"Ah! if I had known, when in the shop, I would gladly have given it up to you," said the professor.
Arsène Lupin smiled, as he replied:
"And you would have had the advantage of keeping for your own use lottery ticket number 514."
"And you would not have found it necessary to abduct my daughter."
"Abduct your daughter?"
"Yes."
"My dear monsieur, you are mistaken. Mlle. Gerbois was not abducted."
"No?"
"Certainly not. Abduction means force or violence. And I assure you that she served as hostage of her own free will."
"Of her own free will!" repeated Mon. Gerbois, in amazement.
"In fact, she almost asked to be taken. Why, do you suppose that an intelligent young girl like Mlle. Gerbois, and who, moreover, nourishes an unacknowledged passion, would hesitate to do what was necessary
