through any door or window； he must have escaped by some other
opening。〃
Rouletabille looked at me pityingly； smiled carelessly； and remarked
that I was reasoning like a postman； or … like Frederic Larsan。
Rouletabille had alternate fits of admiration and disdain for the
great Fred。 It all depended as to whether Larsan's discoveries
tallied with Rouletabille's reasoning or not。 When they did he
would exclaim： 〃He is really great！〃 When they did not he would
grunt and mutter； 〃What an ass！〃 It was a petty side of the noble
character of this strange youth。
We had risen； and he led me into the park。 When we reached the
court and were making towards the gate； the sound of blinds thrown
back against the wall made us turn our heads； and we saw； at a
window on the first floor of the chateau； the ruddy and clean shaven
face of a person I did not recognise。
〃Hullo！〃 muttered Rouletabille。 〃Arthur Rance！〃 … He lowered his
head； quickened his pace； and I heard him ask himself between his
eeth： 〃Was he in the chateau that night？ What is hedoing here？〃
We had gone some distance from the chateau when I asked him who
this Arthur Rance was； and how he had come to know him。 He referred
to his story of that morning and I remembered that Mr。 Arthur W。
Rance was the American from Philadelphia with whom he had had so
many drinks at the Elysee reception。
〃But was he not to have left France almost immediately？〃 I asked。
〃No doubt； that's why I am surprised to find him here still； and
not only in France； but above all； at the Glandier。 He did not
arrive this morning； and he did not get here last night。 He must
have got here before dinner； then。 Why didn't the concierges
tell me？〃
I reminded my friend； apropos of the concierges； that he had not
yet told me what had led him to get them set at liberty。
We were close to their lodge。 Monsieur and Madame Bemier saw us
coming。 A frank smile lit up their happy faces。 They seemed to
harbour no ill…feeling because of their detention。 My young
friend asked them at what hour Mr。 Arthur Rance had arrived。 They
answered that they did not know he was at the chateau。 He must have
come during the evening of the previous night； but they had not had
to open the gate for him； because； being a great walker； and not
wishing that a carriage should be sent to meet him； he was accustomed
to get off at the little hamlet of Saint…Michel； from which he came
to the chateau by way of the forest。 He reached the park by the
grotto of Sainte…Genevieve； over the little gate of which； giving
on to the park； he climbed。
As the concierges spoke； I saw Rouletabille's face cloud over and
exhibit disappointment … a disappointment； no doubt； with himself。
Evidently he was a little vexed； after having worked so much on the
spot； with so minute a study of the people and events at the Glandier；
that he had to learn now that Arthur Rance was accustomed to visit
the chateau。
〃You say that Monsieur Arthur Rance is accustomed to come to the
chateau。 When did he come here last？〃
〃We can't tell you exactly；〃 replied Madame Bemier … that was the
name of the concierge … 〃we couldn't know while they were keeping
us in prison。 Besides； as the gentleman comes to the chateau
without passing through our gate he goes away by the way he comes。〃
〃Do you know when he came the first time？〃
〃Oh yes； Monsieur！ … nine years ago。〃
〃He was in France nine years ago； then；〃 said Rouletabille； 〃and；
since that time； as far as you know； how many times has he been at
the Glandier？〃
〃Three times。〃
〃When did he come the last time； as far as you know？〃
〃A week before the attempt in The Yellow Room。〃
Rouletabille put another question … this time addressing himself
particularly to the woman：
〃In the grove of the parquet？〃
〃In the grove of the parquet；〃 she replied。
〃Thanks！〃 said Rouletabille。 〃Be ready for me this evening。〃
He spoke the last words with a finger on his lips as if to command
silence and discretion。
We left the park and took the way to the Donjon Inn。
〃Do you often eat here？〃
〃Sometimes。〃
〃But you also take your meals at the chateau？〃
〃Yes； Larsan and I are sometimes served in one of our rooms。〃
〃Hasn't Monsieur Stangerson ever invited you to his own table？〃
〃Never。〃
〃Does your presence at the chateau displease him？〃
〃I don't know； but； in any case； he does not make us feel that we
are in his way。〃
〃Doesn't he question you？〃
〃Never。 He is in the same state of mind as he was in at the door
of The Yellow Room when his daughter was being murdered； and when
he broke open the door and did not find the murderer。 He is
persuaded； since he could discover nothing； that there's no reason
why we should be able to discover more than he did。 But he has made
it his duty； since Larsan expressed his theory； not to oppose us。
Rouletabille buried himself in thought again for some time。 He
aroused himself later to tell me of how he came to set the two
concierges free。
〃I went recently to see Monsieur Stangerson； and took with me a
piece of paper on which was written： 'I promise； whatever others
