Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-03-04

capped by some other opening"
Ro;iletabille looked at ME pityingly
smiled carelesslv and remarked that
was reasoning ike a postman or-like
| Frederic Larsan.
Rouetabile had alternate fits of ad.
miration and dsdain for the great
| Fred. 1t all depended MS TO whether
Iarsans discoveries tailed with Roule
tabile's reasoning or not. When they
| did he would cXclaim. "IIc is really
great" When they did not. he would
srunt and mutter. What an asst" 1t
was petty side Of the noble character
Of this strange youth.
We had risen. and lie led me into the
| park. When we reached the court and
were making toward the gate, the
sound Of blinds thrown back against
The wall made us turn our heads, and
We saw ut window on the first floor
Of the chateau the ruddy and clean
shavcn face Of a person I did not rec
oynize.
"Icllow muttcrcd Rouletabille "Ar.
thur Rance He lowered his head.
Guickcncd his pace. and | heard him
ask himself between his teeth: was
he in the chateau that night? What
is he doing here?"
We had gone some distance from the
chateau when | 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 rcmcm-
hcred that Mr.. Arthur w. Rance was
the American from Philadelphia with
whom lie had had so many drinks at
the Elysce reception.
Put was he not 10 have left France
almost immcdio tcly:" I aslied.
40 doubt; that's why am sur.
prised to find him here still and not
only in France, but above all at the
Glandicr. He did not arrive this
morning. and he did not get here last
niCh,. He must have got here before
dinner then. Why didn't the con-
cicrgcs tell meT
reminded my friend. apropos Of the
concierges. that he had not yet told me
wha had led him to get them set at
liberty.
We were close to their lodge. NJ. and
Mine Bernicr saw us coming. frank
smile lit m thci. happy faces. They
seemed to harhor no III feeling because
Of thei, detention. My young friend
asked them ut what hour Mr.. Arthur
Rance had arrived They answered that
they did not know he was at the cha
evening Of the previous night. but they
had not had to open the gate for him.
because, being Il great walker and not
wishing that Il 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
WY Of the forest. He reached the
park by the grotto of Sainte Gene.
We've. over the little gate Of which.
giving on to the park. he climbed.
AS the concierges spoke saw Roue-
Tables face cloud over and exhibit dis.
appointment "A disappointment, no
doubt. with himself. Evidently he was
little vexed. after having worked so
much on the spot. with so minute a
study of the people and events at the
Chandler. that he had to learn now
that Arthur Rance was accustomed 10
visit the chateau
you say that NJ. Arthur Rance is
accustomed to come to the chateau.
When did he come here last?"
"We can't tell you exactly" replied
Nine. Bernier I'VE couldn't know
while they were keeping us in prison
Besides. as the gentleman comes to
the chateau wtho,N 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 wears ago.
then" said Roulctabille. "and since
that time. as far as you know. how
many times has he been at the Clan.
dier?"
Three times"
when did Ec come the last time, as
far rs you know"
~ week before the attempt in the
yellow room"
Rouletabille put another question.
this time addressing himself particular.
II to the woman:
"In the grove of the parquct?
''ln the grove Of the parquet," she
replied.
Thanks" said Rouletabille. BE
ready for me this evening"
He spoke the last words with 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 ard ] are sometimes |
served in one Of our rooms"
Hasn't NJ. Stangcrson ever invited |
you to his own table,"
Never"
Does your presence at the chateau
displease him."
II 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 |
He is persuaded since he |