aces of Arsene Lupin are to be found, the house in the Place de Cichy
has two outlets."

"And you didn't know it?"

"I didn't know it. I only discovered it this morning, on inspecting the
flat."

"Was there no one in the flat?"

"No. The servant, a man called Achille, went away this morning, taking
with him a lady who was staying with Lupin."

"What was the lady's name?"

"I don't know," replied Prasville, after an imperceptible hesitation.

"But you know the name under which Arsene Lupin passed?"

"Yes. M. Nicole, a private tutor, master of arts and so on. Here is his
card."

As Prasville finished speaking, an office-messenger came to tell the
prefect of police that he was wanted immediately at the Elysee. The
prime minister was there already.

"I'm coming," he said. And he added, between his teeth, "It's to decide
upon Gilbert's fate."

Prasville ventured:

"Do you think they will pardon him, monsieur le prefet?"

"Never! After last night's affair, it would make a most deplorable
impression. Gilbert must pay his debt to-morrow morning."

The messenger had, at the same time, handed Prasville a visiting-card.
Prasville now looked at it, gave a start and muttered:

"Well, I'm hanged! What a nerve!"

"What's the matter?" asked the prefect of police.

"Nothing, nothing, monsieur le prefet," declared Prasville, who did not
wish to share with another the honour of seeing this business through.
"Nothing... an unexpected visit... I hope soon to have the pleasure of
telling you the result."

And he walked away, mumbling, with an air of amazement:

"Well, upon my word! What a nerve the beggar has! What a nerve!"

The visiting-card which he held in his hand bore these words:

M. Nicole,

Master of Arts, Private Tutor.

CHAPTER XIII. THE LAST BATTLE

When Prasville returned to his office he saw M. Nicole sitting on a
bench in the waiting-room, with his bent back, his ailing air, his
gingham umbrella, his rusty hat and his single glove:

"It's he all right," said Prasville, who had feared for a moment that
Lupin might have sent another M. Nicole to see him. "And the fact that
he has come in person proves that he does not suspect that I have seen
through him." And, for the third time, he said, "All the same, what a
nerve!"

He shut the door of his office and called his secretary:

"M. Lartigue, I am having a rather dangerous person shown in here. The
chances are that he will have to