ight end
in my reasoning. With Frederic Larsan was now always associated, in
my mind, the personality of the unknown of whom I was in pursuit--the
murderer, in other words.

"That revelation staggered me. I tried to regain my balance by going
over the evidences previously traced, but which had diverted my mind and
led me away from Frederic Larsan. What were these evidences?

"1st. I had seen the unknown in Mademoiselle Stangerson's chamber. On
going to Frederic Larsan's room, I had found Larsan sound asleep.

"2nd. The ladder.

"3rd. I had placed Frederic Larsan at the end of the 'off-turning'
gallery and had told him that I would rush into Mademoiselle
Stangerson's room to try to capture the murderer. Then I returned to
Mademoiselle Stangerson's chamber where I had seen the unknown.

"The first evidence did not disturb me much. It is likely that, when I
descended from my ladder, after having seen the unknown in Mademoiselle
Stangerson's chamber, Larsan had already finished what he was doing
there. Then, while I was re-entering the chateau, Larsan went back to
his own room and, undressing himself, went to sleep.

"Nor did the second evidence trouble me. If Larsan were the murderer,
he could have no use for a ladder; but the ladder might have been placed
there to give an appearance to the murderer's entrance from without the
chateau; especially as Larsan had accused Darzac and Darzac was not in
the chateau that night. Further, the ladder might have been placed there
to facilitate Larsan's flight in case of absolute necessity.

"But the third evidence puzzled me altogether. Having placed Larsan at
the end of the 'off-turning gallery,' I could not explain how he had
taken advantage of the moment when I had gone to the left wing of the
chateau to find Monsieur Stangerson and Daddy Jacques, to return to
Mademoiselle Stangerson's room. It was a very dangerous thing to do. He
risked being captured,--and he knew it. And he was very nearly captured.
He had not had time to regain his post, as he had certainly hoped to
do. He had then a very strong reason for returning to his room. As for
myself, when I sent Daddy Jacques to the end of the 'right gallery,' I
naturally thought that Larsan was still at his post. Daddy Jacques, in
going to his post, had not looked, when he passed, to see whether Larsan
was at his post or not.

"What, then, was the urgent reason which had compelled Larsan to go to
the room a second time? I gu