Free The Exploits of Arsène Lupin by Maurice Leblanc Page A

escape and give it the widest publicity. An audaciously planned escape, though not completed, gave to the succeeding one the character of reality simply by anticipation.”
    “So that the cigar …”
    “Hollowed by myself, as well as the knife.”
    “And the letters?”
    “Written by me.”
    “And the mysterious correspondent?”
    “Did not exist.”
    Ganimard reflected a moment, then said:
    “When the anthropological service had Baudru’s case under consideration, why did they not perceive that his measurements coincided with those of Arsène Lupin?”
    “My measurements are not in existence.”
    “Indeed!”
    “At least, they are false. I have given considerable attention to that question. In the first place, the Bertillon system of records the visible marks of identification—and you have seen that they are not infallible—and, after that, the measurements of the head, the fingers, the ears, etc. Of course, such measurements are more or less infallible.”
    “Absolutely.”
    “No; but it costs money to get around them. Before we left America, one of the employees of the service there accepted so much money to insert false figures in my measurements. Consequently, Baudru’s measurements should not agree with those of Arsène Lupin.”
    After a short silence, Ganimard asked:
    “What are you going to do now?”
    “Now,” replied Lupin, “I am going to take a rest, enjoy the best of food and drink and gradually recover my former healthy condition. It is all very well to become Baudru or some other person, on occasion, and to change your personality as you do your shirt, but you soon grow weary of the change. I feel exactly as I imagine the man who lost his shadow must have felt, and I shall be glad to be Arsène Lupin once more.”
    He walked to and fro for a few minutes, then, stopping in front of Ganimard, he said:
    “You have nothing more to say, I suppose?”
    “Yes. I should like to know if you intend to reveal the true state of facts connected with your escape. The mistake that I made—”
    “Oh! no one will ever know that it was Arsène Lupin who was discharged. It is to my own interest to surround myself with mystery, and therefore I shall permit my escape to retain its almost miraculous character. So, have no fear on that score, my dear friend. I shall say nothing. And now, good-bye. I am going out to dinner this evening, and have only sufficient time to dress.”
    “I though you wanted a rest.”
    “Ah! there are duties to society that one cannot avoid. To-morrow, I shall rest.”
    “Where do you dine to-night?”
    “With the British Ambassador!”

IV. The Mysterious Traveller
    The evening before, I had sent my automobile to Rouen by the highway. I was to travel to Rouen by rail, on my way to visit some friends that live on the banks of the Seine.
    At Paris, a few minutes before the train started, seven gentlemen entered my compartment; five of them were smoking. No matter that the journey was a short one, the thought of traveling with such a company was not agreeable to me, especially as the car was built on the old model, without a corridor. I picked up my overcoat, my newspapers and my time-table, and sought refuge in a neighboring compartment.
    It was occupied by a lady, who, at sight of me, made a gesture of annoyance that did not escape my notice, and she leaned toward a gentleman who was standing on the step and was, no doubt, her husband. The gentleman scrutinized me closely, and, apparently, my appearance did not displease him, for he smiled as he spoke to his wife with the air of one who reassures a frightened child. She smiled also, and gave me a friendly glance as if she now understood that I was one of those gallant men with whom a woman can remain shut up for two hours in a little box, six feet square, and have nothing to fear.
    Her husband said to her:
    “I have an important appointment, my dear, and cannot wait any longer. Adieu.”
    He kissed her affectionately and went