the crystal stopper-第43部分

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When　her　neighbour　had　gone；　she　went　into　the　passage　and；　availing　herself　of　a　moment　when　there　was　no　one　in　sight；　walked　up　to　the　door　of　No。　129。　　The　door　was　locked。

She　waited　all　the　evening　for　her　neighbour's　return　and　dld　not　go　to　bed　until　two　o'clock。　　On　Sunday　morning；　she　resumed　her　watch。

The　neighbour　went　out　at　eleven。　　This　time　he　left　the　key　in　the　door。

Hurriedly　turning　the　key；　Clarisse　entered　boldly；　went　to　the　partition…door；　raised　the　curtain；　drew　the　bolt　and　found　herself　in　her　own　room。

In　a　few　minutes；　she　heard　two　chambermaids　doing　the　room　in　No。　129。

She　waited　until　they　were　gone。　　Then；　feeling　sure　that　she　would　not　be　dlsturbed；　she　once　more　slipped　into　the　other　room。

Her　excitement　made　her　lean　against　a　chair。　　After　days　and　nights　of　stubborn　pursuit；　after　alternate　hopes　and　dlsappointments；　she　had　at　last　succeeded　in　entering　a　room　occupied　by　Daubrecq。　　She　could　look　about　at　her　ease；　and；　if　she　dld　not　dlscover　the　crystal　stopper；　she　could　at　least　hide　in　the　space　between　the　partition…doors；　behind　the　hanging；　see　Daubrecq；　spy　upon　his　movements　and　surprise　his　secret。

She　looked　around　her。　　A　travelling…bag　at　once　caught　her　attention。　She　managed　to　open　it；　but　her　search　was　useless。

She　ransacked　the　trays　of　a　trunk　and　the　compartments　of　a　portmanteau。　She　searched　the　wardrobe；　the　writing…table；　the　chest　of　drawers；　the　bathroom；　all　the　tables；　all　the　furniture。　　She　found　nothing。

She　gave　a　start　when　she　saw　a　scrap　of　paper　on　the　balcony；　lying　as　though　flung　there　by　accident：

〃Can　it　be　a　trick　of　Daubrecq's？〃　she　thought；　out　loud。　　〃Can　that　scrap　of　paper　contain。。。　〃

〃No；〃　said　a　voice　behind　her；　as　she　put　her　hand　on　the　latch。

She　turned　and　saw　Daubrecq。

She　felt　neither　astonishment　nor　alann；　nor　even　any　embarrassment　at　finding　herself　face　to　face　with　him。　　She　had　suffered　too　deeply　for　months　to　trouble　about　what　Daubrecq　could　think　of　her　or　say；　at　catching　her　in　the　act　of　spying。

She　sat　down　wearily。

He　grinned：

〃No；　you're　out　of　it；　dear　friend。　　As　the　children　say；　you're　not　'burning'　at　all。　　Oh；　not　a　bit　of　it！　　And　it's　so　easy！　　Shall　I　help　you？　　It's　next　to　you；　dear　friend；　on　that　little　table。。。　And　yet；　by　Jove；　there's　not　much　on　that　little　table！　　Something　to　read；　something　to　write　with；　something　to　smoke；　something　to　eat。。。　and　that's　all。。。　Will　you　have　one　of　these　candied　fruits？。。。　Or　perhaps　you　would　rather　wait　for　the　more　substantial　meal　which　I　have　ordered？〃

Clarisse　made　no　reply。　　She　did　not　even　seem　to　listen　to　what　he　was　saying；　as　though　she　expected　other　words；　more　serious　words；　which　he　could　not　fail　to　utter。

He　cleared　the　table　of　all　the　things　that　lay　upon　it　and　put　them　on　the　mantel…piece。　　Then　he　rang　the　bell。

A　head…waiter　appeared。　Daubrecq　asked：

〃Is　the　lunch　which　I　ordered　ready？〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃It's　for　two；　isn't　it？〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃And　the　champagne？〃　

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃Extra…dry？〃

〃Yes；　sir。

Another　waiter　brought　a　tray　and　laid　two　covers　on　the　table：　a　cold　lunch；　some　fruit　and　a　bottle　of　champagne　in　an　ice…pail。

Then　the　two　waiters　withdrew。

〃Sit　down；　dear　lady。　　As　you　see；　I　was　thinking　of　you　and　your　cover　is　laid。〃

And；　without　seeming　to　observe　that　Clarisse　was　not　at　all　prepared　to　do　honour　to　his　invitation；　he　sat　down；　began　to　eat　and　continued：

