The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-12-11


 way in which the secret service agent had pursued Mime. Darzac. The crimes of Larsan were explained in the eyes
 of Arthur Rance by mad passion for
 Mathilde. the indications. of an insane
 and hopeless love As to Mime. Edith.
 her thoughts. which I read without
 her suspecting 1t. ran about in this
 way: But what on earth is there about this woman which could inspire such an insane passion. lasting for years and years, in the heart of any
 man? Here Is a woman for whose sake a detective officer becomes a mur- derer. for whom a temperate man be- comes a drunkard and for whom an in- nocent man permits himself to be pro nounced guilty of felony What Is there about her more than there is about myself. who owe my husband to the fact that she refused him before he ever saw me? What is the charm about her? And yet even now my bus band forgets all about me while he Is looking at her" That Is whar read in Edith's eyes as she watched her husband gazing at Mathilde- An. those black eyes of gentle Mime. Edith.
 Mathilde asked me where thought Rouletabille had gone. As she left the dining room I walked with her to the entrance to the fort Darzac and Mme. Edith followed us Stangerson had bidden us good night Arthur Rance. who had disappeared for moment. joined us while we were at the passageway. The night was clear. and the moon shone brightly. As we passed beneath the arch we heard Rouletabille's voice.
 Come on, One more effort!" he cried. and the voice which answered him was husky and panting. The two portals of the immense iron doors slammed. They were closed for the first time fin q hundred years
 Mme- Edith looked astonished at the act of her guest and asked what had happened 10 the gate. which had al- ways served in place of the doors But Arthur Rance caught her arm. impressing upon her that she must keep silence.
 Rouletabille announced that If any of us had any desire to make a trip to the village we must give 1t up. for the order had gone forth. and no one could leave the chateau or enter it. Pere Jacques was charged with the carrying out of the command. and every one knew that it was impossible to bribe the faithful old servitor. Pere Jacques. whom I had known so well at the Chandler. had accompanied Professor StRngerson as his valet That night be was sleeping in rny closer Ln la Louve." near his mas ter's bedroom. but RouletabilIe had changed that. and it was Pere Jacques who took The place of the eoncierges in the tower marked A.
 But where are the BerniersF' cried Mime. Edith
 They are installed in the square tower in the room on the left. near the entrance. They are to act as care takers of the square tower." replied 
 But the square tower doesn't need any caretakers.~ exclaimed Edith. y ''Thnt. madame" returued the young reporter. ifs what we cannot be sure of"
 He made no further explanations, but he took Arthur Rance to one side | and informed him that he ought to tell his wife about rhe reappearance of Larsan- If there was to be the slight est chance of hiding the truth from It could scarcely be ac- without the aid and intel | ligence of Mme. Edith. And. then. too. It would be as well henceforward- Tor all of those in the Fort of Her. | cuies 10 be prepared for everything | and surprised al nothing.
 The next act of Rouletabille was to | make us walk across the court and | place ourselves al the postern which | commanded the entrance to the inner court. but at that point the moat had | been filled up. RouIetabille declared | that he intended to have the moat dug put and to repiace the dra wbridge.
 At the newly fortified postern Ron etSbiiie had stationed pp one. for he that place that night for From there he could obtain a complete view Of both the inner and outer courts. One could reach tue apartment of the Darzacs only after passing by Pere Jacques in A. by Rou- etabiile at H and by the BernIers, Tho guarded the square tower at the ioor marked K. The young man had iecided that it would be better for nose on guard not to retire that light As we passed by the oubli- 'tte l saw that some one had dis 'iaced the circular board which GOV .red it. l saw also on the margin a iask attached to a cord. RouIetabille explained 10 me that he had wished to 'now If this old oublieite. which was ealiy nothing but a well. correspond d with the sea and that he had ound that the water was clear and weet. proof that it had nothing to To with the Mediterranean.
 He walked for a few steps with ime. Darzac, who immediately took gave or us and entered the square over. Darzac and Arthur Rance, at he request of RouletabiIIe. remained with us. Some words of excuse ad- ressed to Mme- Edith made her un- erstand that she was being politely sked to retire. and she bade us good fight with nonchalant grace. RouIe- lDille beckOned us-thes men-touard |