But she would not hear him. She broke out with fresh vehemence, a feverish passion: “And yet, if I’d been a thief, like so many others... but you know why I stole. I’m not trying to defend myself, but, after all, I did it to keep honest; and when I loved you it was not the heart of a thief that thrilled, it was the heart of a poor girl who loved...that’s all...who loved.” “You don’t know what you’re doing! You’re torturing me! Be quiet!” cried Lupin hoarsely, beside himself. “Never mind...I’m going...we shall never see one another any more,” she sobbed. “But will you...will you shake hands just for the last time?” “No!” cried Lupin. “You won’t?” wailed Sonia in a heartrending tone. “I can’t!” cried Lupin. “You ought not to be like this.... Last night ... if you were going to let me go like this ... last night ... it was wrong,” she wailed, and turned to go. “Wait, Sonia! Wait!” cried Lupin hoarsely. “A moment ago you said something.... You said that the mere presence of a thief would overwhelm you with disgust. Is that true?” “Yes, I swear it is,” cried Sonia. Guerchard appeared in the doorway. “And if I were not the man you believe?” said Lupin sombrely. “What?” said Sonia; and a faint bewilderment mingled with her grief. “If I were not the Duke of Charmerace?” “Not the Duke?” “If I were not an honest man?” said Lupin. “You?” cried Sonia. “If I were a thief? If I were—” “Arsène Lupin,” jeered Guerchard from the door. Lupin turned and held out his manacled wrists for her to see. “Arsène Lupin! ... it’s ... it’s true!” stammered Sonia. “But then, but then ... it must be for my sake that you’ve given yourself up. And it’s for me you’re going to prison. Oh, Heavens! How happy I am!” She sprang to him, threw her arms round his neck, and pressed her lips to his. “And that’s what women call repenting,” said Guerchard. He shrugged his shoulders, went out on to the landing, and called to the policeman in the hall to bid the driver of the prison-van, which was waiting, bring it up to the door. “Oh, this is incredible!” cried Lupin, in a trembling voice; and he kissed Sonia’s lips and eyes and hair. “To think that you love me enough to go on loving me in spite of this—in spite of the fact that I’m Arsène Lupin. Oh, after this, I’ll become an honest man! It’s the least I can do. I’ll retire.” “You will?” cried Sonia. “Upon my soul, I will!” cried Lupin; and he kissed her again and again. Guerchard came back into the room. He looked at them with a cynical grin, and said, “Time’s up.” “Oh, Guerchard, after so many others, I owe you the best minute of my life!” cried Lupin. Bonavent, still in his porter’s livery, came hurrying through the anteroom: “Master,” he cried, “I’ve found it.” “Found what?” said Guerchard. “The secret entrance. It opens into that little side street. We haven’t got the door open yet; but we soon shall.” “The last link in the chain,” said Guerchard, with warm satisfaction. “Come along, Lupin.”