The President angrily declared that if it was repeated, he would have the court cleared.
"Now, young man," said the President, "you have heard Monsieur Frederic Larsan; how did the murderer get away from the court ?" Rouletabille looked at Madame Mathieu, who smiled back at him sadly.
"Since Madame Mathieu," he said, "has freely admitted her intimacy with the keeper--" "Why, it's the boy!" exclaimed Daddy Mathieu.
"Remove that man!" ordered the President.
Mathieu was removed from the court.

Rouletabille went on: "Since she has made this confession, I am free to tell you that she often met the keeper at night on the first floor of the donjon, in the room which was once an oratory.

These meetings became more frequent when her husband was laid up by his rheumatism.

She gave him morphine to ease his pain and to give herself more time for the meetings.

Madame Mathieu came to the chateau that night, enveloped in a large black shawl which served also as a disguise.