for my father and I had returned home
late on the night previously, having been to dinner at the reception
given by the President of the Republic, in honour of the Academy of
Science of Philadelphia. When I left my chamber, at half-past ten, my
father was already at work in the laboratory. We worked together
till midday. We then took half-an-hour's walk in the park, as we were
accustomed to do, before breakfasting at the chateau. After breakfast,
we took another walk for half an hour, and then returned to the
laboratory. There we found my chambermaid, who had come to set my room
in order. I went into The Yellow Room to give her some slight orders and
she directly afterwards left the pavilion, and I resumed my work with
my father. At five o'clock, we again went for a walk in the park and
afterward had tea.

"Q. Before leaving the pavilion at five o'clock, did you go into your
chamber?

"A. No, monsieur, my father went into it, at my request to bring me my
hat.

"Q. And he found nothing suspicious there?

"A. Evidently no, monsieur.

"Q. It is, then, almost certain that the murderer was not yet concealed
under the bed. When you went out, was the door of the room locked?

"A. No, there was no reason for locking it.

"Q. You were absent from the pavilion some length of time, Monsieur
Stangerson and you?

"A. About an hour.

"Q. It was during that hour, no doubt, that the murderer got into the
pavilion. But how? Nobody knows. Footmarks have been found in the park,
leading away from the window of the vestibule, but none has been found
going towards it. Did you notice whether the vestibule window was open
when you went out?

"A. I don't remember.

"Monsieur Stangerson. It was closed.

"Q. And when you returned?

"Mademoiselle Stangerson. I did not notice.

"M. Stangerson. It was still closed. I remember remarking aloud: 'Daddy
Jacques must surely have opened it while we were away.'

"Q. Strange!--Do you recollect, Monsieur Stangerson, if during your
absence, and before going out, he had opened it? You returned to the
laboratory at six o'clock and resumed work?

"Mademoiselle Stangerson. Yes, monsieur.

"Q. And you did not leave the laboratory from that hour up to the moment
when you entered your chamber?

"M. Stangerson. Neither my daughter nor I, monsieur. We were engaged on
work that was pressing, and we lost not a moment,--neglecting everything
else on that account.

"Q. Did you dine in the labor