“But smile, little girl--laugh!” he exclaimed. “All this is really very funny. So laugh. Arsène Lupin or Ralph d’Andresy, what on earth does it matter? The main thing is to succeed. And I shall succeed. About that there is no doubt. Every fortune-teller I have ever come across has predicted a great future and universal renown for me. Ralph d’Andresy will be a general, or a minister, or an ambassador.... Always supposing that he does not remain Arsène Lupin. It is an affair settled before the throne of Destiny, agreed on, signed by both parties. I am quite ready. Muscles of steel and a number one brain! Come, would you like me to walk on my hands, or carry you about at arms’ length? Or would you prefer that I took your watch without your perceiving it, or shall I recite by heart Homer in Greek and Milton in English? Heavens, how sweet life is! Ralph d’Andresy ... Arsène Lupin. The statue with two faces! Which of them will be illumined by glory, the sun of those who really live?” He stopped short. His lightness seemed all at once to chafe him. Silent, he looked round the quiet little room, the security of which he was troubling, as he had troubled the young girl’s pure and peaceful heart; and with one of those unexpected changes which were the charm of his disposition, he knelt down before Clarice and said to her gravely: “Forgive me. I did wrong to come here.... But it is not my fault.... It is so difficult for me to keep my balance.... Good and evil, they attract me in turn. You must help me, Clarice, to choose my path, and you must forgive me if I miss my way.” She took his head between her hands and in passionate accents cried: “I have nothing to forgive you, darling. I’m happy. You will cause me bitter suffering--I’m sure of it--and I accept beforehand and joyfully all those sorrows you will bring upon me. Here, take my photo, and act in such a way that you never need to blush when you look at it. For my part, I shall always be just what I am to-day--your sweetheart and your wife. I love you, Ralph.” She kissed him on the brow. But even now he was again laughing; and as he rose to his feet, he said: “You have armed your knight, lady. Behold me henceforth invincible and ready to confound my enemies. Appear, men of Navarre!... I enter the lists!” * * * * * Ralph’s plan--let us drop the name of Arsène Lupin since at that moment, ignorant of his destiny, he himself held it in some contempt--Ralph’s plan was very simple. In the park, on the left of the château, and resting against the boundary wall, of which it formerly formed one of the bastions, there was a truncated tower, very low, roofed over, and almost hidden by waves of ivy. Now he had no doubt that the meeting fixed for four o’clock would take place in the great chamber inside it, where the Baron interviewed his tenants. And Ralph had also observed that an opening, an old window or air-hole, looked over the country.