the mystery of the yellow room-第1章

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The　Mystery　of　the　Yellow　Room

by　Gaston　Leroux





CHAPTER　I

In　Which　We　Begin　Not　to　Understand


It　is　not　without　a　certain　emotion　that　I　begin　to　recount　here
the　extraordinary　adventures　of　Joseph　Rouletabille。　　Down　to　the
present　time　he　had　so　firmly　opposed　my　doing　it　that　I　had　come
to　　despair　of　ever　publishing　the　most　curious　of　police　stories
of　the　past　fifteen　years。　　I　had　even　imagined　that　the　public
would　never　know　the　whole　truth　of　the　prodigious　case　known　as
that　of　The　Yellow　Room；　out　of　which　grew　so　many　mysterious；
cruel；　and　sensational　dramas；　with　which　my　friend　was　so　closely
mixed　up；　if；　propos　of　a　recent　nomination　of　the　illustrious
Stangerson　to　the　grade　of　grandcross　of　the　Legion　of　Honour；　an
evening　journal　…　in　an　article；　miserable　for　its　ignorance；　or
audacious　for　its　perfidy　…　had　not　resuscitated　a　terrible
adventure　of　which　Joseph　Rouletabille　had　told　me　he　wished　to　be
for　ever　forgotten。

The　Yellow　Room！　　Who　now　remembers　this　affair　which　caused　so
much　ink　to　flow　fifteen　years　ago？　　Events　are　so　quickly
forgotten　in　Paris。　　Has　not　the　very　name　of　the　Nayves　trial　and
the　tragic　history　of　the　death　of　little　Menaldo　passed　out　of
mind？　　And　yet　the　public　attention　was　so　deeply　interested　in　the
details　of　the　trial　that　the　occurrence　of　a　ministerial　crisis
was　completely　unnoticed　at　the　time。　　Now　The　Yellow　Room　trial；
which；　preceded　that　of　the　Nayves　by　some　years；　made　far　more
noise。　　The　entire　world　hung　for　months　over　this　obscure　problem
…　the　most　obscure；　it　seems　to　me；　that　has　ever　challenged　the
perspicacity　of　our　police　or　taxed　the　conscience　of　our　judges。
The　solution　of　the　problem　baffled　everybody　who　tried　to　find　it。
It　was　like　a　dramatic　rebus　with　which　old　Europe　and　new　America
alike　became　fascinated。　　That　is；　in　truth　…　I　am　permitted　to　say；
because　there　cannot　be　any　author's　vanity　in　all　this；　since　I
do　nothing　more　than　transcribe　facts　on　which　an　exceptional
documentation　enables　me　to　throw　a　new　light　…　that　is　because；
in　truth；　I　do　not　know　that；　in　the　domain　of　reality　or
imagination；　one　can　discover　or　recall　to　mind　anything　comparable；
in　its　mystery；　with　the　natural　mystery　of　The　Yellow　Room。

That　which　nobody　could　find　out；　Joseph　Rouletabille；　aged　eighteen；
then　a　reporter　engaged　on　a　leading　journal；　succeeded　in
discovering。　　But　when；　at　the　Assize　Court；　he　brought　in　the　key
to　the　whole　case；　he　did　not　tell　the　whole　truth。　　He　only　allowed
so　much　of　it　to　appear　as　sufficed　to　ensure　the　acquittal　of　an
innocent　man。　　The　reasons　which　he　had　for　his　reticence　no　longer
exist。　　Better　still；　the　time　has　come　for　my　friend　to　speak　out
fully。　　You　are　going　to　know　all；　and；　without　further　preamble；
I　am　going　to　place　before　your　eyes　　the　problem　of　The　Yellow
Room　as　it　was　placed　before　the　eyes　of　the　entire　world　on　the
day　following　the　enactment　of　the　drama　at　the　Chateau　du　Glandier。

On　the　25th　of　October；　1892；　the　following　note　appeared　in　the
latest　edition　of　the　〃Temps〃：

〃A　frightful　crime　has　been　committed　at　the　Glandier；　on　the　border
of　the　forest　of　Sainte…Genevieve；　above　Epinay…sur…Orge；　at　　the
house　of　Professor　Stangerson。　　On　that　night；　while　the　master　was
working　in　his　laboratory；　an　attempt　was　made　to　assassinate
Mademoiselle　Stangerson；　who　was　sleeping　in　a　chamber　adjoining
this　laboratory。　　The　doctors　do　not　answer　for　the　life　of　Mdlle。
Stangerson。〃

