The
leader inspected the room, listened a moment, and said:
"Call the others."
Then eight men, stout fellows with resolute faces, entered the
room, and immediately commenced to remove the furnishings. Arsene
Lupin passed quickly from one piece of furniture to another,
examined each, and, according to its size or artistic value, he
directed his men to take it or leave it. If ordered to be taken,
it was carried to the gaping mouth of the tunnel, and ruthlessly
thrust into the bowels of the earth. Such was the fate of six
armchairs, six small Louis XV chairs, a quantity of Aubusson
tapestries, some candelabra, paintings by Fragonard and Nattier, a
bust by Houdon, and some statuettes. Sometimes, Lupin would linger
before a beautiful chest or a superb picture, and sigh:
"That is too heavy....too large....what a pity!"
In forty minutes the room was dismantled; and it had been
accomplished in such an orderly manner and with as little noise as
if the various articles had been packed and wadded for the
occasion.
Lupin said to the last man who departed by way of the tunnel:
"You need not come back. You understand, that as soon as the auto-
van is loaded, you are to proceed to the grange at Roquefort.
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