istory, and in the second place--though it is hardly
worth while talking about that kind of thing--on
account of its intrinsic value. I reckon indeed that
the stones in your coronet are, at the very lowest,
worth half a million francs."

"I beg you, my dear sir, to have these different
objects properly packed up, and to forward them,
addressed to me, carriage paid, to the Batignolles
Station. Failing this, I shall Proceed to remove them
myself on the night of Thursday, August 7th."

"Please pardon the slight trouble to which I am putting
you, and believe me,"

"Yours very sincerely,"

"ARSENE LUPIN."

"P.S.--It occurs to me that the pictures have not glass
before them. It would be as well to repair this
omission before forwarding them to me, and I am sure
that you will take this extra trouble cheerfully. I am
aware, of course, that some of the best judges declare
that a picture loses some of its quality when seen
through glass. But it preserves them, and we should
always be ready and willing to sacrifice a portion of
our own pleasure for the benefit of posterity. France
demands it of us.--A. L."

The Duke laughed, and said, "Really, this is extraordinarily funny. It
must have made your father laugh."

"Laugh?" said Germaine. "You should have seen his face. He took it
seriously enough, I can tell you."

"Not to the point of forwarding the things to Batignolles, I hope,"
said the Duke.

"No, but to the point of being driven wild," said Germaine. "And since
the police had always been baffled by Lupin, he had the brilliant idea
of trying what soldiers could do. The Commandant at Rennes is a great
friend of papa's; and papa went to him, and told him about Lupin's
letter and what he feared. The colonel laughed at him; but he offered
him a corporal and six soldiers to guard his collection, on the night
of the seventh. It was arranged that they should come from Rennes by
the last train so that the burglars should have no warning of their
coming. Well, they came, seven picked men--men who had seen service in
Tonquin. We gave them supper; and then the corporal posted them in the
hall and the two drawing-rooms where the pictures and things were. At
eleven we all went to bed, after promising the corporal that, in the
event of any fight with the burglars, we would not stir from our rooms.
I can tell you I fe