“We’re going to wait,” said Guerchard. “What for?” said the Duke. “Lupin,” said Guerchard. “Lupin? And you actually do believe that, just as in a fairy tale, when that clock strikes twelve, Lupin will enter and take the coronet?” “Yes, I do; I do,” said Guerchard with stubborn conviction. And he snapped the case to. “This is most exciting,” said the Duke. “You’re sure it doesn’t bore you?” said Guerchard huskily. “Not a bit of it,” said the Duke, with cheerful derision. “To make the acquaintance of this scoundrel who has fooled you for ten years is as charming a way of spending the evening as I can think of.” “You say that to me?” said Guerchard with a touch of temper. “Yes,” said the Duke, with a challenging smile. “To you.” He sat down in an easy chair by the table. Guerchard sat down in a chair on the other side of it, and set his elbows on it. They were silent. Suddenly the Duke said, “Somebody’s coming.” Guerchard started, and said: “No, I don’t hear any one.” Then there came distinctly the sound of a footstep and a knock at the door. “You’ve got keener ears than I,” said Guerchard grudgingly. “In all this business you’ve shown the qualities of a very promising detective.” He rose, went to the door, and unlocked it. Bonavent came in: “I’ve brought you the handcuffs, sir,” he said, holding them out. “Shall I stay with you?” “No,” said Guerchard. “You’ve two men at the back door, and two at the front, and a man in every room on the ground-floor?” “Yes, and I’ve got three men on every other floor,” said Bonavent, in a tone of satisfaction. “And the house next door?” said Guerchard. “There are a dozen men in it,” said Bonavent. “No communication between the two houses is possible any longer.” Guerchard watched the Duke’s face with intent eyes. Not a shadow flickered its careless serenity. “If any one tries to enter the house, collar him. If need be, fire on him,” said Guerchard firmly. “That is my order; go and tell the others.” “Very good, sir,” said Bonavent; and he went out of the room. “By Jove, we are in a regular fortress,” said the Duke. “It’s even more of a fortress than you think, your Grace. I’ve four men on that landing,” said Guerchard, nodding towards the door. “Oh, have you?” said the Duke, with a sudden air of annoyance. “You don’t like that?” said Guerchard quickly. “I should jolly well think not,” said the Duke. “With these precautions, Lupin will never be able to get into this room at all.” “He’ll find it a pretty hard job,” said Guerchard, smiling. “Unless he falls from the ceiling, or unless—” “Unless you’re Arsène Lupin,” interrupted the Duke. “In that case, you’d be another, your Grace,” said Guerchard. They both laughed. The Duke rose, yawned, picked up his coat and hat, and said, “Ah, well, I’m off to bed.” “What?” said Guerchard. “Well,” said the Duke, yawning again, “I was staying to see Lupin. As there’s no longer any chance of seeing him—”