The　impression　made　on　Paris　by　this　news　may　be　easily　imagined。
Already；　at　that　time；　the　learned　world　was　deeply　interested　in
the　labours　of　Professor　Stangerson　and　his　daughter。　　These　labours
…　　the　first　that　were　attempted　in　radiography　…　served　to　open
the　way　for　Monsieur　and　Madame　Curie　to　the　discovery　of　radium。
It　was　expected　the　Professor　would　shortly　read　to　the　Academy　of
Sciences　a　sensational　paper　on　his　new　theory；　…　the　Dissociation
of　Matter；　…　a　theory　destined　to　overthrow　from　its　base　the　whole
of　official　science；　which　based　itself　on　the　principle　of　the
Conservation　of　Energy。　　On　the　following　day；　the　newspapers　were
full　of　the　tragedy。　　The　〃Matin；〃　among　others；　published　the
following　article；　entitled：　　〃A　Supernatural　Crime〃：

〃These　are　the　only　details；〃　wrote　the　anonymous　writer　in　the
〃Matin〃　…　〃we　have　been　able　to　obtain　concerning　the　crime　of　the
Chateau　du　Glandier。　　The　state　of　despair　in　which　Professor
Stangerson　is　plunged；　and　the　impossibility　of　getting　any
information　from　the　lips　of　the　victim；　have　rendered　our
investigations　and　those　of　justice　so　difficult　that；　at　present；
we　cannot　form　the　least　idea　of　what　has　passed　in　The　Yellow　Room
in　which　Mdlle。　Stangerson；　in　her　night…dress；　was　found　lying　on
the　floor　in　the　agonies　of　death。　　We　have；　at　least；　been　able
to　interview　Daddy　Jacques　…　as　he　is　called　in　the　country　…　a
old　servant　in　the　Stangerson　family。　　Daddy　Jacques　entered　The
Room　at　the　same　time　as　the　Professor。　　This　chamber　adjoins　the
laboratory。　　Laboratory　and　Yellow　Room　are　in　a　pavilion　at　the
end　of　the　park；　about　three　hundred　metres　（a　thousand　feet）　from
the　chateau。

〃'It　was　half…past　twelve　at　night；'　this　honest　old　man　told　us；
'and　I　was　in　the　laboratory；　where　Monsieur　Stangerson　was　still
working；　when　the　thing　happened。　　I　had　been　cleaning　and　putting
instruments　in　order　all　the　evening　and　was　waiting　for　Monsieur
Stangerson　to　go　to　bed。　　Mademoiselle　Stangerson　had　worked　with
her　father　up　to　midnight；　when　the　twelve　strokes　of　midnight　had
sounded　by　the　cuckoo…clock　in　the　laboratory；　she　rose；　kissed
Monsieur　Stangerson　and　bade　him　good…night。　　To　me　she　said　〃bon
soir；　Daddy　Jacques〃　as　she　passed　into　The　Yellow　Room。　　We　heard
her　lock　the　door　and　shoot　the　bolt；　so　that　I　could　not　help
laughing；　and　said　to　Monsieur：　〃There's　Mademoiselle　double…locking
herself　in；　…　she　must　be　afraid　of　the　'Bete　du　bon　Dieu！'〃
Monsieur　did　not　even　hear　me；　he　was　so　deeply　absorbed　in　what　he
was　doing。　　Just　then　we　heard　the　distant　miawing　of　a　cat。　　〃Is
that　going　to　keep　us　awake　all　night？〃　I　said　to　myself；　for　I
must　tell　you；　Monsieur；　that；　to　the　end　of　October；　I　live　in　an
attic　of　the　pavilion　over　The　Yellow　Room；　so　that　Mademoiselle
should　not　be　left　alone　through　the　night　in　the　lonely　park。　　It
was　the　fancy　of　Mademoiselle　to　spend　the　fine　weather　in　the
pavilion；　no　doubt；　she　found　it　more　cheerful　than　the　chateau　and；
for　the　four　years　it　had　been　built；　she　had　never　failed　to　take
up　her　lodging　there　in　the　spring。　　With　the　return　of　winter；
Mademoiselle　returns　to　the　chateau；　for　there　is　no　fireplace　in
The　Yellow　Room。

〃'We　were　staying　in　the　pavilion；　then　…　Monsieur　Stangerson　and
me。　　We　made　no　noise。　　He　was　seated　at　his　desk。　　As　for　me；　I
was　sitting　on　a　chair；　having　finished　my　work　and；　looking　at　him；
I　said　to　myself：　　〃What　a　man！　　…　what　intelligence！　　…　what
knowledge！〃　　I　attach　importance　to　the　fact　that　we　made　no　noise；
for；　because　of　that；　the　assassin　certainly　thought　that　we　had
left　the　place。　　And；　suddenly；　while　the　cuckoo　was　sounding　the
half　after　midnight；　a　desperate　clamour　broke　out　in　The　Yellow
Room。　　It　was　the　voice　of　Mademoiselle；　crying　　〃Murder！　　…　murder！
…　help！〃　　Immediately　afterwards　revolver　shots　rang　out　and　there
was　a　great　noise　of　tables　and　furniture　being　thrown　to　the
ground；　as　if　in　the　course　of　a　struggle；　and　again　the　voice　of
Mademoiselle　calling；　〃Murder！　　…　help！　　…　Papa！　　…　Papa！　　…〃