may say； to keep in my service my two faithful servants； Bernier
and his wife。' I explained to him that； by signing that document；
he would enable me to compel those two people to speak out； and I
declared my own assurance of their innocence of any part in the
crime。 That was also his opinion。 The examining magistrate； after
it was signed； presented the document to the Berniers； who then did
speak。 They said； what I was certain they would say； as soon as
they were sure they would not lose their place。
〃They confessed to poaching on Monsieur Stangerson's estates； and
it was while they were poaching； on the night of the crime； that
they were found not far from the pavilion at the moment when the
outrage was being committed。 Some rabbits they caught in that way
were sold by them to the landlord of the Donjon Inn； who served them
to his customers； or sent them to Paris。 That was the truth； as I
had guessed from the first。 Do you remember what I said； on
entering the Donjon Inn？ … 'We shall have to eat red meat … now！'
I had heard the words on the same morning when we arrived at the
park gate。 You heard them also； but you did not attach any
importance to them。 You recollect； when we reached the park gate；
that we stopped to look at a man who was running by the side of the
wall； looking every minute at his watch。 That was Larsan。 Well；
behind us the landlord of the Donjon Inn； standing on his doorstep；
said to someone inside： 'We shall have to eat red meat … now。'
〃Why that 'now'？ When you are； as I am； in search of some hidden
secret； you can't afford to have anything escape you。 You've got
to know the meaning of everything。 We had come into a rather
out…of…the…way part of the country which had been turned topsy…turvey
by a crime； and my reason led me to suspect every phrase that could
bear upon the event of the day。 'Now；' I took to mean； 'since the
outrage。' In the course of my inquiry； therefore； I sought to find
a relation between that phrase and the tragedy。 We went to the
Donjon Inn for breakfast； I repeated the phrase and saw； by the
surprise and trouble on Daddy Mathieu's face； that I had not
exaggerated its importance； so far as he was concerned。
〃I had just learned that the concierges had been arrested。 Daddy
Mathieu spoke of them as of dear friends … people for whom one is
sorry。 That was a reckless conjunction of ideas； I said tomyself。
'Now；' that the concierges are arrested； 'we shall have to eat red
meat。' No more concierges； no more game！ The hatred expressed by
Daddy Mathieu for Monsieur Stangerson's forest…keeper … a hatred he
pretended was shared by the concierges led me easily to think of
poaching。 Now as all the evidence showed the concierges had not
been in bed at the time of the tragedy； why were they abroad that
night？ As participants in the crime？ I was not disposed to think
so。 I had already arrived at the conclusion； by steps of which I
will tell you later … that the assassin had had no accomplice； and
that the tragedy held a mystery between Mademoiselle Stangerson and
the murderer； a mystery with which the concierges had nothing to do。
〃With that theory in my mind； I searched for proof in their lodge；
which； as you know； I entered。 I found there under their bed； some
springs and brass wire。 'Ah！' I thought； 'these things explain why
they were out in the park at night！' I was not surprised at the
dogged silence they maintained before the examining magistrate； even
under the accusation so grave as that of being accomplices in the
crime。 Poaching would save them from the Assize Court； but it would
lose them their places； and； as they were perfectly sure of their
innocence of the crime they hoped it would soon be established； and
then their poaching might go on as usual。 They could always confess
later。 I； however； hastened their confession by means of the
document Monsieur Stangerson signed。 They gave all the necessary
'proofs；' were set at liberty； and have now a lively gratitude for me。
Why did I not get them released sooner？ Because I was not sure that
nothing more than poaching was against them。 I wanted to study the
ground。 As the days went by； my conviction became more and more
certain。 The day after the events of the inexplicable gallery I had
need of help I could rely on； so I resolved to have them released
at once。〃
That was how Joseph Rouletabille explained himself。 Once more I
could not but be astonished at the simplicity of the reasoning which
had brought him to the truth of the matter。 Certainly this was no
big thing； but I think； myself； that the young man will； one of
these days； explain with the same simplicity； the fearful tragedy
in The Yellow Room as well as the phenomenon of the inexplicable
gallery。
We reached the Donjon Inn and entered it。
This time we did not see the landlord； but were received with a
pleasant smile by the hostess。 I have already described the room
in which we found ourselves； and I have given a glimpse of the
charming blonde woman w