Wallowa County chieftain. [volume] (Enterprise, Or.) 1909-1911, 1909-03-04
sons apartment, said to me:


servant at the top of ladder about
ago you would have seen your humble
only one belonging to Mile. Stanger
to enter the chateau by that window"
AS ! expressed some surprise Mt this
piece of nocturnal gymnastics. he beg
= d 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 am living
said my friend. He motioned me 10
follow him up magnificent flight of
stairs ending in landing ON the first
floor. From this landing one could
pass. to the right or left wing of the
chateau by gallery opening from 1t.
This gallery. high and wide. extended
along the whole length of the building
and was III 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
op'ti III the tight Wl1k.
We entered the gallery to the right.
A narrow carpet laid on the waxed
oaken floor. which sh0ne 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, small bathroom, a boudoir and
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 II
was lit by high window. At about
two-thirds Of its 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 q 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.
Rouletabille opened the door of his
room and after we had passed in care
fully drew the bolt. l had not had
time to glance around the place In
which he had been installed when he
uttered cry Of surprise and pointed
to pair of eyeglasses on q side table.
"What are these doing herer' he
asked.
] should have been puzzled to an
swer him.
II wonder" he said-T wonder IL
this Is what have been searching for.
wonder II these are the eyeglasses
from the presbytery"
He seized them eagerly, his fingers
caressing the glasses. Then looking at
me. with an expression Of terror on
his face, he murmured, "Oh, ohr'
He repeated the exclamation again
and again. as II 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 viii drive me silly.
Automatically speaking. the thing Is
possible. but humanity speaking II Is
impossible. or afierward. or after
ward
Two light knocks struck the door
Rouletabille opened 1t. A figure en-
tered. | recognized the concierge
whom l had seen when she was being
taken TO the pavilion for examination.
! was surprised, thinking she was still
under lock and key. This woman said
In very low tone:
I'm the grove OF the parquet."
RouietabiIle replied. ''Thanks." The
woman then left. He again turned to
me. his look baRgard. after having
carefully refastened the door. mutter-
ing some incomprehensible phrases
If the thing Is InatlematicaIIy pos
sible why should II not be humanity? +?
And II 1t Is humanity possible the mat
ter is simply awful"
interrupted him In his soliIoquy.
Have they set the concierges Mt lib
erty. thenT ! asked.
Yes" he replied, ~ had them liber-
ated- needed people could trust
The woman is thoroughly devoted to
me. and her husband would lay down