“Oh! I didn’t approach her myself. I have not the honor of her acquaintance. A friend of mine, a lady, carried on the negotiations.”
“The blonde woman in the automobile, no doubt.”
“Precisely. All arrangements were made at the first interview near the college. Since then, Mlle. Gerbois and her new friend have been travelling in Belgium and Holland in a manner that should prove most pleasing and instructive to a young girl. She will tell you all about it herself—”
The bell of the vestibule door rang, three rings in quick succession, followed by two isolated rings.
“It is she,” said Lupin. “Monsieur Detinan, if you will be so kind—”
The lawyer hastened to the door.
Two young women entered. One of them threw herself into the arms of Mon. Gerbois. The other approached Lupin. The latter was a tall woman of a good figure, very pale complexion, and with blond hair, parted over her forehead in undulating waves, that glistened and shone like the setting sun. She was dressed in black, with no display of jewelled ornaments; but, on the contrary, her appearance indicated good taste and refined elegance. Arsène Lupin spoke a few words to her; then, bowing to Mlle. Gerbois, he said:
“I owe you an apology, mademoiselle, for all your troubles, but I hope you have not been too unhappy—”
“Unhappy! Why, I should have been very happy, indeed, if it hadn’t been for leaving my poor father.”
“Then all is for the best. Kiss him again, and take advantage of the opportunity—it is an excellent one—to speak to him about your cousin.”