"I am very sorry, sir, but I shall be gone in fifteen minutes." "No, no, you can't go like this," said Valenglay, with authority. "Why not, sir?" "Well, because we don't know your name or anything about you." "That makes so little difference!" "In peace-time, perhaps. But, in war-time, it won't do at all." "Surely, monsieur le président, you will make an exception in my case?" "An exception, indeed? What next?" "Suppose it's the reward which I ask, will you refuse me then?" "It's the only one which we are obliged to refuse you. However, you won't ask for it. A good citizen like yourself understands the constraints to which everybody is bound to submit. My dear Masseron, arrange it with this gentleman. At the department in an hour from now. Good-by till then, sir. I shall expect you." And, after a very civil bow, he walked away to his car, twirling his stick gaily and escorted by M. Masseron. "Well, on my soul!" chuckled Don Luis. "There's a character for you! In the twinkling of an eye, he accepts three hundred millions in gold, signs an epoch-making treaty and orders the arrest of Arsène Lupin!" "What do you mean?" cried Patrice, startled out of his life. "Your arrest?" "Well, he orders me to appear before him, to produce my papers and the devil knows what." "But that's monstrous!" "It's the law of the land, my dear captain. We must bow to it." "But . . ." "Captain, believe me when I say that a few little worries of this sort deprive me of none of the whole-hearted satisfaction which I feel at rendering this great service to my country. I wanted, during the war, to do something for France and to make the most of the time which I was able to devote to her during my stay. I've done it. And then I have another reward: the four millions. For I think highly enough of your Coralie to believe her incapable of wishing to touch this money . . . which is really her property." "I'll go bail for her over that." "Thank you. And you may be sure that the gift will be well employed. So everything is settled. I have still a few minutes to give you. Let us turn them to good account. M. Masseron is collecting his men by now. To simplify their task and avoid a scandal, we'll go down to the lower quay, by the sand-heap. It'll be easier for him to collar me there." "I accept your few minutes," said Patrice, as they went down the steps. "But first of all I want to apologize . . ." "For what? For behaving a little treacherously and locking me into the studio of the lodge? You couldn't help yourself: you were trying to assist your Coralie. For thinking me capable of keeping the treasure on the day when I discovered it? You couldn't help that either: how could you imagine that Arsène Lupin would despise three hundred million francs?" "Very well, no apologies," said Patrice, laughing. "But all my thanks." "For what? For saving your life and saving Coralie's? Don't thank me. It's a hobby of mine, saving people."