It was known that the search of the
restaurant and its waiters by Inspector Dieuzy had been fruitless.
And the public also learned an extraordinary thing which
demonstrated the infinite variety of resources that Lupin
possessed: the prison-van, in which he was being carried, was
prepared for the occasion and substituted by his accomplices for
one of the six vans which did service at the prison.
The next escape of Arsene Lupin was not doubted by anyone. He
announced it himself, in categorical terms, in a reply to Mon.
Bouvier on the day following his attempted escape. The judge
having made a jest about the affair, Arsene was annoyed, and,
firmly eyeing the judge, he said, emphatically:
"Listen to me, monsieur! I give you my word of honor that this
attempted flight was simply preliminary to my general plan of
escape."
"I do not understand," said the judge.
"It is not necessary that you should understand."
And when the judge, in the course of that examination which was
reported at length in the columns of the `Echo de France,' when
the judge sought to resume his investigation, Arsene Lupin
exclaimed, with an assumed air of lassitude:
"Mon Dieu, Mon Dieu, what's the use! All these questions are of
no importance!"
"What! No importance?" cried the judge.
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