How did he do that ?" "He escaped by a most unusual way.

He climbed the wall, sprang onto the terrace, and, while we were engaged with the keeper's body, reached the gallery by the window.

He then had little else to do than to open the window, get in and call out to us, as if he had just come from his own room.

To a man of Ballmeyer's strength all that was mere child's play.
And here, Monsieur, is the proof of what I say." Rouletabille drew from his pocket a small packet, from which he produced a strong iron peg.
"This, Monsieur," he said, "is a spike which perfectly fits a hole still to be seen in the cornice supporting the terrace.

Larsan, who thought and prepared for everything in case of any emergency, had fixed this spike into the cornice.