“My liberty?”
“No ... but I can leave the room to consult with Ganimard.”
“And leave me alone?”
“Yes.”
“Ah! mon dieu, what good would that be? The cursed mechanism will not work,” said Lupin, at the same time savagely pushing the moulding of the mantel. He stifled a cry of surprise; this time fortune favored him—the block of marble moved. It was his salvation; his hope of escape. In that event, why submit to the conditions imposed by Sholmes? He paced up and down the room, as if he were considering his reply. Then, in his turn, he placed his hand on the shoulder of his adversary, and said:
“All things considered, Monsieur Sholmes, I prefer to do my own business in my own way.”
“But—”
“No, I don’t require anyone’s assistance.”
“When Ganimard gets his hand on you, it will be all over. You can’t escape from them.”
“Who knows?”