The Extraordinary Adventures of Arsene Lupin, Gentleman-Burglar

the highway. I was to travel to Rouen by rail, on my way

journey was a short one, the thought of traveling with such a company was not agreeable to me, especially as the car was built on the

The gentleman scrutinized me closely, and, apparently, my appearance did not displease him, for he smiled as he spoke to his wife with the air of one who reassures a frightened child. She smiled also,

and said

ntment, my dear, and canno

ife threw him a few kisses and waved her handkerc

companion, who was standing and arranging her luggage, uttered a cry of terror and fell upon the seat. I am not a coward-far fr

dressed, wore a tasteful cravat, correct gloves, and his face was refined and intelligent. But, where the devil had I seen that face before? Because, beyo

rtment-with an expression of intense alarm, and I perceived that one of her trembling hands was slowly gliding toward a little traveling bag that was lying on the seat about twenty

adame? Shall I

ained to her, in pantomime, that she had nothing to fear, that I was there, and, besides, the gentleman appeared to be a very harmless individua

mustered all her energy to perform a desperat

w who is on

ho

....I assu

is

ne Lu

he uttered the syllables of that disquieting name. He drew his hat over his face. Was th

or. Therefore it is improbable that he would be so imprudent, to-day, as to show himself in public.

of being heard by our companion; "my husband is one of the directors in the penitentiary service,

have been

iting-room. He bought a fi

r did not see him pass, and it is supposed that he had

they will be su

t train to come here, into our train.... which

guards would no doubt observe his passage from one train to the

will find some

, I wish him

antime, think w

ha

ow. He may

tuation justified, to some extent, her nervo

dmitting that Arsène Lupin is on this train, he will not commit any indiscret

read reports of Arsène Lupin's trial, but, as they contained nothing that was new to me, I was n

, you are not

aper, and looked at

ly not,"

d be very

se," I a

lity of my response was soon disturbed by disquieting dreams, wherein a creature that had played the part and bore the name of Arsène Lupin held an important place. He appeared to me with his back laden with articles of value; he leaped over walls, and plundered castles. But the outlines of that creature, who was

ides, I did not have the strength. My temples throbbed; I was almost strangled. One minute more, and I would have breathed my last. The man must have realized it, for he relaxe

ster; he was, no doubt, a professional thief. Not a word, not a nervous movement; only coo

that it involved. Arsène Lupin seized and bound like a novice! robbed as if I were an unsophisticated rustic-for, you must un

ing from it the jewels, purse, and gold and silver trinkets that it contained. The lady opened her eyes, trembled with fear, drew the rings fr

te, and proceeded to examine the treasure that he had acquire

ould recover possession of that money after a very brief delay, together with the important papers contained in my wallet: plans, specifications, addresses, lists of corresponde

at, and amongst whom my resemblance to Arsène Lupin was a subject of many innocent jests, I could not assume a disguise, and my presence had been remarked. So, beyond question, the comm

onfidence in the gate-keeper at Saint-Lazare?-But the situation was greatly changed. I was no longer free. It was impossible to attempt one of my usual tricks. In one of the compartments, the commissary of police would find Mon. Arsène Lupin, bound hand and foot, as docile as a lamb, packed up, all ready to be d

e, he could, on our arrival at Rouen, leave the car slowly and fearlessly. But the lady? As soon as the door of the compartment should be opened, the lady, now so quiet and humble, would scream and call f

dow that was now being streaked with drops of rain. On

enemy. But fits of coughing, provoked by the smoke, exposed her true condition

on, joyously, intoxica

on. What was the man about to do? He lowered the window on our side. A heavy rain was now falling, and, by a gesture, the man expressed his annoyance a

opened the door half-way and stood on the upper step. What folly! The darkness, the smoke, the noise, all gave a fantastic appearance to his actions. But suddenly, the train diminished its speed. A moment later it increased its speed, then slowed up again. Pro

her jewels. I gave her an imploring look. She understood, and quickly removed the g

ing exactly as it stands. I want the

pull the

have done that when he

ll you that he was on this train. I recognized him from

The police w

sène Lupi

e. The police and the railway employees will come. Tell what you have seen: the assault made on me

," sai

t all. It was his.

