er shots, and then he fired. When the
woman parted from the man she went towards the open gate of the court,
while he returned to his room.

"He had almost reached the door when the revolvers rang out. He had just
reached the corner when a shadow bounded by. Meanwhile, Madame Mathieu,
surprised by the revolver shots and by the entrance of people into the
court, crouched in the darkness. The court is a large one and, being
near the gate, she might easily have passed out unseen. But she remained
and saw the body being carried away. In great agony of mind she neared
the vestibule and saw the dead body of her lover on the stairs lit up by
Daddy Jacques' lantern. She then fled; and Daddy Jacques joined her.

"That same night, before the murder, Daddy Jacques had been awakened
by the cat's cry, and, looking through his window, had seen the black
phantom. Hastily dressing himself he went out and recognised her. He is
an old friend of Madame Mathieu, and when she saw him she had to tell
him of her relations with the keeper and begged his assistance. Daddy
Jacques took pity on her and accompanied her through the oak grove out
of the park, past the border of the lake to the road to Epinay. From
there it was but a very short distance to her home.

"Daddy Jacques returned to the chateau, and, seeing how important it was
for Madame Mathieu's presence at the chateau to remain unknown, he did
all he could to hide it. I appeal to Monsieur Larsan, who saw me, next
morning, examine the two sets of footprints."

Here Rouletabille turning towards Madame Mathieu, with a bow, said:

"The footprints of Madame bear a strange resemblance to the neat
footprints of the murderer."

Madame Mathieu trembled and looked at him with wide eyes as if in wonder
at what he would say next.

"Madame has a shapely foot, long and rather large for a woman. The
imprint, with its pointed toe, is very like that of the murderer's."

A movement in the court was repressed by Rouletabille. He held their
attention at once.

"I hasten to add," he went on, "that I attach no importance to this.
Outward signs like these are often liable to lead us into error, if we
do not reason rightly. Monsieur Robert Darzac's footprints are also like
the murderer's, and yet he is not the murderer!"

The President turning to Madame Mathieu asked:

"Is that in accordance with what you know occurred?"

"Yes, Monsieur President," she replied, "it is as if Monsieur
Rouletabille