"Poor Robert!" continued the young reporter, "this dreadful affair
may be his death,--he is so deeply in love with Mademoiselle
Stangerson."

"His sufferings are truly painful to witness," escaped like a regret
from the lips of Monsieur de Marquet.

"But it is to be hoped that Mademoiselle Stangerson's life will be
saved."

"Let us hope so. Her father told me yesterday that, if she does not
recover, it will not be long before he joins her in the grave. What
an incalculable loss to science his death would be!"

"The wound on her temple is serious, is it not?"

"Evidently; but, by a wonderful chance, it has not proved mortal.
The blow was given with great force."

"Then it was not with the revolver she was wounded," said
Rouletabille, glancing at me in triumph.

Monsieur de Marquet appeared greatly embarrassed.

"I didn't say anything--I don't want to say anything--I will not
say anything," he said. And he turned towards his Registrar as if
he no longer knew us.

But Rouletabille was not to be so easily shaken off. He moved
nearer to the examining magistrate and, drawing a copy of the