“I play the king,” said Sholmes, as he fired his revolver.
“And I the ace,” replied Lupin, as he struck at Sholmes with his fist.
Sholmes had fired into the air, as a signal to Ganimard, whose assistance he required. But Lupin’s fist had caught Sholmes in the stomach, and caused him to double up with pain. Lupin rushed to the fireplace and set the marble slab in motion.... Too late! The door opened.
“Surrender, Lupin, or I fire!”
Ganimard, doubtless stationed closer than Lupin had thought, Ganimard was there, with his revolver turned on Lupin. And behind Ganimard there were twenty men, strong and ruthless fellows, who would beat him like a dog at the least sign of resistance.
“Hands down! I surrender!” said Lupin, calmly; and he folded his arms across his breast.
Everyone was amazed. In the room, divested of its furniture and hangings, Arsène Lupin’s words sounded like an echo.... “I surrender!” ... It seemed incredible. No one would have been astonished if he had suddenly vanished through a trap, or if a section of the wall had rolled away and allowed him to escape. But he surrendered!
Ganimard advanced, nervously, and with all the gravity that the importance of the occasion demanded, he placed his hand on the shoulder of his adversary, and had the infinite pleasure of saying:
“I arrest you, Arsène Lupin.”
“Brrr!” said Lupin, “you make me shiver, my dear Ganimard. What a lugubrious face! One would imagine you were speaking over the grave of a friend. For Heaven’s sake, don’t assume such a funereal air.”