e didn't have one

d it when he went away, and that is the essential point. A gray overcoat-remember!....Ah! I forgot. You must

ave her some further instructi

e must expedite the preliminary investigation. The important thing is the pursuit of Arsène Lup

nd....Guill

soon as the train stopped, several men entered

reath, the la

... my husband is a director of the penitentiary service....Ah! here is my bro

t joined us, and whom the commissary

s sleeping, he seized him by the throat.

missary

e is Arsè

train, when passing

ure that i

y. Besides, he was seen at the Saint-

that," said the commiss

ure," repeated Madame Rena

ssary, "the telegram says he wore a gra

collar," exclaimed Mada

the excellent friend I

ief over my mouth, an attitude quite natural in a person who has remained for a long time in an uncomfortab

bt about that. If we make haste, he can be caug

mute witness at the official investigation. The train continued on its way to Havre. We

her, I must gain my automobile, and escape. To remain there was dangerous. So

to my own resources, in an unfamiliar

lf. "It may be a difficult game, but an amusin

ed us to repeat the story o

t of us. My automobile is waiting in the courtyard.

ary smiled,

s already being carried out. Two of my men have set

did t

ey will gather evidence, secure witnesses

from shrugging my sh

secure any evidence

all

ne to see him emerge from the tun

here we will

not go

vicinity, where his captur

remain in t

d where wil

t my watch

tion at Darnétal. At ten fifty, that is, in twenty-two minutes

k so? How do

it? Was there, not far from the spot where he disappeared, another line of railway, a station upon that

sary, "that is a marvelous deductio

entered his official mind....Oh! scarcely that, for the photographs distributed broadcast by the police department were too imperfect; they presented an Arsène

oss of a pocketbook and the desire to recover it. And it seems t

commissaire," cried Madame Re

of an influential official, the name of Berlat became really my own, and gave me

ghted to see you succeed. I am as much intere

d Gaston Delivet, who were assigned to assist me. My chauffer cranked up the car and

of pride, and the motor responded, sympathetically to my desires. At right and left, the trees flew past us with startling rapidity, and I, free, out of danger, had simpl

hat would I have done without you? Without you, many times, at the cross-roads, I might have taken th

stolen papers. Under no circumstances must my two acolytes be permitted to see those

earning that a man wearing a gray overcoat with a black velvet collar had taken the train at the statio

t said

s. If we do not reach there before Arsène Lupin, he can proceed to Amiens, or ch

to Mont

three ki

n nineteen minutes....We w

such ardor and regularity. It participated in my anxiety. It indorsed my determination.

," cried Delivet,

proach. Suddenly, at a turn of the road, we saw a vortex of smoke. It was the Northern Express. For a kilometre, it w

carriages. The doors were opened, and some passengers alighted, but not my

ed me in the automobile as we were racing,

is now! crossi

of exceptional speed and endurance. In a few moments, he had made an appreciable gain upon the fugitive. The man noticed it, leaped over a hedge, sc

. "After such a run, our victim must

fugitive, in order to recover my papers, concerning which the authorities would dou

line of the bush, and he cannot escape without you seeing him, except by that ravine, and I shall watch it. If he does not come out voluntar

heard. I encountered dense thickets, through which narrow paths had been cut, but the overhanging boughs compelled me to adopt a stooping posture. One of these paths l

said to myself. "It is

back was turned toward me. In two bounds, I was upon him. He tried to fire a revolver that he held in his hand. But he had no time. I threw

e, immediately and gracefully, my pocketbook and the lady's jewels, and, in return therefo

he mu

this morning, was well pl

cket, drew out a large knife

e!" I ex

ith the other, I gave him a sharp blow

ey. It startled me. Pierre Onfrey, the assassin of the rue Lafontaine at Auteuil! Pierre Onfrey, he who had cut the throats of Madame Delbois and her

aced it in a prominent spot in the room, where they would be sure to find it. Beside it, I placed Madame Renaud's handbag. Why could I not return it to the lady who had befriended me? I must confess that I had taken from it everything t

o? I was unable to save him or condemn him. So

d to myself, as I hastened away by the road through the r

prevent me from making my promised visit. Between ourselves, considering what my fr

ening newspapers informed me that Pie

es of judicious advertising,-the `Echo de

bbed Madame Renaud, wife of the director in the penitentiary service, in a railway carriage on the Paris-Havre line. Arsène Lupin restored to Madame Re