stammered Sonia. "But then, but then . . . it must be for my sake that you've given yourself up. And it's for me you're going to prison. Oh, Heavens! How happy I am!"
She sprang to him, threw her arms round his neck, and pressed her lips to his.
"And that's what women call repenting," said Guerchard.
He shrugged his shoulders, went out on to the landing, and called to the policeman in the hall to bid the driver of the prison-van, which was waiting, bring it up to the door.
"Oh, this is incredible!" cried Lupin, in a trembling voice; and he kissed Sonia's lips and eyes and hair. "To think that you love me enough to go on loving me in spite of this—in spite of the fact that I'm Arsène Lupin. Oh, after this, I'll become an honest man! It's the least I can do. I'll retire."
"You will?" cried Sonia.
"Upon my soul, I will!" cried Lupin; and he kissed her again and again.
Guerchard came back into the room. He looked at them with a cynical grin, and said, "Time's up."
"Oh, Guerchard, after so many others, I owe you the best minute of my life!" cried Lupin.
