He drew back to let her pass, bowed respectfully to Mlle. Gerbois, and went out, closing the door behind him. Then they heard him in the vestibule, speaking, in a loud voice: “Good-day, Ganimard, how goes it? Remember me to Madame Ganimard. One of these days, I shall invite her to breakfast. Au revoir, Ganimard.”
The bell rang violently, followed by repeated rings, and voices on the landing.
“Forty-five minutes,” muttered Mon. Gerbois.
After a few seconds, he left the room and stepped into the vestibule. Arsène Lupin and the blonde lady had gone.
“Papa!... you mustn’t! Wait!” cried Suzanne.
“Wait! you are foolish!... No quarter for that rascal!... And the half-million?”
He opened the outer door. Ganimard rushed in.
“That woman—where is she? And Lupin?”
“He was here ... he is here.”
Ganimard uttered a cry of triumph.