from him. When he stooped over him, he saw that the man unloosed his
arms. He got frightened... and he stabbed him..."

"But the revolver-shot?"

"It was Leonard... he had his revolver in his hand... he just had strength
to take aim before he died ..."

"And the key of the cupboard?"

"Vaucheray took it ... ."

"Did he open it?"

"And did he find what he was after?"

"Yes."

"And you wanted to take the thing from him. What sort of thing was it?
The reliquary? No, it was too small for that.... Then what was it?
Answer me, will you?..."

Lupin gathered from Gilbert's silence and the determined expression on
his face that he would not obtain a reply. With a threatening gesture,
"I'll make you talk, my man. Sure as my name's Lupin, you shall come out
with it. But, for the moment, we must see about decamping. Here, help
me. We must get Vaucheray into the boat..."

They had returned to the dining-room and Gilbert was bending over the
wounded man, when Lupin stopped him: