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The idea of a problem to be solved quickened the interest of Sherlock Holmes. "Very well, let us make a search at once and alone, if possible." Devanne understood, and conducted the Englishman to the salon.
"Place the ladder against the bookcase, to the left of the word Thibermesnil." Devanne placed the ladder as directed, and the Englishman continued: "More to the left....to the right....There!....Now, climb up.... All the letters are in relief, aren't they?" "Yes." "First, turn the letter I one way or the other." "Which one? There are two of them." "The first one."
"It is so striking," persisted Devanne, "that if you had not been recommended to me by my cousin d'Estevan, and if you were not the celebrated artist whose beautiful marine views I so admire, I have no doubt I should have warned the police of your presence in Dieppe." This sally was greeted with an outburst of laughter.
That is not the way I do business," grumbled the Englishman. This speech disconcerted Devanne, who replied, with a forced smile: "Fortunately, the business has been greatly simplified since I wrote to you." "In what way?" "The robbery took place last night." "If you had not announced my intended visit, it is probable the robbery would not have been committed last night." "When, then?"
The large dining-hall of the Chateau de Thibermesnil contained on this occasion, besides Valmont, the following guests: Father Gelis, the parish priest, and a dozen officers whose regiments were quartered in the vicinity and who had accepted the invitation of the banker Georges Devanne and his mother.
But Arsene Lupin had disappeared. As soon as Mon. Devanne was informed of the pillage of his castle, he said to himself: It was Velmont who did it, and Velmont is Arsene Lupin. That theory explained everything, and there was no other plausible explanation. And yet the idea seemed preposterous.
The Englishman took the package, opened it, and found that it contained a watch. "Ah!" he exclaimed, with an angry gesture. "A watch," said Devanne. "How did it come there?" The detective did not reply. "Oh! it is your watch! Arsene Lupin returns your watch! But, in order to return it, he must have taken it. Ah! I see! He took your watch! That is a good one!
His absence had awakened the suspicions of Mon. Devanne. But at twelve o'clock he arrived. Devanne exclaimed: "Ah! here you are!" "Why, am I not punctual?" asked Velmont. "Yes, and I am surprised that you are....after such a busy night! I suppose you know the news?" "What news?" "You have robbed the castle." "Nonsense!" exclaimed Velmont, smiling. "Exactly as I predicted.
"Yes, and it may be nothing more; I cannot see that it throws any light on the mysterious riddle." "And was it also to receive the visit of a lady that Louis the Sixteenth caused the passage to be opened?" "I don't know," said Mon. Devanne.
Devanne took hold of the letter, and exclaimed: "Ah! yes, it turns toward the right. Who told you that?" Sherlock Holmes did not reply to the question, but continued his directions: "Now, take the letter B. Move it back and forth as you would a bolt." Devanne did so, and, to his great surprise, it produced a clicking sound. "Quite right," said Holmes.
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