ments, he produced the hundred-franc note and the
scrap of paper.

Philippe Bonel was let go.

Meanwhile, Lupin, who of course had assisted energetically in the
individual's arrest and handed him over to the guards, left the
law-courts, his heart heavy with anguish. His car was waiting for him on
the quay. He flung himself into it, in despair, seized with so great a
sorrow that he had to make an effort to restrain his tears. Gilbert's
cry, his voice wrung with affliction, his distorted features, his
tottering frame: all this haunted his brain; and he felt as if he would
never, for a single second, forget those impressions.

He drove home to the new place which he had selected among his different
residences and which occupied a corner of the Place de Clichy. He
expected to find the Growler and the Masher, with whom he was to kidnap
Daubrecq that evening. But he had hardly opened the door of his flat,
when a cry escaped him: Clarisse stood before him; Clarisse, who had
returned from Brittany at the moment of the verdict.

He at once gathered from her attitude and her pallor that she knew. And,
at once, recovering his courage in her presence, without giving her time
to speak, he exclaimed:

"Yes, yes, yes... but it doesn't matter. We foresaw that. We couldn't
prevent it. What we have to do is to stop the mischief. And to-night,
you understand, to-night, the thing will be done."

Motionless and tragic in her sorrow, she stammered:

"To-night?"

"Yes. I have prepared everything. In two hours, Daubrecq will be in my
hands. To-night, whatever means I have to employ, he shall speak."

"Do you mean that?" she asked, faintly, while a ray of hope began to
light up her face.

"He shall speak. I shall have his secret. I shall tear the list of the
Twenty-seven from him. And that list will set your son free."

"Too late," Clarisse murmured.

"Too late? Why? Do you think that, in exchange for such a document, I
shall not obtain Gilbert's pretended escape?... Why, Gilbert will be at
liberty in three days! In three days..."

He was interrupted by a ring at the bell:

"Listen, here are our friends. Trust me. Remember that I keep my
promises. I gave you back your little Jacques. I shall give you back
Gilbert."

He went to let the Growler and the Masher in and said:

"Is everything ready? Is old Brindebois at the restaurant? Quick, let us
be off!"

"It's no use, governor," replied the Masher.

"No use? What do you me