examination of the door … it's of oak； solid and massive。 You can
see that quite plainly； in spite of the injury done in the attempt
to burst it open。〃
〃Ah！〃 cried Daddy Jacques； 〃it is an old and solid door that was
brought from the chateau … they don't make such doors now。 We had
to use this bar of iron to get it open； all four of us … for the
concierge； brave woman she is； helped us。 It pains me to find them
both in prison now。〃
Daddy Jacques had no sooner uttered these words of pity and
protestation than tears and lamentations broke out from the
concierges。 I never saw two accused people crying more bitterly。
I was extremely disgusted。 Even if they were innocent； I could
not understand how they could behave like that in the face of
misfortune。 A dignified bearing at such times is better than tears
and groans； which； most often； are feigned。
〃Now then； enough of that sniveling；〃 cried Monsieur de Marquet；
〃and； in your interest； tell us what you were doing under the windows
of the pavilion at the time your mistress was being attacked； for
you were close to the pavilion when Daddy Jacques met you。〃
〃We were coming to help！〃 they whined。
〃If we could only lay hands on the murderer； he'd never taste bread
again！〃 the woman gurgled between her sobs。
As before we were unable to get two connecting thoughts out of them。
They persisted in their denials and swore； by heaven and all the
saints； that they were in bed when they heard the sound of the
revolver shot。
〃It was not one； but two shots that were fired！ … You see； you are
lying。 If you had heard one； you would have heard the other。〃
〃Mon Dieu！ Monsieur … it was the second shot we heard。 We were
asleep when the first shot was fired。〃
〃Two shots were fired；〃 said Daddy Jacques。 〃I am certain that all
the cartridges were in my revolver。 We found afterward that two
had been exploded； and we heard two shots behind the door。 Was not
that so； Monsieur Stangerson？〃
〃Yes；〃 replied the Professor； 〃there were two shots； one dull； and
the other sharp and ringing。〃
〃Why do you persist in lying？〃 cried Monsieur de Marquet； turning
to the concierges。 〃Do you think the police are the fools you are？
Everything points to the fact that you were out of doors and near
the pavilion at the time of the tragedy。 What were you doing there？
So far as I am concerned；〃 he said； turning to Monsieur Stangerson；
〃I can only explain the escape of the murderer on the assumption of
help from these two accomplices。 As soon as the door was forced
open； and while you； Monsieur Stangerson； were occupied with your
unfortunate child； the concierge and his wife faciitated the flight
of the murderer； who； screening himself behind them； reached the
window in the vestibule； and sprang out of it into the park。 The
concierge closed the window after him and fastened the blinds； which
certainly could not have closed and fastened of themselves。 That
is the conclusion I have arrived at。 If anyone here has any other
idea； let hun state it。〃
Monsieur Stangerson intervened：
〃What you say was impossible。 I do not believe either in the guilt
or in the connivance of my concierges； though I cannot understand
what they were doing in the park at that late hour of the night。
I say it was impossible； because Madame Bernier held the lamp and
did not move from the threshold of the room； because I； as soon as
the door was forced open； threw myself on my knees beside my
daughter； and no one could have left or entered the room by the
door； without passing over her body and forcing his way by me！
Daddy Jacques and the concierge had but to cast a glance round the
chamber and under the bed； as I had done on entering； to see that
there was nobody in it but my daughter lying on the floor。〃
〃What do you think； Monsieur Darzac？〃 asked the magistrate。
Monsieur Darzac replied that he had no opinion to express。 Monsieur
Dax； the Chief of the Surete who； so far； had been listening and
examining the room； at length deigned to open his lips：
〃While search is being made for the criminal； we had better try to
find out the motive for the crime； that will advance us a little；〃
he said。 urning towards Monsieur Stangerson； he continued； in the
even； intelligent tone indicative of a strong character； 〃I
understand that Mademoiselle was shortly to have been married？〃
The professor looked sadly at Monsieur Robert Darzac。
〃To my friend here； whom I should have been happy to call my son
… to Monsieur Robert Darzac。〃
〃Mademoiselle Stangerson is much better and is rapidly recovering
from her wounds。 The marriage is simply delayed； is it not；
Monsieur？〃 insisted the Chief of the Surete。
〃I hope so。
〃What！ Is there any doubt about that？〃
Monsieur Stangerson did not answer。 Monsieur Robert Darzac seemed
agitated。 I saw that his hand trembled as it fingered his
watchchain。 Monsieur Dax coughed； as did Monsieur de Marquet。
Both were evidently embarrassed。
〃You understand； Monsieur Stangerson；〃 he said； 〃that in an affair
so perplexing as this； we cannot neglect anything； we must know all；
