to say to Monsieur
Darzac:

"Are you going to put in any defense?"

"No!" replied the prisoner.

"Very well, then I will, Monsieur."

"You cannot do it," said the unhappy man with a faint smile.

"I can--and I will."

Rouletabille's voice had in it a strange strength and confidence.

"I can do it, Monsieur Robert Darzac, because I know more than you do!"

"Come! Come!" murmured Darzac, almost angrily.

"Have no fear! I shall know only what will benefit you."

"You must know nothing, young man, if you want me to be grateful."

Rouletabille shook his head, going close up to Darzac.

"Listen to what I am about to say," he said in a low tone, "and let
it give you confidence. You do not know the name of the murderer.
Mademoiselle Stangerson knows it; but only half of it; but I know his
two halves; I know the whole man!"

Robert Darzac opened his eyes, with a look that showed he had not
understood a word of what Rouletabille had said to him. At that moment
the conveyance arrived, driven by Frederic Larsan. Darzac and the
gendarme entered it, Larsan remaining on the driver's seat. The prisoner
was taken to Corbeil.

CHAPTER XXV. Rouletabille Goes on a Journey

That same evening Rouletabille and I left the Glandier. We were very
glad to get away and there was nothing more to keep us there. I declared
my intention to give up the whole matter. It had been too much for me.
Rouletabille, with a friendly tap on my shoulder, confessed that he had
nothing more to learn at the Glandier; he had learned there all it had
to tell him. We reached Paris about eight o'clock, dined, and then,
tired out, we separated, agreeing to meet the next morning at my rooms.

Rouletabille arrived next day at the hour agreed on. He was dressed in
a suit of English tweed, with an ulster on his arm, and a valise in his
hand. Evidently he had prepared himself for a journey.

"How long shall you be away?" I asked.

"A month or two," he said. "It all depends."

I asked him no more questions.

"Do you know," he asked, "what the word was that Mademoiselle Stangerson
tried to say before she fainted?"

"No--nobody heard it."

"I heard it!" replied Rouletabille. "She said 'Speak!'"

"Do you think Darzac will speak?"

"Never."

I was about to make some further observations, but he wrung my hand
warmly and wished me good-bye. I had only time to ask him one question
before he left.

"Are you not afraid that other attempts may b