Arsene Lupin

s with details of their appearance, their crime, and the reward offered for their apprehension-with its shabby furniture, and its dingy fireplace, presented a dismal and sordid

e two policemen sitting on a ben

otor-car. It stopped before the door of the police-station, and the eyes of

an in motor-coat and cap

voice: "I am the Duke of Charmerace. I am here on behalf of M. Gournay-Martin. Last evening he rece

m his chair, the policemen from their bench. On the

Grace!" said the

letter from the breast-pocket of his und

I know the handwriting well." Then he read it care

y. "I ought to have been here hours ago-hours. I h

-come along, you," said

roadway stood a long grey racing-car, caked with muds-grey mud, brown mud, red mud-from en

ar. Your men can trot along beside

ted. They went slowly, to allow the two policemen to keep up with them. Indeed, the car coul

hed row of exactly the same pattern. There were no signs that any one was living in it. Blinds were drawn, shutters were u

im. The Duke looked at the bunch, picked out the latch-key, and fitted it into the lock. It

he inspector. "I'm more used

another, the inspector fitted them into the lo

Duke, with some vexation. "Or no-stay-I see

the inspector.

t he saw a burglar slip out of one of the windows of the hall of the chate

d the knocker, and

the tradesmen's entrance, giving access to the back of the house. It was locked. T

e concierge

eeper, too-a woman named Victoire," he said. "Let'

aid the inspector. "They wo

ey'll be in a position to ope

ave it broken open

ector he

oors broken open," he said

responsibility of t

risk relief. "Henri, go to Ragoneau, the locksmith in the Rue

ouis if he's here inside of

the corner house was empty. The inspector searched the road, then he went round the corner. The other policeman went along the road, searching in the opposite direction. The Duke leant against the door and smoked on patiently. He showed none of the weariness of a man who has spent the nigh

e back, wearing a

nd anything?"

said the

, bearded man, his bag of tools slung over his shoulder, came hurrying up. He was not long getting to work, but it was not an easy job. The lock was s

y," said

inutes he had cut away a square piece from the door, a sq

volvers, and followed the Duke. The big hall was but dimly lighted. One of the policemen quickly threw back the shutters of

le door on the right which opened into the concierge's rooms. In half a m

he Duke-"the big drawing-rooms on the first floor. Come on; we

d along the corridor to the door of the big drawing-room. He threw

ng crookedly from only its bottom hinge. The top of a ladder rose above the window-sill, and beside it, astraddle the sill, was an Empire card-table, half inside the room, half out. On the hearth-rug, before a large tapestry fire-scree

a house a-building. The burglars had found every convenience to their hand-a strong ladder, an egress through the door in the garden wall, and then through the gap formed by

at the wall opposite, then, as if somethi

d to the middle of one of the empty

atly in blue chal

NE L

ut I had better get an examining magistrate to take t

ows were open, and it was plain that Arsene Lupin had plundered it also of everything that had str

ly. He did not leave the telephone till he was sure that she had done so, that her master was actual

egan to search the two rooms for traces of the bu

ing to do is to find the house-keeper. She may be sleeping s

ting," said the Duke; and he follo

ms on the ground-floor. They did not then examine any more of the rooms on the first floor to discover

re! Victoire!" two or three t

ooked in, the inspector taking the rooms on t

been recently occupied." They looked in, and saw that

she be?" sa

"I expect she's with the

rtin had the greatest confid

tor drily. "It's generally the confide

shed the fact that the burglars had confined their attention to the two drawing-rooms. They found no traces of them; and they did not find V

o much as having set eyes on their assailants. The Duke

at his watch and we

e Prefecture k

hem to send Guerch

aid the inspec

magistrate, does not get on

s M. Formery? Is he c

said the inspector quickly. "But

. "It seems that there is war to the knife between Guerchard and this Arsene Lupin. In that case Guerchard will leave no stone unturned to cat

d the inspector. And he rang

at Guerchard should be sent. The official in c

said in an anxious tone, "Perhaps

rtin begged me to secure the services of M. Guerchard. He laid the greatest stress on my

man of influence; that the Duke of Charmerace was a Duke; that he, at any rate, had nothing whatever to gain by running counter to their wishes. He said that Chief-Inspector Guerchard was not

ully, turning to the inspector. "W

ill he's had his breakfast. He always makes a good breakfast before setting out t

upper on my way late last night; but I've had nothing since. I suppose nothing interesting will happen till M. Formery come

doubtful whether he was standing on his head or his heels, but he undertook to supply the ne

time he had bathed and dressed the concierge had a meal ready for him in the dining-ro

n the middle of it the inspector came to him. He was not wearing a very cheerful air; and he told the Duke that he had found no clue to t

ailure when they heard a knocking at the

said the inspector cheer