The immediate
result of that could, however, have been no more than a mere
friendly association with the Stangersons; certainly, not a love
affair.
Frederic Larsan did not tell me where he had picked up this
information; but he appeared to be quite sure of what he said.
Had we known these facts at the time Arthur Rance met us at the
Donjon Inn, his presence at the chateau might not have puzzled us,
but they could not have failed to increase our interest in the man
himself. The American must have been at least forty-five years old.
He spoke in a perfectly natural tone in reply to Rouletabille's
question.
"I put off my return to America when I heard of the attack on
Mademoiselle Stangerson. I wanted to be certain the lady had not
been killed, and I shall not go away until she is perfectly
recovered."
Arthur Rance then took the lead in talk, paying no heed to some of
Rouletabille's questions. He gave us, without our inviting him, his
personal views on the subject of the tragedy,--views which, as well
as I could make out, were not far from those held by Frederic Larzan.
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