“Monsieur Gerbois, I congratulate you on the clever way in which you made the journey to this place.”
Then, perceiving the two piles of bank-notes, he exclaimed:
“Ah! I see! the million is here. We will not lose any time. Permit me.”
“One moment,” said the lawyer, placing himself before the table. “Mlle. Gerbois has not yet arrived.”
“Well?”
“Is not her presence indispensable?”
“I understand! I understand! Arsène Lupin inspires only a limited confidence. He might pocket the half-million and not restore the hostage. Ah! monsieur, people do not understand me. Because I have been obliged, by force of circumstances, to commit certain actions a little ... out of the ordinary, my good faith is impugned ... I, who have always observed the utmost scrupulosity and delicacy in business affairs. Besides, my dear monsieur if you have any fear, open the window and call. There are at least a dozen detectives in the street.”
“Do you think so?”
Arsène Lupin raised the curtain.
“I think that Monsieur Gerbois could not throw Ganimard off the scent.... What did I tell you? There he is now.”