The news=record. [volume] (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon) 1907-1910, 1909-03-20
CHAPTER XIX.
Roulcfabille Invites Me to Break.
fast at the Donjon Inn.

In which he had written at
IL length the story of the phe-
nomenon of the inexplicabe gallery
On the day | arrived at the Chandler
and Joined him in his room he recount
ed to me, with the greatest detail. all
that l have related. telling me also
how he had spent several hours in
Paris. where he had learned nothing
that could be of any help to him
The event of the ineXplicable gal
lery had occurred on the night between
the Goth and 30th Of October-that is
to say, three days before my return to
the chateau. 1t was on the I'd of
November then. that l went back to
the Chandler, summoned there by my
friends telegram and taking the re-
volvers with me.
am now in Rouletabille's room, and
he has finished his recital.
While he had been telling me the
story noticed him continually rubbing
the glass of the eyeglasses he had
found on the side table From the evi-
dent pleasure he was taking in han
ding them / felt they must be one Of
those sensible evidences destined to en-
ter what he had called the circle of the
right end of his reason.
When he had finished his recital he
asked me what thought of it. re-
piled that I was much puzzled by his
question. Then he begged me to try.
in my turn, to take my reason in hand
'by the right end"
every WE'LL" said. 'Tt seems to me
that the point of departure of my rea,
son would be this-there can be no
doubt that the murderer you pursued
was in the gallery" paused.
"After making so good start, you
ought not to stop so soon," he exclaim-
ed. "Come, make another effort"
''I'li try. Since he disappeared from
the gallery without passing through
any door or window. he must have es-
capped by some other opening"
Rouletabille looked at me pityingly,
was reasoning like a postman or-like
Frederic Larsan.
Rouletabille had alternate fits of ad-
miration and disdain for the great
Fred 1t all depended as to whether
Larsan's discoveries Tailed with Roule-
tabille's reasoning or not. When they
did he would exclaim. HE is really
greatv' When they did not. he would
grunt and mutter, what an asst! 1t
was petty side of the noble character
of this strange youth.
We had risen, and he 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 at a window on the first floor
OF the chateau the ruddy and clean
shaven face Of person did not rec
ognize.
"Hellor' muttered Rouletabille. "Ar-
thur Rance" He lowered his head,
quickened 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
AEluuI LhduCc was anu ho" hS hoN
come to know him. He referred to his
story Of that morning, and remem-
bered that Mr.. Arthur W. Rance was
the American from Philadelphia with
whom he had had so many drinks at
the Elysee reception.
"But was he not to have left France
almosr Immediately" ! asked.
"No doubt: that's why ! am sur
prised to find him here still and not
only in France, but above all, at the
Chandler. He did not arrive this
morning, and he did not get here last
night. He must have got here before
dinner, then. Why didn't the con
cierges tell meT"
| reminded my friend, apropos of the
concierges. that he had not yet told me
what had led him to get them set at
liberty.
We were close to their lodge. NJ. and
Nine. Bernier saw us coming. frank
smile lit up their happy faces They
seemed to harbor no Ill feeling because
Of their detention. My young friend
asked them at what hour Mr.. Arthur
Rance had arrived. They answered thai
they did not know he was at the cha
teau. He must have come during the
evening of the previous night. but they
had not had to open the gate for him
because, being a great walker and moi
wishing that carriage should be sem
to meet him, he was accustomed to gel
of at the little hamlet of Saint Michel
from which he came to the chateau by
way of the forest He reached thu
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 Roule
tabille's face cloud over and exhibit dis
appointment "a disappointment. NJ
doubt, with himself Evidently he wa
a little vexed. after having worked s.
much on the spot. with so minute
study Of the people and events at tn
Chandler. that he had to learn nov
that Arthur Rance was accustomed Z
visit the chateau.