I knew, wouldn't you know?"

It was an evasive answer. But he did not insist, resolving to watch her
at the opportune time; and he asked her, for he had not yet been told
all the details:

"Then it's not known what became of Daubrecq?"

"No. Of course, one of the Growler's bullets struck him. For, next day,
we picked up, in a coppice, a handkerchief covered with blood. Also,
it seems that a man was seen at Aumale Station, looking very tired and
walking with great difficulty. He took a ticket for Paris, stepped into
the first train and that is all..."

"He must be seriously wounded," said Lupin, "and he is nursing himself
in some safe retreat. Perhaps, also, he considers it wise to lie low for
a few weeks and avoid any traps on the part of the police, d'Albufex,
you, myself and all his other enemies."

He stopped to think and continued:

"What has happened at Mortepierre since Daubrecq's escape? Has there
been no talk in the neighbourhood?"

"No, the rope was removed before daybreak, which proves that Sebastiani
or his sons discovered Daubrecq's flight on the same night. Sebastiani
was away the whole of the next day."

"Yes, he will have informed the marquis. And where is the marquis
himself?"

"At home. And, from what the Growler has heard, there is nothing
suspicious there either."

"Are they certain that he has not been inside Daubrecq's house?"

"As certain as they can be."

"Nor Daubrecq?"

"Nor Daubrecq."

"Have you seen Prasville?"

"Prasville is away on leave. But Chief-inspector Blanchon, who has
charge of the case, and the detectives who are guarding the house
declare that, in accordance with Prasville's instructions, their watch
is not relaxed for a moment, even at night; that one of them, turn and
turn about, is always on duty in the study; and that no one, therefore,
can have gone in."

"So, on principle," Arsene Lupin concluded, "the crystal stopper must
still be in Daubrecq's study?"

"If it was there before Daubrecq's disappearance, it should be there
now."

"And on the study-table."

"On the study-table? Why do you say that?"

"Because I know," said Lupin, who had not forgotten Sebastiani's words.

"But you don't know the article in which the stopper is hidden?"

"No. But a study-table, a writing-desk, is a limited space. One can
explore it in twenty minutes. One can demolish it, if necessary, in
ten."

The conversation had tired Arsene Lupin a little. As he did not wish t