Page:Leblanc Arsene Lupin (Doubleday, 1909).djvu/263

Rh "A gold-tipped cigarette . . . marked Mercedés . . . Why, your Grace, this is one of your cigarettes!"

"But this is incredible!" cried the Duke.

"Not at all," said Guerchard. "It's merely another link in the chain. I've no doubt you have some of these cigarettes at Charmerace."

"Oh, yes, I've had a box on most of the tables," said the Duke.

"Well, there you are," said Guerchard.

"Oh, I see what you're driving at," said the Duke. "You mean that one of the Charolais must have taken a box."

"Well, we know that they'd hardly stick at a box of cigarettes," said Guerchard.

"Yes . . . but I thought . . ." said the Duke; and he paused.

"You thought what?" said Guerchard.

"Then Lupin . . . since it was Lupin who managed the business last night—since you found those salvias in the house next door . . . then Lupin came from Charmerace."

"Evidently," said Guerchard.

"And Lupin is one of the Charolais."

"Oh, that's another matter," said Guerchard.

"But it's certain, absolutely certain," said the Duke. "We have the connecting links . . . the salvias . . . this cigarette."