derstand?"

"Yes," said the policeman firmly; and with a slightly bewildered air he
put the revolver away.

"Here! Stand here!" cried Lupin, raising his voice. And he caught the
policeman's arm, and hustled him roughly to the front of the doors of
the lift-well. "Do you see these doors? Do you see them?" he snapped.

"Yes, yes," said the policeman, glaring at them.

"They're the doors of a lift," said Lupin. "In that lift are Dieusy and
Lupin. You know Dieusy?"

"Yes, yes," said the policeman.

"There are only Dieusy and Lupin in the lift. They are struggling
together. You can hear them," shouted Lupin in the policeman's ear.
"Lupin is disguised. You understand--Dieusy and a disguised man are in
the lift. The disguised man is Lupin. Directly the lift descends and
the doors open, throw yourself on him! Hold him! Shout for assistance!"
He almost bellowed the last words into the policeman's ear.

"Yes, yes," said the policeman. And he braced himself before the doors
of the lift-well, gazing at them with harried eyes, as if he expected
them to bite him.

"Be brave! Be ready to die in the discharge of your duty!" bellowed
Lupin; and he walked out of the room, shut the door, and turned the key.

The policeman stood listening to the noise of the struggle in the lift,
himself strung up to fighting point; he was panting. Lupin's
instructions were whirling and dancing in his head.

Lupin went quietly down the stairs. Victoire and Sonia saw him coming.
Victoire rose; and as he came to the bottom of the stairs Sonia stepped
forward and said in an anxious, pleading voice:

"Oh, M. Guerchard, where is he?"

"He's here," said Lupin, in his natural voice.

Sonia sprang to him with outstretched arms.

"It's you! It IS you!" she cried.

"Just look how like him I am!" said Lupin, laughing triumphantly. "But
do I look quite ruffian enough?"

"Oh, NO! You couldn't!" cried Sonia.

"Isn't he a wonder?" said Victoire.

"This time the Duke of Charmerace is dead, for good and all," said
Lupin.

"No; it's Lupin that's dead," said Sonia softly.

"Lupin?" he said, surprised.

"Yes," said Sonia firmly.

"It would be a terrible loss, you know--a loss for France," said Lupin
gravely.

"Never mind," said Sonia.

"Oh, I must be in love with you!" said Lupin, in a wondering tone; and
he put his arm round her and kissed her violently.

"And you won't steal any more?" said Sonia, holding him back with both
hands on his sho