Arsene Lupin

black; the rain pat

e bellowed: "Jean! F

his bellow echoed and re-echoed among the

Duke and said uneasily, "Wha

the Duke. "I suppose we m

these burglars about?" said

all the time that rascal Lupin is stealing nearer a

ps. They took their way to the stables. A dim light shone from the open

be hanged!

hundred horse-power Mercrac. It was a racing car, with

ere for? You idle dogs!"

The light from the lamp gleamed on their fixed

side the car, he raised it so that its light fell on the two figures. Then

lade, stepped into the car and set Firmin free. Firmin c

cutting irony, "what new game is t

is-those cursed Charo

unawares from b

and gagged us-the

nt off in the two

s?" cried the millionair

t into a shou

do things by halves," he cried. "This

nny! Where does the fun come in? Wha

out; then changed on the

our plans," he said. "I must g

hing," said the millionai

undred miles." He paused, and then said in an anxious tone: "All the same I don't like leaving you and Germaine in the chateau. These rog

pend the night in the chateau for a million francs

l those changes! You don't mean that you will

must go and tell Germaine; there's no time t

nk's full. As for the engine, I must humour it and trus

he chateau, and F

ns. She was declaring that nothing would induce her to make the journey by train; her father was

quietly: "But is there a train? I know there's

's a time-table?" s

e in the drawer of that Oriental cabinet." Crossing to the cabinet, he open

ly, ran his eye down a page, and said, "Yes, thank goodn

s? How are we to get to t

. Firmin, who had followed the Duk

luggage-car

t!" cried Germai

ire. "I'll drive it myself. Off you

clumping out

since the watches of Germaine and her father differed still, there ensued an a

station. It won't take you more than half an hour. The cart is light. You needn't start y

-car on the train? I'm not going to be starved

snapped her father. "We must eat somet

er and see what you can find. Tell Moth

the door of the hal

voyage, Mademoiselle

bon voyage, your

e said anxiously, in a low voice: "Oh, do-do be careful. I hate to th

careful," s

e room, kissed Germaine's hands, shook hands with the millionaire, and bade them good-night. Then he went out

he kept casting fearful glances at the window, as if he feared les

the door, and Jean app

o come into the house, and help

being less likely points of attack. He also was to have a gun; and the millionaire went with him to the gun-room and gave him one and a dozen cartridges. When they came back to the hall, Sonia called them into the dining-roo

arm, to say that Firmin had harnessed the horse to the lugga

nd by the horse till we com

ame clum

am relying on you. I am leaving you in a position of honour

the slouch which long years of loafing through woods with a gun on his arm had given

burglary, violence, an armed

the war of '70," said Firmin

"I confide the chateau to you.

ust be getting to the station," he le

climb into it. Germaine did not forget to give her real opinion of the advantages of a seat formed by a

r I've made sure that my collections are safe will be to buy carriages-som

s of the chateau watching the departure of their ma

off into the d

r into the darkness. Then they came

n't like this. These burglars stick at nothing.

ard the hall. I'm to look after the drawing-rooms. They're not likely to break i

't lock that doo

said Jean. "You'd bett

nto the kitchen. Jean took two bottles of wine, a rich-looking pie, a sweet, and carried them to the drawing-room. He came back into the hall, gathered toge

nd said: "The important thing with burglars is to

e decorated panels blankly. The beauty of the scheme of

the night. Under the patter of the rain he heard footsteps-distinctly. He

tting his suppe

70." And he mopped his glistening forehead with a dish-c

What of?" s

ut-throats!"

, and of his own appointment to the honourabl

or of that beastly hall, and come into the kit

otested Firmin. "He confided the

ith decision. "You've only one throat; and I'm not going to have it cut.

h the food poised on his fork, midway between the plate and his mouth, for several seconds at a time, while he listened with straining ears for the sound of burglars breaking in the windows of the hall. He was much too far from

e supper-dishes in the scullery. Then she came back, and sat down on the other side of the hearth, facing him. About the middle of his third bottle of wine, Firmin's cold, relentless courage was suddenly restored to him. He began to talk firmly abou

ate the first three burglars who entered the hall, and was proceeding to describe his method

nfinished word. Madame Firmin scuttled to the kitchen door she had left unlocked on he

ring of lions. Husband and wife stared at one another with white faces. Firmin picked up his gun with

l went on, and so

utes, when a slow gleam of comprehen

the master's v

said Firmin, in a hoar

nd she unlocked the thick do

m in full flood. He clumped across the room, brushed his wife aside, and trotted to the door of the chateau. He unlocked it,

d the millionaire. "What do you keep me stand

ht you were b-b-b-burgl

e millionaire. "Do I

more like a bull of Bashan. He bustle

this locked fo

hould get in while I was opening

her dripping coat, and said with some heat: "I can't conceive why you didn't make sure that there was a trai

e?" He rushed to the table on to which he had thrown the time-table after looking up the train

in a scream. "It's incredible