第66章

"You shall go to the Elysee!...You shall go at once!...You must!...You must save Gilbert!""Flease, please, my dear friend, calm yourself..."She gave a strident laugh:

"Calm myself!...When, to-morrow morning, Gilbert...Ah, no, no, I am terrified...it's appalling....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...I gave you my oath?...""Gilbert...my son..." moaned Clarisse.

He clasped her fiercely, drew her against himself and put his hand over her mouth:

"Enough! Be quiet!...I entreat you to be quiet....Gilbert shall not die..."With irresistible authority, he dragged her away like a subdued child that suddenly becomes obedient; but, at the moment of opening the door, he turned to Prasville:

"Wait for me here, monsieur," he commanded, in an imperative tone."If you care about that list of the Twenty-seven, the real list, wait for me.

I shall be back in an hour, in two hours, at most; and then we will talk business."And abruptly, to Clarisse:

"And you, madame, a little courage yet.I command you to show courage, in Gilbert's name."He went away, through the passages, down the stairs, with a jerky step, holding Clarisse under the arm, as he might have held a lay-figure, supporting her, carrying her almost.A court-yard, another court-yard, then the street.

Meanwhile, Prasville, surprised at first, bewildered by the course of events, was gradually recovering his composure and thinking.He thought of that M.Nicole, a mere supernumerary at first, who played beside Clarisse the part of one of those advisers to whom we cling in the serious crises of our lives and who suddenly, shaking off his torpor, appeared in the full light of day, resolute, masterful, mettlesome, brimming over with daring, ready to overthrow all the obstacles that fate placed on his path.

Who was there that was capable of acting thus?

Prasville started.The question had no sooner occurred to his mind than the answer flashed on him, with absolute certainty.All the proofs rose up, each more exact, each more convincing than the last.

Hurriedly he rang.Hurriedly he sent for the chief detective-inspector on duty.And, feverishiy:

"Were you in the waiting-room, chief-inspector?""Yes, monsieur le secretaire-generaL"

"Did you see a gentleman and a lady go out?""Yes."

"Would you know the man again?"

"Then don't lose a moment, chief-inspector.Take six inspectors with you.Go to the Place de Cichy.Make inquiries about a man called Nicole and watch the house.The Nicole man is on his way back there.""And if he comes out, monsieur le secretaire-general?"Arrest him.Here's a warrant."

He sat down to his desk and wrote a name on a form:

"Here you are, chief-inspector.I will let the chief-detective know."The chief-inspector seemed staggered:

"But you spoke to me of a man called Nicole, monsieur le secretaire-general.""Well?"

"The warrant is in the name of Arsene Lupin.""Arsene Lupin and the Nicole man are one and the same individual."