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〃Will he wear his beard this evening？〃
〃I think I can say for certain that he will。 But the gallery is
light and； now； I know … or … at least； my brain knows … and my
eyes will see。〃
〃If we are here only to see him and let him escape； why are we armed？〃
〃Because； if the man of The Yellow Room and the inexplicable gallery
knows that I know； he is capable of doing anything！ We should then
have to defend ourselves。〃
〃And you are sure he will come to…night？〃
〃As sure as that you are standing there！ This morning； at half…past
ten o'clock； Mademoiselle Stangerson； in the cleverest way in the
world； arranged to have no nurses to…night。 She gave them leave of
absence for twenty…four hours； under some plausible pretexts； and
did not desire anybody to be with her but her father； while they
are away。 Her father； who is to sleep in the boudoir； has gladly
consented to the arrangement。 Darzac's departure and what he told
me； as well as the extraordinary precautions Mademoiselle Stangerson
is taking to be alone to…night leaves me no room for doubt。 She has
prepared the way for the coming of the man whom Darzac dreads。〃
〃That's awful！〃
〃It is！〃
〃And what we saw her do was done to send her father to sleep？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Then there are but two of us for to…night's work？〃
〃Four； the concierge and his wife will watch at all hazards。 I
don't set much value on them before … but the concierge may be
useful after … if there's to be any killing！〃
〃Then you think there may be？〃
〃If he wishes it。〃
〃Why haven't you brought in Daddy Jacques？ … Have you made no use
of him to…day？〃
〃No；〃 replied Rouletabille sharply。
I kept silence for awhile； then； anxious to know his thoughts； I
asked him point blank：
〃Why not tell Arthur Rance？ … He may be of great assistance to us？〃
〃Oh！〃 said Rouletabille crossly； 〃then you want to let everybody
into Mademoiselle Stangerson's secrets？ … Come； let us go to dinner；
it is time。 This evening we dine in Frederic Larsan's room； … at
least； if he is not on the heels of Darzac。 He sticks to him like
a leech。 But； anyhow； if he is not there now； I am quite sure he
will be； to…night！ He's the one I am going to knock over！〃
At this moment we heard a noise in the room near us。
〃It must be he；〃 said Rouletabille。
〃I forgot to ask you；〃 I said； 〃if we are to make any allusion to
to…night's business when we are with this policeman。 I take it we
are not。 Is that so？〃
〃Evidently。 We are going to operate alone； on our own personal
account。〃
〃So that all the glory will be ours？〃
Rouletabille laughed。
We dined with Frederic Larsan in his room。 He told us he had just
come in and invited us to be seated at table。 We ate our dinner in
the best of humours； and I had no difficulty in appreciating the
feelings of certainty which both Rouletabille and Larsan felt。
Rouletabille told the great Fred that I had come on a chance visit；
and that he had asked me to stay and help him in the heavy batch of
writing he had to get through for the 〃Epoque。〃 I was going back
to Paris； he said； by the eleven o'clock train； taking his 〃copy；〃
which took a story form； recounting the principal episodes in the
mysteries of the Glandier。 Larsan smiled at the explanation like
a man who was not fooled and politely refrains from making the
slightest remark on matters which did not concern him。
With infinite precautions as to the words they used； and even as to
the tones of their voices； Larsan and Rouletabille discussed； for a
long time； Mr。 Arthur Rance's appearance at the chateau； and his
past in America； about which they expressed a desire to know more；
at any rate； so far as his relations with the Stangersons。 At one
time； Larsan； who appeared to me to be unwell； said； with an effort：
〃I think； Monsieur Rouletabille； that we've not much more to do at
the Glandier； and that we sha'n't sleep here many more nights。〃
〃I think so； too； Monsieur Fred。〃
〃Then you think the conclusion of the matter has been reached？〃
〃I think； indeed； that we have nothing more to find out；〃 replied
Rouletabille。
〃Have you found your criminal？〃 asked Larsan。
〃Have you？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃So have I；〃 said Rouletabille。
〃Can it be the same man？〃
〃I don't know if you have swerved from your original idea；〃 said
the young reporter。 Then he added； with emphasis： 〃Monsieur Darzac
is an honest man！〃
〃Are you sure of that？〃 asked Larsan。 〃Well； I am sure he is not。
So it's a fight then？〃
〃Yes； it is a fight。 But I shall beat you； Monsieur Frederic Larsan。〃
〃Youth never doubts anything；〃 said the great Fred laughingly； and
held out his hand to me by way of conclusion。
Rouletabille's answer came like an echo：
〃Not anything！〃
Suddenly Larsan； who had risen to wish us goodnight； pressed both
his hands to his chest and staggered。 He was obliged to lean on
Rouletabille for support； and to save himself from falling。
〃Oh！ Oh！〃 he cried。 〃What is the matter with me？ … Have I been
poisoned？〃
He looked at us with haggard eyes。 We questioned him vainly； he
did not answer us。 He had sunk into an armchair and we could get
not a word from him。 We were extremely distressed； both on his
account and on our own； for we had partaken of all the dishes he had
eaten。 He seemed to be out of pain； but his heavy head had fallen
on his shoulder and his eyelids were tightly closed。 Rouletabille
bent over him； listening for the beatings of the heart。
My friend's face； however； when he stood up； was as calm as it had
been a moment before agitated。
〃He is asleep；〃 he said。
He led me to his chamber； after closing Larsan's room。
〃The drug？〃 I asked。 〃Does Mademoiselle Stangerson wish to put
everybody to sleep； to…night？〃
〃Perhaps；〃 replied Rouletabille； but I could see he was thinking of
something else。
〃But what about us？〃 I exclaimed。 〃How do we know that we have not
been drugged？〃
〃Do you feel indisposed？〃 Rouletabille asked me coolly。
〃Not in the least。〃
〃Do you feel any inclination to go to sleep？〃
〃None whatever。〃
〃Well； then； my friend； smoke this excellent cigar。〃
And he handed me a choice Havana； one Monsieur Darzac had given；him；
while he lit his briarwood … his eternal briarwood。
We remained in his room until about ten o'clock without a word
passing between us。 Buried in an armchair Rouletabille sat and
smoked steadily； his brow in thought and a far…away look in his
eyes。 On the stroke of ten he took off his boots and signalled to
me to do the same。 As we stood in our socks he said； in so low a
tone that I guessed； rather than heard； the word：
〃Revolver。〃
I drew my revolver from my jacket pocket。
〃Cock it！〃 he said。
I did as he directed。
Then moving towards the door of his room； he opened it with infinite
precaution； it made no sound。 We were in the 〃off…turning〃 gallery。
Rouletabille made another sign to me which I understood to mean that
I was to take up my post in the dark closet。
When I was some distance from him； he rejoined me and embraced me；
and then I saw him； with the same precaution； return to his room。
Astonished by his embrace； a