very clear that this weapon did less harm to Mademoiselle Stangerson
than it did to the murderer."

The magistrate made no reply to this question, which doubtless
embarrassed him. "Monsieur Stangerson," he said, "tells us that the
two bullets have been found in The Yellow Room, one embedded in the
wall stained with the impression of a red hand--a man's large hand
--and the other in the ceiling."

"Oh! oh! in the ceiling!" muttered Rouletabille. "In the ceiling!
That's very curious!--In the ceiling!"

He puffed awhile in silence at his pipe, enveloping himself in the
smoke. When we reached Savigny-sur-Orge, I had to tap him on the
shoulder to arouse him from his dream and come out on to the
platform of the station.

There, the magistrate and his Registrar bowed to us, and by rapidly
getting into a cab that was awaiting them, made us understand that
they had seen enough of us.

"How long will it take to walk to the Chateau du Glandier?"
Rouletabille asked one of the railway porters.

"An hour and a half or an hour and three quarters--easy walking,"
the man replied.

Rouletabille looked up at the sky and, no doubt, finding its
appearance satisfactory, took my arm and said: