813 by Maurice Leblanc - The Olive-Green Frock-Coat 08

813 by Maurice Leblanc - The Olive-Green Frock-Coat 08

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chapter eight of eight thirteen eight thirteen by Maurice le Blin.
Chapter eight The Olive Green frock Coat. A quarter past
twelve in a restaurant near the Madeleine, the Prince is
at lunch. The two young men sit down at the
next table. He bows to them and begins to speak
to them as to friends whom he has met by chance.

(00:23):
Are you going on the expedition? Eh? Yes? How many
men altogether? Six? I think each goes down by himself.
Were to meet Monsieur Weber at a quarter to two
near the house of Retreat, very well, I shall be there.
What am I not leading the expedition? And isn't it
my business to find Missie Lenormand? Seeing that I've announced

(00:43):
it publicly? Then you believe that Monsieur le Noorma is
not dead? Governor, I'm sure of it. Do you know anything? Yes?
Since yesterday I know for certain that Altenheim and his
gang took Misieu Lenormand and Gorel to the bridge at
Bougeval and heaved them overboard. Gorrel sank, but Mossiellleenormin managed
to save himself. I shall furnish all the necessary proofs.

(01:05):
When the time comes. But then, if he's alive, why
doesn't he show himself? Because he's not free? Is what
you said true? Then is he in the cellars of
the Villa de gli Sin. I have every reason to
think so. But how do you know what clue? That's
my secret? I can tell you one thing. The revelation

(01:25):
will be what shall I say? Sensational? Have you finished? Yes?
My car is behind the madlen join me there at
Gauche sur nine sent the motor away and they walked
to the path that led to Geneviev's school. There he stopped.
Listen to me, lads, this is of the highest importance.
You will ring at the house of retreat as inspectors.

(01:48):
You have your right of entry, have you not? You
will then go to the Pavio Ortenes, the empty one.
There you will run down to the basement and you
will find an old shutter which you have only to
live to see the opening of a tunnel, which I
discovered lately, and which forms a direct communication with the
Villa deigli Sin. It was by means of this that
Gertrude and Baron Altenheim used to meet, and it was

(02:08):
this way that Monsieur lenormand passed, only to end by
falling into the hands of his enemies. You think so, guv'nor, yes,
I think so. And now the point is this. You
must go and make sure that the title is exactly
in the condition in which I left it last night,
that the two doors which bar it are open, and
that there is still in a hole near the second door,
a parcel wrapped in a piece of black cloth, which

(02:30):
I put there myself. Are we to undo the parcel? No,
that's not necessary. It's a change of clothes. Go and
don't let yourselves be seen more than you can help.
I will wait for you. Ten minutes later they were back.
The two doors are open, said one of the Dudville,
and the black cloth parcel in its place near the
second door. Capital. It is twenty five past one. Webber

(02:54):
will be arriving with his champions. They are to watch
the villa. They will surround it as soon as Altenheim
is inside. I have arranged with Weber that I shall
bring the bell, the door will be opened, and I
shall have my foot inside the citadel. Once there, I
have my plan come. I've an idea that we shall
see some fun and surnin After dismissing them, walked down
the path to the school, soliloquizing as he went. All

(03:17):
bodes well. The battle will be fought on the ground
chosen by myself. I am bound to win. I shall
get rid of my two adversaries, and I shall find
myself alone engaged in the Kesselbach case, alone with two
whacking trump cards, pier lu Duke and Steinweg. Besides the king,
that is to say, Bibi only there's one thing what
is ought'nhim up to? Obviously he has a plan of

(03:40):
attack of his own. On which side does he mean
to attack me? And how does it come that he
has not attacked me yet? It's rather startling? Can he
have denounced me to the police? He went along the
little playground of a school. The pupils were at their lessons.
He knocked at the door. Ah has that, you said,
Madame Elmo, opening the door. So you have left Genvieve

(04:03):
in Paris? For me to do that, Genvieve would have
to be in Paris, he replied. So she has been
seeing that you sent for her. What's that? He exclaimed,
catching hold of her arm. Why you know better than
I I know nothing? I know nothing, speak didn't you
write to Genvieve to meet you at the Gau Saint
Lazare And did she go? Why? Of course you were

(04:25):
to lunch together at Yotel Ritz the letter? Show me
the letter. She went to fetch it and gave it
to him. But wretched woman, couldn't you see that it
was a forgery. The handwriting is a good imitation, but
it's a forgery. Anyone can see that. He pressed his
clenched hands to his temples with rage. That's the move
I was wondering about. Oh, the dirty scoundrel. He's attacking

(04:48):
me through her. But how does he know? No, he
doesn't know. He's tried it on twice now, and it's
because of Genvieve, because he's taken a fancy to her.
Oh not that. Never listen, Victois, are you sure that
she doesn't love him? Oh? I'm losing my head. Wait, wait,
I must think this isn't the moment. He looked at

(05:10):
his watch. Twenty five minutes to two. I have time, idiot,
that I am time to do? What? How do I
know where she is? He walked up and down like
a madman, and his old nurse seemed astounded at seeing
him so excited with so little control of himself. After all,
she said, there is nothing to prove that she did
not suspect the trap at the last moment. Where could

(05:32):
she be? I don't know, perhaps at missus Kesselbox. That's true,
that's true, You're right, he cried, filled with sudden hope,
and he set out at a run for the house
of retreat. On the way, near the gate, he met
the brother's Dudville, who were entering the porter's lodge. The
lodge looked out on the road, and this enabled them

(05:53):
to watch the approaches to the Villa digli Sin. Without stopping,
he went straight to the paveon de le Peatris, called
Suzanne and told her to take him to missus Kesselbach. Genvieve.
He asked, Genvieve, Yes, hasn't she been here? No, not
for several days. But she's to come, is she not?
Do you think so? Why? I'm certain of it. Where

(06:16):
do you think she is? Can you remember? It's no
use my trying. I assure you that Genvieve and I
had made no arrangement to see each other and suddenly alarmed.
But you're not anxious, are you? Has anything happened to genvieve,
no nothing. He had already left the room. An idea
had occurred to him. Suppose Altenheim were not at the

(06:36):
Villa de gli Sinnes, suppose the hour of the meeting
had been changed. I must see him, he said to himself.
I must at all costs, and he ran along with
the disordered air, indifferent to everything. But in front of
the lodge, he at once recovered his composure. He had
caught sight of the deputy chief of the Detective Service
talking to the brother's Dudville in the garden. Had he

(06:59):
commanded his usual acute discernment, he would have perceived the
little start which Monsieur Webber gave as he approached. But
he saw nothing. Monsieur Webber, I believe he asked, Yes,
to whom have I the honor Prince sur nine Ah,
very good, Monsieur Le prefet poriss has told me of
the great service which you are doing us. Monsieur, That

(07:19):
service will not be complete until I have handed the
Ruffians over to you. That won't take long. I believe
that one of those ruffians has just gone in, a
powerful looking man with a swarthy complexion. Yes, that's Baron Altenheim.
Are your men here, mister Webber, Yes, concealed along the
road at two hundred yards from this well. Missie Webber,
it seems to me that you might collect them and

(07:40):
bring them to this lodge. From here we will go
to the villa as bern Altenheim knows me. I presume
they will open the door to me, and I will
go in with you. It's an excellent plan, said Missie Webber.
I shall come back at once. He left the garden
and walked down the road in the opposite direction to
the villa. Digliscine Sir nine quickly took one of the
brother's Dudville by the arm. Run after him, Jacques, keep

(08:03):
him engaged long enough for me to get inside the gacin,
and then delay the attack as long as you can
invent pretexts. I shall want ten minutes. Let the villa
be surrounded but not entered, and you, Jean, go and
post yourself on the pavian Ortennes at the entrance to
the underground passage. If the baron tries to go out
that way, break his head. The Dudville moved away as ordered.

