Wallowa County chieftain. [volume] (Enterprise, Or.) 1909-1911, 1909-03-04
CHAPTER XIII. '(coutinued.)

Here Rouletabille interrupted himself
and asked me If had brought the re-
volvers. l showed him them. Having
examined both. he pronounced them
excellent and handed them back to me-
'Shall we have any use for themT
asked.
''No doubt: this evening. We shall
pass the night here If that won't tire
you?"
ION the contrary" l said. with an
expression that made Rouletabillc
laugh.
"No. no." he said. This is no time
for laughing. You remember the
phrase which was the 'open sesame OF
this chateau full of mystery?',
YES" / said. perfectly. The pres
bytery has lost nothing of its charm
nor the garden its brightness 1t was
the phrase which you found on the
half burned piece of paper among the
ashes in the laboratory"
Yes. AT the bottom of the paper.
where the fame had not reached. was
this date, 23d of October. Remember
this date; it is highly important / am
now going TO tell you about that curl
GUS phrase. On the evening before the
crime-thnt is to say, on the 23d-M.
and Mile. Stangerson were at recep-
tion ut the Elysee. l know that. be-
cause ! was there on duty, having to
interview one of the servants of the
Academy of Philadelphia who was be-
ing feted there. l had never before
seen either NJ or Nile. Stangerson.
was seated In the room which precedes
the Salon des Ambassadors. and. tired
OF being jostled by so many noble per-
sonages, l had fallen into n vague
reverie, when l scented near me the
perfume of the lady In black.
do you ask me what Is the perfume
Of the lady In blackr 1t must suffice
you to know that 1t is a perfume of
which am very fond. because 1t was
that of lady who had been very kind
10 me in my childhood, lady whom
lady who that evening was scented
with the perfume of the lady In black
was dressed IN white. She was won
derfully beautiful. l could not help
rising and following ber. An old man
gave her his arm. and as they passed
! heard voices say. Professor Stanger
son and his daughter 1t was in that
way ] learned who it was l was fol
lowing.
''They met NJ. Robert Darzac, whom
I knew by sight Professor Stanger-
son. accosted by Mr. Arthur William
Rance. one OF the American savants.
seated himself in the great gallery.
and NJ. Robert Darzac led Nile. Stan
gersop into the conservatory. fol
lowed. The weather was very mild
that evening. The garden doors were
open. Mile. Stangerson threw a fchu
shawl over her shoulders. and ! plain
3y saw that it was she who was beg
gfng NJ. Darzae to go with her into the
garden. / continued TO foley, inter
ested by the agitation plainly exhibited
by the bearing of NJ. Darzac. They
slowly passed along the wall abutting
on tbe Avenue Marigny. / took the
central alley. walking parallel with
them. and then crossed over for the
purpose of getting nearer TO them.
The night was dark. and the grass
deadened the sound Of my steps. They
had stopped under the vacillating light
OF gas Jet and appeared to be both
bending over a paper held by Mile
Stangerson. reading something which
deeply interested them. / stopped in
the darkness and silence
Neither Of them saw me, and l dis
tinctiy heard Mile. Stangerson repeat
as she was rsfolding the paper, The
presbytery has lost nothing of its
charm nor the garden its brightness
II was said in tone at once mocking
and dcspairing and was followed by a
burst OF such nervous laughter that
think her words will never cease to
sound In my ears. But another phrase
was uttered by M. Robert Darzac,
Must ! commit a crime. then, to win
your He was In an extraordinarily
agitated state He took the hand Of
Mile. Stangeesop and held it for a
long time to hfs lips. and ! thought
from the movement Of his shoulders
that be was crying. Then they went
away.
When returned to the great gal
iery." continued Rouletabille, II saw
no more of M. Robert Darzac, and ]
was not to see him again until after
the tragedy at the Chandler. Made,
moiselle was near Mr. Rance, who was
talking with much animation, his eyes
during the conversation glowing with
q singular brightness. Nile. Stanger-
son. thought, was not even listening
to what he was saying, her face ex,
pressing perfect indifference. His
face was the red face of drunkard.
When NJ. and Mile. Stangerson left he
went TO the bar and remained there !
Joined him and rendered him some lit
tie service in the midst Of the press
Ing crowd. BE thanked me and told
me he was returning to America three
days iater--that Is to say, on the 26th,
the day after the crime. talked with
him about Philadelphia. He told me