Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1909-01-05

situated at the extreme end Of the
left wing, we went to the back of the
chateau. Rouletabille, pointing to a
window which recognized as the
only one belonging to Mile. Stranger
sons apartment, said to me:
"If you had been here two nights
ago you would have seen your humble
servant at the top of ladder about
to enter the chateau by that window"
AS 1 expressed some surprise at this
piece Of nocturnal gymnastics, he beg
ged me to notice carefully the exterior
disposition Of the chateau. We then
went back into the building.
II must now show you the first floor
Of the chateau, where 1 am living"
said my friend He motioned me to
follow him up q magnificent fight of
stairs ending in a landing on the first
floor. From this landing one could
pass to the right or left wing of the
chateau by a gallery opening from it.
This gallery, high and wide, extended
along the whole length of the building
and was lit from the front of the cha
teau facing the north. The rooms. the
windows Of which looked to the south,
opened out Of the gallery. Professor
Stangerson inhabited the left wing Of
the building. Mile. Stangerson had her
apartment in the right wing.
We entered the gallery to the right
A narrow carpet laid on the waxed
oaken floor which shone like glass.
deadened the sound of our footsteps.
Rouletabille asked me in a low tone to
walk carefully as we were passing the
door Of Mile. Stangerson's apartment.
This consisted Of a bedroom, an ante
room, d small bathroom, a boudoir and
a drawing room. One could pass from
one to another of these rooms without
having to go by way Of the gallery.
The gallery continued straight to the
western end of the building, where it
was lit by a high window. At about
two-thirds of its length this gallery at
right angle joined another gallery
following the course of the right wing.
The better to follow this narrative
we shall call the gallery leading from
the stairs to the eastern window the
right gallery and the gallery quit
ting it at a right angle the "off turn
ing" gallery. 1t was at the meeting
point of the two galleries that Rouleta-
billie had his chamber, adjoining that
Of Frederic Larsan, the door of each
opening on to the "off turning gal
lery, while the doors of Mile. Stan
gerson's apartment opened into the
right" gallery
Rouletabile opened the door of his
room and after we had passed in care
fully drew the bolt ! had not had
time to glance around the place in
which he had been installed when he
uttered a cry of surprise and pointed
to pair of eyeglasses on a side table.
what are these doing hereY he
asked
l should have been puzzled to an
swer him.
81 wonder" he said-"I wonder if
this is what l have been searching for
l wonder if these are the eyeglasses
from the presbytery."
He seized them eagerly, his fingers
caressing the glasses Then looking ut
me- with an expression of terror on
his face. he murmured, "Oh, OH"
He repeated the exclamation again
and again, as if his thoughts had sud-
denly turned his brain.
He rose and, putting his hand on my
shoulder, laughed like one demented as
he said;
"Those glasses will drive me silly.
Mechanically speaking, the thing is
possible, but humanity speaking it is
impossible, or afterward, or after
ward"-
Two light knocks struck the door
Rouletabille opened it. A figure en-
tered / recognized the concierge
whom I had seen when she was being
taken to the pavilion for examination
1 was surprised, thinking she was stil
under lock and key This woman said
In a very low tone.
''In the grove Of the parquet"
Rouletabille replied, Thanks" The
woman then left, He again turned to
me, his look haggard, after having
carefully refastened the door, mutter-
ing some incomprehensible phrases.
IF the thing is mathematically pos
slbe why should II not be humanity?
And if it is humanity possible the mat
ter is simply awful"
I interrupted him in his sollloquy
"Haye they set the concierges at lib
erty. then" l asked.
yes" be replied, Il had them liber-
ated. needed people / could trust.
The woman is thoroughly devoted to
me, and her husband would lay down
his life for me"
"Ohor I said. when win he have
occasion 10 40 itT'
This evening. for this evening I ex-
pect the murderer"
"You expect the murderer this even
ing? Then you know himY
II shall know him, but should be
mad to affirm catcgorically at this mo-
u L. rhr