strolling about, no
doubt...

He gave a sharp whistle and then went to the main gate, to take a glance
down the avenue. But, suddenly, as he was opening the gate, a shot rang
out, followed by a yell of pain. He returned at a run, went round the
house, leapt up the steps and rushed to the dining-room:

"Blast it all, what are you doing there, you two?"

Gilbert and Vaucheray, locked in a furious embrace, were rolling on the
floor, uttering cries of rage. Their clothes were dripping with blood.
Lupin flew at them to separate them. But already Gilbert had got his
adversary down and was wrenching out of his hand something which Lupin
had no time to see. And Vaucheray, who was losing blood through a wound
in the shoulder, fainted.

"Who hurt him? You, Gilbert?" asked Lupin, furiously.

"No, Leonard."

"Leonard? Why, he was tied up!"

"He undid his fastenings and got hold of his revolver."

"The scoundrel! Where is he?"

Lupin took the lamp and went into the pantry.

The man-servant was lying on his back, with his arms outstretched, a
dagger stuck in his throat and a livid face. A red stream trickled from
his mouth.

"Ah," gasped Lupin, after examining him, "he's dead!"

"Do you think so?... Do you think so?" stammered Gilbert, in a trembling
voice.

"He's dead, I tell you."

"It was Vaucheray... it was Vaucheray who did it..."

Pale with anger, Lupin caught hold of him:

"It was Vaucheray, was it?... And you too, you blackguard, since you
were there and didn't stop him! Blood! Blood! You know I won't have
it... Well, it's a bad lookout for you, my fine fellows... You'll have
to pay the damage! And you won't get off cheaply either... Mind the
guillotine!" And, shaking him violently, "What was it? Why did he kill
him?"

"He wanted to go through his pockets and take the key of the cupboard
from him. When he stooped over him, he saw that the man unloosed his
arms. He got frightened... and he stabbed him..."

"But the revolver-shot?"

"It was Leonard... he had his revolver in his hand... he just had
strength to take aim before he died..."

"And the key of the cupboard?"

"Vaucheray took it...."

"Did he open it?"

"And did he find what he was after?"

"Yes."

"And you wanted to take the thing from him. What sort of thing was
it? The reliquary? No, it was too small for that.... Then what was it?
Answer me, will you?..."

Lupin gathered from Gilbert's silence and the determined expression on
hi