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y to seize him--when we were almost touching him. We had no longer any ground for hoping that we could clear up the mystery of that night. "As soon as I rapped at the door it was opened, and the keeper asked us quietly what we wanted. He was undressed and preparing to go to bed. The bed had not yet been disturbed. "We entered and I affected surprise. "'Not gone to bed yet?' "'No,' he replied roughly. 'I have been making a round of the park and in the woods. I am only just back--and sleepy. Good-night!' "'Listen,' I said. 'An hour or so ago, there was a ladder close by your window.' "'What ladder?--I did not see any ladder. Good-night!' "And he simply put us out of the room. When we were outside I looked at Larsan. His face was impenetrable. "'Well?' I said. "'Well?' he repeated. "'Does that open out any new view to you?' "There was no mistaking Larsan's bad temper. On re-entering the chateau, I heard him mutter: "'It would be strange--very strange--if I had deceived myself on that point!' "He seemed to be talking to me rather than to himself. He added: 'In any case, we shall soon know what to think. The morning will bring light with it.'" CHAPTER XVIII. Rouletabille Has Drawn a Circle Between the Two Bumps on His Forehead (EXTRACT FROM THE NOTE-BOOK OF JOSEPH ROULETABILLE, continued) "We separated on the thresholds of our rooms, with a melancholy shake of the hands. I was glad to have aroused in him a suspicion of error. His was an original brain, very intelligent but--without method. I did not go to bed. I awaited the coming of daylight and then went down to the front of the chateau, and made a detour, examining every trace of footsteps coming towards it or going from it. These, however, were so mixed and confusing that I could make nothing of them. Here I may make a remark,--I am not accustomed to attach an exaggerated importance to exterior signs left in the track of a crime. "The method which traces the criminal by means of the tracks of his footsteps is altogether primitive. So many footprints are identical. However, in the disturbed state of my mind, I did go into the deserted court and did look at all the footprints I could find there, seeking for some indication, as a basis for reasoning. "If I could but find a right starting-point! In despair I seated myself on a stone. For over an hour I busied myself with the common, ordinary work of a policeman. Like the lea
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