The evening world., 1911-01-20

~ ~. However rs only n
mlnutes-but what's the natter
Don't you know me7 Have ] changed
no much7"
In the course of his rght with Lupin,
had mo, with many sur
prises and he was still prepared. at the
moment Of tho final catastrophe. to ex-
.perience any number OF further emo
tons; but tho shock which no received
this tins was utterly unexpected. II
was not establishment. but stupefac-
ton. terror. The man who stood before
him. tho man whom the brutal force OF
events compelled him to look upon as
Arsenc Lupin. was-Valmerasi VAL
moras. the owner OF tho Chateau de
rAiguilie' vaimeras, the very man 20
whom he had applied for assistance
against Arsens Lupini Vnlmeras. his
companion on the expedition 90 Cro-
Eant! vaImeras. the plucky friend who
had made Raymonde's escape possible
by Telling one OF Lupin's accomplices.
or pretending TO fell him. in the dusk
OF tho great halt And valmeras wa
Lupinl
~"You-you-- 50 ~ yvui" he stam-
mered.
why notr' exclaimed Lnpfn. Odd
you think that you knew me for good
and all because o had seen me In the
gudse OF . clergyman o. d the fsa-
lures OF NJ. Maasibanf Alaa, when .
man selects the position In soc1sty
which ] oooupy he must nesds make use
OF his MttJs social S1ftSi II Lupin wsrs
not able TO change himself at Will into .
minister OF ths Church Of England o.
q Member of the Academy of InsG1p-
tons and Beilss-Iottrss Il would b .
bad lookout for L,ipini Now Lupin. ths
real Llpin. n hero before you. Beau
treleti Take . good o at him."
But thsn-if IT'S you--then-Made-
m~oisello''--
yes. Beautrslet. A. you Ay-
lie again drew baok the hanging.
bcckoned n announced;
Mime. Arscne Luptn."
'Ah,' murmured the lad. COMPOUNDED
In spite of everything. Mile. dc Saint
Verani'
mo. no." protested Lupin. Mime.
Arsens Jupin. or rather. II you prefer,
Nine. Louis Valmoras. my welded wife.
married 20 mo IN accordance with the
strictest forms of law. and all thanks
TO you. my dear Beautrelet."
He hold out his hand to him.
"All my acknowledgments-and no Ill
will on your side. ! trustH'
Strange to say. Benutreist felt no III
will at all. no sense OF humiliation. no
bitterness. He realized 90 strongly the
immense superiority of his adversary
that he did not blush At being beaten
by him. lie pressed the profrered hand.
Luncheon u served. ma'am."
A butler had placed a tray OF dishes
on the table.
you must excuse us. Benutrelet. my
chef IL away and wa can only give you
a cold lunch"
Beautrelet felt very little inclined to
eat. He sat down. however, and was
enormously Interested In Lupin's atti-
tude. How much exactly did he known
was he aware OF the danger he was
running? was he ignorout OF the pres
ence of Ganimard and his men7
And Lupin continues,
yes, thanks to you, my dear friend.
Certainly. Raymonde and I loved each
other from tho first. Just 80. m boy
R~aymonde's abduction. her imprison-
ment, were mere humbug. we loved
zach other. But neither she nor ]. when
we were free to love. would allow a
casual bond. at the mercy Of chance.
to bs formed between us. The position.
therefore, was hopeless for Lupin. For
tlnhttly, u CeUAtu 10 10 50 III 1 re-
sumed my Identity as tho Louis VAL
meras hat / had been from a child. II
was then that | conceived the idea. as
you refused 10 %relinquish YOU quest
and had found tho Chateau de iAigullle,
OF profting by your ~obstlnacy."
And my Stiffness"
'Poohl Any one would have been
caught as you wereV'
80 you were really able to succeed
because / screened you and assisted
your
"Ot coursel How could any one sus-
poet Valmeras OF being Lupln, when
Valmeras was BeHutrelets friend and
after Valmeras had snatched from LII
pins clutches the girl whom Lupln
lJyed7 And how charming II was! such
delightful memories! Thc expedition to
Crozant' The bouquets we found! My
pretended love letter TO Raymonde!
And. later, the precautions which |. Val
mcras, had to tsle against myself.
Lupin. before my marriage! And the
night Of you great banquet. Beautrclet,
when you tainted IN my arms! oh.
what memories"
There was a pause. Beautrelet
watched Raymoude, She had listened
to Lupin without saying a word and
looked at Vim with eyes In which he
read love, passion and something else
besides. something which the lad could
not define, a sort OF anxious embarrass-
ment ana a & sadness. But Lupin
turned his eyes upon her and she gave
him an aftectionate smile. Their hands
met over the table,
What do you say 10 the way l have
arranged my little home. Beautreletf"
| cried Lupin. There's style about II,
isn't there? I don't pretend that it's
as comfortable rs II might be. And
yet. some nave been quite satisfied
with II; and not the least OF mankind.
either!-Look at the list OF distin-
gulshed people h have owned the
Needle In their time and who thought
It an honor to leave a mark OF their
sojourn"