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Updated: June 16, 2025
"Oh, dear no, not yet," said Lupin. "Yes," said Guerchard, in a decisive tone. "And ever so much more than you think." He bent forwards towards him, with his hands on his knees, and said, "Do you know where Sonia Kritchnoff is at this moment?" "What?" said Lupin sharply. "I ask if you know where Sonia Kritchnoff is?" said Guerchard slowly, lingering over the words. "Do you?" said Lupin.
"Once I deliver these things to you, Mademoiselle Kritchnoff passes out of the game." "Yes," said Guerchard. "Whatever happens afterwards. If I get back anything if I escape she goes scot-free," said Lupin. "Yes," said Guerchard; and his eyes were shining. "On your word of honour?" said Lupin. "On my word of honour," said Guerchard. "Very well," said Lupin, in a quiet, businesslike voice.
"Don't play the fool. You care only for a single person in the world. I hold you through her: Sonia Kritchnoff." Lupin burst into a ringing, irrepressible laugh: "Why, you're trying to blackmail me, you old sweep!" he cried. "If you like to call it so," said Guerchard coldly.
I'll take Mademoiselle Kritchnoff with me, and, if you like, Irma, though the lighter I travel the sooner I shall get there." "No, I'll take Irma and Germaine," said the millionaire. "Germaine would prefer to have Irma with her, in case you had an accident. She wouldn't like to get to Paris and have to find a fresh maid."
"Now let us settle exactly how we stand," said Lupin, in a clear, incisive voice. "The bargain is this: If I give you the pictures, the tapestry, the cabinets, the coronet, and the death-certificate of the Duke of Charmerace, you give me your word of honour that Mademoiselle Kritchnoff shall not be touched." "That's it!" said Guerchard eagerly.
As soon as Guerchard recovers from the shock of learning that I spent a quiet night in my ducal bed as an honest duke should, he'll be getting to work with positively furious energy, confound him! I could do with a whole day's sleep twenty-four solid hours of it." "I'm sure you could, dearie," said Victoire sympathetically. "The girl I'm going to marry is Sonia Kritchnoff," he said. "Sonia?
"How long has Mademoiselle Kritchnoff been in your service, Mademoiselle?" said Guerchard. "Let me think," said Germaine, knitting her brow. "Can't you remember?" said M. Formery. "Just about three years," said Germaine. "That's exactly the time at which the thefts began," said M. Formery. "Yes," said Germaine, reluctantly. "Ask Mademoiselle Kritchnoff to come here, inspector," said M. Formery.
"But, after all, you're right," she said, in a gentler voice. "One can't wipe out what one has done. If I were to give back everything I've taken if I were to spend years in remorse and repentance, it would be no use. In your eyes I should always be Sonia Kritchnoff, the thief!" The great tears welled slowly out of her eyes and rolled down her cheeks; she let them stream unheeded.
"She less than any one," said Guerchard quickly. "I don't understand what you're driving at a bit," said M. Formery. "Unless you suppose that Mademoiselle Kritchnoff is Lupin in disguise." Guerchard laughed softly: "You will have your joke, M. Formery," he said. "Well, well, I'll give the order," said M. Formery, somewhat mollified by the tribute to his humour.
Three months ago a telegram informed us that he was coming back; and at last the Duke returned," said Germaine, with a theatrical air. "The Duke returned," cried Jeanne, mimicking her. "Never mind. Fancy waiting nearly seven years for one's fiance. That was constancy," said Sonia. "Oh, you're a sentimentalist, Mlle. Kritchnoff," said Jeanne, in a tone of mockery.
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