If anyone had scrutinized my face, not imbued with the
idea that I was not Arsene Lupin, as you and the others did at my
trial, but with the idea that I might be Arsene Lupin; then,
despite all my precautions, I should have been recognized. But I
had no fear. Logically, psychologically, no once could entertain
the idea that I was Arsene Lupin."
He grasped Ganimard's hand.
"Come, Ganimard, confess that on the Wednesday after our
conversation in the prison de la Sante, you expected me at your
house at four o'clock, exactly as I said I would go."
"And your prison-van?" said Ganimard, evading the question.
"A bluff! Some of my friends secured that old unused van and wished
to make the attempt. But I considered it impractical without the
concurrence of a number of unusual circumstances. However, I found
it useful to carry out that attempted 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.
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