“I thought of that,” said Rouletabille. “And I went back alone to Rochers Rouges, after I left Pere Bernier.” “That was very imprudent!” I said. “It was very prudent,” corrected Rouletabille. “I had some things to say to Larsan which I did not wish a third party to hear. Well, I went back to Rochers Rouges and called Larsan’s name through all the caves.” “You called him?” cried Arthur Rance. “Yes, I shouted into the gathering night; I waved my handkerchief as the soldiers wave their flag of truce. But whether it was that he heard me and saw my white flag or not, he did not answer.” “Perhaps he was not there,” I suggested. “Perhaps not: I don’t know. I heard a noise in the grotto.” “And you did not enter?” demanded Arthur Rance. “No,” replied Rouletabille, quietly. “But you do not think that it was because I was afraid of him, do you?” “Let us run!” we all cried in one breath, rising at the same moment. “Let us go and finish up the business immediately.” “I don’t think that we shall ever have a better chance of meeting Larsan,” said Arthur Rance. “We can do what we like with him at the bottom of Rochers Rouges.” Darzac and Arthur Rance were already starting off; I waited to see what Rouletabille would say. He calmed the two men with a gesture, and begged them to be seated again. “It is necessary to remember,” he said, “that Larsan would have acted exactly as he has done if he had wished to lure us to-night to the grotto of Rochers Rouges. He has shown himself to us; he has landed almost under our eyes at the Point of Garibaldi; he might as well have shouted under our windows, ‘You know I am at Rochers Rouges. I’ll wait for you there.’ He would have been neither more explicit or more eloquent.” “You went to Rochers Rouges,” resumed Arthur Rance, who I saw was deeply impressed with the arguments of Rouletabille--“and he did not show himself. He hid himself, meditating on some horrible crime to be committed to-night. We must have him out of that grotto.” “Doubtless,” replied Rouletabille, “my promenade to Rochers Rouges produced no result because I was all alone--but if we all go, I can assure you that we shall find some results on our return.” “On our return?” echoed Darzac who did not understand. “Yes,” explained Rouletabille; “on our return to the château, where we have left Mme. Darzac all alone--and where, perhaps, we may not find her. Oh, of course,” he added, as a general silence fell upon his companions, “it is only a hypothesis. But at this time we have no other means of reasoning than by hypothesis.” We looked at each other and this hypothesis overwhelmed us. Evidently, without Rouletabille, we should have committed a terrible blunder and perhaps have been responsible for a terrible disaster. Rouletabille arose and continued, thoughtfully: