too early." Once more he stretched
himself out on the couch, and added languidly, "I'm lunching at the
English Embassy."

"Now, you be careful!" cried Guerchard angrily. "Our parts are changed.
If you're snatching at a last straw, it's waste of time. All your
tricks--I know them. Understand, you rogue, I know them."

"You know them?" said Lupin with a smile, rising. "It's fatality!"

He stood before Guerchard, twisting his hands and wrists curiously.
Half a dozen swift movements; and he held out his handcuffs in one hand
and threw them on the floor.

"Did you know that trick, Guerchard? One of these days I shall teach
you to invite me to lunch," he said slowly, in a mocking tone; and he
gazed at the detective with menacing, dangerous eyes.

"Come, come, we've had enough of this!" cried Guerchard, in mingled
astonishment, anger, and alarm. "Bonavent! Boursin! Dieusy! Here! Help!
Help!" he shouted.

"Now listen, Guerchard, and understand that I'm not humbugging," said
Lupin quickly, in clear, compelling tones. "If Sonia, just now, had had
one word, one gesture of contempt for me, I'd have given way--yielded
... half-yielded, at any rate; for, rather than fall into your
triumphant clutches, I'd have blown my brains out. I've now to choose
between happiness, life with Sonia, or prison. Well, I've chosen. I
will live happy with her, or else, my dear Guerchard, I'll die with
you. Now let your men come--I'm ready for them."

Guerchard ran to the door and shouted again.

"I think the fat's in the fire now," said Lupin, laughing.

He sprang to the table, opened the cardboard box, whipped off the top
layer of cotton-wool, and took out a shining bomb.

He sprang to the wall, pressed the button, the bookshelf glided slowly
to one side, the lift rose to the level of the floor and its doors flew
open just as the detectives rushed in.

"Collar him!" yelled Guerchard.

"Stand back--hands up!" cried Lupin, in a terrible voice, raising his
right hand high above his head. "You know what this is ... a bomb....
Come and collar me now, you swine! ... Hands up, you ... Guerchard!"

"You silly funks!" roared Guerchard. "Do you think he'd dare?"

"Come and see!" cried Lupin.

"I will!" cried Guerchard. And he took a step forward.

As one man his detectives threw themselves upon him. Three of them
gripped his arms, a fourth gripped him round the waist; and they all
shouted at him together, not to be a madman! ... To look at L