The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-05-16
=By=
Maurice Leblanc

/
Jutant himself had received that morn-
ing in the orderly room. The order
stated that No. ? company -of the
J fourth battalion was to see that the
goods and chattcls deposited at the
HalleuN crossroads, in the Forest
OF Argues, were delivered at three
clock to NJ. Georges Devanne. the
owner OF Thibermesnil Castle. 1t
bore the signature OF Colonel Beau
vel
i found everything ready for us
at the crossroads" added the ser
ecant' lald out on the grass. under
the charge OF any one passing. That
struck me as queer. but, well, sir. the
order was plain enough
Ono OF the officers examined the
signature: it was a perfect copy. but
forged.
The band had stopped. Tho var-
onS were empticd, and the furniture
carried indoors.
In the midst of this excitement,
Nellie Cnderdown was left standing
alone at. one end OF the terrace. She
was grave and anxious, full OF vague
| thoughts, which she did not seek to
formulate. Suddenly she saw Velmont
coming up to her. She wished to avoid
him, but the corner of the balustradc
|
in on two sides, and a row of great
| tubs OF shrubs-orangc trees, laurels.
and bamboos-left her no other way
OF escape than that by which Vel
mont was approaching. She did not
move. A ray of sunlight quivered on
her golden hair, shaken by the frail
leaves of bamboo plant. She heard
soft voice say:
Il have kept the promise / made
you last night"
Arsene Lupin stood by her side,
and there was no one else near them.
He.repeated, in a hesitating atti-
tude and a timid voice:
Il have kept the promise | made
you last night"
lie expected a word of thanks, a
gesture at least. to prove the interest
which she took in his action. She
was silent
Her scorn irritatcd Arscne Lupin,
and at the same time he received a
profound sense OF all that separated
, him from Nellie, now that she knew
the truth. He would have liked to
cxonerate himself, to seek excuses, to
show his life in its holder and greater
aspects. But the words Jared upon
him before they were uttered, and he
felt the absurdity and the impertin-
ence Of any explanation. Then, over
come by food of recollections, he
nurnured, sadly:
How distant the past seems, Do
you remember the long hours on the
deck OF the Provence? All, stay. One
day you had rose in your hand, as
you have today, pale rose, like this
one. | asked you for it. You seemed
not to hear. However, when you had
gone below, l found the rose. You
had dropped it, no doubt. have kept
it ever since"
She still made no reply. She SEEM
cd very far from him. He continued:
For the sake of those dear hours,
do not think of what you know. Let
the past be joined to the present! Let
me be not. the man whom you saw
last night, but your fellow passenger
on that voyage! Oh, turn your eyes
and let them look at me, if only for
second. as they looked at me then.
| implore you. Am l not the same
man that l was?"
She raised her eyes. as he asked.
and looked at him. Then, without a
word, she placed her finger on a ring
which he wore on his right hand.
Only the circlet was visible, but the
bezel. turned inward, was formed of
a marvellous ruby.
Arsene Lupin blushcd scarlet. The
ring belonged to Georges Devanne.
He gave bitter smile:
you are right" he said what has
been will always be. Arscne Lupin is
and can be no one but Arsenc Lupin;
and not even a memory can exist be-
tween you and him. Forgive me. I
ought to have understood that my
very presence near you must seem
an outrage"
He made way for her, hat in hand.
and Nellie passed before him along
the balustrade. He felt tempted to
hold her back, to besecch her. His
courage failed him. and he followed
her with his eyes, as he had done on
the day long past when she crossed
the gang plank on their arrival at
New York. She went up the stairs
that lead TO the door. For another
instant her dainty figure was outlined
against the marble OF the entrance
hall. Then he saw her no more.
A cloud covered the sun. Arsene
Lupin stood motionless, gazing at the