(08:24):
The Prince slipped out and ran to a tall gate
barred with iron which was the entrance to the Glucinne
should you ring, there was no one in sight. With
one bound, he leaped upon the gate, placing his foot
on the lock and hanging on to the bars. Getting
a purchase with his knees, and hoisting himself up with
his wrists, he managed, at the risk of falling on
the sharp points of the bars, to climb over the

(08:45):
gate and jump down. He found a paved courtyard, which
he crossed briskly and mounted the steps of a pillared
peristil on which the windows looked out. These were all
closed to the very top with full shutters. As he
stood thinking how he should make his way into the house,
the door was half opened, with the noise of iron
that reminded him of the door in the Villa DuPont,

(09:05):
and Altenheim appeared. I say, Prince, is that the way
you trest besond private property? I shall be forced to
call in the gendarme, My dear fellow. Sir nine caught
him by the throat and throwing him down on a bench. Genvieve,
Where is Genvieve? If you don't tell me what you've
done with her, you villain, please serve, stammered the Baron

(09:27):
that you are making it impossible for me to speak.
Sir nine released his hold of him to the point
and look sharp. Answer, Genvieve, there is one thing, replied
the Baron which is much more urgent, especially where fellows
like you and me are concerned, and that is to
feel one's self at home. And he carefully closed the

(09:48):
front door, which he barricaded with bolts, then leading Surnin
to the adjoining drawing room, a room without furniture or curtains,
he said, now I'm your man. What can I do
for you? Prince Genvieve? She is in perfect health. Ah,
so you confess? Of course, I may even tell you
that your imprudence in this respect surprised me. Why didn't

(10:10):
you take a few precautions? It was inevitable enough. Where
is she? You are not very polite? Where is she?
Between four walls? Free? Free? Yes, free to go from
one wall to another? Where where come? Prince? Do you

(10:31):
think I should be fool enough to tell you the
secret by which I hold you? You love the little girl? Hold?
George Tongue, shouted sur nine beside himself. I forbid you?
What next? Is there anything to be ashamed of? I
love her myself and I have risked. He did not
complete his sentence. Frightened by the terrific anger of sur nine,

(10:51):
a restrained, dumb anger that distorted the Prince's features. They
looked at each other for a long time, each of
them seeking for the adversary's weak point. At last, Surnine
stepped forward and speaking very distinctly, like a man who
was threatening rather than proposing a compact. Listen to me,
he said, you remember the offer of partnership which you
made me the Kesselbach business for the two of us.

(11:13):
We were to act together. We were to share the profits.
I refused to day. I accept too late. Wait, I
accept more than that. I give the whole business up.
I shall take no further part in it. You shall
have it all. If necessary, I'll help you. What is
the condition? Tell me where Genevieve is. The Baron shrugged

(11:33):
his shoulders. You're driveling, Liu Page. I'm sorry for you
at your age. There was a fresh silence between the
two enemies, a terrible silence. Then the Baron sneered all
the same. It's a holy joy to see you like that,
sniveling and begging. I say, it seems to me that
the private soldier is giving his general a sound beating,

(11:55):
you ass, muttered Sir nine. Prince, I shall send you
myself reckons this evening, if you are still in this world,
you ass, repeated Sir nine, with infinite contempt. You would
rather settle the matter here now, as you please, Prince,
your last hour has struck. You can command your soul
to God. You smile. That's a mistake. I have one

(12:19):
immense advantage over you. I kill when it's necessary, you ass,
said Sir nine. Once more. He took out his watch.
It is two o'clock. Baron, you have only a few
minutes left. At five past two ten past at the
very latest, mister Webber, and half a dozen sturdy men
without a scruple amongst them, will lay hands on you.

(12:40):
Don't you smile either. The outlet on which your reckoning
is discovered, I know it. It is guarded, so you
are thoroughly caught. It means the scaffold old chap Altenhein
turned livid. He stammered, you did this. You've I've had
the infamy. The house is surrounded, the assault is at hand.

(13:05):
Speak and I will save you. How the men watching
the outlet in the Pavian artennse belonged to me. I
have only to give you a word for them, and
you are saved. Speak. Altenheim reflected for a few seconds
and seemed to hesitate, but suddenly resolutely declared, this is
all bluff. You would never have been simple enough to

(13:26):
rush into the lion's mouth. You are forgetting Genvieve, but
for her? Do you think I should be here? Speak no,
very well, let us wait, said Sir nine. A cigarette.
Thank you. A few seconds passed, do you hear asked
Sir nine. Yes, yes, said Altenheim. Rising blows rang against

(13:51):
the gate. Sir nine observed, not even the usual summons,
no preliminaries. Your mind is still made up, more so
than ever. You know that with the tools they carry,
they won't take long if they were inside this room,
I should still refuse. The gate yielded. They heard it
creak on its hinges. To allow one's self to get nabbed,

(14:13):
said Sir nine, is admissible, But to hold out one's
own hands to the handcuffs is too silly. Come, don't
be obstinate, Speak and bold, and you I shall remain.
What have I to be afraid? Of look. The baron
pointed to a chink between the shutters. Surnine put his
eye to it and jumped back with a start. Oh,

(14:34):
you scoundrel, So you have denounced me too. It's not
ten men that Webber's bringing, but fifty men, a hundred,
two hundred, the baron laughed open heartedly. Ah. And if
there are so many of em, it's because thereafter Lupay,
that's obvious. Half a dozen would have been enough for me,

(14:54):
you informed the police. Yes, what proof did you give you, aim,
Paul Sernine, that is to say, Arsene Lupey. And you
found that out all by yourself? Did you a thing
which nobody else thought? Of? Nonsense? There was the other,
one admitted. He looked out through the chink. Swarms of

(15:14):
policemen were spreading round the villa, and the blows were
now sounding on the door. He must, however, think of
one of two things, either his escape or else the
execution of the plan which he had contrived. But to
go away, even for a moment meant leaving Altenheim, and
who could guarantee that the baron had not another outlet
at his disposal? To escape? By this thought paralyzed Surnine

(15:36):
the Baron free. The Baron at liberty to go back
to Genvieve and torture her and make her subservient to
his odious love. Thwarted in his designs obliged to improvise
a new plan. On the very second, while subordinating everything
to the danger which Genvieve was running, Surnine passed through
a moment of cruel indecision with his eyes fixed on
the Baron's eyes. He would have liked to tear his

(15:58):
secret from him and to go away, And he no
longer even tried to convince him. So useless did all
words seemed to him, And while pursuing his own thoughts,
he asked himself what the Baron's thoughts could be, what
his weapons, what his hope of safety? The hall door,
though strongly bolted, though sheeted with iron, was beginning to
give way. The two men stood behind that door, motionless.

(16:22):
The sound of voices, the sense of words, reached them.
You seem very sure of yourself, said sur nine. Ah
I should think so, cried the other, suddenly tripping him
to the floor and running away. Sir nine sprang up
at once dived through a little door under the staircase
through which Altenheim had disappeared, and ran down the stone
steps to the basement. A passage led to a large, low,

(16:46):
almost pitch dark room, where he found the baron on
his knees lifting the flap of a trap door. Idiot,
shouted sur nine, flinging himself upon him. You know that
you will find my men at the end of this tunnel,
that they have orders to kill you like a dog,
unless unless you have an outlet that joins on to
this ah there. Of course, I've guessed it, and you imagine.

(17:09):
The fight was a desperate one. Altenheim, a real colossus
endowed with exceptional muscular force, had caught his adversary round
the arms and body, and was pressing him against his
own chest, numbing his arms and trying to smother him.
Of course, of course, surn I panted with difficulty. Of course,

(17:30):
that's well thought awed out. As long as I can't
use my arms to break some part of you, you
have the advantage, only can you. He gave a shudder
the trap door, which had closed again, and on the
flap of which they were bearing down with all their weight,
the trap door seemed to move beneath them. He felt

(17:51):
the efforts that were being made to raise it, and
the baron must have felt them too, for he desperately
tried to shift the ground of the contest so that
the trap door might open. It's the other one, thought Surnine,
with the sort of unreasoning terror which that mysterious being
caused him. It's the other one. If he gets through,
I'm done for by dint of imperceptible movements. Altenheim had

(18:13):
succeeded in shifting his own position, and he tried to
drag his adversary after him. But Surnine clung with his
legs to the baron's legs, and at the same time,
very gradually tried to release one of his hands above
their heads. Great blows resounded like the blows of a
battering ram. I have five minutes, thought sur Nine. In
one minute, this fellow will have to. Then, speaking aloud,

(18:37):
look out, old chap stand tight, he brought his two
knees together with incredible force. The baron yelled with a
twisted thigh. Then Surnine, taking advantage of his adversary's pain,
made an effort, freed his right arm and seized him
by the throat. That's capital. We shall be more comfortable
like this. No, it's not worth while getting out your knife.

