Under the lamp light, in the midst of the detectives holding him, he was magnificent in his helpless violence.

They dragged him away.  With an unparalleled display of strength, he drew himself up, shook off the men who were hanging on to him like a pack of hounds worrying some animal at bay, got rid of Weber, and accosted Mazeroux in familiar tones.  He was gloriously masterful, almost calm, so wholly did he appear to control his seething rage.  He gave his orders in breathless little sentences, curt as words of command.

“Mazeroux, run around to the Prefect’s.  Ask him to ring up Valenglay:  yes, the Prime Minister.  I want to see him.  Have him informed.  Ask the Prefect to say it’s I:  the man who made the German Emperor play his game.  My name?  He knows.  Or, if he forgets, the Prefect can tell him my name.”

He paused for a second or two; and then, calmer still, he declared: 

“Arsene Lupin!  Telephone those two words to him and just say this:  ’Arsene Lupin wishes to speak to the Prime Minister on very important business.’  Get that through to him at once.  The Prime Minister would be very angry if he heard afterward that they had neglected to communicate my request.  Go, Mazeroux, and then find the villain’s tracks again.”

The governor of the prison had opened the jail book.

“You can enter my name, Monsieur le Directeur,” said Don Luis.  “Put down ‘Arsene Lupin.’”

The governor smiled and said: 

“I should find a difficulty in putting down any other.  It’s on the warrant:  ‘Arsene Lupin, alias Don Luis Perenna.’”

Don Luis felt a little shudder pass through him at the sound of those words.  The fact that he was arrested under the name of Arsene Lupin made his position doubly dangerous.

“Ah,” he said, “so they’ve resolved—­”

“I should think so!” said Weber, in a tone of triumph.  “We’ve resolved to take the bull by the horns and to go straight for Lupin.  Plucky of us, eh?  Never fear, we’ll show you something better than that!”

Don Luis did not flinch.  Turning to Mazeroux again, he said: 

“Don’t forget my instructions, Mazeroux.”

But there was a fresh blow in store for him.  The sergeant did not answer his remark.  Don Luis watched him closely and once more gave a start.  He had just perceived that Mazeroux also was surrounded by men who were holding him tight.  And the poor sergeant stood silently shedding tears.

Weber’s liveliness increased.

“You’ll have to excuse him, Lupin.  Sergeant Mazeroux accompanies you to prison, though not in the same cell.”

“Ah!” said Don Luis, drawing himself up.  “Is Mazeroux put into jail?”

“Prefect’s orders, warrant duly executed.”

“And on what charge?”

“Accomplice of Arsene Lupin.”

“Mazeroux my accomplice?  Get out!  Mazeroux?  The most honest man that ever lived!”