“What became of the murderer?—You were in the court and could easily have seen?” “I saw nothing of him, Monsieur President. It became quite dark just then.” “Then Monsieur Rouletabille,” said the President, “must explain how the murderer made his escape.” Rouletabille continued: “It was impossible for the murderer to escape by the way he had entered the court without our seeing him; or if we couldn’t see him we must certainly have felt him, since the court is a very narrow one enclosed in high iron railings.” “Then if the man was hemmed in that narrow square, how is it you did not find him?—I have been asking you that for the last half hour.” “Monsieur President,” replied Rouletabille, “I cannot answer that question before half-past six!” By this time the people in the court-room were beginning to believe in this new witness. They were amused by his melodramatic action in thus fixing the hour; but they seemed to have confidence in the outcome. As for the President, it looked as if he also had made up his mind to take the young man in the same way. He had certainly been impressed by Rouletabille’s explanation of Madame Mathieu’s part. “Well, Monsieur Rouletabille,” he said, “as you say; but don’t let us see any more of you before half-past six.” Rouletabille bowed to the President, and made his way to the door of the witnesses’ room. * * * * * I quietly made my way through the crowd and left the court almost at the same time as Rouletabille. He greeted me heartily, and looked happy. “I’ll not ask you, my dear fellow,” I said, smiling, “what you’ve been doing in America; because I’ve no doubt you’ll say you can’t tell me until after half-past six.” “No, my dear Sainclair, I’ll tell you right now why I went to America. I went in search of the name of the _other half_ of the murderer!” “The name of the other half?” “Exactly. When we last left the Glandier I knew there were two halves to the murderer and the name of only one of them. I went to America for the name of the other half.” I was too puzzled to answer. Just then we entered the witnesses’ room, and Rouletabille was immediately surrounded. He showed himself very friendly to all except Arthur Rance to whom he exhibited a marked coldness of manner. Frédéric Larsan came in also. Rouletabille went up and shook him heartily by the hand. His manner toward the detective showed that he had got the better of the policeman. Larsan smiled and asked him what he had been doing in America. Rouletabille began by telling him some anecdotes of his voyage. They then turned aside together apparently with the object of speaking confidentially. I, therefore, discreetly left them and, being curious to hear the evidence, returned to my seat in the court-room where the public plainly showed its lack of interest in what was going on in their impatience for Rouletabille’s return at the appointed time. * * * * *