(18:57):
If you do, I'll wring your neck like a chicken's.
You see, I'm polite and considerate. I'm not pressing too hard,
just enough to keep you from even wanting to kick about.
While speaking, he took from his pocket a very thin cord,
and with one hand, with extreme skill, fastened his wrists.
For that matter, the baron, now at his last gasp,
offered not the least resistance. With a few accurate movements,

(19:21):
Sernine tied him up firmly. How well you're behaving, What
a good thing. I should hardly know you here in
case you are thinking of escaping, I have a roll
of wire that will finish off my little work. The
wrists first, now the ankles. That's it. By jove, how
nice you look. The baron had gradually come to himself again.

(19:41):
He spluttered, if you give me up, jen GeV will die, really,
and how explain yourself? She's locked up. No one knows
where she is. If I'm put away, she will die
of starvation. Surnine shuddered. He retorted, yes, but you will
speak never, Yes, you will speak not now it's too late.

(20:02):
But to night. He bent down over him, and, whispering
in his ears, said, listen, Altenheim, and understand what I say.
You'll be caught presently. To night you'll sleep at the depot.
That is fatal, irrevocable. I myself can do nothing to
prevent it. Now and to morrow they will take you
to the Sante, and later you know where. Well, I'm

(20:23):
giving you one more chance of safety. To night, you understand,
I shall come to your cell at the depot and
you shall tell me where Genvieve is two hours later.
If you have told the truth, you shall be free.
If not, it means that you don't attach much value
to your head. The other made no reply. Surnon stood
up and listened. There was a great crash overhead. The

(20:46):
entrance door yielded. Footsteps beat the flags of the hall
and the floor of the drawing room. Monsieur Webber and
his men were searching. Good bye, Baron, think it over
until this evening. The prison cell is a good counselor.
He pushed his prisoners side so as to uncover the
trap door, and lifted it. As he expected. There was
no longer any one below on the steps of the staircase.

(21:07):
He went down, taking care to leave the trap door
open behind him, as though he meant to come back.
There were twenty steps at the bottom of which began
the passage through which Monsieur Lenormand and Gorel had come
in the opposite direction. He entered it and gave an exclamation.
He thought he felt somebody's presence there. He lit his
pocket lantern. The passage was empty. Then he cocked his

(21:29):
revolver and said aloud, all right, I'm going to fire.
No reply, not a sound. It's an illusion, no doubt.
He thought that creature is becoming an obsession. Come, if
I want to pull off my stroke and win the game,
I must hurry. The hole in which I hid the
parcel of clothes is not far off. I shall take
the parcel, and the trick is done. And what a trick,

(21:53):
one of Dupay's best. He came to a door that
stood open and at once stopped. To the right was
an excavation, the one which Monsieur Lenormand had made to
escape from the rising water. He stooped and threw his
light into the opening. Oh, he said, with a start, No,
it's not possible. Dudeville must have pushed the parcel farther along.

(22:14):
But search and pry into the darkness as he might.
The parcel was gone, and he had no doubt but
that it was once more the mysterious being who had
taken it. What a pity the thing was so neatly arranged.
The adventure would have resumed its natural course, and I
should have achieved my aim with greater certainty. As it is,
I must push along as fast as I can. Dudville
is at the pagan artennse. My retreat is insured, no

(22:37):
more nonsense. I must hurry and set things straight again
if I can, and will attend to him afterward. Oh,
he'd better keep clear of my claws, that one. But
an exclamation of stupor escaped his lips. He had come
to the other door, and this door the last before
the garden house was shut. He flung himself upon it.
What was the good? What could he do? This time?

(22:59):
He muttered? Badly done, and seized with a sort of lassitude.
He sat down, yet a sense of his weakness in
the face of the mysterious being. Altenheim hardly counted but
the other, that person of darkness and silence. The other
loomed up before him, upset all his plans, and exhausted
him with his cunning and infernal attacks. He was beaten.

(23:21):
Weber would find him there like an animal, run to
earth at the bottom of his cave. Ah No, he cried,
springing up with a bound No, if there were only
myself well and good, But there is Genvieve, Genvieve, who
must be saved to night. After all, the game is
not yet lost. If the other one vanished just now,
it proves that there is a second outlet somewhere near. Come, Come,

(23:42):
Weber and his merry men haven't got me yet. He
had already begun to explore the tunnel, and lantern in hand,
was examining the bricks of which the horrible walls were formed,
when a yell reached his ears, a dreadful yell that
made his flesh creep with anguish. It came from the
direction of the trap door, and he suddenly remembered that
he had left the trap door open at the time

(24:03):
when he intended to return to the Villa Diglisin. He
hurried back and passed through the first door. His lantern
went out on the road, and he felt something or
rather somebody rush past his knees, somebody crawl along the wall.
And at that same moment he had a feeling that
this being was disappearing, vanishing. He knew not which way.

(24:23):
Just then his foot knocked against a step. This is
the outlet, he thought, the second outlet through which he
passes overhead. The cry sounded again, less loud, followed by moans,
by a hoarse gurgling. He ran up the stairs, came
out in the basement room, and rushed to the Baron.
Altenheim lay dying with the blood streaming from his throat.

(24:45):
His bonds were cut, but the wire that fastened his
wrists and ankles was intact. His accomplice, being unable to
release him, had cut his throat. Sernin gazed upon the
sight with horror. An icy perspiration covered his whole body.
He thought of Genvieve, imprisoned, helpless, abandoned to the most
awful of death. Because the Baron alone knew where she

(25:07):
was hidden. He distinctly heard them come down the kitchen stairs.
There was nothing between him and them save one door,
that of the basement room in which he was. He
bolted the door at the very moment When the aggressors
were laying hold of the handle, the trap door was
opened beside him. It meant possible safety, because there remained
the second outlet. No, he said to himself, Genvieve first. Afterward,

(25:30):
if I have time, I will think of myself. He
knelt down and put his hand on the Baron's breast.
The heart was still beating. He stooped lower. Still. You
can hear me, can't you? The eyelids flickered feebly. The
dying man was just breathing. Was there anything to be
obtained from this faint semblance of life? The policemen were

(25:50):
attacking the door. The last rampart. Sernin whispered, I will
save you. I've infallible remedies, one word only, Genviev. It
was as though this word of hope revived the man's strength.
Altenheim tried to utter articulate sounds. Answer, said Sir nin persisting, Answer,

(26:11):
and I will save you. Answer. It means your life
to day, your liberty tomorrow. Answer. The door shook under
the blows that reigned upon it. The baron gasped out
unintelligible syllables. Leaning over him, affrighted, straining all his energy
all his will to the utmost surnin. Panted with anguish,
he no longer gave a thought to the policeman, his

(26:32):
inevitable capture prison but Genvieve, Genvieve, dying of hunger, whom
one word from that villain could set free? An sir,
you must, he ordered, and entreated by turns. Altenheim stammered,
as though hypnotized and defeated by that indomitable imperiousness. He

(26:53):
evoli u de ri volise that it you have locked
up in a house in that street? Eh which number?
A loud din followed by shouts of triumph. The door
was down. Jump on him, Lad's, cried Monsieur Webber. Seize him,
seize both of them, and surnine on his knees. The
number answer, if you love her? Answer why keep silence? Now?

(27:18):
Twenty twenty seven, whispered the baron. Hands were laid on surnine.
Ten revolvers were pointed at him. He rose and faced
the policeman, who fell back with instinctive dread. If you
stir du pan, cried Monsieur Webber, with his revolver leveled
at him, I'll blow out your brains. Don't shoot, said

(27:39):
sir nine, solemnly, it's not necessary. I surrender. Hum bug,
this is another of your tricks. No, replied Sir nine.
The battle is lost. You've no right to shoot. I
am not defending myself. He took out two revolvers and
threw them on the floor. Hum bug, mister Webber repeated, implacably.
Aim straight at his heart, Lads at the least movement, fire,

(28:01):
at the least word fire. There were ten men there.
He placed five more in position. He pointed their fifteen
right arms at the mark and raging, shaking with joy
and fear, he snarled at his heart, at his head,
and no pity. If he stirs, if he speaks, shoot
him where he stands. Sernin smiled impassively, with his hands

(28:22):
in his pockets. Death was there waiting for him. At
two inches from his chest, at two inches from his temples,
fifteen fingers were curled round the triggers. Ha ha, ha,
chuckled Monsieur Webber, this is nice, this is very nice,
and I think that this time we've scored. And it's
a nasty lookout for you, Master Lupaenne. He made one

(28:44):
of his men draw back. The shutters of a large
air hole which admitted a sudden burst of daylight, and
he turned toward Altenheim. But to his great amazement, the baron,
whom he thought dead, opened his eyes, glazed, awful, eyes
already filled with all the signs of the coming dissolution.
He stared at Monsieur Webber. Then he seemed to look
for somebody, and, catching sight of Surnine, had a convulsion

(29:06):
of anger. He seemed to be waking from his torpor,
and his suddenly reviving hatred restored a part of his strength.
He raised himself on his two wrists and tried to speak.
You know him, eh, asked Monsieur Webber. Yes, it's slou Pay,
isn't it, Yes, Loupey. Surnine, still smiling, listened. Heavens, how

(29:28):
I'm amusing myself, he declared. Have you anything more to say?
Asked Monsieur Webber, who saw the Baron's lips making desperate
attempts to move. Yes about Monsieur Lenoma, perhaps, yes, have
you shut him up? Where? Answer? With all his heaving body,
with all his tense glance, Altenheim pointed to a cupboard

(29:50):
in the corner of the room. There there, he said, ah,
we're burning, chuckled Lupayne. Mister Webber opened the cupboard on
one of the shelves as the parcel wrapped in black cloth.
He opened it and found a hat, a little box,
some clothes. He gave a start. He had recognized monsieurle

(30:10):
Normand's olive green frockcoat. Oh the villains, he cried, They
have murdered him. No, said Altenheim, shaking his head. Then
it's he he What do you mean by he? Did
you pay kill the chief?

Speaker 2 (30:31):
No?

Speaker 1 (30:32):
Altenheim was clinging to existence with fierce obstinacy, eager to
speak and to accuse. The secret which he wished to
reveal was at the tip of his tongue, and he
was not able, did not know how to translate it
into words. Come, the deputy chief, insisted, Monsieur Lenormand is dead. Surely, No,
he's alive. Yes, I don't understand. Look here these clothes,

(30:56):
this frockcoat. Altenheim turned his eyes towards Surnine. An idea struck.
Monsieur Webber, I see lou Payne stole Monsieur Lenormand's clothes
and reckoned upon using them to escape with yes, yes,
not bad cried the Deputy chief. It's quite a trick

(31:17):
in his style. In this room, we should have found
lou Payne disguised as Monsieur lenormand chained up. No doubt
it would have meant his safety. Only he hadn't time.
That's it, isn't it? Yes? Yes, But by the appearance
of the dying man's eyes, Monsieur Webber felt that there
was more and that the secret was not exactly that.

(31:38):
What was it? Then? What was the strange and unintelligible
puzzle which Altenheim wanted to explain before dying? He questioned
him again? And where is monsie Leanorma himself there? What
do you mean here?

Speaker 2 (31:53):
Yes?

Speaker 1 (31:55):
But there are only ourselves here. There's there's oh.

Speaker 2 (32:01):
Speak, there's Sir Surnine, Sir ni Eh, what sirn Lenorman.

Speaker 1 (32:13):
Mister Webber gave a jump. A sudden light flashed across him. No, no,
it's not possible, he muttered, this is madness. He gave
a side glance at his prisoner. Sur Nine seemed to
be greatly diverted and to be watching the scene with
the air of a playgoer who was thoroughly amused and
very anxious to know how the peace is going to end? Altenheim,

(32:35):
exhausted by his efforts, had fallen back at full length.
Would he die before revealing the solution of the riddle
which his strange words had propounded. Mister Webber, shaken by
an absurd incredible surmise which he did not wish to entertain,
and which persisted in his mind in spite of him,
made a fresh, determined attempt. What's at the bottom of it?
What mystery? The other seemed not to hear, and lay

(32:58):
lifeless with staring eyes. Misieur Webber lay down beside him,
with his body touching him, and putting great stress upon
his words, so that each syllable should sink down to
the very depths of that brain, already merged in darkness. Said, listen,
I have understood you correctly, Have I not? Lupey and
Monsieur Lenoma. He needed an effort to continue, so monstrous

