“The most honest man that ever lived, as you say.  That didn’t prevent people from going to him when they wanted to write to you or prevent him from bringing you the letters.  Which proves that he knew where you were hanging out.  And there’s a good deal more which we’ll explain to you, Lupin, in good time.  You’ll have plenty of fun, I assure you.”

Don Luis murmured: 

“My poor Mazeroux!”

Then, raising his voice, he said: 

“Don’t cry, old chap.  It’s just a matter of the remainder of the night.  Yes, I’ll share my cards with you and we’ll turn the king and mark game in a very few hours.  Don’t cry.  I’ve got a much finer berth waiting for you, a more honourable and above all a more lucrative position.  I have just what you want.

“You don’t imagine, surely, that I wasn’t prepared for this!  Why, you know me!  Take it from me:  I shall be at liberty to-morrow, and the government, after setting you free, will pitch you into a colonelcy or something, with a marshal’s pay attached to it.  So don’t cry, Mazeroux.”

Then, addressing Weber, he said to him in the voice of a principal giving an order, and knowing that the order will be executed without discussion: 

“Monsieur, I will ask you to fulfil the confidential mission which I was entrusting to Mazeroux.  First, inform the Prefect of Police that I have a communication of the very highest importance to make to the Prime Minister.  Next, discover the tiger’s tracks at Versailles before the night is over.  I know your merit, Monsieur, and I rely entirely upon your diligence and your zeal.  Meet me at twelve o’clock to-morrow.”

And, still maintaining his attitude of a principal who has given his instructions, he allowed himself to be taken to his cell.

It was ten to one.  For the last fifty minutes the enemy had been bowling along the highroad, carrying off Florence like a prey which it now seemed impossible to snatch from him.

The door was locked and bolted.

Don Luis reflected: 

“Even presuming that Monsieur le Prefect consents to ring up Valenglay, he won’t do so before the morning.  So they’ve given the villain eight hours’ start before I’m free.  Eight hours!  Curse it!”

He thought a little longer, then shrugged his shoulders with the air of one who, for the moment, has nothing better to do than wait, and flung himself on his mattress, murmuring: 

“Hushaby, Lupin!”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

OPEN SESAME!

In spite of his usual facility for sleep, Don Luis slept for three hours at most.  He was racked with too much anxiety; and, though his plan of conduct was worked out mathematically, he could not help foreseeing all the obstacles which were likely to frustrate that plan.  Of course, Weber would speak to M. Desmalions.  But would M. Desmalions telephone to Valenglay?