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Updated: June 21, 2025
"He left the handkerchief?" cried Guerchard. "If that isn't just like the fool! He ought to keep hens; it's all he's fit for!" He ran to the fireplace, seized the lantern, and began lighting it: "Where is the handkerchief?" he cried. "In the left-hand corner of the little room on the right on the second floor.
That was a disaster; and so unexpected too." Guerchard came a few steps into the room, still hesitating: "You've a very charming house here," he said, with a sneer. "It's central," said Lupin carelessly. "You must please excuse me, if I cannot receive you as I should like; but all my servants have bolted. Those confounded detectives of yours have frightened them away."
"But she had your permit, sir, and it WAS written on your card," stammered one of the detectives. "It was? ... it was?" said Guerchard. "Then, by Jove, it was a forgery!" He stood thoughtful for a moment. Then quietly he told his two men to go back to their post. He did not stir for a minute or two, puzzling it out, seeking light.
They went through the house, out of the back door, and into the garden. Guerchard moved about twenty yards from the house, then he stopped and questioned the Duke at great length. He questioned him first about the Charolais, their appearance, their actions, especially about Bernard's attempt to steal the pendant, and the theft of the motor-cars.
If I'd done a thing like that I don't think I should sleep very well, M. Guerchard." "That poor child has just escaped, by means of a forged permit," said Guerchard very glumly. "By Jove, I AM glad to hear that!" cried the Duke. "You'll forgive my lack of sympathy, M. Guerchard; but she was such a child." "Not too young to be Lupin's accomplice," said Guerchard drily.
"Do you really mean to say that it hasn't thrown you off the track too?" said M. Formery, with a touch of incredulity in his tone. "Well, no not exactly," said Guerchard. "I wasn't on that track, you see." "No, of course not of course not. You were on the track of Lupin," said M. Formery; and his contemptuous smile was tinged with malice.
Then he cried sharply, "Bonavent! Bonavent!" Bonavent opened the door, and stood in the doorway. "You sent off Victoire in the prison-van, I suppose," said Guerchard. "Oh, a long while ago, sir," said Bonavent. "The van had been waiting at the door since half-past nine." "Since half-past nine? ... But I told them I shouldn't want it till a quarter to eleven.
"You may be sure of that," said Victoire. "It took four of them; and at least two of them have some nice bruises on their shins to show for it." "I'm sure they have. And it serves them jolly well right," said Guerchard, in a tone of warm approval. "And, I suppose, while those four were tying you up the others stood round and looked on." "Oh, no, they were far too busy for that," said Victoire.
He opened the front door, and they came out on the steps. The policeman in charge of the car saluted. Lupin paused and said softly: "Hark! I hear the sound of wedding bells." They went down the steps. Even as they were getting into the car some chance blow of Guerchard or Dieusy struck a hidden spring and released the lift. It sank to the level of Lupin's smoking-room and stopped.
And his eyes shot from the coronet to the Duke, from the Duke to the coronet. "In fifty seconds the coronet will be stolen," said the Duke. "No!" cried Guerchard furiously. "Yes," said the Duke coldly. "No! no! no!" cried Guerchard. Their eyes turned to the clock. To Guerchard the hands seemed to be standing still. He could have sworn at them for their slowness.
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