“And to close it again!” I cried. “And why did you close it? Whom did you wish to deceive?” “_You, monsieur!_” He pronounced these two words with a contempt so crushing that the blood rushed to my face. I arose. Every eye was turned upon me and as I remembered the rudeness with which Rouletabille had treated me a little while ago before M. Darzac, I had the horrible feeling that every eye was suspecting me--accusing me! _Yes! I felt myself entirely wrapped around by the atrocious fancy in the mind of each and all that I might be Larsan!_ I! Larsan! I looked at each one in turn. Rouletabille did not lower his eyes while my own were seeking to make him feel the fierce protestation of my whole being and my indignation against such a monstrous supposition. Anger ran through my veins like a flame. “Now, it is high time to end this farce!” I cried. “If Old Bob is removed from consideration and Professor Stangerson and Prince Galitch, there remain only ourselves--we who are locked up in this room--and if Larsan is among us, show us to him, Rouletabille!” I repeated the words furiously, for the eyes of the boy, although they were piercing through me, seemed to be fixed upon something outside of and apart from me. “Show him to us! Name him! You are as slow here as you were at the Court of Assizes.” “Had I not good reason at the Court of Assizes for being as slow as I was?” he replied, without betraying any emotion. “You want him to escape this time, too, then?” “No! I swear to _you_ that this time he shall _not_ escape.” Why did his voice continue to be so threatening when he addressed me? Could it be really--_really_ that he suspected me of being Larsan? My eyes wandered to those of the Lady in Black. She was gazing on me in terror. “Rouletabille!” I cried madly, feeling my voice almost smothered in my throat. “You do not--you cannot suspect----!” At this moment, a pistol shot sounded outside, very near to the Square Tower. We all leaped to our feet, remembering the order given by the reporter to the three servants to fire upon anyone who should attempt to go out of the Square Tower. Edith uttered a cry and tried to run out of the room, but Rouletabille, who had not made so much as a gesture, calmed her with a word. “If anyone had drawn upon _him_,” he said, “the three men would have fired together. That pistol shot was merely a signal--a direction for me to begin.” Turning to me, he continued: “M. Sainclair, you ought to know that I never suspect any person or anything without previously having satisfied myself upon the ‘ground of pure reason.’ That is a solid staff which has never yet failed me on the road and on which I invite you all to lean with me. Larsan is here among us, and the power of pure reason is going to show him to you; so be seated again, if you please, and do not take your eyes from me, for I am going to begin on this paper the corporeal demonstration of the possibility of ‘the body too many’!”