〃Yes；　upon　my　word；　I　hoped　that　you　would　end　by　consenting　to　this　little　private　meeting。　　During　the　past　week；　while　you　were　keeping　so　assiduous　a　watch　upon　me；　I　did　nothing　but　say　to　myself；　'I　wonder　which　she　prefers：　sweet　champagne；　dry　champagne；　or　extra…dry？'　　I　was　really　puzzled。　　Especially　after　our　departure　from　Paris。　　I　had　lost　your　tracks；　that　is　to　say；　I　feared　that　you　had　lost　mine　and　abandoned　the　pursuit　which　was　so　gratifying　to　me。　　When　I　went　for　a　walk；　I　missed　your　beautiful　dark　eyes；　gleaming　with　hatred　under　your　hair　just　touched　with　gray。　　But；　this　morning；　I　understood：　the　room　next　to　mine　was　empty　at　last；　and　my　friend　Clarisse　was　able　to　take　up　her　quarters；　so　to　speak；　by　my　bedside。　　From　that　moment　I　was　reassured。　　I　felt　certain　that；　on　coming　back　…　instead　of　lunching　in　the　restaurant　as　usual　…　I　should　find　you　arranging　my　things　to　your　convenience　and　suiting　your　own　taste。　　That　was　why　I　ordered　two　covers：　one　for　your　humble　servant；　the　other　for　his　fair　friend。〃

She　was　listening　to　him　now　and　in　the　greatest　terror。　　So　Daubrecq　knew　that　he　was　spied　upon！　　For　a　whole　week　he　had　seen　through　her　and　all　her　schemes！

In　a　low　voice；　anxious…eyed；　she　asked：

〃You　did　it　on　purpose；　did　you　not？　　You　only　went　away　to　drag　me　with　you？〃

〃Yes；〃　he　said。

〃But　why？　　Why？〃

〃Do　you　mean　to　say　that　you　don't　know？〃　retorted　Daubrecq；　laughing　with　a　little　cluck　of　delight。

She　half…rose　from　her　chair　and；　bending　toward　him；　thought；　as　she　thought　each　time；　of　the　murder　which　she　could　commit；　of　the　murder　which　she　would　commit。　　One　revolver…shot　and　the　odious　brute　was　done　for。

Slowly　her　hand　glided　to　the　weapon　conoealed　in　her　bodice。

Daubrecq　said：

〃One　second；　dear　friend。。。　You　can　shoot　presently；　but　I　beg　you　first　to　read　this　wire　which　I　have　just　received。〃

She　hesitated；　not　knowing　what　trap　he　was　laying　for　her；　but　he　went　on；　as　he　produced　a　telegram：

〃It's　about　your　son。〃

〃Gilbert？〃　she　asked；　greatly　concerned。

〃Yes；　Gilbert。。。　Here；　read　it。〃

She　gave　a　yell　of　dismay。　　She　had　read：

　　　　　　　　〃Execution　on　Tuesday　morning。〃

And　she　at　once　flung　herself　on　Daubrecq；　crying：

〃It's　not　true！。。。　It's　a　lie。。。　to　madden　me。。。　Oh；　I　know　you：　you　are　capable　of　anything！　　Confess！　　It　won't　be　on　Tuesday；　will　it？　　In　two　days！　　No；　no。。。　I　tell　you；　we　have　four　days　yet；　five　days；　in　which　to　save　him。。。　Confess　it；　confess　it！〃

She　had　no　strength　left；　exhausted　by　this　fit　of　rebellion；　and　her　voice　uttered　none　but　inarticulate　sounds。

He　looked　at　her　for　a　moment；　then　poured　himself　out　a　glass　of　champagne　and　drank　it　down　at　a　gulp。　　He　took　a　few　steps　up　and　down　the　room；　came　back　to　her　and　said：

〃Listen　to　me；　darling。。。　〃

The　insult　made　her　quiver　with　an　unexpected　energy。　　She　drew　herself　up　and；　panting　with　indignation；　said：

〃I　forbid　you。。。　I　forbid　you　to　speak　to　me　like　that。　　I　will　not　accept　such　an　outrage。　　You　wretch！。。。　〃

He　shrugged　his　shoulders　and　resumed：

〃Pah；　I　see　you're　not　quite　alive　to　the　position。　　That　comes；　of　course；　because　you　still　hope　for　assistance　in　some　quarter。　　Prasville；　perhaps？　　The　excellent　Prasville；　whose　right　hand　you　are。。。　My　dear　friend；　a　forlorn　hope。。。　You　must　know　that　Prasville　is　mixed　up　in　the　Canal　affair！　　Not　directly：　that　is　to　say；　his　name　is　not　on　the　list　of　the　Twenty…seven；　but　it　is　there　under　the　name　of　one　of　his　friends；　an　ex…deputy　called　Vorenglade；　Stanislas　Vorenglade；　his　man　of　straw；　apparently：　a　penniless　individual　whom　I　left　alone　and　rightly。　　I　knew　nothing　of　all　t