"Pardon my ignorance--but I've been out of France for so long--before he attained to this height of notoriety." "Lupin--why Lupin ?" said M.Formery sharply.
"Why, there is the letter from Lupin which my future father-in-law received last night; its arrival was followed by the theft of his two swiftest motor-cars; and then, these signatures on the wall here," said the Duke in some surprise at the question.
"Lupin! Lupin! Everybody has Lupin on the brain!" said M.Formery impatiently.

"I'm sick of hearing his name.

This letter and these signatures are just as likely to be forgeries as not." "I wonder if Guerchard will take that view," said the Duke.
"Guerchard?
Surely we're not going to be cluttered up with Guerchard.
He has Lupin on the brain worse than any one else." "But M.Gournay-Martin particularly asked me to send for Guerchard if I arrived too late to prevent the burglary.

He would never forgive me if I had neglected his request: so I telephoned for him--to the Prefecture of Police," said the Duke.
"Oh, well, if you've already telephoned for him.

But it was unnecessary--absolutely unnecessary," said M.Formery sharply.
"I didn't know," said the Duke politely.
"Oh, there was no harm in it--it doesn't matter," said M.Formery in a discontented tone with a discontented air.
He walked slowly round the room, paused by the windows, looked at the ladder, and scanned the garden: "Arsene Lupin," he said scornfully.