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He handed it to Guerchard, whose eyes scanned it carelessly and then glued themselves to it. "A gold-tipped cigarette ... marked Mercedes ... Why, your Grace, this is one of your cigarettes!" "But this is incredible!" cried the Duke. "Not at all," said Guerchard. "It's merely another link in the chain. I've no doubt you have some of these cigarettes at Charmerace."
The telephone bell rang; and he rose and went to it. He put the receiver to his ear and said, "Yes; it's I Chief-Inspector Guerchard." He turned and said to the Duke, "It's the gardener at Charmerace, your Grace." "Is it?" said the Duke indifferently. Guerchard turned to the telephone. "Are you there?" he said.
"Oh, NO! You couldn't!" cried Sonia. "Isn't he a wonder?" said Victoire. "This time the Duke of Charmerace is dead, for good and all," said Lupin. "No; it's Lupin that's dead," said Sonia softly. "Lupin?" he said, surprised. "Yes," said Sonia firmly. "It would be a terrible loss, you know a loss for France," said Lupin gravely. "Never mind," said Sonia.
"It looks very like it. You're pretty quick on a scent, I must say," said Guerchard. "What a detective you would have made! Only ... nothing is certain." "But it IS. Whatever more do you want? Was he at Charmerace yesterday, or was he not? Did he, or did he not, arrange the theft of the motor-cars?" "Certainly he did.
"At your slightest gesture, at your slightest movement, I'll fire," he said jerkily, and covered the Duke with his revolver. "I call myself the Duke of Charmerace. You will be arrested to-morrow!" said the Duke, in a compelling, thrilling voice. "I don't care a curse!" cried Guerchard. "Only FIFTY SECONDS!" said the Duke. "Yes, yes," muttered Guerchard huskily.
Then he stopped and faced Guerchard, and said: "And what is it you want in exchange?" "Everything," said Guerchard, with the air of a man who is winning. "You must give me back the pictures, tapestry, Renaissance cabinets, the coronet, and all the information about the death of the Duke of Charmerace. Did you kill him?" "If ever I commit suicide, you'll know all about it, my good Guerchard.
"Against Lupin, or against the Duke of Charmerace?" said Lupin. "Against Lupin, called Charmerace," said Guerchard. "Well, that ought to cover me pretty well. Why don't you arrest me? What are you waiting for?" said Lupin. His face was entirely serene, his eyes were careless, his tone indifferent.
The inspector and his men had searched it thoroughly just to make sure; but, as Guerchard had foretold, the burglars had not taken the chance of the failure of the police to discover the opening between the two houses. M. Formery told the Duke about their tour of inspection at length. Guerchard went to the telephone and told the exchange to put him through to Charmerace.
You can't prove that it was in her possession one moment. Where is the pendant?" He paused, and then went on in the same quiet tone: "No, Guerchard; after having kept out of your clutches for the last ten years, I'm not going to be caught to save this child, who is not even in danger. She has a very useful friend in the Duke of Charmerace. I refuse."
He appeared to be of the opinion that Nature had given the world the toothbrush as a model of what a moustache should be; and his own was clipped to that pattern. "The Duke of Charmerace, M. Formery," said the inspector. The little man bowed and said, "Charmed, charmed to make your acquaintance, your Grace though the occasion the occasion is somewhat painful.
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