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

On reaching the door or Mrc. rJruu-
eerson's chamber NJ. dc Marquet
knocked. A chambermaid appeared. II
was Sylvia with her hair all In disor-
der and CONSERVATION showing on her
face.
as NJ. Stangerson within?" asked the
magistrate.
Eyes, monsieur"
Tell him that wish to speak with
him"
Stangerson came out His appear
ance was wretched in the extreme.
what do you wantT he demanded
Of the magistrate. MAY I not be left
in peace, monsicur?"
"Monsieur," said the magistrate, III
Is absolutely necessary that l should
see NJ. Darzac at once. II you cannot
induce him to come I shall be COM
PEELED to use the help Of the law"
The professor made no reply. ne
looked at us all like a man being led
TO execution and then went back into
the room.
Almost Immediately after NJ. Robert
Darzac came out. lie was very pale
He looked ut us, and. his eyes falling
on the railway servant. his features
stifrened. and he could hardly repress
groan.
We were all much moved by the APP
pcarance Of the man. We felt that
what was about to happen would de-
eide the fate OF NJ. Robert Darzac.
Frederic Larsan's face alone was ra-
diant. showing joy as of dog tEat
had at last got its prey.
Pointing to the railway servant, Nj.
de MarGuet said to NJ. Darzac;
do you recognize this man. mon.
sieur?"
IL do" said NJ. DarZac in n tone
which he vainly tried to make hrm.
lie is an employee at the station NJ
Epinay-snr-Orge."
This young man." went on M. de
Maruuct, "uflrms that he saw you get
off the train at Epiuay -sur-Orge"-
THAT night" said NJ. Darznc, inter
rup,ing. lat half past 10. 1t Is quite
true"
An interval Of silence followed.
M. Darzac," the magistrate went
on in a tone Of deep emotion-"M. OAR
zac. what were you doing that night
at Epinay-surOrGc that time?
NJ. Darzac remained silent. simply
closing his eyes.
M. Darzac," insisted NJ. dc Mar
uuct, "can you tell me how you ON
ployed your time that night?"
NJ. Darzac opened his eyes. he
seemed to have recovered lis self con-
troll.
no, monsieur
Think. monsieur, for IL you per-
sist in your strange refusal ! shall be
under the painful necessity Of keeping
you at my disposition"
Il refuse"
M Darzac, In the name of the law
arrest you"
The magistrate had no sooner pro-
n0unced the words than ! saw Roule-
table move quickly toward NJ. Oar
rae. He would certainly have spoken
to him. but Darza' by gesture held
him Off AS the gendarmc approached
his prisoner despairing cry :ang
through the room:
Robert. Robert"
We recognized the voice of Mile.
Stangerson. We all shuddered Lar.
san himself turned pale. NJ. Darzac
In response to the cry had flown back
into the room.
The magistrate. the gendarme and
Larsan followed closely after. Rouleta
bile and remained on the threshold
1t was heartbreaking sight that me
our eyes Mile. StangersOn. with a
face Of deathly pallor. had risen or
forts Of two doctors and her father
She was holding ont her trembling
arms toward Robert Dar2ac. on whom
Larsan and the gendarme had laif
hands Her distended eyes saw--sht
undorstood-he lips seemed to form Q
word. but nobody made it out, and sh
fell back insensiblc.
NJ. Darzac was hurried out Of tn
soom and placed In the vestibule t.
wait for the vehicle I.arsan had SOn
to fetch. We We're all overcome b
emotion, and even NJ. de Marquet ha
tears in his eyes Roulctabillc took ad
vantage OF the opportunity to say t
NJ. Darzac:
Are you going to put in any dc
fense?"
NO" replied the prisoner
Every we'll, then. will. monsieur"
"You cannot do it," said the unhaL
py man. with a faint smile.
Il can do It, NJ. Robert Darzac. be
cause l know more than you do"
"Come. Come" murmured Darza'
almost angriy.
Have no fear. shall know onl
= what will benefit you"
: "You must know nothing, youn
man, If you want me to be grateful"
: Rouletablle shook his head. gon
close up to D.nzac.
: Listen to what I am about to say.
he said in n low tone. land let 1t civ
= YOU confidence. You do not know tn
name Of the murderer. Mile, STANCE
8 son knows it, but only half II it, IN
c know his two halves ! know IL
whole man"
i Robert Darzac opened his eyes Wit
, a look that showed he had not unde
i stood a word Of what Rouletabille ha
i said to him. At that moment the col
Il veyance arrived. driven by Freder
I. Larsan. Darzac and the gendarme e'
: tered 1t. Larsan remaining on the drl