As we expressed a hope that he would be good enough to furnish us
with a breakfast； he assured us that he had no provisions； regarding
us； as he said this； with a look that was unmistakably suspicious。
〃You may take us in；〃 Rouletabille said to him； 〃we are not
policemen。〃
〃I'm not afraid of the police … I'm not afraid of anyone！〃 replied
the man。
I had made my friend understand by a sign that we should do better
not to insist； but； being determined to enter the inn； he slipped
by the man on the doorstep and was in the common room。
〃Come on；〃 he said； 〃it is very comfortable here。〃
A good fire was blazing in the chimney； and we held our hands to
the warmth it sent out； it was a morning in which the approach of
winter was unmistakable。 The room was a tolerably large one；
furnished with two heavy tables； some stools； a counter decorated
with rows of bottles of syrup and alcohol。 Three windows looked
out on to the road。 A coloured advertisement lauded the many
merits of a new vermouth。 On the mantelpiece was arrayed the
innkeeper's collection of figured earthenware pots and stone jugs。
〃That's a fine fire for roasting a chicken；〃 said Rouletabille。
〃We have no chicken … not even a wretched rabbit；〃 said the
landlord。
〃I know；〃 said my friend slowly； 〃I know … We shall have to eat red
meat … now。〃
I confess I did not in the least understand what Rouletabille meant
by what he had said； but the landlord； as soon as he heard the words；
uttered an oath； which he at once stifled； and placed himself at our
orders as obediently as Monsieur Robert Darzac had done； when he
heard Rouletabille's prophetic sentence … 〃The presbytery has lost
nothing of its charm； nor the garden its brightness。〃 Certainly my
friend knew how to make people understand him by the use of wholly
incomprehensible phrases。 I observed as much to him； but he merely
smiled。 I should have proposed that he give me some explanation；
but he put a finger to his lips； which evidently signified that he
had not only determined not to speak； but also enjoined silence on
my part。
Meantime the man had pushed open a little side door and called to
somebody to bring him half a dozen eggs and a piece of beefsteak。
The commission was quickly executed by a strongly…built young woman
with beautiful blonde hair and large； handsome eyes； who regarded
us with curiosity。
The innkeeper said to her roughly：
〃Get out！ … and if the Green Man comes； don't let me see him。〃
She disappeared。 Rouletabille took the eggs； which had been brought
to him in a bowl； and the meat which was on a dish； placed all
carefully beside him in the chimney； unhooked a frying…pan and a
gridiron； and began to beat up our omelette before proceeding to
grill our beefsteak。 He then ordered two bottles of cider； and
seemed to take as little notice of our host as our host did of him。
The landlord let us do our own cooking and set our table near one
of the windows。
Suddenly I heard him mutter：
〃Ah！ … there he is。〃
His face had changed； expressing fierce hatred。 He went and glued
himself to one of the windows； watching the road。 There was no need
for me to draw Rouletabille's attention； he had already left our
omelette and had joined the landlord at the window。 I went with him。
A man dressed entirely in green velvet； his head covered with a
huntsman's cap of the same colour； was advancing leisurely； lighting
a pipe as he walked。 He carried a fowling…piece slung at his back。
His movements displayed an almost aristocratic ease。 He wore
eye…glasses and appeared to be about five and forty years of age。
His hair as well as his moustache were salt grey。 He was remarkably
handsome。 As he passed near the inn； he hesitated； as if asking
himself whether or no he should enter it； gave a glance towards us；
took a few whiffs at his pipe； and then resumed his walk at the same
nonchalant pace。
Rouletabille and I looked at our host。 His flashing eyes； his
clenched hands； his trembling lips； told us of the tumultuous
feelings by which he was being agitated。
〃He has done well not to come in here to…day！〃 he hissed。
〃Who is that man？〃 asked Rouletabille； returning to his omelette。
〃The Green Man；〃 growled the innkeeper。 〃Don't you know him？ Then
all the better for you。 He is not an acquaintance to make。 … Well；
he is Monsieur Stangerson's forest…keeper。〃
〃You don't appear to like him very much？〃 asked the reporter；
pouring his omelette into the frying…pan。
〃Nobody likes him； monsieur。 He's an upstart who must once have
had a fortune of his own； and he forgives nobody because； in order
to live； he has been compelled to become a servant。 A keeper is as
much a servant as any other； isn't he？ Upon my word； one would say
that he is the master of the Glandier； and that all the land and
woods belong to him。 He'll not let a poor creature eat a morsel of
bread on the grass his grass！〃
〃Does he often come here？〃
〃Too often。 But I've made him understand that his face doesn't
please me； and； for a month past； he hasn't been here。 The Donjon