〃'You　may　be　sure　that　we　quickly　sprang　up　and　that　Monsieur
Stangerson　and　I　threw　ourselves　upon　the　door。　　But　alas！　　it
was　locked；　fast　locked；　on　the　inside；　by　the　care　of　Mademoiselle；
as　I　have　told　you；　with　key　and　bolt。　　We　tried　to　force　it　open；
but　it　remained　firm。　　Monsieur　Stangerson　was　like　a　madman；　and
truly；　it　was　enough　to　make　him　one；　for　we　heard　Mademoiselle
still　calling　　〃Help！　　…　help！〃　　Monsieur　Stangerson　showered
terrible　blows　on　the　door；　and　wept　with　rage　and　sobbed　with
despair　and　helplessness。

〃'It　was　then　that　I　had　an　inspiration。　　〃The　assassin　must　have
entered　by　the　window！〃　I　cried；　…　〃I　will　go　to　the　window！〃　and
I　rushed　from　the　pavilion　and　ran　like　one　out　of　his　mind。

〃'The　inspiration　was　that　the　window　of　The　Yellow　Room　looks　out
in　such　a　way　that　the　park　wall；　which　abuts　on　the　pavilion；
prevented　my　at　once　reaching　the　window。　　To　get　up　to　it　one　has
first　to　go　out　of　the　park。　　I　ran　towards　the　gate　and；　on　my　way；
met　Bernier　and　his　wife；　the　gate…keepers；　who　had　been　attracted
by　the　pistol　reports　and　by　our　cries。　　In　a　few　words　I　told　them
what　had　happened；　and　directed　the　concierge　to　join　Monsieur
Stangerson　with　all　speed；　while　his　wife　came　with　me　to　open　the
park　gate。　　Five　minutes　later　she　and　I　were　before　the　window　of
The　Yellow　Room。


〃'The　moon　was　shining　brightly　and　I　saw　clearly　that　no　one　had
touched　the　window。　　Not　only　were　the　bars　that　protect　it　intact；
but　the　blinds　inside　of　them　were　drawn；　as　I　had　myself　drawn
them　early　in　the　evening；　as　I　did　every　day；　though　Mademoiselle；
knowing　that　I　was　tired　from　the　heavy　work　I　had　been　doing；　had
begged　me　not　to　trouble　myself；　but　leave　her　to　do　it；　and　they
were　just　as　I　had　left　them；　fastened　with　an　iron　catch　on　the
inside。　　The　assassin；　therefore；　could　not　have　passed　either　in
or　out　that　way；　but　neither　could　I　get　in。

〃'It　was　unfortunate；　…　enough　to　turn　one's　brain！　　The　door　of
the　room　locked　on　the　inside　and　the　blinds　on　the　only　window
also　fastened　on　the　inside；　and　Mademoiselle　still　calling　for
help！　　…　No！　　she　had　ceased　to　call。　　She　was　dead；　perhaps。　　But
I　still　heard　her　father；　in　the　pavilion；　trying　to　break　down
the　door。

〃'With　the　concierge　I　hurried　back　to　the　pavilion。　　The　door；
in　spite　of　the　furious　attempts　of　Monsieur　Stangerson　and　Bernier
to　burst　it　open；　was　still　holding　firm；　but　at　length；　it　gave
way　before　our　united　efforts；　…　and　then　what　a　sight　met　our　eyes！
I　should　tell　you　that；　behind　us；　the　concierge　held　the　laboratory
lamp　…　a　powerful　lamp；　that　lit　the　whole　chamber。

〃'I　must　also　tell　you；　monsieur；　that　The　Yellow　Room　is　a　very
small　room。　　Mademoiselle　had　furnished　it　with　a　fairly　large　iron
bedstead；　a　small　table；　a　night…commode；　a　dressing…table；　and　two
chairs。　　By　the　light　of　the　big　lamp　we　saw　all　at　a　glance。
Mademoiselle；　in　her　night…dress；　was　lying　on　the　floor　in　the
midst　of　the　greatest　disorder。　　Tables　and　chairs　had　been
overthrown；　showing　that　there　had　been　a　violent　struggle。
Mademoiselle　had　certainly　been　dragged　from　her　bed。　　She　was
covered　with　blood　and　had　terrible　marks　of　finger…nails　on　her
throat；　…　the　flesh　of　her　neck　having　been　almost　torn　by　the
nails。　　From　a　wound　on　the　right　temple　a　stream　of　blood　had　run
down　and　made　a　little　pool　on　the　floor。　　When　Monsieur　Stangerson
saw　his　daughter　in　that　state；　he　threw　himself　on　his　knees　beside
her；　uttering　a　cry　of　despair。　　He　ascertained　that　she　still
brea