But it is over now. Don't leave me."
He had no sooner uttered those words than we were thrilled by a
frightful cry that rang through the chateau,--a veritable death cry.
"Malheur!" roared Rouletabille; "we shall be too late!"
He tried to rush to the door, but he was too dazed, and fell against
the wall. I was already in the gallery, revolver in hand, rushing
like a madman towards Mademoiselle Stangerson's room. The moment I
arrived at the intersection of the "off-turning" gallery and the
"right" gallery, I saw a figure leaving her apartment, which, in a
few strides had reached the landing-place.
I was not master of myself. I fired. The report from the revolver
made a deafening noise; but the man continued his flight down the
stairs. I ran behind him, shouting: "Stop!--stop! or I will kill
you!" As I rushed after him down the stairs, I came face to face
with Arthur Rance coming from the left wing of the chateau, yelling:
"What is it? What is it?" We arrived almost at the same time at
the foot of the staircase. The window of the vestibule was open.
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