The Blonde Lady / Being a Record of the Duel of Wits between Arsène Lupin and the English Detective

s College, rummaging among the stores at a second-hand dealer's, discovered a

want for Suzanne's b

ler down. He ended by paying sixty-five francs. As he was writing down his address, a well-groomed and well-dress

uch fo

," replied

o this ge

d him his purchase, left the shop. But he had not taken ten steps in the stree

o ask you an indiscreet question.... Were you l

e if I could find a cheap set

do not want it v

it, that

it's old

e it's

anging it for another desk, quite

ondition and I see no

ill

irritated and quick to tak

u to drop the

laced himself i

u paid, sir ... but I off

thank

imes the

professor, impatiently. "The desk

ained imprinted on M. Gerbois' memory, then turn

little house on the Viroflay Road where t

Suzanne; that is

ily pleased. She threw her arms round her father's neck and kissed hi

cleaned out the drawers and neatly put away her papers, her stationery, her corres

ne, according to her daily custom, went to meet him at the exit; and it was a great plea

ked home

o you like

I have polished up the brass ha

e pleased

on't know how I did wit

e front garden. T

look at it b

at's a g

ut, on reaching the door of her

tter?" exclaim

o the room. The wri

day, a ticket-porter, wearing his badge, had stopped his cart before the garden, in sight of the neighbours, and rung the bell twice. The neigh

e marble slab of the desk, was found on the adjacent table, with the gold which it contained. The object of the theft was clearly determined,

fessor could supply was the

en annoyance at my refusal; and I have a posit

e desk, he had bought it for forty francs at Chevreuse, at the sale of a person deceased, and he

A fortune must have been concealed in some secret drawer and that was why

we have done with the fort

our dowry, you could have m

lf with, and she gave a bitter sigh. And life in the little house at Versailles went on gai

r, came a sequence of the most serious events, formi

ening paper in his hand, sat down, put on his spectacles and began to read. The political

F THE PRESS-ASSO

00,000 francs: No

beating. Number 514, series 23, was the number of his ticket! He had bought it by acc

quite right: number 514, series 23, was jotted

; and he stopped short as he entered and staggered back, with a pain at his heart: the box was n

ne! Su

up the stairs hurriedly. He s

box ... the box o

ch o

. on a Thursday ... it used to

er, father?... We put

he

.. you know, th

tell me ... it's mor

In the wr

sk that wa

es

sk that wa

er, with a sort of terror. Then

d a million,

n't you tell me?" sh

"It was the winning numb

a long time, they maintained a silence which they

hey will pay yo

what ev

require e

cour

ave yo

, I

el

s in t

that has d

other man will

ageous! Surely, father,

arily clever! He has such wonderful resources....

sprang up and, stamping

hould he? After all, sharp as he may be, he can do nothing, either. If h

ught of somet

come what may! And we shall succeed!... The

ter, he dispatch

ver

it Fo

Capuc

ar

3; oppose by every legal metho

rbo

, the Crédit Foncier re

eries 23, is i

ne Lu

of these adventures is known to every one of my readers. As a matter of fact, there is not a move on the part of "our national thief," as he has been happily called, but has been described all ov

MURDER IN THE AVENUE HENRI-MARTIN!" ... and "THE BLUE DIAMOND!" ... What an excitement there was about the intervention of Holmlock Shears, the famous English detective! What a

of Arsèn

that have been read over and over again; I copy out old interviews: but all these things I rearrange and classify and put to the exact test of truth. My collaborator in this wor

wo telegrams. The name of Arsène Lupin alone was a guarantee of originality, a prom

Versailles branch of the Crédit Lyonnais to Major Bressy of the artillery. Now the major had died of a fall from his horse; and it

s myself," decl

ed the governor of

jor and that we used to meet at the café on the Place d'Armes. It was there that, one day, to oblige hi

witnesses to t

N

at do you bas

which he wrote me

t le

pinned to

duce

n the stolen

nd

our of being his official organ and in which he seems to be one of the principal shareholders-announced that he was pl

ted by counsel! Arsène Lupin, respecting established cu

puty, a man endowed with the highest integrity and a mind of uncommon shrew

was greatly flattered at being selected, keenly alive to the honour shown him and determined to defend his client's rights to the utmost. He opened his brief a

in, in a note enclosing the major's letter. "

e flew off to M. Gerbois, wh

self. Arsène Lupin stole the major

," was Lupin's rejoin

xclaimed M. Gerbois in fro

ve it!" retorted

two owners of number 514, series 23, by the constant coming and going of the journal

ntations! He confessed the full extent of h

lf, personally, I don't care; but for Suzanne! Just think, a million! Ten

the existence of the lottery-ticket and that, in any case, no one could have fore

