utely, in her turn,
dominating the man who was compelling her to speak:

"It doesn't matter," she exclaimed. "What you know, after all, is not
much and is of no importance. But what are your plans? You offer me your
help: with what view? For what work? You have flung yourself headlong
into this business; I have been unable to undertake anything without
meeting you on my path: you must be contemplating some aim... What aim?"

"What aim? Upon my word, it seems to me that my conduct..."

"No, no," she said, emphatically, "no phrases! What you and I want is
certainties; and, to achieve them, absolute frankness. I will set you
the example. M. Daubrecq possesses a thing of unparalleled value, not in
itself, but for what it represents. That thing you know. You have
twice held it in your hands. I have twice taken it from you. Well, I am
entitled to believe that, when you tried to obtain possession of it, you
meant to use the power which you attribute to it and to use it to your
own advantage..."

"What makes you say that?"

"Yes, you meant to use it to forward your schemes, in the interest of
your own affairs, in accordance with your habits as a..."

"As a burglar and a swindler," said Lupin, completing the sentence for
her.

She did not protest. He tried to read her secret thoughts in the depths
of her eyes. What did she want with him? What was she afraid of? If she
mistrusted him, had he not also reasons to mistrust that woman who had
twice taken the crystal stopper from him to restore it to Daubrecq?
Mortal enemy of Daubrecq's though she were, up to what point did she
remain subject to that man's will? By surrendering himself to her,
did he not risk surrendering himself to Daubrecq? And yet he had never
looked upon graver eyes nor a more honest face.

Without further hesitation, he stated:

"My object is simple enough. It is the release of my friends Gilbert and
Vaucheray."

"Is that true? Is that true?" she exclaimed, quivering all over and
questioning him with an anxious glance.

"If you knew me..."

"I do know you... I know who you are. For months, I have taken part in
your life, without your suspecting it... and yet, for certain reasons, I
still doubt..."

He said, in a more decisive tone:

"You do not know me. If you knew me, you would know that there can be no
peace for me before my two companions have escaped the awful fate that
awaits them."

She rushed at him, took him by the shoulders and positi