I can't endure her presence." But the young girl
suddenly spoke, and stammered:
"Listen....footsteps....I hear someone...."
He looked at her with astonishment. She seemed to be overwhelmed
by the thought of approaching peril.
"I don't hear anything," he said.
"But you must go--you must escape!"
"Why should I go?"
"Because--you must. Oh! do not remain here another minute. Go!"
She ran, quickly, to the door leading to the gallery and listened.
No, there was no one there. Perhaps the noise was outside. She
waited a moment, then returned reassured.
But Arsene Lupin had disappeared.
* * * * *
As soon as Mon. Devanne was informed of the pillage of his castle,
he said to himself: It was Velmont who did it, and Velmont is
Arsene Lupin. That theory explained everything, and there was no
other plausible explanation. And yet the idea seemed preposterous.
It was ridiculous to suppose that Velmont was anyone else than
Velmont, the famous artist, and club-fellow of his cousin
d'Estevan. So, when the captain of the gendarmes arrived to
investigate the affair, Devanne did not even think of mentioning
his absurd theory.
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