Yes, there was a reason; and Ganimard knew it when he saw, on the table, a letter addressed to himself and opened it and read it. The letter was worded in the style of the testimonials which we hand to people in our service who have given satisfaction:
"I, the undersigned, Arsène Lupin, gentleman-burglar, ex-colonel, ex-man-of-all-work, ex-corpse, hereby certify that the person of the name of Ganimard gave proof of the most remarkable qualities during his stay in this house. He was exemplary in his behaviour, thoroughly devoted and attentive; and, unaided by the least clue, he foiled a part of my plans and saved the insurance-companies four hundred and fifty thousand francs. I congratulate him; and I am quite willing to overlook his blunder in not anticipating that the downstairs telephone communicates with the telephone in Sonia Kritchnoff's bedroom and that, when telephoning to Mr. Chief-detective, he was at the same time telephoning to me to clear out as fast as I could. It was a pardonable slip, which must not be allowed to dim the glamour of his services nor to detract from the merits of his victory.
"Having said this, I beg him to accept the homage of my admiration and of my sincere friendship.
"Arsène Lupin"
FOOTNOTES
[A] The Hollow Needle. By Maurice Leblanc. Translated by Alexander Teixeira de Mattos (Eveleigh Nash).
[B] 813. By Maurice Leblanc. Translated by Alexander Teixeira de Mattos (Mills & Boon).
[C] The Exploits of Arsène Lupin. By Maurice Leblanc. Translated by Alexander Teixeira de Mattos (Cassell). IV. The Escape of Arsène Lupin.
[D] The Exploits of Arsène Lupin. IX. Holmlock Shears arrives too late.
[E] Arsène Lupin. The Novel of the Play. By Edgar Jepson and Maurice Leblanc (Mills & Boon).