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