.. If not, why should he have taken th

t hold of a scrap of paper which, at that tim

!... Ah, you don't know the sort of a man he is, the ruff

s later, M. Gerbois received a letter from Arsène Lupin, mark

ar

o you not think that the time has come to be ser

to cash and you are entitled to cash a ticket which you do not

surrender your rights to me no

are we

lion for you, half a million for me. Is not that fair? And would not

e that, on Friday morning, I may have the pleasure of seeing a discreet advertisement in the agony-column of the écho de France, addressed to 'M. Ars. Lup.' and containing, in veiled terms, your unreserved assent to the compact wh

rt from the very serious trouble which your obstinacy would bring upon you, you would be the

, dea

spectful

ne Lu

sal blunder of showing this letter and allowing it to be

before the assembled reporters. "Share what belongs t

lion francs is bet

of my rights; and those rights I s

rsène Lupin? That

ncier. They are bound

at least against eviden

ng that Arsène Lupin admit

oing to take Ars

re, I shall

, others that he would not go beyond threats. And the people felt a sort of apprehension; for the adversaries w

ge was scanned with feverish eyes. There was not a line addressed to "M. Ars. Lup." M.

tained the news that Mlle.

asses outside their knowledge. Lupin speaks, writes, warns, orders, threatens, carries out his plans, as though there were no police, no detect

force, from top to bottom, takes fire, boils and foams with rage. He is the enemy, the enemy who mocks you

the college, failed to see her on the pavement where she usually waited for him. Everything, therefore, must have taken place in the

ards from the house. A lady had seen a girl walking along the avenue w

hat he had supplied a closed motor-car, coming from Paris, with petrol. There was a chauffeur on the front seat and a lady with fair hair-exceedingly fair hair, the witness said-inside. The car returned from Versailles an hour later. A block in t

ht, on a busy road, in the very heart of the town! How? At what s

of Mme. Bob-Walthour, the manageress of the Grand Garage, who used to make a specialty of motor-car elopements. She had,

the d

engaged the day before on the stre

he h

k the car and has n

get hold

people who recommended him. I

e persons. None of them k

find their way out of the darkness led

ce of his daughter and pricked with remorse, he capitulated. An advertisement which appeared in the écho de France and aroused genera

the Crédit Foncier. He was shown in to the governor and ha

it? Did they give

d here it is," r

... There was

lies and tit

should require some c

major's

tain

e it

hem. I will let you know when you can call for the money. In the meanwhile, I think that you w

hat I inte

had the pluck to send number 514, series 23, back to M. Gerbois! The news was received with a sort of stupefied admiration. What a bold player he must be, to fling so important a trump as the preci

e Lupin disarmed and despoiled by himself, caught in his own toils, receiving not a

Suzanne. And they did not f

mit, and he will not hand her over without the five hundred thousand francs. But how and where is the exchange to take place? For the exchange to take

eatly cast down, longing only for

ing to say;

lle. G

h is being

Lupin has wr

N

u swea

N

s. What are hi

nothing

xt besieged and showe

ectation of gravity. "You will understand that I

and tightening the meshes of his nets, while the police were keeping up a watch by day and night round M. Ger

d to be only partially satisfied; and the exact t

rbois received the notice from the Cr

in for Paris. A thousand notes of a thous

short distance from the main entrance. One of these men had grizzled hair and a powerful face, which contrasted oddly with his dress and bearing, whic

we shall see him come out in fiv

ui

any ar

luding two

scape us at any price ... if he does, we're diddled: he'll meet Lupin at the place they

us? It would be so simple! By giving us a hand

tries to jockey the other, he

t ot

im

awe-struck tone, as though he were speaking of a supernatu

, judiciously, "that we should be reduced to

hing is upside down

ute e

out!"

s Capucines, he turned down the boulevard, keeping to the left-hand si

d. "A fellow with a million in his poc

can

.. No matter, I mistrust

hed arms, began to read, while walking on with short steps. And, suddenly, with a bound, he jumped into a motor-cab which was wait

Ganimard. "Another

he Madeleine. But he burst out laughing. The motor-car had broken down at

e driver ... perhaps it'

company's drivers; a gentleman had engaged him ten minutes before and had told h

d the second fare gi

lesherbes ... Avenue de Messine ... give

ois, without losing a minute, had

e Concorde t

o another cab and drove to the Place de la Bourse. Here he went by tu

ue Cla

Batignolles by the house at the corner. The professor went

re Detinan

tinan. M. Gerbo

t's

ting you. Pr

yer's office, the clock was str

me he appointed

t y

looked at his watch as though he did no

he c

wyer r

ver felt so impatient in my life. In any case, if he comes, he is taking a big risk,

am not at all sure that the detectives set

the

e obeyed his orders blindly: I cashed the ticket at the time which he fixed and came on to you in the manner which he ordered. I am responsible for my daughter's mi

ope

. you've

flat between the time of your arrival and his departure. If I did not consent to this proposal, he begged me to let him know by

bois m

how will

hen the two men sat silent. From time to time, M. Gerbois pricked up his ears: wasn't that a ring at the door-bell?... His

ocate lost all his composure.

adness on his part! He trusts us, no doubt: we are honest men

red, with his hands on

he would only come! I would giv

oor o

l do, M.

y dressed-and M. Gerbois at once recognized the person who had

? Where is m

refully and, quietly unbuttonin

ficiently for your kindness in consenting

nan could o

ng.... I did not

their work without ever being heard. I am he

at have you done with her

y you're in! Come, calm yourself; your d

m and then, in the tone of a

motor hadn't had that ridiculous accident we should simply have met at the étoile and

the two bundles of

n is there!... Let us waste n

ng himself in front of the table,

el

her presence

ly misunderstood! Because fate has obliged me to perform acts of a rather ... special character, doubts are cast upon my good faith ... mine! I, a man a

u thin

in raised

ing Ganimard off the scent.... What did I

he professor. "I swea

ut the fellows are clever. Look, there's Folenfant!...

was laughing with a happy laugh, as though he were amusing h

f the detectives to reassure the lawyer. He move

r, counted twenty-five notes from each of them and, han

ee, my dear ma?tre, and Arsè

thing," said M

l the trouble w

ure it has been to me

he sighed, "of having a bad reputation." He held out the fifty thousand francs to the professor. "Monsieu

hed at the notes

r is not be

u refuse your consent. But

you know

Fortunately, there are good geniuses, called Arsène Lupin, who discover

tinan. "I confess that I am very curious to know

s-leaf capitals, was found in Marie Walewska's discreet little house at Boulogne-sur-Seine and has an inscription on one of the drawers: 'Dedicated to Napoleon I., Emperor of the French, by his most faithful servant, Mancion.' Underneath are these words, carved with the point of

bois s

this at the shop, how willingly

Lupin l

appreciable advantage of keeping the whol

kidnapping my daughter, whom all th

hat bu

bducti

e quite mistaken. Mlle. G

er was not

plies violence. Now Mlle. Gerbois act

l!" repeated the pro

ret passion at the bottom of her heart, was hardly likely to refuse the opportunity of securing her dowry. Oh, I

was greatly amu

ming to terms. I can't believe that Mll

nowing her. A lady of my acquaintance was

e motor-car, I suppose

rbois and her new friend have been abroad, have visited Belgium and Holland in the most agreea

gs in quick succession, then a sin

pin. "My dear ma?tre, i

ran to op

ely, with a very pale face, and her fair hair, which glittered like gold, was parted into two loosely waved bandeaux. Dress

ords to her and then, bowi

all this annoyance; but I hope, neverthele

been very happy, if it had

e and take the opportunity-you will never have

do you mean?... I

cousin Philippe ... the young man who

then, taking Lupin's advice, threw her

them both with

down to their children and their children's children.... Oh, family life!... Family life!..." He turned to the window. "Is our dear Ganimard there still?... How he would love to witness this charming display of affection!...

to see things in their true light. The arrest of his adversary meant half a million to him. I

aps, that Mlle. Gerbois is here too, for they must have seen her come with an unknown lady. But they have no idea that I am here. How could I have entered a house which they searched this morning from cellar to garret? No, in all probability they are wait

bell

an abrupt gesture and, in a ha

aughter and be reasonable; if not.... As

ted to the floor. Th

of haste. There was a little dust on it; he

" He took a heavy gold hunter from his pocket. "M. Gerbois, it is now eighteen minutes to four: I authorize you to

force!" Ma?tre Detinan

ctity of a Frenchman's home. We should have time for a pleasant rubber. But forgi

pened the door of the room and, add

we go

pectful bow to Mlle. Gerbois, walked out and closed the do

very kindly to Mme. Ganimard.... I must drop in on h

y, followed by repeated knocks and by

four," stammer

dly into the hall. Arsène Lupin and

mustn't!... Wait

eration to that scoundrel!... And

ned th

rd rus

at lady?...

re ... he i

ve a shout

!... The house

etinan o

ervants' s

urtyard and there's only one outlet, the

the front door.... He won't

jeered Ganimard.

ading to the kitchen. Ganimard ran down it and found th

, he called to one

any

, s

the rooms!... It is physically impossible for them to have escaped.... A

on in person. He put a few questions to the men who were watching the house and then went up to Ma?tre Detinan, who took him to his room.

." yelped a s

t voice, from rig

.. Hi

laughed and

what are you pl

. He was unrecognizable, with his black face, hi

g for him,"

r w

Arsène Lupin and

ly don't imagine they're

-covered fingers on the sleeve of his superi

e somewhere. They are beings of flesh and blood,

ey vanish f

se is surrounded! Ther

ut the ne

no commun

on the ot

They have seen nobody.

re you know

em. Besides, as an additional precaut

ind them,

h here ... they can't be anywhere else. Be easy, chief; if I don't catch them to-night,

ays and three nights had elapsed, not only had he failed to discover the elusive Lupin and his no less elus

refused to budge fr

ace of their flight

mes no: a man and a woman do not vanish into space like the wicked genii in the fairy-tales! And, without losing courage, he continued his