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absensions are closely connected with Mademoiselle Stangerson's
secret； and that Monsieur Darzac feels himself in honour bound to
remain silent。 It may be that Larsan； who； since his three attempts；
has had everything in training to cast suspicion on Monsieur Darzac；
had fixed on just those occasions for a meeting with Monsieur Darzac
at a spot most compromising。 Larsan is cunning enough to have done
that。〃
The President seemed partly convinced； but still curious； he asked：
〃But what is this secret of Mademoiselle Stangerson？〃
〃That I cannot tell you；〃 said Rouletabille。 〃I think； however；
you know enough now to acquit Monsieur Robert Darzac！ Unless
Larsan should return； and I don't think he will；〃 he added； with
a laugh。
〃One question more；〃 said the President。 〃Admitting your
explanation； we know that Larsan wished to turn suspicion on Monsieur
Robert Darzac； but why should he throw suspicion on Daddy Jacques
also？〃
〃There came in the professional detective； Monsieur； who proves
himself an unraveller of mysteries； by annihilating the very proofs
he had accumulated。 He's a very cunning man； and a similar trick
had often enabled him to turn suspicion from himself。 He proved
the innocence of one before accusing the other。 You can easily
believe； Monsieur； that so complicated a scheme as this must have
been long and carefully thought out in advance by Larsan。 I can
tell you that he had long been engaged on its elaboration。 If you
care to learn how he had gathered information； you will find that
he had； on one occasion； disguised himself as the commissionaire
between the 'Laboratory of the Surete' and Monsieur Stangerson； of
whom 'experiments' were demanded。 In this way he had been able
before the crime； on two occasions to take stock of the pavilion。
He had 'made up' so that Daddy Jacques had not recognised him。 And
yet Larsan had found the opportunity to rob the old man of a pair
of old boots and a cast…off Basque cap； which the servant had tied
up in a handkerchief； with the intention of carrying them to a
friend； a charcoal…burner on the road to Epinay。 When the crime
was discovered； Daddy Jacques had immediately recognised these
objects as his。 They were extremely compromising； which explains
his distress at the time when we spoke to him about them。 Larsan
confessed it all to me。 He is an artist at the game。 He did a
similar thing in the affair of the 'Credit Universel；' and in that
of the 'Gold Ingots of the Mint。' Both these cases should be
revised。 Since Ballmeyer or Larsan has been in the Surete a number
of innocent persons have been sent to prison。〃
CHAPTER XXVIII
In Which It Is Proved That One Does Not Always Think of Everything
Great excitement prevailed when Rouletabille had finished。 The
court…room became agitated with the murmurings of suppressed
applause。 Maitre Henri Robert called for an adjournment of the
trial and was supported in his motion by the public prosecutor
himself。 The case was adjourned。 The next day Monsieur Robert
Darzac was released on bail； while Daddy Jacques received the
immediate benefit of a 〃no cause for action。〃 Search was
everywhere made for Frederic Larsan； but in vain。 Monsieur Darzac
finally escaped the awful calamity which； at one time； had
threatened him。 After a visit to Mademoiselle Stangerson； he was
led to hope that she might； by careful nursing； one day recover
her reason。
Rouletabille； naturally； became the 〃man of the hour。〃 On leaving
the Palais de Justice； the crowd bore him aloft in triumph。 The
press of the whole world published his exploits and his photograph。
He； who had interviewed so many illustrious personages； had himself
become illustrious and was interviewed in his turn。 I am glad to
say that the enormous success in no way turned his head。
We left Versailles together； after having dined at 〃The Dog That
Smokes。〃 In the train I put a number of questions to him which；
during our meal； had been on the tip of my tongue； but which I had
refrained from uttering； knowing he did not like to talk 〃shop〃
while eating。
〃My friend；〃 I said； 〃that Larsan case is wonderful。 It is worthy
of you。
He begged me to say no more； and humorously pretended an anxiety
for me should I give way to silly praise of him because of a
personal admiration for his ability。
〃I'll come to the point； then；〃 I said； not a little nettled。 〃I
am still in the dark as to your reason for going to America。 When
you left the Glandier you had found out； if I rightly understand；
all about Frederic Larsan； you had discovered the exact way he had
attempted the murder？〃
〃Quite so。 And you；〃 he said； turning the conversation； 〃did you
suspect nothing？〃
〃Nothing！〃
〃It's incredible！〃
〃I don't see how I could have suspected anything。 You took great
pains to conceal your thoughts from me。 Had you already suspected
Larsan when you sent for me to bring the revolvers？〃
〃Yes！ I had come to that conclusion through the incident of the
'inexplicable gallery。' Larsan's return to Mademoiselle Stangerson's
room； however； had not then been cleared up by the eye…glasses。 My
suspicions were the outcome of my reasoning only； and the idea of
Larsan being the murderer seemed so extraordinary that I resolved to
wait for actual evidence before venturing to act。 Nevertheless； the
suspicion worried me； and I sometimes spoke to the detective in a
way that ought to have opened your eyes。 I spoke disparagingly of
his methods。 But until I found the eye…glasses I could but look
upon my suspicion of him in the light of an absurd hypothesis only。
You can imagine my elation after I had explained Larsan's movements。
I remember well rushing into my room like a mad…man and crying to
you： 'I'll get the better of the great Fred。 I'll get the better
of him in a way that will make a sensation！'
〃I was then thinking of Larsan； the murderer。 It was that same
evening that Darzac begged me to watch over Mademoiselle Stangerson。
I made no efforts until after we had dined with Larsan； until ten
o'clock。 He was right there before me； and I could afford to wait。
You ought to have suspected； because when we were talking of the
murderer's arrival； I said to you： 'I am quite sure Larsan will be
here to…night。'
〃But one important point escaped us both。 It was one which ought
to have opened our eyes to Larsan。 Do you remember the bamboo cane？
I was surprised to find Larsan had made no use of that evidence
against Robert Darzac。 Had it not been purchased by a man whose
description tallied exactly with that of Darzac？ Well； just before
I saw him off at the train； after the recess during the trial； I
asked him why he hadn't used the cane evidence。 He told me he had
never had any intention of doing so； that our discovery of it in
the little inn at Epinay had much embarrassed him。 If you will
remember； he told us then that the cane had been given him in London。
Why did we not immediately say to ourselves： 'Fred is lying。 He
could not have had this cane in London。 He was not in London。 He
bought it in Paris'？ Then you found out； on inquiry at Cassette's；
tha