Arsene Lupin

p straight all over his head, giving it the appearance of a broad, dapple-grey clothes-brush. He appeared to be of the opinion t

race, M. Formery,"

n-the occasion is somewhat painful. The treasures of M. Gournay-Martin are known to all the world. France

ested his pleasure at making t

ctor?" said M. Formery; and he rubbed hi

only ones touched, though of course we can't tell till M. Gourna

etter after a night journey to Paris from Charmerace. But probably these are the only two rooms touched, for in them M. Gournay-Martin had gathered

our Grace was very fond o

em as already belonging to me, for my father-in-law

t assured of it. I hope you have touched nothing in this room. If anything has bee

. Gournay-Martin; the discovery that the keys had been changed and would not open the door of the ho

omplices," sa

e. "Pardon my ignorance-but I've been out of France for

in?" said M. F

ght; its arrival was followed by the theft of his two swiftest motor-cars; and then

ery impatiently. "I'm sick of hearing his name. This letter an

ard will take that

cluttered up with Guerchard. He has Lup

too late to prevent the burglary. He would never forgive me if I had neglected h

for him. But it was unnecessary-absolute

w," said the

't matter," said M. Formery in a disc

paused by the windows, looked at

eave traces all over the place. There's nothing but traces.

s the word, for this is a burglary p

M. Formery "The burglars came in by

covered with velvet, and velvet curtains hung before its door. He drew the curtains,

they haven't touched t

least my fiancee does, that M. Gournay-Martin keeps the most

t of the Princesse de La

said th

the letter signed 'Lupin' announced that

many words,"

with Lupin. That rascal would certainly have put his t

of the house?"

a housekeeper-a woman named

ne of your men round for their dossier. When I get it I'll que

ellow gag, blue cords, and the motto, 'I take, therefore

papers. It's any odds on it," said M. Formery gloomil

't know where she is

where she is?"

er anywhere," sa

aid M. Formery with lively delight; and he rubbed his hands

had both of them the greatest confidence in her. Yesterday she telephoned to us at the Chateau de

ng presents-have they been

course we can't tell till M. Gournay-Martin arrives. As far as I

annoying," sa

t so," said the

the inspector and added, "You can't have searched thoroughly. This housekeeper must be

d-in every corner and every c

scraps of torn clothes, no blood-stains,

said the

" said M. Formery. "Where did

spector. "The bed had been slept in, but she does

g to look a very complicated bus

able to throw a little more

nciful-wrong-headed, in fact; but, after all, he IS Guerchard. Only, since Lupin is his bugbear, he's bound to find some means

ll. "It seems to me that he is pretty well

t appearances. I am growing more and more confident that some ordinary burglars have commit

ssly and picked up a book wh

ase-do not touch anything,

" said the Duke, s

dd?" said

table by one of the burglars. And look here; here's a foo

where the book had fallen, plainly imprinted on the carpet, wa

did plaster get here?" sai

bbers came from the g

e. Where else should they come from?" said M. F

garden they're building

t book and sweep under it. This footprint, however, is not of great importance, though it is corroborative of all the other evidence we have that they came and went by the garden. There's the ladder, and that table half out of the window. Still, this foo

ocket, and gave it to the inspector, who fell on his k

y're building. I shall find a good many trace

the footprint in his note-book. There came

f some heap of plaster beside that house," said M. Formery; with an air of profou

he door of the drawi

servants have arrived f

silent, buried in profound meditation, for a couple of minutes. Then he turned to th

the cars we found that they had just been stolen. M. Gournay-Martin's chauffeur and another servant were in the garage gagged and bound. O

He thought for a moment, and then added. "Were the motor-

e sons-on the pretext of buying the hundred-horse-power Mercrac. M. Gournay-Martin had advertised it for sale in the Rennes Advertiser. They were waiting in the big hall of the chateau, which the family uses as the chief living-room, for t

t till I question him," said M. Formery, rubb

e haven't," said the Du

ed from the police? Oh, those c

ge him with the th

with the theft?" crie

egged so hard. I had the pendan

race! Your duty to soci

weak," said the Duke; "but there you ar

d walked, frowning, backwards

said, "I have no hesitation in saying that there is a connection-an i

espectful eyes-at least, the eyes of the inspe

and his wife. I will question them on the scene of the crime. Their dossier should be

g-room. M. Formery plunged at

xtremely interesti

. Formery, waving his hand

ge, a bearded man of about sixty, and his wife, a somewhat bearded woman of about fifty-five, stared at M. Formery with fas

covered from your

rge. "They hustled us a bit, bu

est woman can't sleep in peace in her bed of a night without being disturbed by rascals like that. And

e in your sleep?" said M. Formery. "You

hear anything. They trussed us up like

fe. "To lie there and not be able to tel

se of footsteps in the g

happens in the garden from our

clock till seven in the morning, all the household was kept awake exce

er a waste of time to have gagged them

scornfully, "Oh, them common folks;

noise at the front do

oise at the door,"

se at all the whole ni

se enough after we'd been g

" said M. Formery. "What

said the concierge. "And there was a noi

these noises come fr

heads-the big drawing-ro

, as if somebody was being dragged about

ife looked at one anoth

't," said t

id I," sai

, "How long have you been in th

han a year," sai

hand, frowned, and said severely, "I s

sir,

tly honest," broke in his wife. "You've

r husband, he went on: "At your first conviction you were sentenced to a day's im

" said the concierge; "but it w

e?" said M

nd I got a day's imprisonment for crying, 'Hurr

In whose service?

f M. Genlis, the

d conviction?"

Ste. Clotilde, 'Down with the cows!'-mean

service of M. Genlis

ervice of M. Bussy-Rabut

y well-defined political co

ed. "I'm always devoted to my masters; and I

ou can go," s

oom, looking as if they did not quite

e exact truth, unless I'm very

t enough people,

e the rest of the ho

you, if I may,

by all means,"

so interesting,