Читать книгу The Crystal Stopper онлайн

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“But I assure you,...” the woman began.

“Why tell lies,” he said, “considering that I myself instructed you to lend yourself to those visits?”

“The fact is...”

“The fact is that you want to keep on good terms with both sides... Very well!” He handed her a fifty-franc note and repeated, “Have they been?”

“Yes.”

“The same men as in the spring?”

“Yes, all five of them... with another one, who ordered them about.”

“A tall, dark man?”

“Yes.”

Lupin saw Daubrecq’s mouth hardening; and Daubrecq continued:

“Is that all?”

“There was one more, who came after they did and joined them... and then, just now, two more, the pair who usually keep watch outside the house.”

“Did they remain in the study?”

“Yes, sir.”

“And they went away when I came back? A few minutes before, perhaps?”

“Yes, sir.”

“That will do.”

The woman left the room. Daubrecq returned to his letter-writing. Then, stretching out his arm, he made some marks on a white writing-tablet, at the end of his desk, and rested it against the desk, as though he wished to keep it in sight. The marks were figures; and Lupin was able to read the following subtraction-sum: