the mystery of the yellow room-第10章

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beautiful；　and　a　very　curious　mystery。〃

〃The　Bete　du　bon　Dieu；〃　muttered　Daddy　Jacques；　〃the　Bete　du　bon
Dieu　herself；　if　she　had　committed　the　crime；　could　not　have　escaped。
Listen！　　Do　you　hear　it？　　Hush！〃

Daddy　Jacques　made　us　a　sign　to　keep　quiet　and；　stretching　his　arm
towards　the　wail　nearest　the　forest；　listened　to　something　which　we
could　not　hear。

〃It's　answering；〃　he　said　at　length。　　〃I　must　kill　it。　　It　is　too
wicked；　but　it's　the　Bete　du　bon　Dieu；　and；　every　night；　it　goes　to
pray　on　the　tomb　of　Sainte…Genevieve　and　nobody　dares　to　touch　her；
for　fear　that　Mother　Angenoux　should　cast　an　evil　spell　on　them。〃

〃How　big　is　the　Bete　du　bon　Dieu？〃

〃Nearly　as　big　as　a　small　retriever；　…　a　monster；　I　tell　you。　　Ah！
…　I　have　asked　myself　more　than　once　whether　it　was　not　her　that
took　our　poor　Mademoiselle　by　the　throat　with　her　claws。　　But　the
Bete　du　bon　Dieu　does　not　wear　hobnailed　boots；　nor　fire　revolvers；
nor　has　she　a　hand　like　that！〃　exclaimed　Daddy　Jacques；　again
pointing　out　to　us　the　red　mark　on　the　wall。　　〃Besides；　we　should
have　seen　her　as　well　as　we　would　have　seen　a　man　…〃

〃Evidently；〃　I　said。　　〃Before　we　had　seen　this　Yellow　Room；　I　had
also　asked　myself　whether　the　cat　of　Mother　Angenoux　…〃

〃You　also！〃　cried　Rouletabille。

〃Didn't　you？〃　I　asked。

〃Not　for　a　moment。　　After　reading　the　article　in　the　'Matin；'　I　knew
that　a　cat　had　nothing　to　do　with　the　matter。　　But　I　swear　now　that
a　frightful　tragedy　has　been　enacted　here。　　You　say　nothing　about
the　Basque　cap；　or　the　handkerchief；　found　here；　Daddy　Jacques？〃

〃Of　course；　the　magistrate　has　taken　them；〃　the　old　man　answered；
hesitatingly。

〃I　haven't　seen　either　the　handkerchief　or　the　cap；　yet　I　can　tell
you　how　they　are　made；〃　the　reporter　said　to　him　gravely。

〃Oh；　you　are　very　clever；〃　said　Daddy　Jacques；　coughing　and
embarrassed。

〃The　handkerchief　is　a　large　one；　blue　with　red　stripes　and　the　cap
is　an　old　Basque　cap；　like　the　one　you　are　wearing　now。〃

〃You　are　a　wizard！〃　said　Daddy　Jacques；　trying　to　laugh　and　not
quite　succeeding。　　〃How　do　you　know　that　the　handkerchief　is　blue
with　red　stripes？〃

〃Because；　if　it　had　not　been　blue　with　red　stripes；　it　would　not
have　been　found　at　all。〃

Without　giving　any　further　attention　to　Daddy　Jacques；　my　friend
took　a　piece　of　paper　from　his　pocket；　and　taking　out　a　pair　of
scissors；　bent　over　the　footprints。　　Placing　the　paper　over　one
of　them　he　began　to　cut。　　In　a　short　time　he　had　made　a　perfect
pattern　which　he　handed　to　me；　begging　me　not　to　lose　it。

He　then　returned　to　the　window　and；　pointing　to　the　figure　of
Frederic　Larsan；　who　had　not　quitted　the　side　of　the　lake；　asked
Daddy　Jacques　whether　the　detective　had；　like　himself；　been　working
in　The　Yellow　Room？

〃No；〃　replied　Robert　Darzac；　who；　since　Rouletabille　had　handed
him　the　piece　of　scorched　paper；　had　not　uttered　a　word；　〃He　pretends
that　he　does　not　need　to　examine　The　Yellow　Room。　　He　says　that　the
murderer　made　his　escape　from　it　in　quite　a　natural　way；　and　that
he　will；　this　evening；　explain　how　he　did　it。〃

As　he　listened　to　what　Monsieur　Darzac　had　to　say；　Rouletabille
turned　pale。

〃Has　Frederic　Larsan　found　out　the　truth；　which　I　can　only　guess
at？〃　he　murmured。　　〃He　is　very　clever　…　very　clever　…　and　I　admire
him。　　But　what　we　have　to　do　to…day　is　something　more　than　the　work
of　a　policeman；　something　quite　different　from　the　teachings　of
experience。　　We　have　to　take　hold　of　our　reason　by　the　right　end。〃

The　reporter　rushed　into　the　open　air；　agitated　by　the　thought　that
the　great　and　famous　Fred　might　anticipate　him　in　the　solution　of
the　problem　of　The　Yellow　Room。

I　managed　to　reach　him　on　the　threshold　of　the　pavilion。　　〃Calm
yourself；　my　dear　fellow；〃　I　said。　　〃Aren't　you　satisfied？〃

〃Yes；〃　he　confessed　to　me；　with　a　deep　sigh。　　〃I　am　quite　satisfied。
I　have　discovered　many　things。〃

〃Moral　or　material？〃

〃Several　moral；　…　one　material。　　This；　for　example。〃

And　rapidly　he　drew　from　his　waistcoat　pocket　a　piece　of　paper　in
which　he　had　placed　a　light…coloured　hair　from　a　woman's　head。





CHAPTER　VIII

The　Examining　Magistrate　Questions　Mademoiselle　Stangerson


Two　minutes　later；　as　Rouletabille　was　bending　over　the　footprints
discovered　in　the　park；　under　the　window　of　the　vestibule；　a　man；
evidently　a　servant　at　the　chateau；　came　towards　us　rapidly　and
called　out　to　Monsieur　Darzac　then　coming　out　of　the　pavilion：

〃Monsieur　Robert；　the　magistrate；　you　know；　is　questioning
Mademoiselle。〃

Monsieur　Darzac　uttered　a　muttered　excuse　to　us　and　set　off　running
towards　the　chateau；　the　man　running　after　him。

〃If　the　corpse　can　speak；〃　I　said；　〃it　would　be　interesting　to　be
there。〃

〃We　must　know；〃　said　my　friend。　　〃Let's　go　to　the　chateau。〃　And　he
drew　me　with　him。　　But；　at　the　chateau；　a　gendarme　placed　in　the
vestibule　denied　us　admission　up　the　staircase　of　the　first　floor。
We　were　obliged　to　wait　down　stairs。

This　is　what　passed　in　the　chamber　of　the　victim　while　we　were
waiting　below。

The　family　doctor；　finding　that　Mademoiselle　Stangerson　was　much
better；　but　fearing　a　relapse　which　would　no　longer　permit　of　her
being　questioned；　had　thought　it　his　duty　to　inform　the　examining
magistrate　of　this；　who　decided　to　proceed　immediately　with　a　brief
examination。　　At　this　examination；　the　Registrar；　Monsieur
Stangerson；　and　the　doctor　were　present。　　Later；　I　obtained　the　text
of　the　report　of　the　examination；　and　I　give　it　here；　in　all　its
legal　dryness：

〃Question。　　Are　you　able；　mademoiselle；　without　too　much　fatiguing
yourself；　to　give　some　necessary　details　of　the　frightful　attack　of
which　you　have　been　the　victim？

〃Answer。　　I　feel　much　better；　monsieur；　and　I　will　tell　you　all　I
know。　　When　I　entered　my　chamber　I　did　not　notice　anything　unusual
there。

〃Q。　　Excuse　me；　mademoiselle；　…　if　you　will　allow　me；　I　will　ask　you
some　questions　and　you　will　answer　them。　　That　will　fatigue　you　less
than　making　a　long　recital。

〃A。　　Do　so；　monsieur。

〃Q。　　What　did　you　do　on　that　day？　　…　I　want　you　to　be　as　minute　and
precise　as　possible。　　I　wish　to　know　all　you　did　that　day；　if　it　is
not　asking　too　much　of　you。

〃A。　　I　rose　late；　at　ten　o'clock；　for　my　father　and　I　had　returned
home　late　on　the　night　previously；　having　been　to　dinner　at　the
reception　given　by　the　President　of　the　Republic；　in　honour　of　the
Academy　of　Science　of　Philadelphia。　　When　I　left　my　chamber；　at
half…past　ten；　my　father　was　already　at　work　in　the　laboratory。　　We
worked　together　till　midday。　　We　then　took　half…an…hour's　walk　in
the　park；　as　we　were　accustomed　to　do；　before　breakfasting　at　the
chateau。　　After　breakfast；　we　took　another　walk　for　half　an　hour；
and　then　returned　to　the　laboratory。　　There　we　found　my　chambermaid；
who　had　come　to　set　my　room　in　order。　　I　went　into　The　Yellow　Room
to　give　her　some　slight　orders　and　she　directly　afterwards　left　the
pavilion；　and　I　resumed　my　work　with　my　father。　　At　five　o'clock；
we　again　went　for　a　walk　in　the　park　and　afterward　had　tea。

〃Q。　　Before　leaving　the　pavilion　at　five　o'clock；　did　you　go　into　your
chamber？

〃A。　　No；　monsieur；　my　father　went　into　it；　at　my　request　to　bring
me　my　hat。

〃Q。　　And　he　found　nothing　suspicious　there？

〃A。　　Evidently　no；　monsieur。

〃0。　　It　is；　then；　almost　certain　that　the　murderer　was　not　yet
concealed　under　the　bed。　　When　you　went　out；　was　the　door　of　the
room　locked？

〃A。　　No；　there　was　no　reason　for　locking　it。

〃Q。　　You　were　absent　from　the　pavilion　some　length　of　time；　Monsieur
Stangerson　and　you？

〃A。　　About　an　hour。

〃Q。　　It　was　during　that　hour；　no　doubt；　that　the　murderer　got　into
the　pavilion。　　But　how？　　Nobody　knows。　　Footmarks　have　been　found
in　the　park；　leading　away　from　the　window　of　the　vestibule；　but　none
has　been　found　going　towards　it。　　Did　you　notice　whether　the
vestibule　window　was　open　when　you　went　out？

〃A。　　I　don't　remember。

〃Monsieur　Stangerson。　　It　was　closed。

〃Q。　　And　when　you　returned？

〃Mademoiselle　Stangerson。　　I　did　not　notice。

〃M。　　Stangerson。　　It　was　still　closed。　　I　remember　remarking　aloud：
'Daddy　Jacques　must　surely　have　opened　it　while　we　were　away。'

〃Q。　　Strange！　　…　Do　you　recollect；　Monsieur　Stangerson；　if　during
your　absence；　and　before　going　out；　he　had　opened　it？　　You　returned
to　the　laboratory　at　six　o'clock　and　resumed　work？

〃Mademoiselle　Stangerson。　　Yes；　monsieur。

〃Q。　　And　you　did　not　leave　the　laboratory　from　that　hour　up　to　the
moment　when　you　entered　your　chamber？

〃M。　　Stangerson。　　Neither　my　daughter　nor　I；　monsieur。　　We　were
engaged　on　work　that　was　pressing；　and　we　lost　not　a　moment；
…　neglecting　everything　else　on　that　account。

〃Q。　　Did　you　dine　in　the　laboratory？

〃A。　　For　that　reason。

〃Q。　　Are　you　accustomed　to　dine　in　the　laboratory？

〃A。　　We　rarely　dine　there。

〃Q。　　Could　the　murderer　have　known　that　you　would　dine　there　that
evening？

〃M。　　Stangerson。　　Good　Heavens！　　…　I　think　not。　　It　was　only　when
we　returned　to　the　pavilion　at　six　o'clock；　that　we　decided；　my
daughter　and　I；　to　dine　there。　　At　that　moment　I　was　spoken　to　by
my　gamekeeper；　who　detained　me　a　moment；　to　ask　me　to　accompany
him　on　an　urgent　tour　of　inspection　in　a　part　of　the　woods　which　I
had　decided　to　thin。　　I　put　this　off　until　the　next　day；　and　begged
him；　as　he　was　going　by　the　chateau；　to　tell　the　steward　that　we
should　dine　in　the　laboratory。　　He　left　me；　to　execute　the　errand
and　I　rejoined　my　daughter；　who　was　already　at　work。

〃Q。　　At　what　hour；　mademoiselle；　did　you　go　to　your　chamber　while
your　father　continued　to　work　there？

〃A。　　At　midnight。

〃Q。　　Did　Daddy　Jacques　enter　The　Yellow　Room　in　the　course　of
the　evening？

〃A。　　To　shut　the　blinds　and　light　the　night…light。

〃Q。　　He　saw　nothing　suspicious？

〃A。　　He　would　have　told　us　if　he　had　seen。　　Daddy　Jacques　is　an
honest　man　and　very　attached　to　me。

〃Q。　　You　affirm；　Monsieur　Stangerson；　that　Daddy　Jacques　remained
with　you　all　the　time　you　were　in　the　laboratory？

〃M。　　Stangerson。　　I　am　sure　of　it。　　I　have　no　doubt　of　that。

〃Q。　　When　you　entered　your　chamber；　mademoiselle；　you　immediately
shut　the　door　and　locked　and　bolted　it？　　That　was　taking　unusual
precautions；　knowing　that　your　father　and　your　servant　were　there？
Were　you　in　fear　of　something；　then？

〃A。　　My　father　would　be　returning　to　the　chateau　and　Daddy　Jacques
would　be　going　to　his　bed。　　And；　in　fact；　I　did　fear　something。

〃Q。　　You　were　so　much　in　fear　of　something　that　you　borrowed　Daddy
Jacques's　revolver　without　telling　him　you　had　done　so？

〃A。　　That　is　true。　　I　did　not　wish　to　alarm　anybody；　…　the　more；
because　my　fears　might　have　proved　to　have　been　foolish。

〃Q。　　What　was　it　you　feared？

〃A。　　I　hardly　know　how　to　tell　you。　　For　several　nights；　I　seemed
to　hear；　both　in　the　park　and　out　of　the　park；　round　the　pavilion；
unusual　sounds；　sometimes　footsteps；　at　other　times　the　cracking
of　branches。　　The　night　before　the　attack　on　me；　when　I　did　not
get　to　bed　before　three　o'clock　in　the　morning；　on　our　return　from
the　Elysee；　I　stood　for　a　moment　before　my　window；　and　I　felt　sure
I　saw　shadows。

〃Q。　　How　many？

〃A。　　Two。　　They　moved　round　the