n for a minute, which seemed to me a long
time. As it opened into the gallery, that is to say, outwards, I could
not see what was passing in the room behind the door.

At that moment I noticed a strange sound, three times repeated, coming
from the park. Ordinarily I should not have attached any more importance
to it than I would to the noise of cats on the roof. But the third time,
the mew was so sharp and penetrating that I remembered what I had heard
about the cry of the Bete du bon Dieu. As the cry had accompanied all
the events at the Glandier, I could not refrain from shuddering at the
thought.

Directly afterwards I saw a man appear on the outside of the door, and
close it after him. At first I could not recognise him, for his back was
towards me and he was bending over a rather bulky package. When he had
closed the door and picked up the package, he turned towards the dark
closet, and then I saw who he was. He was the forest-keeper, the Green
Man. He was wearing the same costume that he had worn when I first saw
him on the road in front of the Donjon Inn. There was no doubt about his
being the keeper. As the cry of the Bete du Bon Dieu came for the third
time, he put down the package and went to the second window, counting
from the dark closet. I dared not risk making any movement, fearing I
might betray my presence.

Arriving at the window, he peered out on to the park. The night was
now light, the moon showing at intervals. The Green Man raised his
arms twice, making signs which I did not understand; then, leaving the
window, he again took up his package and moved along the gallery towards
the landing-place.

Rouletabille had instructed me to undo the curtain-cord when I saw
anything. Was Rouletabille expecting this? It was not my business
to question. All I had to do was obey instructions. I unfastened the
window-cord; my heart beating the while as if it would burst. The man
reached the landing-place, but, to my utter surprise--I had expected to
see him continue to pass along the gallery--I saw him descend the stairs
leading to the vestibule.

What was I to do? I looked stupidly at the heavy curtain which had shut
the light from the window. The signal had been given, and I did not see
Rouletabille appear at the corner of the off-turning gallery. Nobody
appeared. I was exceedingly perplexed. Half an hour passed, an age to
me. What was I to do now, even if I saw something? The signal once given
I could not