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Updated: June 21, 2025
The startling events of the last few weeks were about to be explained, and, under my eyes, the last battle was going to be fought. Daspry seized the hand of Madame Andermatt, and said to her: "Not a word, not a movement! Whatever you may see or hear, keep quiet!" Some one entered. It was Alfred Varin. I recognized him at once, owing to the close resemblance he bore to his brother Etienne.
"Mon Dieu!" exclaimed Daspry, laughing, "how deeply interested you are!" "The subject fascinates me." "Very well, presently, after I have escorted Madame Andermatt to a carriage, and dispatched a short story to the `Echo de France, I will return and tell you all about it." He sat down and wrote one of those short, clear-cut articles which served to amuse and mystify the public.
Your devoted, I was amused at the facetious tone of his letter and also at the whimsical nature of his request. There was a charming display of confidence and candor in his language, and nothing in the world could have induced me to deceive him or repay his confidence with ingratitude. I gave my servant a theatre ticket, and he left the house at eight o'clock. A few minutes later, Daspry arrived.
She looked at Daspry, and I was obliged to introduce him. I asked her to be seated and explain the object of her visit. She raised her veil, and I saw that she was a brunette with regular features and, though not handsome, she was attractive principally, on account of her sad, dark eyes. "I am Madame Andermatt," she said. "Madame Andermatt!" I repeated, with astonishment.
I offer you five thousand francs not a sou more." "Ten thousand. Not a sou less." "Agreed," said Daspry, who now turned to Mon. Andermatt, and said: "Monsieur will kindly sign a check for the amount." "But....I haven't got " "Your check-book? Here it is." Astounded, Mon. Andermatt examined the check-book that Daspry handed to him. "It is mine," he gasped. "How does that happen?"
The man staggered, as though stunned by a heavy blow. Those two words had deprived him of all hope. Daspry laughed, and said: "Ah! did you imagine that a Monsieur Durand or Dupont could manage an affair like this? No, it required the skill and cunning of Arsene Lupin. And now that you have my name, go and prepare your revenge. Arsene Lupin will wait for you."
Does he not mention in his letters certain details that no one could know, except the man who had thus discovered the secrets of the two brothers?" "Well, then," stammered Madame Andermatt, in great alarm, "he has my letters also, and it is he who now threatens my husband. Mon Dieu! What am I to do?" "Write to him," declared Daspry. "Confide in him without reserve.
The advice was bold, dangerous even at first sight, but Madame Andermatt had no choice. Besides, as Daspry had said, she ran no risk. If the unknown writer were an enemy, that step would not aggravate the situation. If he were a stranger seeking to accomplish a particular purpose, he would attach to those letters only a secondary importance.
Turning again to Varin, Daspry said: "It's between us two, comrade, and play fair, if you please. Hearts are trumps, and I play the seven." Then Daspry held up, before Varin's bewildered eyes, the little iron plate, marked with the seven red spots. It was a terrible shock to Varin. With livid features, staring eyes, and an air of intense agony, the man seemed to be hypnotized at the sight of it.
Was that simply the expression of my excited nerves? Or was it the result of a laborious task executed under a burning sun? I know that I trembled as I walked away, and that I went to bed, where I remained forty-eight hours, restless and feverish, haunted by skeletons that danced around me and threw their bleeding hearts at my head. Daspry was faithful to me.
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