Inn has never existed for him！ … he hasn't had time！ … been too
much engaged in paying court to the landlady of the Three Lilies
at Saint…Michel。 A bad fellow！ … There isn't an honest man who can
bear him。 Why； the concierges of the chateau would turn their eyes
away from a picture of him！〃
〃The concierges of the chateau are honest people； then？〃
〃Yes； they are； as true as my name's Mathieu； monsieur。 I believe
them to be honest。〃
〃Yet they've been arrested？〃
〃What does that prove？ … But I don't want to mix myself up in
other people's affairs。〃
〃And what do you think of the murder？〃
〃Of the murder of poor Mademoiselle Stangerson？ … A good girl much
loved everywhere in the country。 That's what I think of it … and
many things besides； but that's nobody's business。〃
〃Not even mine？〃 insisted Rouletabille。
The innkeeper looked at him sideways and said gruffly：
〃Not even yours。〃
The omelette ready； we sat down at table and were silently eating；
when the door was pushed open and an old woman； dressed in rags；
leaning on a stick； her head doddering； her white hair hanging
loosely over her wrinkled forehead； appeared on the threshold。
〃Ah！ … there you are； Mother Angenoux！ … It's long since we saw
you last；〃 said our host。
〃I have been very ill； very nearly dying；〃 said the old woman。 〃If
ever you should have any scraps for the Bete du Bon Dieu …？〃
And she entered； followed by a cat； larger than any I had ever
believed could exist。 The beast looked at us and gave so hopeless
a miau that I shuddered。 I had never heard so lugubrious a cry。
As if drawn by the cat's cry a man followed the old woman in。 It
was the Green Man。 He saluted by raising his hand to his cap and
seated himself at a table near to ours。
〃A glass of cider； Daddy Mathieu；〃 he said。
As the Green Man entered； Daddy Mathieu had started violently； but
visibly mastering himself he said：
〃I've no more cider； I served the last bottles to these gentlemen。〃
〃Then give me a glass of white wine；〃 said the Green Man； without
showing the least surprise。
〃I've no more white wine … no more anything；〃 said Daddy Mathieu；
surlily。
〃How is Madame Mathieu？〃
〃Quite well； thank you。〃
So the young Woman with the large； tender eyes； whom we had just
seen； was the wife of this repugnant and brutal rustic； whose
jealousy seemed to emphasise his physical ugliness。
Slamming the door behind him； the innkeeper left the room。 Mother
Angenoux was still standing； leaning on her stick； the cat at her
feet。
〃You've been ill； Mother Angenoux？ … Is that why we have not seen
you for the last week？〃 asked the Green Man。
〃Yes； Monsieur keeper。 I have been able to get up but three times；
to go to pray to Sainte…Genevieve； our good patroness； and the rest
of the time I have been lying on my bed。 There was no one to care
for me but the Bete du bon Dieu！〃
〃Did she not leave you？〃
〃Neither by day nor by night。〃
〃Are you sure of that？〃
〃As I am of Paradise。〃
〃Then how was it； Madame Angenoux； that all through the night of
the murder nothing but the cry of the Bete du bon Dieu was heard？〃
Mother Angenoux planted herself in front of the forest…keeper and
struck the floor with her stick。
〃I don't know anything about it；〃 she said。 〃But shall I tell you
something？ There are no two cats in the world that cry like that。
Well； on the night of the murder I also heard the cry of the Bete
du bon Dieu outside； and yet she was on my knees； and did not mew
once； I swear。 I crossed myself when I heard that； as if I had
heard the devil。〃
I looked at the keeper when he put the last question； and I am much
mistaken if I did not detect an evil smile on his lips。 At that
moment； the noise of loud quarrelling reached us。 We even thought
we heard a dull sound of blows； as if some one was being beaten。
The Green Man quickly rose and hurried to the door by the side of
the fireplace； but it was opened by the landlord who appeared； and
said to the keeper：
〃Don't alarm yourself； Monsieur … it is my wife； she has the
toothache。〃 And he laughed。 〃Here； Mother Angenoux； here are some
scraps for your cat。〃
He held out a packet to the old woman； who took it eagerly and
went out by the door； closely followed by her cat。
〃Then you won't serve me？〃 asked the Green Man。
Daddy Mathieu's face was placid and no longer retained its
expression of hatred。
〃I've nothing for you … nothing for you。 Take yourself off。〃
The Green Man quietly refilled his pipe； lit it； bowed to us； and
went out。 No sooner was he over the threshold than Daddy Mathieu
slammed the door after him and； turning towards us； with eyes
bloodshot； and frothing at the mouth； he hissed to us； shaking his
clenched fist at the door he had just shut on the man he evidently
hated：
〃I don't know who you are who tell me 'We shall have to eat red
meat … now'； but if it will interest you to know it … that man is
the murderer！〃
With which words Daddy Mathieu immediately left us。 Rouletabille
returned towards the fireplace and said：
〃Now we'll gr