“Defend our just rights, whatever happens! And we will succeed. The million francs belong to me, and I intend to have them.”
A few minutes later, he sent this telegram:
“Governor Crédit Foncier
“rue Capucines, Paris.
“Am holder of No. 514, series 23. Oppose by all legal means any other claimant.
“GERBOIS.”
Almost at the same moment, the Crédit Foncier received the following telegram:
“No. 514, series 23, is in my possession.
“ARSÈNE LUPIN.”
Every time I undertake to relate one of the many extraordinary adventures that mark the life of Arsène Lupin, I experience a feeling of embarrassment, as it seems to me that the most commonplace of those adventures is already well known to my readers. In fact, there is not a movement of our “national thief,” as he has been so aptly described, that has not been given the widest publicity, not an exploit that has not been studied in all its phases, not an action that has not been discussed with that particularity usually reserved for the recital of heroic deeds.
For instance, who does not know the strange history of “The Blonde Lady,” with those curious episodes which were proclaimed by the newspapers with heavy black headlines, as follows: “Lottery Ticket No. 514!” ... “The Crime on the Avenue Henri-Martin!” ... “The Blue Diamond!” ... The interest created by the intervention of the celebrated English detective, Herlock Sholmes! The excitement aroused by the various vicissitudes which marked the struggle between those famous artists! And what a commotion on the boulevards, the day on which the newsboys announced: “Arrest of Arsène Lupin!”