"Madame has a shapely foot, long and rather large for a woman. The
imprint, with its pointed toe, is very like that of the murderer's."

A movement in the court was repressed by Rouletabille. He held
their attention at once.

"I hasten to add," he went on, "that I attach no importance to this.
Outward signs like these are often liable to lead us into error, if
we do not reason rightly. Monsieur Robert Darzac's footprints are
also like the murderer's, and yet he is not the murderer!"

The President turning to Madame Mathieu asked:

"Is that in accordance with what you know occurred?"

"Yes, Monsieur President," she replied, "it is as if Monsieur
Rouletabille had been behind us."

"Did you see the murderer running towards the end of the right wing?"

"Yes, as clearly as I saw them afterwards carrying the keeper's
body."

"What became of the murderer?--You were in the courtyard and could
easily have seen.

"I saw nothing of him, Monsieur President. It became quite dark
just then."

"Then Monsieur Rouletabille," said the President, "must explain