a
dangerous post.'

"'What will be yours?' asked Fred.

"'I shall spring into the room and knock him over for you.'

"'Take my revolver,' said Fred, 'and I'll take your stick.'

"'Thanks,' I said; 'You are a brave man.'

"I accepted his offer. I was going to be alone with the man in the room
writing and was really thankful to have the weapon.

"I left Fred, having posted him at the window (No. 5 on the plan),
and, with the greatest precaution, went towards Monsieur Stangerson's
apartment in the left wing of the chateau. I found him with Daddy
Jacques, who had faithfully obeyed my directions, confining himself
to asking his master to dress as quickly as possible. In a few words I
explained to Monsieur Stangerson what was passing. He armed himself with
a revolver, followed me, and we were all three speedily in the gallery.
Since I had seen the murderer seated at the desk ten minutes had
elapsed. Monsieur Stangerson wished to spring upon the assassin at once
and kill him. I made him understand that, above all, he must not, in his
desire to kill him, miss him.

"When I had sworn to him that his daughter was not in the room, and
in no danger, he conquered his impatience and left me to direct the
operations. I told them that they must come to me the moment I called
to them, or when I fired my revolver. I then sent Daddy Jacques to place
himself before the window at the end of the 'right' gallery. (No. 2 on
my plan.) I chose that position 'for Daddy Jacques because I believed
that the murderer, tracked, on leaving the room, would run through the
gallery towards the window which he had left open, and, instantly seeing
that it was guarded by Larsan, would pursue his course along the 'right'
gallery. There he would encounter Daddy Jacques, who would prevent his
springing out of the window into the park. Under that window there was
a sort of buttress, while all the other windows in the galleries were at
such a height from the ground that it was almost impossible to jump from
them without breaking one's neck. All the doors and windows, including
those of the lumber-room at the end of the 'right' gallery--as I had
rapidly assured myself--were strongly secured.

"Having indicated to Daddy Jacques the post he was to occupy, and having
seen him take up his position, I placed Monsieur Stangerson on
the landing at the head of the stairs not far from the door of his
daughter's ante-room, rather than the boudoir, where the women