Why did I not get them released sooner?
Because I was not sure that nothing more than poaching was against them.
I wanted to study the ground.

As the days went by, my conviction became more and more certain.

The day after the events of the inexplicable gallery I had need of help I could rely on, so I resolved to have them released at once." That was how Joseph Rouletabille explained himself.

Once more I could not but be astonished at the simplicity of the reasoning which had brought him to the truth of the matter.

Certainly this was no big thing; but I think, myself, that the young man will, one of these days, explain with the same simplicity, the fearful tragedy in The Yellow Room as well as the phenomenon of the inexplicable gallery.
We reached the Donjon Inn and entered it.
This time we did not see the landlord, but were received with a pleasant smile by the hostess.