第40章

The whole search, consequently, had to be concentrated upon the marquis and the country-seats and houses which he might possess at a certain distance from Paris, a distance which, allowing for the average speed of a motor-car and the inevitable stoppages, could be put at sixty to ninety miles.

Now d'Albufex, having sold everything that he ever had, possessed neither country-houses nor landed estates.

They turned their attention to the marquis' relations and intimate friends.Was he able on this side to dispose of some safe retreat in which to imprison Daubrecq?

The result was equally fruitless.

And the days passed.And what days for Clarisse Mergy! Each of them brought Gilbert nearer to the terrible day of reckoning.Each of them meant twenty-four hours less from the date which Clarisse had instinctively fixed in her mind.And she said to Lupin, who was racked with the same anxiety:

"Fifty-five days more...Fifty days more...What can one do in so few days?...Oh, I beg of you...I beg of you..."What could they do indeed? Lupin, who would not leave the task of watching the marquis to any one but himself, practically lived without sleeping.But the marquis had resumed his regular life; and, doubtless suspecting something, did not risk going away.

Once alone, he went down to the Duc de Montmaur's, in the daytime.The duke kept a pack of boar-hounds, with which he hunted the Forest of Durlaine.D'Albufex maintained no relations with him outside the hunt.

"It is hardly likely," said Prasville, "that the Duc de Montmaur, an exceedingly wealthy man, who is interested only in his estates and his hunting and takes no part in politics, should lend himself to the illegal detention of Daubrecq the deputy in his chateau."Lupin agreed; but, as he did not wish to leave anything to chance, the next week, seeing d'Albufex go out one morning in riding-dress, he followed him to the Gare du Nord and took the same train.

He got out at Aumale, where d'Albufex found a carriage at the station which took him to the Chkteau de Montmaur.

Lupin lunched quietly, hired a bicycle and came in view of the house at the moment when the guests were going into the park, in motor-cars or mounted.The Marquis d'Albufex was one of the horsemen.

Thrice, in the course of the day, Lupin saw him cantering along.And he found him, in the evening, at the station, where d'Albufex rode up, followed by a huntsman.

The proof, therefore, was conclusive; and there was nothing suspicious on that side.Why did Lupin, nevertheless, resolve not to be satisfied with appearances? And why, next day, did he send the Masher to find out things in the neighbourhood of Montmaur? It was an additional precaution, based upon no logical reason, but agreeing with his methodical and careful manner of acting.

Two days later he received from the Masher, among other information of less importance, a list of the house-party at Montmaur and of all the servants and keepers.

One name struck him, among those of the huntsmen.He at once wired:

"Inquire about huntsman Sebastiani."

The Masher's answer was received the next day:

"Sebastiani, a Corsican, was recommended to the Duc de Montmaur by the Marquis d'Albufex.He lives at two or three miles from the house, in a hunting-lodge built among the ruins of the feudal stronghold which was the cradle of the Montmaur family.""That's it," said Lupin to Clarisse Mergy, showing her the Masher's letter."That name, Sebastiani, at once reminded me that d'Albufex is of Corsican descent.There was a connection...""Then what do you intend to do?"

"If Daubrecq is imprisoned in those ruins, I intend to enter into communication with him.""He will distrust you."

"No.Lately, acting on the information of the police, I ended by discovering the two old ladies who carried off your little Jacques at Saint-Germain and who brought him, the same evening, to Neuilly.They are two old maids, cousins of Daubrecq, who makes them a small monthly allowance.I have been to call on those Demoiselles Rousselot; remember the name and the address: 134 bis, Rue du Bac.I inspired them with confidence, promised them to find their cousin and benefactor; and the elder sister, Euphrasie Rousselot, gave me a letter in which she begs Daubrecq to trust M.Nicole entirely.So you see, I have taken every precaution.I shall leave to-night.""We, you mean," said Clarisse.

"You!"

"Can I go on living like this, in feverish inaction?" And she whispered, "I am no longer counting the days, the thirty-eight or forty days that remain to us: I am counting the hours.

Lupin felt that her resolution was too strong for him to try to combat it.They both started at five o'clock in the morning, by motor-car.

The Growler went with them.

So as not to arouse suspicion, Lupin chose a large town as his headquarters.At Amiens, where he installed Clarisse, he was only eighteen miles from Montmaur.

At eight o'clock he met the Masher not far from the old fortress, which was known in the neighbourhood by the name of Mortepierre, and he examined the locality under his guidance.

On the confines of the forest, the little river Ligier, which has dug itself a deep valley at this spot, forms a loop which is overhung by the enormous cliff of Mortepierre.

"Nothing to be done on this side," said Lupin."The cliff is steep, over two hundred feet high, and the river hugs it all round."Not far away they found a bridge that led to the foot of a path which wound, through the oaks and pines, up to a little esplanade, where stood a massive, iron-bound gate, studded with nails and flanked on either side by a large tower.

"Is this where Sebastiani the huntsman lives?" asked Lupin.