even the smallest and seemingly most futile thing concerning the
victim … information apparently the most insignificant。 Why do you
doubt that this marriage will take place？ You expressed a hope； but
the hope implies a doubt。 Why do you doubt？〃
Monsieur Stangerson made a visible effort to recover himself。
〃Yes； Monsieur；〃 he said at length； 〃you are right。 It will be
best that you should know something which； if I concealed it； might
appear to be of importance； Monsieur Darzac agrees with me in this。〃
Monsieur Darzac； whose pallor at that moment seemed to me to be
altogether abnormal； made a sign of assent。 I gathered he was
unable to speak。
〃I want you to know then；〃 continued Monsieur Stangerson； 〃that my
daughter has sworn never to leave me； and adheres firmly to her
oath； in spite of all my prayers and all that I have argued to induce
her to marry。 We have known Monsieur Robert Darzac many years。 He
loves my child； and I believed that she loved him； because she only
recently consented to this marriage which I desire with all my heart。
I am an old man； Monsieur； and it was a happy hour to me when I knew
that； after I had gone； she would have at her side； one who loved her
and who would help her in continuing our common labours。 I love and
esteem Monsieur Darzac both for his greatness of heart and for his
devotion to science。 But； two days before the tragedy； for I know
not what reason； my daughter declared to me that she would never
marry Monsieur Darzac。〃
A dead silence followed Monsieur Stangerson's words。 It was a
moment fraught with suspense。
〃Did Mademoiselle give you any explanation； … did she tell you what
her motive was？〃 asked Monsieur Dax。
〃She told me she was too old to marry … that she had waited too
long。 She said she had given much thought to the matter and while
she had a great esteem； even affection； for Monsieur Darzac； she
felt it would be better if things remained as they were。 She would
be happy； she said； to see the relations between ourselves and
Monsieur Darzac become closer； but only on the understanding that
there would be no more talk of marriage。〃
〃That is very strange！〃 muttered Monsieur Dax。
〃Strange！〃 repeated Monsieur de Marquet。
〃You'll certainly not find the motive there； Monsieur Dax；〃 Monsieur
Stangerson said with a cold smile。
〃In any case； the motive was not theft！〃 said the Chief impatiently。
〃Oh！ we are quite convinced of that！〃 cried the examining magistrate。
At that moment the door of the laboratory opened and the officer in
charge of the gendarmes entered and handed a card to the examining
magistrate。 Monsieur de Marquet read it and uttered a half angry
exclamation：
〃This is really too much！〃 he cried。
〃What is it？〃 asked the Chief。
〃It's the card of a young reporter engaged on the 'Epoque；' a
Monsieur Joseph Rouletabille。 It has these words written on it：
〃One of the motives of the crime was robbery。〃
The Chief smiled。
〃Ah； … young Rouletabille … I've heard of him he is considered
rather clever。 Let him come in。〃
Monsieur Joseph Rouletabille was allowed to enter。 I had made his
acquaintance in the train that morning on the way to Epinay…sur…Orge。
He had introduced himself almost against my wish into our
compartment。 I had better say at once that his manners； and the
arrogance with which he aissumed to know what was incomprehensible
even to us； impressed him unfavourably on my mind。 I do not like
journalists。 They are a class of writers to be avoided as the pest。
They think that everything is permissible and they respect nothing。
Grant them the least favour； allow them even to approach you； and
you never can tell what annoyance they may give you。 This one
appears to be scarcely twenty years old； and the effrontery with
which he dared to question us and discuss the matter with us made
him particularly obnoxious to me。 Besides； he had a way of
expressing himself that left us guessing as to whether he was mocking
us or not。 I know quite well that the 'Epoque' is an influential
paper with which it is well to be on good terms； but the paper ought
not to allow itself to be represented by sneaking reporters。
Monsieur Joseph Rouletabille entered the laboratory； bowed to us；
and waited for Monsieur de Marquet to ask him to explain his
presence。
〃You pretend； Monsieur； that you know the motive for the crime； and
that that motive … in the face of all the evidence that has been
forthcoming … was robbery？〃
〃No； Monsieur； I do not pretend that。 I do not say that robbery
was the motive for the crime； and I don't believe it was。〃
〃Then； what is the meaning of this card？〃
〃It means that robbery was one of the motives for the crime。〃
〃What leads you to think that？〃
〃If you will be good enough to accompany me； I will show you。〃
The young man asked us to follow him into the vestibule； and we did。
He led us towards the lavatory and begged Monsieur de Marquet to
kneel beside him。 This lavatory is lit by the glass door； and； when
the door was open； the light which p