"Oh! oh!"

Arsene Lupin repeated, positively:

"I shall not be present at my trial."

"Really!"

"Ah! my dear monsieur, do you suppose I am going to rot upon the
wet straw? You insult me. Arsene Lupin remains in prison just as
long as it pleases him, and not one minute more."

"Perhaps it would have been more prudent if you had avoided
getting there," said the detective, ironically.

"Ah! monsieur jests? Monsieur must remember that he had the honor
to effect my arrest. Know then, my worthy friend, that no one,
not even you, could have placed a hand upon me if a much more
important event had occupied my attention at that critical
moment."

"You astonish me."

"A woman was looking at me, Ganimard, and I loved her. Do you
fully understand what that means: to be under the eyes of a woman
that one loves? I cared for nothing in the world but that. And
that is why I am here."

"Permit me to say: you have been here a long time."