(33:19):
did the words appear to him. Nevertheless, the baron's dimmed
eyes seemed to contemplate him with anguish. He finished the sentence,
shaking with excitement, as though he were speaking blasphemy. That's it,
isn't it. You're sure the two are one? And the
same the eyes did not move. A little blood trickled
from one corner of the man's mouth. He gave two

(33:41):
or three sobs, a last spasm, and all was over.
A long silence reigned in that basement room filled with people.
Almost all the policemen guarding sirnine had turned round and stupefied.
Not understanding or not willing to understand, they still listened
to the incredible accusation which the dyeing scoundrel had been
unable to put into words. Monsieur Webber took the little

(34:04):
box which was in the parcel and opened it. It
contained a gray wig, a pair of spectacles, a maroon
colored neckerchief, and in a false bottom a pot or
two of make up, and a case containing some tiny
tufts of gray hair. In short, all that was needed
to complete a perfect disguise in the character of Monsieur Lenormand.
He went up to Surnine, and looking at him for

(34:24):
a few seconds without speaking, thoughtfully reconstructing all the phases
of the adventure, he muttered, so it's true. Surnine, who
had retained his smiling calmness, replied, the suggestion is a
pretty one and a bold one. But before I answer,
tell your men to stop worrying me with those toys
of theirs. Very well, said Monsieur Webber, making a sign

(34:46):
to his men, And now answer, what are you, monsie
le noorma. Yes, exclamations arose Jean Dudville, who was there
while his brother was watching the secret outlet. Jean Dudville,
Sir Nine's own accomplice, looked at him in dismay. Mister
Webber stood undecided. That takes your breath away, eh, said

(35:07):
Sir nine. I admit that it's rather droll. Lord, how
you used to make me laugh sometimes when we were
working together, you and I, the chief and the deputy chief.
And the funniest thing is that you thought our worthy
missile Norman dead as well as poor Gorel. But no, no,
old chap, there's life in the old dog. Yet, he
pointed to Altenheim's corpse. There it was that scoundrel who

(35:29):
pitched me into the water in a sack with a
paving stone round my waist. Only he forgot to take
away my knife. And with a knife one rips open
sacks and cuts ropes. So you see, you unfortunate Altenheim.
If you had thought of that you wouldn't be where
you are. But enough said peace to your ashes. Mister
Webber listened, not knowing what to think. At last, he

(35:49):
made a gesture of despair, as though he gave up
the idea of forming a reasonable opinion. The handcuffs, he said,
suddenly alarmed, if it amuses you, said Sir nine, and
picking up Dudville in the front row of his assailants,
he put out his wrists. There, my friend, you shall
have the honor, and don't trouble to exert yourself on
playing square, as it's no use doing anything else. He

(36:12):
said this in a tone that gave Dudville to understand
that the struggle was finished for the moment, and that
there was nothing to do but submit. Dudville fastened the
handcuffs without moving his lips or contracting a muscle of
his face. Sur Nine whispered twenty seven de rivoli cenviev.
Mister Webber could not suppress a movement of satisfaction at

(36:32):
the sight. Come along, he said, to the detective office,
that's it. To the detective office, cried sur nine, monsieur
enormand will enter arsendu pain in the jail book and arsin.
Du pain will enter, Prince Surnine, you're too clever, du Paint.
That's true, Weber, we shall never get on you and I.
During the drive in the motor car, escorted by three

(36:53):
other cars filled with policemen, he did not utter a word.
They did not stay long at the detective office. Miss Webber,
remembering the escapes affected by Lupagne, sent him up at
once to the finger print department and then took him
to the depot. Whence he was sent on to the
Sante prison. The governor had been warned by telephone and
was waiting for him. The formalities of the entry of

(37:14):
commitment and of the searching were soon got over, and
at seven o'clock in the evening, Prince Paul Sernine crossed
the threshold of cell fourteen in the second division. Not
half bad your rooms, he declared, not bad at all.
Electric light, central heating, every requisite capital. Mister Governor, I'll
take this room. He flung himself on the bed. Oh,

(37:36):
mister Governor, I have one little favor to ask of you.
What is that? Tell them not to bring me my
chocolate before ten o'clock in the morning. I'm awfully sleepy.
He turned his face to the wall. Five minutes later
he was sound asleep and of chapter eight