The Crystal Stopper [85]
without excuse or explanation. It is a royal prerogative; the president of the Republic can wield it according to his good pleasure, or rather according to his conscience, in the best interests of the State."
"But it is too late! Everything is ready. The execution is to take place in a few hours."
"One hour is long enough to obtain your answer; you have just told us so."
"But this is confounded madness! There are insuperable obstacles to your conditions. I tell you again, it's impossible, physically impossible."
"Then the answer is no?"
"No! No! A thousand times no!"
"In that case, there is nothing left for us to do but to go."
She moved toward the door. M. Nicole followed her. Prasville bounded across the room and barred their way:
"Where are you going?"
"Well, my friend, it seems to me that our conversation is at an end. As you appear to think, as, in fact, you are certain that the president of the Republic will not consider the famous list of the Twenty-seven to be worth... "
"Stay where you are," said Prasville.
He turned the key in the door and began to pace the room, with his hands behind his back and his eyes fixed on the floor.
And Lupin, who had not breathed a word during the whole of this scene and who had prudently contented himself with playing a colourless part, said to himself:
"What a fuss! What a lot of affectation to arrive at the inevitable result! As though Prasville, who is not a genius, but not an absolute blockhead either, would be likely to lose the chance of revenging himself on his mortal enemy! There, what did I say? The idea of hurling Daubrecq into the bottomless pit appeals to him. Come, we've won the rubber."
Prasville was opening a small inner door which led to the office of his private secretary.
He gave an order aloud:
"M. Lartigue, telephone to the Elysee and say that I request the favour of an audience for a communication of the utmost importance."
He dosed the door, came back to Clarisse and said:
"In any case, my intervention is limited to submitting your proposal."
"Once you submit it, it will be accepted."
A long silence followed. Clarisse's features expressed so profound a delight that Prasville was struck by it and looked at her with attentive curiosity. For what mysterious reason did Clarisse wish to save Gilbert and Vaucheray? What was the incomprehensible link that bound her to those two men? What tragedy connected those three lives and, no doubt, Daubrecq's in addition?
"Go ahead, old boy," thought Lupin, "cudgel your brains: you'll never spot it! Ah, if we had asked for Gilbert's pardon only, as Clarisse wished, you might have twigged the secret! But Vaucheray, that brute of a Vaucheray, there really could not be the least bond between Mme. Mergy and him.... Aha, by Jingo, it's my turn now!... He's watching me ... The inward soliloquy is turning upon myself... 'I wonder who that M. Nicole can be? Why has that little provincial usher devoted himself body and soul to Clarisse Mergy? Who is that old bore, if the truth were known? I made a mistake in not inquiring... I must look into this.... I must rip off the beggar's mask. For, after all, it's not natural that a man should take so much trouble about a matter in which he is not directly interested. Why should he also wish to save Gilbert and Vaucheray? Why? Why should he? ... " Lupin turned his head away. "Look out!... Look out!... There's a notion passing through that red-tape-merchant's skull: a confused notion which he can't put into words. Hang it all, he mustn't suspect M. Lupin under M. Nicole! The thing's complicated enough as it is, in all conscience!...
But there was a welcome interruption. Prasville's secretary came to say that the audience would take place in an hour's time.
"Very well. Thank you," said Prasville. "That will do."
And, resuming the interview, with no further circumlocution, speaking like a man who means to put a thing through, he declared:
"I think that we shall be able to manage it. But, first
"But it is too late! Everything is ready. The execution is to take place in a few hours."
"One hour is long enough to obtain your answer; you have just told us so."
"But this is confounded madness! There are insuperable obstacles to your conditions. I tell you again, it's impossible, physically impossible."
"Then the answer is no?"
"No! No! A thousand times no!"
"In that case, there is nothing left for us to do but to go."
She moved toward the door. M. Nicole followed her. Prasville bounded across the room and barred their way:
"Where are you going?"
"Well, my friend, it seems to me that our conversation is at an end. As you appear to think, as, in fact, you are certain that the president of the Republic will not consider the famous list of the Twenty-seven to be worth... "
"Stay where you are," said Prasville.
He turned the key in the door and began to pace the room, with his hands behind his back and his eyes fixed on the floor.
And Lupin, who had not breathed a word during the whole of this scene and who had prudently contented himself with playing a colourless part, said to himself:
"What a fuss! What a lot of affectation to arrive at the inevitable result! As though Prasville, who is not a genius, but not an absolute blockhead either, would be likely to lose the chance of revenging himself on his mortal enemy! There, what did I say? The idea of hurling Daubrecq into the bottomless pit appeals to him. Come, we've won the rubber."
Prasville was opening a small inner door which led to the office of his private secretary.
He gave an order aloud:
"M. Lartigue, telephone to the Elysee and say that I request the favour of an audience for a communication of the utmost importance."
He dosed the door, came back to Clarisse and said:
"In any case, my intervention is limited to submitting your proposal."
"Once you submit it, it will be accepted."
A long silence followed. Clarisse's features expressed so profound a delight that Prasville was struck by it and looked at her with attentive curiosity. For what mysterious reason did Clarisse wish to save Gilbert and Vaucheray? What was the incomprehensible link that bound her to those two men? What tragedy connected those three lives and, no doubt, Daubrecq's in addition?
"Go ahead, old boy," thought Lupin, "cudgel your brains: you'll never spot it! Ah, if we had asked for Gilbert's pardon only, as Clarisse wished, you might have twigged the secret! But Vaucheray, that brute of a Vaucheray, there really could not be the least bond between Mme. Mergy and him.... Aha, by Jingo, it's my turn now!... He's watching me ... The inward soliloquy is turning upon myself... 'I wonder who that M. Nicole can be? Why has that little provincial usher devoted himself body and soul to Clarisse Mergy? Who is that old bore, if the truth were known? I made a mistake in not inquiring... I must look into this.... I must rip off the beggar's mask. For, after all, it's not natural that a man should take so much trouble about a matter in which he is not directly interested. Why should he also wish to save Gilbert and Vaucheray? Why? Why should he? ... " Lupin turned his head away. "Look out!... Look out!... There's a notion passing through that red-tape-merchant's skull: a confused notion which he can't put into words. Hang it all, he mustn't suspect M. Lupin under M. Nicole! The thing's complicated enough as it is, in all conscience!...
But there was a welcome interruption. Prasville's secretary came to say that the audience would take place in an hour's time.
"Very well. Thank you," said Prasville. "That will do."
And, resuming the interview, with no further circumlocution, speaking like a man who means to put a thing through, he declared:
"I think that we shall be able to manage it. But, first