concurrence of a number of unusual circumstances. However, I found it useful to carry out that attempted escape and give it the widest publicity. An audaciously planned escape, though not completed, gave to the succeeding one the character of reality simply by anticipation.” 

 “So that the cigar....” 

 “Hollowed by myself, as well as the knife.” 

 “And the letters?” 

 “Written by me.” 

 “And the mysterious correspondent?” 

 “Did not exist.” 

 Ganimard reflected a moment, then said: 

 “When the anthropological service had Baudru’s case under consideration, why did they not perceive that his measurements coincided with those of Arsène Lupin?” 

 “My measurements are not in existence.” 

 “Indeed!” 

 “At least, they are false. I have given considerable attention to that question. In the first place, the Bertillon system records the visible marks of identification—and you have seen that they are not infallible—and, after that, the measurements of the head, the fingers, the ears, etc. Of course, such measurements are more or less infallible.” 

 “Absolutely.” 

 “No; but it costs money to get around them. Before we left America, one of the employees of the service there accepted so much money to insert false figures in my measurements. Consequently, Baudru’s measurements should not agree with those of Arsène Lupin.” 

 After a short silence, Ganimard asked: 

 “What are you going to do now?” 

 “Now,” replied Lupin, “I am going to take a rest, enjoy the best of food and drink and gradually recover my former healthy condition. It is all very well to become Baudru or some other person, on occasion, and to change your personality as you do your shirt, but you soon grow weary of the change. I feel exactly as I imagine the man who lost his shadow must have felt, and I shall be glad to be 

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