"If we have not spoken sooner, it is because the interests of
certain parties in the case demand that we should take that course.
Our readers may remember the unsigned reports we published relating
to the 'Left foot of the Rue Oberkampf,' at the time of the famous
robbery of the Credit Universel, and the famous case of the 'Gold
Ingots of the Mint.' In both those cases we were able to discover
the truth long before even the excellent ingenuity of Frederic
Larsan had been able to unravel it. These reports were written by
our youngest reporter, Joseph Rouletabille, a youth of eighteen,
whose fame to-morrow will be world-wide. When attention was first
drawn to the Glandier case, our youthful reporter was on the spot
and installed in the chateau, when every other representative of
the press had been denied admission. He worked side by side with
Frederic Larsan. He was amazed and terrified at the grave mistake
the celebrated detective was about to make, and tried to divert
him from the false scent he was following; but the great Fred
refused to receive instructions from this young journalist. We
know now where it brought Monsieur Robert Darzac.

"But now, France must know--the whole world must know, that, on
the very evening on which Monsieur Darzac was arrested, young
Rouletabille entered our editorial office and informed us that he
was about to go away on a journey. 'How long I shall be away,'
he said, 'I cannot say; perhaps a month--perhaps two--perhaps
three perhaps I may never return. Here is a letter. If I am not
back on the day on which Monsieur Darzac is to appear before the
Assize Court, have this letter opened and read to the court, after
all the witnesses have been heard. Arrange it with Monsieur Darzac's
counsel. Monsieur Darzac is innocent. In this letter is written