

, he is

el

the passenger-list, and proce

. I took it out and glanced

een men on the passenger-list who

thir

f them are accompanied by women, children or servants. That leaves

n Ambassador," interrupte

wson," I

uncle," so

Rivo

n, whose face was concealed

and exclaimed: "That gentleman c

rced to the conclusion that the guilt

is his

e. Does anyo

to the taciturn young man, whose atte

Rozaine, why do

silence that followed her question indicated that the others present also viewed the situation with a feeling of sudden al

ition as a solitary traveler and the color of my hair, I have already

closer than usual and his face was ghastly pale, whilst his eyes were streaked with bl

the wound?" said M

he replied, "I

shown us his left arm, and I was on the point of calling his attention to the fact, when another incident diverted

arls! Some one ha

untings were lying upon the table. I saw them there, despoiled of their jewels, like flowers from which the beautiful colored petals had been ruthlessly plucked. And this theft must have been committed at the time Lady Jerland was taking her tea; in broad daylight

tantly reached the same conclusio

safety and relief. We breathed once more. That evening, we resumed our games and dances. Miss Nelly, especially, displayed a spirit of thoughtless gayety which convinced me that if Rozaine's attentions had been agre

im was not sufficient. He had produced documents that were perfectly regular, which showed that he was

ine, "of course, Arsène Lupin will furnish you as many as you des

d commit a crime without being actually present. And then, apart from all other circumstances, there remained one point which even the most skeptical could

kfast, came boldly toward our group, Miss N

, and the passengers of all classes. It announced that Mon. Louis Rozaine offered a reward of ten t

I will unmask the scoundrel

to current opinion, Arsène Lupin himself against Ar

gating. The captain, also, displayed commendable activity. He caused the vessel to be searched from stern to stern; ransac

arked Miss Nelly to me. "He may be a wizard, but h

uld examine the lining of our hats and

oses, I added: "In an apparatus no larger than that, a person could hide all of Lady J

d that every thief leave

" I replied, "but there is o

hy

the theft, but on all the circumstances connected

o, you were mo

ce I have see

think about it

inion, we are w

ain's watch had been stolen. He was furious. He quickened his efforts and watched Rozaine more clo

ness with pleasure. He reminded us of the author who almost died in a fit of laughter provoked by his own play. Certainly, he was an artist in his particular li

d in a thick gray scarf and his hands tied together with a heavy cord. It was Rozaine. He had been assaulted, thrown down and robbed. A card, pinned to his coat, bore thes

not have bound himself in that manner, it was established that the writing on the card was entirely different from that of Ro

ine, the son of a Bordeaux merchant. And the presence of Arsène

tranged by a mutual feeling of distrust. Arsène Lupin was, now, anybody and everybody. Our excited imaginations attributed to him miraculous and unlimited power. We supposed him capable of assuming the most unexpected disguises; of being,

ht no news; at least, the captain did not commun

comparatively harmless assault; it would be a crime, a murder. No one imagined that Arsène Lupin would confine himself to those two trifling

t my side a protection and security that I was pleased to give her. Inwardly, I blessed Arsène Lupin. Had he not been the means of bringing me and Miss Nelly closer to each other? Thanks to him, I c

ment in which the mysterious enigma would be explained. Who was Arsène Lupin? Under what name, under what disguise was the famous Arsène Lup

said to my companion, as she lea

eplied, "ah! you

I am delighted to spend it with you, Miss Nelly

ngway was placed in position, but, before we could use it, the

ar that Arsène Lupin escaped fr

ishonor, and plunged into the At

ot laugh,

and, in answer to

old man standing at th

lla and an oli

s Gan

nim

I can understand now why we did not receive any news from this side of t

he will arrest

always happens when Arsène Lup

bid curiosity peculiar to women, "

ène Lupin has already seen his enemy and wi

rd appeared to be paying no attention to the crowd that was hurrying down the gangway. The Marquis de Raverdan, Ma

all," said Miss Nelly t

ave Ganimard and Rozaine in the same pictu

. An American officer, standing behind Ganimard, leaned forward and whispered in his ear. The Fr

s Nelly, aloud,

board. She scrutinized them one by one, fe

t much longer,

llowed. But we had not taken ten ste

t is it?"

onsieur. What'

rting made

n a tone of authority. Then,

Lupin, i

lied: "No, simply

died in Macedonia

I should not be here. But you a

ell you exactly how they c

aimed. "Arsène Lupin sai

at deceived them at Havre. You play a good gam

ight arm, which caused me to utter a cry of pain. He had s

ade a gesture that conveyed to me the impression that she understood everything. Yes, there, between the narrow folds of black leather, in the hollow centre of the small object tha

assistants, I was perfectly indifferent to everything, to my arrest, the hostility of the people,

ecide to furnish that proof? Would she betray me? Would she act the part of an enemy who cannot for

dare to expose me publicly, but she might do so when she reached a more private place. However, when she had passed only a few feet down the gangway, with a movement of simulated awkwardness

less. Then, to Ganimard's gr

hat I am not a

ties.... shall I say of friendship? Yes, I venture to believe that Arsène Lupin honors me with his friendship, and that it is through friendship that he occasionally calls on me, an

one occasion: "I no longer know who I am. I cannot recognize myself in the mirror." Certainly, he was a great actor, and possessed a mar

feature? Why not avoid the danger of a personality that

d, with a to

is Arsène Lupin! The essential point is that the public may be able to r