“Yes, ending in two points, which fall over a collar fastened at the back, like a clergyman’s. In fact, he looks a little like an English parson.” “It’s he,” murmured Beautrelet, “it’s he, as I have seen him: it’s his exact description.” “What! Do you think—?” “I think, I am sure that your tenant is none other than Arsène Lupin.” The story amused Louis Valméras. He knew all the adventures of Arsène Lupin and the varying fortunes of his struggle with Beautrelet. He rubbed his hands: “Ha, the Château de l’Aiguille will become famous!—I’m sure I don’t mind, for, as a matter of fact, now that my mother no longer lives in it, I have always thought that I would get rid of it at the first opportunity. After this, I shall soon find a purchaser. Only—” “Only what?” “I will ask you to act with the most extreme prudence and not to inform the police until you are quite sure. Can you picture the situation, supposing my tenant were not Arsène Lupin?” Beautrelet set forth his plan. He would go alone at night; he would climb the walls; he would sleep in the park— Louis Valméras stopped him at once: “You will not climb walls of that height so easily. If you do, you will be received by two huge sheep-dogs which belonged to my mother and which I left behind at the castle.” “Pooh! A dose of poison—” “Much obliged. But suppose you escaped them. What then? How would you get into the castle? The doors are massive, the windows barred. And, even then, once you were inside, who would guide you? There are eighty rooms.” “Yes, but that room with two windows, on the second story—” “I know it, we call it the glycine room. But how will you find it? There are three staircases and a labyrinth of passages. I can give you the clue and explain the way to you, but you would get lost just the same.” “Come with me,” said Beautrelet, laughing. “I can’t. I have promised to go to my mother in the South.” Beautrelet returned to the friend with whom he was staying and began to make his preparations. But, late in the day, as he was getting ready to go, he received a visit from Valméras. “Do you still want me?” “Rather!” “Well, I’m coming with you. Yes, the expedition fascinates me. I think it will be very amusing and I like being mixed up in this sort of thing.—Besides, my help will be of use to you. Look, here’s something to start with.” He held up a big key, all covered with rust and looking very old. “What does the key open?” asked Beautrelet. “A little postern hidden between two buttresses and left unused since centuries ago. I did not even think of pointing it out to my tenant. It opens straight on the country, just at the verge of the wood.” Beautrelet interrupted him quickly: “They know all about that outlet. It was obviously by this way that the man whom I followed entered the park. Come, it’s fine game and we shall win it. But, by Jupiter, we must play our cards carefully!”