Part 65 (1/2)
There was loud knocking at the shutters! Voices were heard shouting:
”Open! Open! Open! The police!”
Bobinette grew ashen with terror.
”It is all up!” thought the desperate girl: ”They will see Vagualame is free! They will find me with him! We are caught!”
She turned frantically to Vagualame. He stood calm and collected.
”Ah!” said he with a touch of raillery, looking at the proprietress: ”They have been warned that you are again breaking the work law!”
Shaking a threatening finger at the rigid Sophie, Vagualame went to the shop entrance. He looked through the large keyhole to see who was demanding admittance at this late hour.... A look, and Vagualame turned, caught Sophie by the arm, and whispered:
”Detective Juve!... Inspector Michel!... Keep cool, Sophie! They cannot know all the ins and outs of your place.”
Two strides and Vagualame joined Bobinette. He dragged her to the end of the shop, reached a corner, turned it, and they were standing on boards clear of books: it was hidden from the main part of the shop and from the entrance.
”Draw your skirts between your legs!” he commanded. ”Don't utter a sound!... Don't be afraid!”
Vagualame was right. The police had surrounded the mysterious shop.
Noiselessly, gliding past the houses like shadows, revolver in hand, dark lantern at waist, fifteen detectives in plain clothes had converged on the tall house in the blind alley.
Juve was speaking low.
”Careful, Michel! We have seen our birds enter. They are inside.... I shall follow them!... Meanwhile, do not stir from this door.... There is no other issue.... Do not allow a soul to pa.s.s--not one!”
”Never fear, Juve!”
Information dropped by Corporal Vinson, who had been taken to _The Crying Calf_ by Vagualame, more than once had caused Juve to keep a strict watch on the wine-shop for some days. He had seen first Bobinette and then Vagualame enter the place.... When Bobinette came out, almost immediately, he felt sure she had not had time for a talk with Vagualame.... When Vagualame soon followed, Juve had shadowed the old accordion player in the darkness: behind him followed his men on the trail of both.
When he saw Vagualame and Bobinette enter the library he exclaimed, in thought:
”I have them!... I know the house! I am going to arrest Fantomas and his accomplice!”
Cool as a cuc.u.mber now that the decisive, ardently-longed-for moment was at hand, Juve repeated his instructions: he did not mean to leave anything to chance.
”You understand then, Michel, not one single person is to leave these premises. Even I can only be permitted to pa.s.s when I say to you: 'It is I, Juve, ... Let me pa.s.s!' You thoroughly understand?”
”Perfectly,” replied Michel.
Juve turned to his four picked men:
”Gentlemen! Are you ready?”
Revolver in one hand, lantern in the other, Juve knocked loudly on the shuttered shop door.
”In the name of the law! Open! Open! Open!... The police!”