Part 35 (2/2)

What became of that son?-That is another story which, so far, I am not permitted to relate.

About two months after these events, I came upon Rouletabille sitting on a bench in the Palais de Justice, looking very depressed.

”What's the matter, old man?” I asked. ”You are looking very down. cast. How are your friends getting on?”

”Apart from you,” he said, ”I have no friends.”

”I hope that Monsieur Darzac-”

”No doubt.”

”And Mademoiselle Stangerson-How is she?”

”Better-much better.”

”Then you ought not to be sad.”

”I am sad,” he said, ”because I am thinking of the perfume of the lady in black-”

”The perfume of the lady in black!-I have heard you often refer to it. Tell me why it troubles you.”

”Perhaps-some day; some day,” said Rouletabille.

And he heaved a profound sigh.

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