She burst out laughing:
"Nonsense! Arsène Lupin? M. Maxime Bermond's name is Arsène Lupin?"
"As I have the honour to inform you, mademoiselle, and, since you refuse to understand me unless I speak plainly, I will add that Arsène Lupin, to accomplish his designs, has found in this house a friend, more than a friend, a blind and ... passionately devoted accomplice."
She rose and, betraying no emotion or, at least, so little emotion that Shears was impressed by her extraordinary self-control, said:
"I do not know the reason for your behaviour, monsieur, and I have no wish to know it. I will ask you, therefore, not to add another word and to leave the room."
"I had no intention, mademoiselle, of imposing my presence upon you indefinitely," said Shears, as calmly as herself. "Only I have resolved not to leave this house alone."
"And who is going with you, monsieur?"
"You!"
"I?"
"Yes, mademoiselle, we shall leave this house together, and you will accompany me without a word, without a protest."