Maurice Leblanc

Name: The Crystal Stopper — Chapter XI: The cross of Lorraine
Author: Maurice Leblanc

The Crystal Stopper — Chapter XI: The cross of Lorraine (1912)

Summary

“The Crystal Stopper — Chapter XI: The cross of Lorraine”, published in 1912, is a work by Maurice Leblanc. It explores elements such as Daubrecq, Prasville and Clarisse.

Quotes from The Crystal Stopper — Chapter XI: The cross of Lorraine (Maurice Leblanc)

Maurice Leblanc, The Crystal Stopper — Chapter XI: The cross of Lorraine (1912)

“ The moment Lupin had finished lunch, he at once and, so to speak, without transition, recovered all his mastery and authority. The time for joking was past; and he must no longer yield to his love of astonishing people with claptrap and conjuring tricks. Now that he had discovered the crystal stopper in the hiding-place which he had guessed with absolute certainty, now that he possessed the list of the Twenty-seven, it became a question of playing off the last game of the rubber without delay. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Maurice Leblanc, The Crystal Stopper — Chapter XI: The cross of Lorraine (1912)

“ He walked away quietly and went after the car, where he found Clarisse lamenting:
"We shall never be in Paris to-morrow! It's madness! The least breakdown..."
"That's why you and I are going to take the train. It's safer..."
He put her into a cab and gave his parting instructions to the two men:
"Thirty miles an hour, on the average, do you understand? You're to drive and rest, turn and turn about. At that rate, you ought to be in Paris between six and seven to-morrow evening. But don't force the pace. I'm keeping Daubrecq, not because I want him for my plans, but as a hostage... ”

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Source: Wikisource

Maurice Leblanc, The Crystal Stopper — Chapter XI: The cross of Lorraine (1912)

“ That was how that demon of a Daubrecq allowed that untouched packet of tobacco to lie about for months on his table, among his pipes and among other unopened packets of tobacco. And no power on earth could have given any one even the vaguest notion of looking into that harmless little cube. I would have you observe, besides..." Lupin went on pursuing his remarks relative to the packet of Maryland and the crystal stopper. His adversary's ingenuity and shrewdness interested him all the more inasmuch as Lupin had ended by getting the better of him. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Maurice Leblanc, The Crystal Stopper — Chapter XI: The cross of Lorraine (1912)

“ The right of mercy is absolute. It is exercised without control, without reason, without excuse or explanation. It is a royal prerogative; the president of the Republic can wield it according to his good pleasure, or rather according to his conscience, in the best interests of the State. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Maurice Leblanc, The Crystal Stopper — Chapter XI: The cross of Lorraine (1912)

“ Mergy.
"And where was the crystal stopper?"
"In an object which Daubrecq came and fetched, a few days ago, from the writing-desk in his study in the Square Lamartine, an object which I took from him yesterday."
"What sort of object?"
"Simply a packet of tobacco, Maryland tobacco, which used to lie about on the desk."
Prasville was petrified. He muttered, guilelessly:
"Oh, if I had only known! I've had my hand on that packet of Maryland a dozen times! How stupid of me!"
"What does it matter?" said Clarisse. "The great thing is that the discovery is made." ”

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Source: Wikisource

Maurice Leblanc, The Crystal Stopper — Chapter XI: The cross of Lorraine (1912)

“ He soaked the pad once more, while, by his orders, Clarisse and the Growler propped up the deputy with linen, rugs and pillows, which they had taken the precaution to heap in the trunk.
"Capital!" said Lupin. "That trunk is fit to go round the world. Lock it and strap it."
The Masher arrived, in a chauffeur's livery:
"The car's below, governor."
"Good," he said. "Take the trunk down between you. It would be dangerous to give it to the hotel-servants."
"But if any one meets us?"
"Well, what then, Masher? Aren't you a chauffeur? ”

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Source: Wikisource

Maurice Leblanc, The Crystal Stopper — Chapter XI: The cross of Lorraine (1912)

“ Oh, run, you wretch, run! Obtain his pardon!... Don't you understand? Gilbert... Gilbert is my son! My son! My son!"
Prasville gave a cry. The blade of a knife flashed in Clarisse's hand and she raised her arm to strike herself. But the movement was not completed. M. Nicole caught her arm in its descent and, taking the knife from Clarisse, reducing her to helplessness, he said, in a voice that rang through the room like steel:
"What you are doing is madness!... When I gave you my oath that I would save him! You must... live for him... Gilbert shall not die.... How can he die, when... ”

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Source: Wikisource

Maurice Leblanc, The Crystal Stopper — Chapter XI: The cross of Lorraine (1912)

“ He's watching me ... The inward soliloquy is turning upon myself... 'I wonder who that M. Nicole can be? Why has that little provincial usher devoted himself body and soul to Clarisse Mergy? Who is that old bore, if the truth were known? I made a mistake in not inquiring... I must look into this.... I must rip off the beggar's mask. For, after all, it's not natural that a man should take so much trouble about a matter in which he is not directly interested. Why should he also wish to save Gilbert and Vaucheray? Why? Why should he? ..." Lupin turned his head away. "Look out!... Look out!... ”

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Source: Wikisource

Maurice Leblanc, The Crystal Stopper — Chapter XI: The cross of Lorraine (1912)

“ Prasville continued his examination with the aid of a magnifying-glass and compared the sheet with the scrap of torn paper. Next, he took from the cash-box some other sheets of letter-paper and examined one of these by holding it up to the light:
"That's done," he said. "My mind is made up. Forgive me, dear friend: it was a very difficult piece of work.... I passed through various stages. When all is said, I had my suspicions... and not without cause..."
"What do you mean?" asked Clarisse. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Maurice Leblanc, The Crystal Stopper — Chapter XI: The cross of Lorraine (1912)

“ And the door was locked."
"Well?" asked Clarisse.
"Well, we opened it. Do you think there's only one key in the world that will work a lock? So I walked in. Nobody in your room. But the partition-door was ajar. I slipped through it. Thenceforth, a mere hanging separated me from you, from Daubrecq and from the packet of tobacco which I saw on the chimney-slab."
"Then you knew the hiding-place?"
"A look round Daubrecq's study in Paris showed me that that packet of tobacco had disappeared. Besides..." ”

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Source: Wikisource

Maurice Leblanc, The Crystal Stopper — Chapter XI: The cross of Lorraine (1912)

“ It makes matches that won't light and cigarettes filled with hay. But there's all the difference in the world between recognizing that fact and believing the Inland Revenue to be in league with Daubrecq with the object of hiding the list of the Twenty-seven from the legitimate curiosity of the government and the enterprising efforts of Arsene Lupin! ”

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Source: Wikisource

Maurice Leblanc, The Crystal Stopper — Chapter XI: The cross of Lorraine (1912)

“ Reckon on you absolutely." "Five o'clock!" said Clarisse. "How late!"
"It's a first-rate hour," declared Lupin.
"Still, if..."
"If the execution is to take place to-morrow morning: is that what you mean to say?... Don't be afraid to speak out, for the execution will not take place."
"The newspapers..."
"You haven't read the newspapers and you are not to read them. Nothing that they can say matters in the least. One thing alone matters: our interview with Prasville. Besides..." ”

Maurice Leblanc

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Quotes from The Crystal Stopper — Chapter XI: The cross of Lorraine (Maurice Leblanc)

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