Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-02-11
CHAPTER VI.
lr the Heart of the Oak Grove.


fx,y;E reached The chateau and. as
| III We approached IT, saw four
W. gcndarmes pacing in front of Il
l-.~S little door in tho ground floor
Of i've donion We soon learned that
IN this ground floor. which lad former
IL served rs IA prison, NJ. and Nine.
Sernier. the Con,ierges, were confined.
NJ. Robert Darzac led us into the
modern part of the chateau by large
door, protected by projecting awning
a "narquise' as it is called. Roule-
tabillc. who had resigned the horse ard
the cab TO the care Of a servant, never
took his eyes off NJ. Dar2ac. fol
lowed his look and perceived that it
was directed solely toward the gloved
hands Of the Sorbonnc professor.
When we were in tiny sitting room
fitted with old furniture. NJ. Darzac
turned to Rouletabille and said sharp
ly;
What do You WANT
The reporter answered in an equally
sharp tone:
ITO shake you by the hand"
DarZac shranll back.
what does that mean?"
Evidently he understood. what | also
understood. that my friend suspected
him of the ahominable attempt on the
life of Mile. Stangerson. The impress
sion of the blood stained hand on the
walls Of the yellow room was in his
mind. looked at the man closely
His naughty face. with its expression
ordinarily 50 stra ightforWard was ut
this moment strangely troubled lie
held out his right hand and. referring
to me, said:
"As YOU are a friend of NJ. Sainclair
who has rendered me Invaluable scrv-
Ices in Just cause, monsieur. | see
no reason for refusing you my hand
Rouletabllc did not take the extend
ed hand. Lying with the utmost au.
daclty. he said:
monsieur, have lived several years
in Russia. where | have acquired the
habit of never taking any but an un,
gloved hand
| thought that the Sorbonne profess
or would express his anger openly
but on the contrary, by n visibly vic
lent effort, he Gained himself. took
off his gloves and showed his hands
They were unmarked by any cicatrice
"Are you satisicd;'
"No" replied Roulctabille "My
dear friend" he said turning to me
Il am obliged to aal, you to leave us
alone for moment"
bowed and retired, stupcfied by
what had seen and heard I could
not understand why NJ Robert Oar
zac had rot already shown the door t.
my impairment, insulting and stupid
friend. | was angry myself with ROule
tabillc at that moment for his sus
piclons which had led 20 this scene OF
Tho gloves.
For some twenty minutes | walked
about in front of the chateau. trying
valnly TO link together the differen
events Of the day.
When Rouletabillo came out of the
chateau in the company of NJ Rober
Darzac. extraordinary to relate. saw
at glance that they were the best o
friends.
eve are going to the yellow room
Come with u.s." Rouetabllc said t.
me- "You know, my dear boy, ! an
going to keep you with me all day
Wen breakfast together somewhcr,
about here
you'll breakfast with me here, gen
tlemen"-
mo, thanks" replied the young man
ave shall breakfast at the DonjoI
inn"
you'll fare very badly there. You'll
not find anything
"Do you think SO? Well, l hope t,
find something there" replied Roule
tabllle. After breakfast We'll set t,
work again. I'll write my article, an,
if you'll he so good as to take it to tn
Office for me-
won't you come back with me Il
Paris:'
mo; ] shall remain here"
| | turned toward Rouletabillc. II
spoke quite seriously, and NJ. Rober
Darzac did not appear to be in tn
least degree surprised.
We We're passing by the donjon AM
heard waiting voices. Roulctabill
asked:
"Why have these people been ar
rested?"
1T Is little my fault" said NJ, Dan
FAC. II happened to remark to tn
examining magistrate yesterday tina
it was inexplicable that the concierge
had had time TO hear the revolve
shots. to dress themselves and to cove
so great a distance as that which lie
between their lodge and the pavilio
in the space Of two minutes, for no
more than that interval Of time IN
elapsed after the firing of the Sos
when they were met by Dadd