Maurice Leblanc

“ He half-saw Daubrecq, in the dark, ridding himself of his rope, and heard him whisper:
"You're a bit of a fool, you know!... You bring me a letter from my Rousselot cousins, in which I recognize the writing of the elder, Adelaide, but which that sly puss of an Adelaide, suspecting something and meaning to put me on my guard, if necessary, took care to sign with the name of the younger sister, Euphrasie Rousselot. You see, I tumbled to it! So, with a little reflection... you are Master Arsene Lupin, are you not? Clarisse's protector, Gilbert's saviour... ”

“ Lupin whispered:
"It will take me two or three hours to file through one of the bars. Are Sebastiani and his sons coming back?"
"Yes, they are sure to," replied Daubrecq, in the same low voice, "but I expect they will leave me to myself."
"But they sleep next door?"
"Yes."
"Won't they hear?"
"No, the door is too thick."
"Very well. In that case, it will soon be done. I have a rope-ladder. Will you be able to climb up alone, without my assistance?"
"I think so... I'll try... It's my wrists that they've broken... Oh, the brutes! I can hardly move my hands... ”

“ He went back to Daubrecq and, stooping over him again:
"No humbug, eh? That wouid be very silly of you. I should lose a day, that's all. Whereas you would lose all the days that remain to you to live. But no, the hiding-place is too good. A fellow doesn't invent a thing like that for fun. Come on, Sebastiani. You shall have the telegram to-morrow."
"And suppose they don't let you into the house, monsieur le marquis?"
"Why shouldn't they?"
"The house in the Square Lamartine is occupied by Prasville's men." ”

“ Come, speak... Where is it? One word. One word only... and we will leave you in peace... And, to-morrow, when I have the list, you shall be free. Free, do you understand? But, in Heaven's name, speak!... ”

“ He's done for; he has not a kick left in him. If he has told the marquis his secret, there is no reason why he shouldn't tell it to Clarisse and me, when we employ the same methods. That's settled! We'll kidnap the Daubrecq bird." And he continued, "Besides, what do I risk? If the scheme miscarries, Clarisse and I will rush off to Paris and, together with Prasville, organize a careful watch in the Square Lamartine to prevent d'Albufex from benefiting by Daubrecq's revelations. The great thing is for Prasville to be warned of the danger. He shall be." ”

“ Sebastiani slackened the thongs that bound Daubrecq's wrists and inserted and fixed the stick between the thongs.
"Shall I turn, monsieur le marquis?"
A further silence. The marquis waited. Seeing that Daubrecq did not flinch, he whispered:
"Can't you speak? Why expose yourself to physical suffering?" ”

“ He can very well help in his own escape. There's just one point that ruffles me: will he allow himself to be convinced? Will he consent to go with me? Will he not think that this miraculous assistance which comes to him straight from heaven is a trap laid by the marquis?"
But suddenly Lupin remembered the letter which he had made Daubrecq's old cousins write, the letter of recommendation, so to speak, which the elder of the two sisters Rousselot had signed with her Christian name, Euphrasie. ”

“ He cut away a dozen of these, with his knife, and whittled them all down to the same size. Then he cut off two equal lengths from his rope. These were the uprights of the ladder. He fastened the twelve little sticks between the uprights and thus contrived a rope-ladder about six yards long.
When he returned to this post, there was only one of the three sons beside Daubrecq's bed in the torture-chamber. He was smoking his pipe by the lamp. Daubrecq was asleep.
"Hang it!" thought Lupin. "Is the fellow going to sit there all night? In that case, there's nothing for me to do but to slip off..." ”

“ Here and now. One little effort more. At the stage which he has reached, it won't be difficult." And, taking the huntsman aside, "Did you hear what he said? What did he mean by that word, 'Marie'? He repeated it twice."
"Yes, twice," said the huntsman. "Perhaps he entrusted the document to a person called Marie."
"Not he!" protested d'Albufex. "He never entrusts anything to anybody. It means something different."
"But what, monsieur le marquis?"
"We'll soon find out, I'll answer for it."
At that moment, Daubrecq drew a long breath and stirred on his couch. ”

“ I shall get in. If they don't open the door, there's always the window. And, if the window won't open, I shall arrange with one of Prasville's men. It's a question of money, that's all. And, thank goodness, I shan't be short of that, henceforth! Good-night, Daubrecq."
He went out, accompanied by Sebastiani, and the heavy door closed after them.
Lupin at once effected his retreat, in accordance with a plan which he had worked out during this scene. ”