The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-03-28

IL the ruins of Jumieges and those
of Saint Wandrille, the curious
little feudal castle of the Malaquis.
proudly seated on its rock in midstrean.
This erstwhile haunt of heroes and rob-
bers is now occupied by Ea-on Nathan
Cahorn-or Baron Satan, as he used TO
ne called on the Bourse, where he made
his fortune a little too suddenly. The
ruined owners of the Malaquis had to
sell the abode of their ancestors to him
for a song. Here he installed his Won
derful collections of pictures and furni-
ture of pottery and carved wood TIC
lives here alone, with three old servants.
Baron Satan leads a life of fear. lie Is
afraid, not for himself. but for the treas
ures which he has accumulated with so
tenacious a passion and with the perspic-
acity of A collector whom not the most
cunning Of dealers can boast OF having
ever taken in. Daily, at sunset. the four
iron-barred doors that command both
ends of the bridge and the entrance to
the principal court are locked and bolt
ed. At tho least touch electric bells
lence. There is nothing to be feared on
the side of the Seine, where the rock
rises sheer from the water.
One Friday in September the postman
appeared as usual at the bridge head.
and. in accordance with his daily rule,
tho baron himself opened the heavy
door
The postman handed him a pile OF
newspapers. Then he added:
"And now. monsieur lie baron, have
something special for you
something special: What do you
mcan?'
a Icttcr-and a registered letter at
that
Living cut off from everybody. with no
friends nor any one that took an interest
in him, the baron never received letters;
and this suddenly struck him as an ill
omencd event which gave hin good
cause for nervousness.
Il shall want your signature. monsieur
!" baron
lie signed the receipt. cursinS as he
did so. Then he took the letter. waited
until the postman had disappeared round
tn" turn Of the road. and. after taking
r..wgstcps t" and fro leaned against the
ilrapct of the bridge and opened the on
v..lopc 1t contained a sheet of ruled
paper, headed. in writing:
Prison de Ia Santc Paris
IL. looked at the Signature:
'Nrscnc I.upsa.'
Utterly dumhfounded, he read:
Monsieur L. Raron-Iu the gallery that
connects YOU two drawing-rooms there
IS q picture by Philippe de Champagne.
a.. excellent piece OF work, which ad
nire greatly. l also like your Rubens
FIXTURES and the smaller OF your two
Wattcaus la the drawins-room on the
r.ght l note the Louis XIII credence ia
l,l". the Bcauvais tapestries. the Empire
stand, signed by Jacob. and the Renais-
since Ghost In the room on the left the
whole OF the case OF trinkets and minia-
lures.
This time I will he satisfied with these
"hjccts, which. 1 think, can be easily
turned into cash. I will therefore ask
=" send them to my name. carriage paid.
l., the Care de Batignollcs. on or before
this day week, failing which l will N.Y.
:rIf see to their removal on the night OF
Wednesday, the 9TH instant. In the lat
t..r case rs IS only fair, I shall not be
content with the aforementioned OBJ
jccts.
Pray excuse the trouble which I am
living you, and believe me to be. yours
very truly. ARSENE LUPIN."
This letter Thoroughly upset Baron Ca
horn. It would have alarmed him con-
sdcraby had it been signed by any 9TH
cr hand. But signed by Arsene Lupin!
lie was a regular reader of the news
papers. knew of everything that went
on in the way of theft and crime, and
lad heard all about the exploits Of the
Internal houscbrcaker. lie was quite
WARE that Lupin had been arrested in
america by his enemy, Ganimard: that
he was safely under lock and key; and
mat the prelimiuaries TO his trial were
low being conductcd-with great diff
Guilty, no doubt, But he also knew that
"nc could always expect anything of
Nrscne Lupin. Besides. this precise
knowledge OF the castle. OF the arrange
.lCmt OF the pictures and furniture was
very formidable sign. Who had in
..zmcd Lupin Of things which nobody
nd ever seen?
The baron raised his eyes and Gazed at
tho frowninC outline of the Nalaquis, its
abrupt pedestal. the deep water that
surrounds il. lie shrugged his Shout
dcrs No. fhcrc WAS no possible danger
No one in the world could penetrate TO
the inviolahlc sanctuary that contained
3 his collections.
That same evening he wrote to the
public prosecutor AT Rouen. He enclosed
the threatening letter, and demanded po- !
lice protection.
The reply came without delay: the said
Arsene Lupin was az that moment a |
prisoner at the Sante. where he was kept |
unders strict surveillance and not allowed
TO write. The letter, therefore, could |
only be the work of hoaxer |
Two days elapsed On the third day. |
as he sat reading his newspapers. he