h governor?' I asked; but he was gone. I suppose it's meant
for you."

"Let's have it."

Ganimard opened the letter. It was hurriedly scribbled in pencil and
contained these words:

"This is to warn you, friend of my youth, against excessive
credulity. When a fellow tells you that the cartridges in your
revolver are damp, however great your confidence in that fellow may
be, even though his name be Arsene Lupin, never allow yourself to
be taken in. Fire first; and, if the fellow hops the twig, you will
have acquired the proof (1) that the cartridges are not damp; and
(2) that old Catherine is the most honest and respectable of
housekeepers.

"One of these days, I hope to have the pleasure of making her
acquaintance.

"Meanwhile, friend of my youth, believe me always affectionately
and sincerely yours,

"ARSENE LUPIN."

VI

SHADOWED BY DEATH

After he had been round the walls of the property, Arsene Lupin returned
to the spot from which he started. It was perfectly clear to him that
there was no breach in the walls; and the only way of entering the
extensive grounds of the Chateau de Maupertuis was through a little low
door, firmly bolted on the inside, or through the principal gate, which
was overlooked by the lodge.

"Very well," he said. "We must employ heroic methods."

Pushing his way into the copsewood where he had hidden his
motor-bicycle, he unwound a length of twine from under the saddle and
went to a place which he had noticed in the course of his exploration.
At this place, which was situated far from the road, on the edge of a
wood, a number of large trees, standing inside the park, overlapped the
wall.

Lupin fastened a stone to the end of the string, threw it up and caught
a thick branch, which he drew down to him and bestraddled. The branch,
in recovering its position, raised him from the ground. He climbed over
the wall, slipped down the tree, and sprang lightly on the grass.

It was winter; and, through the leafless boughs, across the undulating
lawns, he could see the little Chateau de Maupertuis in the distance.
Fearing lest he should be perceived, he concealed himself behind a clump
of fir-trees. From there, with the aid of a field-glass, he studied the
dark and melancholy front of the manor-house. All the windows were
closed and, as it were, barricaded with solid shutters. The