Maurice Leblanc

“ Lupin gave Doudeville an Upmann, took one for himself and cut it. The head-waiter struck a match and held it for him. With a sudden movement, Lupin caught him by the wrist:
"Not a word.... I know you.... Your real name is Dominique Lecas!"
The man, who was big and strong, tried to struggle away. He stifled a cry of pain: Lupin had twisted his wrist.
"Your name is Dominique... you live in the Rue de la Pompe, on the fourth floor, where you retired with a small fortune acquired in the service — listen to me, you fool, will you, or I'll break every bone in your body! ”

“ She gave her umbrella to the footman and said:
"Please open it and put it somewhere to dry."
Then she walked straight in.
"My poor old chap!" said Lupin to himself, as he walked away. "What a series of blows for a sensitive and highly-strung creature like yourself! You must keep a watch on your heart or... Ah, what next? Here are my eyes beginning to water now! That's a bad sign. M. Lupin: you're growing old!"
He gave a tap on the shoulder to a young man who was crossing the Chaussee de la Muette and going toward the Rue des Vignes. ”

“ Moreover, Leon Massier most often went out at the close of day and did not come in again until very late... at dawn, said people who had come upon him at sunrise.
"And does any one know what he does?" asked Lupin of his companion, when they next met.
"No, he leads an absolutely irregular existence. He sometimes disappears for several days together... or, rather, he remains indoors. When all is said, nobody knows anything." ”

“ The extraordinary thing that constantly happened was this, that, suddenly, while Lupin was following him, the man, who was ambling with short steps along the streets, without ever turning round or ever stopping, the man would vanish as if by a miracle. ”

“ Leon Massier, therefore, occupied a house adjoining the place in which the seven members of the Altenheim gang held their meetings. Consequently. Leon Massier was, in point of fact, the supreme leader who commanded that gang; and there was evidently a passage between the two coach-houses through which he communicated with his followers.
"I was right," said Lupin. "Leon Massier and Louis de Malreich are one and the same man. The situation is much simpler than it was."
"There is no doubt about that," said Doudeville, "and everything will be settled in a few days." ”

“ The mother was mad.... The father a dipsomaniac.... Altenheim a regular brute beast.... Isilda, a poor innocent... As for the other, the murderer, he is the monster, the crazy lunatic...."
"Crazy? Do you think so, governor?"
"Yes, crazy! With flashes of genius, of devilish cunning and intuition, but a crack-brained fool, a madman, like all that Malreich family. Only madmen kill and especially madmen of his stamp. For, after all..."
He interrupted himself; and his face underwent so great a change that Doudeville was struck by it:
"What's the matter, governor?" ”

“ Doudeville went away. Lupin waited for an hour longer, until that quiet thoroughfare, the Rue Delaizement, was quite deserted, and then, seeing that Leon Massier did not return, he made up his mind and went up to the villa.
There was no one in sight.... He took a run and jumped on the stone ledge that supported the railings of the garden. A few minutes later, he was inside.
His plan was to force the door of the house and search the rooms in order to find the Emperor's letters which Malreich had stolen from Veldenz. But he thought a visit to the coach-house of more immediate importance. ”

“ Mrs. Kesselbach thereupon went downstairs and discovered that the shutter in the pantry did not fasten, or, at least, that it could be opened from the outside.
"At last," said Lupin, "it's the enemy himself who offers to give battle. That's a good thing! I am tired of marching up and down under Malreich's windows."
"Is he there at this moment?"
"No, he played me one of his tricks again in Paris, just as I was about to play him one of mine. But, first of all, listen to me, Doudeville. Go and collect ten of our men and bring them to the Rue des Vignes. ”

“ A little further, at the corner of the Rue de la Pompe, stood the wine-shop of which Mrs. Kesselbach had spoken to him. He went in and had a long talk with the proprietor.
Then he took a taxi and drove to the Grand Hotel, where he was staying under the name of Andre Beauny, and found the brothers Doudeville waiting for him.
Lupin, though used to that sort of pleasure, nevertheless enjoyed the marks of admiration and devotion with which his friends overwhelmed him:
"But, governor, tell us... what happened? We're accustomed to all sorts of wonders with you; but still, there are limits.... ”

“ He asked the waiter:
"What does he do?"
"I really can't say. He's a rum cove... He's always quite alone.... He never talks to anybody... We here don't even know the sound of his voice.... He points his finger at the dishes on the bill of fare which he wants.... He has finished in twenty minutes; then he pays and goes...."
"And he comes back again?"
"Every three or four days. He's not regular."
"It's he; it cannot be any one else," said Lupin to himself. "It's Malreich. There he is... breathing... ”

“ I asked my cousin of Germany for a month and I believe a fortnight will be enough for my purpose. And what I like about it is that I shall start operations with the scoundrels who made me take a header in the Seine. My poor old Gourel, I shall revenge you at last. And high time too!"
At twelve o'clock on Saturday, he went to the Restaurant Buffalo, a little low-ceilinged room to which bricklayers and cab-drivers resorted for their mid-day meal. ”

“ What fools they are! And to think that we pay millions a year to keep those people. If this sort of thing goes on, I shall refuse to pay my rates. Take a seat and a pen. I will dictate a letter which you must hand in to the Grand Journal this evening. The world has been waiting for news of me long enough. ”

“ He went up the garden, walking quickly, in his haste to be outside and master his emotion. The footman was waiting for him at the hall-door. As he passed out into the street, somebody rang, a young woman. ”

“ Would he enter the buildings at No. 3? Lupin eagerly hoped that he would, for that would have been a certain proof of his complicity with the Altenheim gang; but the man turned round and made for the Rue Delaizement, which he followed until he passed the Velodrome Buffalo. ”

“ It was unlucky."
"He dresses in black, doesn't he?"
"Yes, in black. He is short and slender... with fair hair...."
"And he kills, doesn't he?"
"Yes, he kills... he kills where another might steal a bit of bread." ”

“ And Lupin was left behind, petrified, astounded, filled with rage and confusion. He at once hurried to the Rue Delaizement and stood on guard outside the villa. Minutes followed upon minutes, half-hour upon half-hour. A part of the night slipped away. Then, suddenly, the mysterious man hove in sight. What could he have been doing?
*⁠*⁠*⁠*⁠*
"An express message for you, governor," said Doudeville, at eight o'clock one evening, as he joined him in the Rue Delaizement.
Lupin opened the envelope. Mrs. Kesselbach implored him to come to her aid. ”