He followed it to the lake and to the high road to Epinay, where the phantom suddenly disappeared.
"'Did you see his face ?' demanded Larsan.
"'No!--I saw nothing but black veils.' "'Did you go out after what passed on the gallery ?' "'I could not!--I was terrified.' "'Daddy Jacques,' I said, in a threatening voice, 'you did not follow it; you and the phantom walked to Epinay together--arm in arm!' "'No!' he cried, turning his eyes away, 'I did not.

It came on to pour, and--I turned back.

I don't know what became of the black phantom." "We left him, and when we were outside I turned to Larsan, looking him full in the face, and put my question suddenly to take him off his guard: "'An accomplice ?' "'How can I tell ?' he replied, shrugging his shoulders.

'You can't be sure of anything in a case like this.

Twenty-four hours ago I would have sworn that there was no accomplice!' He left me saying he was off to Epinay." "Well, what do you make of it ?" I asked Rouletabille, after he had ended his recital.