What was my astonishment to see on the slippery column of the tree two human forms appear and quietly slip down to the ground.

Rouletabille had mounted alone, and had returned with another.
"Good evening, Monsieur Sainclair!" It was Frederic Larsan.

The detective had already occupied the post of observation when my young friend had thought to reach it alone.

Neither noticed my astonishment.

I explained that to myself by the fact that they must have been witnesses of some tender and despairing scene between Mademoiselle Stangerson, lying in her bed, and Monsieur Darzac on his knees by her pillow.