Maurice Leblanc

“ Altenheim gave Sernine a chair, sat down himself and said, in a conciliatory tone:
"Well, no, I cannot allow that. It is impossible that two men like ourselves should fight and injure each other. We have only to come to an explanation, to seek the means: you and I were made to understand each other."
"I think, on the contrary, that two men like ourselves are not made to understand each other."
The baron suppressed a movement of impatience and continued:
"Listen to me, Lupin.... By the way, do you mind my calling you Lupin?"
"What shall I call you? Altenheim, Ribeira, or Parbury?" ”

“ Mortal enemies, separated by a merciless hatred, each feeling sure of winning and longing for victory with an unbridled will, they waited for the propitious moment: Altenheim to do away with Sernine; and Sernine to hurl Altenheim into the pit which he was digging for him. ”

“ In short, the two adversaries are each as good as the other. But one question remains unanswered: why are we adversaries? We are pursuing the same object, you will say? And what then? Do you know what will come of our rivalry? Each of us will paralyze the efforts and destroy the work of the other; and we shall both miss our aim! And for whose benefit? Some Lenormand or other, a third rogue!... It's really too silly."
"It's really too silly, as you say," Sernine admitted. "But there is a remedy." ”

“ As soon as the two brothers were in the room, he questioned them with his usual precision:
"I know what the newspapers have said about the disappearance of Lenormand and Gourel. Do you know any more?"
"No. The deputy-chief, M. Weber, has taken the case in hand. We have been searching the garden of the House of Retreat for the past week; and nobody is able to explain how they can have disappeared. The whole force is in a flutter.... No one has ever seen the like... a chief of the detective-service disappearing, without leaving a trace behind him!" ”

“ He took the letter and read:
"Sir,
"This is to inform you that Prince Paul Sernine, who calls himself Mrs. Kesselbach's friend, is really Arsene Lupin.
"One proof will be sufficient: Paul Sernine is the anagram of Arsene Lupin. Not a letter more, not a letter less.
"L. M."
And M. Weber added, while Valenglay stood amazed:
"This time, our friend Lupin has found an adversary who is a match for him. While he denounces the other, the other betrays him to us. And the fox is caught in the trap!" ”

“ Altenheim had recovered his good humor and the two men vied with each other in wit and politeness. Sernine told anecdotes which the baron capped with others; and it was a succession of stories of hunting, sport and travel, in which the oldest names in Europe were constantly cropping up: Spanish grandees, English lords, Hungarian magyars, Austrian archdukes.
"Ah," said Sernine, "what a fine profession is ours! It brings us into touch with all the best people. ”

“ So, on Tuesday next, Altenheim and the Palace Hotel murderer have an appointment at Garches, in a house with the telephone number 38. On Tuesday, therefore, I shall hand over the two criminals to the police and set M. Lenormand at liberty. In the evening, it will be old Steinweg's turn; and I shall learn, at last, whether Pierre Leduc is the son of a pork-butcher or not and whether he will make a suitable husband for Genevieve. So be it! ”

“ Genevieve?"
"Calling on Mrs. Kesselbach."
"When will she be here?"
"Not before an hour."
"Then I will let the brothers Doudeville come. I have an appointment with them. How is Genevieve?"
"Very well."
"How often has she seen Pierre Leduc since I went away, ten days ago?"
"Three times; and she is to meet him today at Mrs. Kesselbach's, to whom she introduced him, as you said she must. Only, I may as well tell you that I don't think much of this Pierre Leduc of yours. Genevieve would do better to find some good fellow in her own class of life. For instance, there's the schoolmaster." ”

“ After all, I haven't got Steinweg yet.... That is the first thing that he will want to know: did they get Steinweg? To find this out, he will go straight to the hiding-place. If he goes up, it means that the hiding-place is upstairs. If he goes down, then it is in the basement."
He listened. The sound of voices continued in the rooms on the ground floor, but it did not seem as if any one were moving. Altenheim must be cross-examining his confederates. It was half an hour before Sernine heard steps mounting the staircase. ”

“ I am serious. The proposal which I am going to make is not one to be rejected without examination. Here it is, in two words: let's be partners!"
"I say!"
"Of course, each of us will continue free where his own affairs are concerned. But, for the business in question, let us combine our efforts. Does that suit you? Hand in hand and share alike." ”

“ The telephone-bell rang.
"Hullo!" said Altenheim. "Is that Garches?... Yes, that's right.... Give me number 38, please, mademoiselle...."
A few seconds later, in a lower voice, as low and as distinct as he could make it, he began:
"Are you 38?... It's I speaking; no useless words.... Yesterday?... Yes, you missed him in the garden.... Another time, of course; but the thing's becoming urgent... He had the house searched last night.... I'll tell you about it.... Found nothing, of course.... What?... Hullo!... ”

“ A man who thinks himself worthy of leading the life which you and I have the honor to lead must also be fit to lead it, and, for that, must be prepared for every eventuality: he must even be prepared not to die if some ragamuffin or other tries to poison him.... An undaunted soul in an unassailable body: that is the ideal which he must set before himself... and attain. Try away, old chap. ”

“ No, old Steinweg refuses to speak.... Threats, promises, nothing's any good.... Hullo!... Yes, of course, he sees that we can do nothing.... We know just a part of the Kesselbach scheme and of the story of Pierre Leduc... He's the only one who has the answer to the riddle.... Oh, he'll speak all right; that I'll answer for... this very night, too... If not... What?... Well, what can we do? Anything rather than let him escape! Do you want the prince to bag him from us? As for the prince, we shall have to cook his goose in three days from now.... You have an idea?... ”

“ They then described the incidents that had marked M. Lenormand's last two days: the night visit of the two ruffians to Pierre Leduc's villa; next day, Ribeira's attempt to kidnap Genevieve and the chase through the Saint-Cucufa woods; old Steinweg's arrival, his examination at the detective-office in Mrs. Kesselbach's presence, his escape from the Palais....
"And no one knows these details except yourselves?
"Dieuzy knows about the Steinweg incident: he told us of it."
"And they still trust you at the Prefecture of Police?"
"So much so that they employ us openly. M. Weber swears by us." ”

“ But where does he see him? Where has he got him shut up? With friends? In his own house, at 29, Villa Dupont?"
He reflected for some time, then lit a cigarette, took three puffs at it and threw it away. This was evidently a signal, for two young men came and sat down beside him. He did not seem to know them, but he conversed with them by stealth. It was the brothers Doudeville, got up that day like men of fashion.
"What is it, governor?"
"Take six of our men, go to 29, Villa Dupont and make your way in."
"The devil! How?" ”

“ I must congratulate you, baron; you have a first-rate chef."
"My chef is a woman-cook, prince. I bribed her with untold gold to leave Levraud, the socialist deputy. I say, try this hot chocolate-ice; and let me call your special attention to the little dry cakes that go with it. They're an invention of genius, those cakes."
"The shape is charming, in any case," said Sernine, helping himself. "If they taste as good as they look.... ”