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most circumscribed； but if it is； it has this advantage … it holds
nothing but the truth！ Yes； I swear that I have never used the
evidence of the senses but as servants to my reason。 I have never
permitted them to become my master。 They have not made of me that
monstrous thing； … worse than a blind man； … a man who sees falsely。
And that is why I can triumph over your error and your merely animal
intelligence； Frederic Larsan。
〃Be of good courage； then； friend Rouletabille； it is impossible
that the incident of the inexplicable gallery should be outside the
circle of your reason。 You know that！ Then have faith and take
thought with yourself and forget not that you took hold of the right
end when you drew that circle in your brain within which to unravel
this mysterious play of circumstance。
〃To it； once again！ Go … back to the gallery。 Take your stand on
your reason and rest there as Frederic Larsan rests on his cane。
You will then soon prove that the great Fred is nothing but a fool。
… 30th October。 Noon。
JOSEPH ROULETABILLE。〃
〃I acted as I planned。 With head on fire； I retraced my way to the
gallery； and without having found anything more than I had seen on
the previous night； the right hold I had taken of my reason drew me
to something so important that I was obliged to cling to it to save
myself from falling。
〃Now for the strength and patience to find sensible traces to fit
in with my thinking … and these must come within the circle I have
drawn between the two bumps on my forehead！
… 30th of October。 Midnight。〃
〃JOSEPH ROULETABILLE。〃
CHAPTER XIX
Rouletabille Invites Me to Breakfast at the Donjon Inn
It was not until later that Rouletabille sent me the note…book in
which he had written at length the story of the phenomenon of the
inexplicable gallery。 On the day I arrived at the Glandier and
joined him in his room； he recounted to me； with the greatest
detail； all that I have now related； telling me also how he had
spent several hours in Paris where he had learned nothing that could
be of any help to him。
The event of the inexplicable gallery had occurred on the night
etween the 29th and 30th of October； that is to say； three days
before my return to the chateau。 It was on the 2nd of November；
then； that I went back to the Glandier； summoned there by my
friend's telegram； and taking the revolvers with me。
I am now in Rouletabille's room and he has finished his recital。
While he had been telling me the story I noticed him continually
rubbing the glass of the eyeglasses he had found on the side table。
》From the evident pleasure he was taking in handling them I felt
they must be one of those sensible evidences destined to enter what
he had called the circle of the right end of his reason。 That
strange and unique way of his； to express himself in terms
wonderfully adequate for his thoughts； no longer surprised me。
It was often necessary to know his thought to understand the terms
he used； and it was not easy to penetrate into Rouletabille's
thinking。
This lad's brain was one of the most curious things I have ever
observed。 Rouletabille went on the even tenor of his way without
suspecting the astonishment and even bewilderment he roused in
others。 I am sure he was not himself in the least conscious of
the originality of his genius。 He was himself and at ease wherever
he happened to be。
When he had finished his recital he asked me what I thought of it。
I replied that I was much puzzled by his question。 Then he begged
me to try； in my turn； to take my reason in hand 〃by the right end。〃
〃Very well；〃 I said。 〃It seems to me that the point of departure
of my reason would be this … there can be no doubt that the murderer
you pursued was in the gallery。〃 I paused。
〃After making so good a start； you ought not to stop so soon；〃 he
exclaimed。 〃Come； make another effort。〃
〃I'll try。 Since he disappeared from the gallery without passing
through any door or window； he must have escaped by some other
opening。〃
Rouletabille looked at me pityingly； smiled carelessly； and remarked
that I was reasoning like a postman； or … like Frederic Larsan。
Rouletabille had alternate fits of admiration and disdain for the
great Fred。 It all depended as to whether Larsan's discoveries
tallied with Rouletabille's reasoning or not。 When they did he
would exclaim： 〃He is really great！〃 When they did not he would
grunt and mutter； 〃What an ass！〃 It was a petty side of the noble
character of this strange youth。
We had risen； and he led me into the park。 When we reached the
court and were making towards the gate； the sound of blinds thrown
back against the wall made us turn our heads； and we saw； at a
window on the first floor of the chateau； the ruddy and clean shaven
face of a person I did not recognise。
〃Hullo！〃 muttered Rouletabille。 〃Arthur Rance！〃 … He lowered his
head； quickened his pace； and I heard him ask himself between his
eeth： 〃Was he in the chateau that night？ What is hedoing here？〃
We had gone some distance from the chateau when I asked him who
this Arthur Rance was； and how he had come to know him。 He referred
to his story of that morning and I remembered that Mr。 Arthur W。
Rance was the American from Philadelphia with whom he had had so
many drinks at the Elysee reception。
〃But was he not to have left France almost immediately？〃 I asked。
〃No doubt； that's why I am surprised to find him here still； and
not only in France； but above all； at the Glandier。 He did not
arrive this morning； and he did not get here last night。 He must
have got here before dinner； then。 Why didn't the concierges
tell me？〃
I reminded my friend； apropos of the concierges； that he had not
yet told me what had led him to get them set at liberty。
We were close to their lodge。 Monsieur and Madame Bemier saw us
coming。 A frank smile lit up their happy faces。 They seemed to
harbour no ill…feeling because of their detention。 My young
friend asked them at what hour Mr。 Arthur Rance had arrived。 They
answered that they did not know he was at the chateau。 He must have
come during the evening of the previous night； but they had not had
to open the gate for him； because； being a great walker； and not
wishing that a carriage should be sent to meet him； he was accustomed
to get off at the little hamlet of Saint…Michel； from which he came
to the chateau by way of the forest。 He reached the park by the
grotto of Sainte…Genevieve； over the little gate of which； giving
on to the park； he climbed。
As the concierges spoke； I saw Rouletabille's face cloud over and
exhibit disappointment … a disappointment； no doubt； with himself。
Evidently he was a little vexed； after having worked so much on the
spot； with so minute a study of the people and events at the Glandier；
that he had to learn now that Arthur Rance was accustomed to visit
the chateau。
〃You say that Monsieur Arthur Rance is accustomed to come to the
chateau。 When did he come here last？〃
〃We can't tell you exactly；〃 replied Madame Be