Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-02-25

orally lives on the first floor of the
donjon--a big room that once served
for an oratory. He lives Ike bear,
ncvt~ goes out without his gun and Is
only pleasant with the girls The
women for twelve miles round are all
setting their caps for him. For the
present he Is paying attention TO Nine.
Mathes, whose husband is keeping n
lynx eye upon her In consequence
After passing the donjon, which IS
situated at the extreme end of the
left wing, we went to the back of the
chateau. Rouletabile, pointing to
window which | recognized as the
only one belonging to Mile. Stanger-
sons apartment, said TO me:
"If you had been here two nights
ago you would have seen your humble
servant ut the top Of n ladder about
to enter the chateau by that window"
AS expressed some surprise at this
piece Of nocturnal gymnastics. he beg
gcd me to notice carefully the exterior
disposition OF the chateau. We then
went back into the building.
81 must now show you the first floor
OF the chateau, where I am living"
said my friend. lie motioned me to
follow him up n magnificent fight OF
stairs ending in n landing on the first
floor. From this landing one could
pass to the right or left wing OF the
chateau by gallery opening from It..
This gallery, high and wide. extended
along the whole length or 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. Staneerson had her
apartment In tho right wing.
We entered the gallery to the right.
A narrow carpet laid on the waved
oaien floor. which shone like glass.
deadened the sound Of our footsteps.
Ronletabllle asked me in low tone to
walk carefully az We were passing the
door Of Mile. Stangersons apartment.
This consisted Of a bedroom. an ante
room, small bathroom, boudoir and
n 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 1t
was lit by high window. At about
two-thirds Of It's length this gallery at
a 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 1t at a right angle the "off turn
ing" gallery. It was at the meeting
point Of the two galleries that Rouleta-
bile had his chamber, adjoining that
of Frederic I.arsan, the door of each
opening on 10 the "off turning gal
lery. while tho doors of Mile. Stan
gerson's apartment opened into the
right" gallery.
Rouletabille opened the door Of his
room and after we had passed in care.
fully drew the bolt. I had not had
time 10 glance around the place In
which he had been installed when he
uttered Il cry of surprise and pointed
to n pair OF eyeglasses on side table.
What are these doing hcre;" he
asked
| should have been puzzled to an
swcr him.
Il wonder" he said--w wonder il
this is what have been searching for
| wonder if these are the eyeglasses
! from the prcsbytery."
lie seized them eagerly, his fingers
carcssing the glasses. Then looking al
me. with an expression of terror on
his face, he murmured, ooh. OH
He repeated the exclamation again
and again. MS If his thoughts had sud
denly turned his brain.
lie rose and, putting his hand on my
shoulder, laughed like one demented as
he said:
Those glasses will drive me silly
automatically speaking, the thing Is
possible, but humanity speaking it /,
impossible or afterward. or after
ward
Two light knocks struck the door
Rouletabille opened It, A figure en-
tered. | recognized the concierge
whom ! had seen when she was being
taken to the pavilion for examination
l was surprised. thinking she was still
under lock aud key. This woman sale
IN very low tone:
"In the grove of the parquet."
ROulctabille replied. Thanks" TIL,
woman then left. He again turned t.
me. his look hncgard. after having
cnrofullv fastened the door DouttpF
ing some incomprehensible phrases.
III the thing is mnthematically pos
sblc why should it not be humanity
And if it is humanity possible the mat
ter is simply awful"
interrupted him in his solloquy.
Have they set the concierges at lib
erty, them" asked
Yes" he replied, II had them liber
ated. needed people could trust
The woman IS thoroughly devoted Il
me. and her husband would lay dow
his life for me-"
"Oho" said. when will he hav
occasion to do IT,"
This evening, for this evening ! eN
pect the murderer"
You expect the murderer this even
ing? Then you know him.
II shall know him. but should b
mad to affirm categorically at this mo
ment that ! do know him. The mathe
gives results so frightful. so mon
strous. that hope It is still possibl
that am mistaken. | hope so with al