it!... Thank you, Daubrecq. And, believe me, I shall never
forget what you have just done. If ever you're in need, you have only
to knock at my door and there will always be a crust of bread for you in
the kitchen and a glass of water from the filter. Sebastiani, look after
monsieur le depute as if he were one of your sons. And, first of all,
release him from his bonds. It's a heartless thing to truss one's
fellow-man like that, like a chicken on the spit!"

"Shall we give him something to drink?" suggested the huntsman.

"Yes, that's it, give him a drink."

Sebastiani and his sons undid the leather straps, rubbed the bruised
wrists, dressed them with an ointment and bandaged them. Then Daubrecq
swallowed a few drops of brandy.

"Feeling better?" said the marquis. "Pooh, it's nothing much! In a
few hours, it won't show; and you'll be able to boast of having been
tortured, as in the good old days of the Inquisition. You lucky dog!"

He took out his watch. "Enough said! Sebastiani, let your sons watch him
in turns. You, take me to the station for the last train."

"Then are we to leave him like that, monsieur le marquis, free to move
as he pleases?"

"Why not? You don't imagine that we are going to keep him here to the
day of his death? No, Daubrecq, sleep quietly. I shall go to your
place tomorrow afternoon; and, if the document is where you told me,
a telegram shall be sent off at once and you shall be set free. You
haven't told me a lie, I suppose?"

He went back to Daubrecq and, stooping over him again:

"No humbug, eh? That would be very silly of you. I should lose a day,
that's all. Whereas you would lose all the days that remain to you to
live. But no, the hiding-place is too good. A fellow doesn't invent
a thing like that for fun. Come on, Sebastiani. You shall have the
telegram to-morrow."

"And suppose they don't let you into the house, monsieur le marquis?"

"Why shouldn't they?"

"The house in the Square Lamartine is occupied by Prasville's men."

"Don't worry, Sebastiani. I shall get in. If they don't open the door,
there's always the window. And, if the window won't open, I shall
arrange with one of Prasville's men. It's a question of money, that's
all. And, thank goodness, I shan't be short of that, henceforth!
Good-night, Daubrecq."

He went out, accompanied by Sebastiani, and the heavy door closed after
them.

Lupin at once effected his retreat, in accordance with a plan which he
had w