the mystery of the yellow room-第12章

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took　hardly　any　notice　of　us　and　continued　to　be　stirring　with　his
cane　something　which　we　could　not　see。

〃Look！〃　said　Rouletabille；　〃here　again　are　the　footmarks　of　the
escaping　man；　they　skirt　the　lake　here　and　finally　disappear　just
before　this　path；　which　leads　to　the　high　road　to　Epinay。　　The　man
continued　his　flight　to　Paris。〃

〃What　makes　you　think　that？〃　I　asked；　〃since　these　footmarks　are
not　continued　on　the　path？〃

〃What　makes　me　think　that？　　…　Why　these　footprints；　which　I　expected
to　find！〃　he　cried；　pointing　to　the　sharply　outlined　imprint　of　a
neat　boot。　　〃See！〃　…　and　he　called　to　Frederic　Larsan。

〃Monsieur　Fred；　these　neat　footprints　seem　to　have　been　made　since
the　discovery　of　the　crime。〃

〃Yes；　young　man；　yes；　they　have　been　carefully　made；〃　replied　Fred
without　raising　his　head。　　〃You　see；　there　are　steps　that　come；　and
steps　that　go　back。〃

〃And　the　man　had　a　bicycle！〃　cried　the　reporter。

Here；　after　looking　at　the　marks　of　the　bicycle；　which　followed；
going　and　coming；　the　neat　footprints；　I　thought　I　might　intervene。

〃The　bicycle　explains　the　disappearance　of　the　murderer's　big
foot…prints；〃　I　said。　　〃The　murderer；　with　his　rough　boots；　mounted
a　bicycle。　　His　accomplice；　the　wearer　of　the　neat　boots；　had　come
to　wait　for　him　on　the　edge　of　the　lake　with　the　bicycle。　　It　might
be　supposed　that　the　murderer　was　working　for　the　other。〃

〃No；　no！〃　replied　Rouletabille　with　a　strange　smile。　　〃I　have
expected　to　find　these　footmarks　from　the　very　beginning。　　These
are　not　the　footmarks　of　the　murderer！〃

〃Then　there　were　two？〃

〃No　…　there　was　but　one；　and　he　had　no　accomplice。〃

〃Very　good！　…　Very　good！〃　cried　Frederic　Larsan。

〃Look！〃　continued　the　young　reporter；　showing　us　the　ground　where
it　had　been　disturbed　by　big　and　heavy　heels；　〃the　man　seated
himself　there；　and　took　off　his　hobnailed　boots；　which　he　had　worn
only　for　the　purpose　of　misleading　detection；　and　then　no　doubt；
taking　them　away　with　him；　he　stood　up　in　his　own　boots；　and　quietly
and　slowly　regained　the　high　road；　holding　his　bicycle　in　his　hand；
for　he　could　not　venture　to　ride　it　on　this　rough　path。　　That
accounts　for　the　lightness　of　the　impression　made　by　the　wheels
along　it；　in　spite　of　the　softness　of　the　ground。　　If　there　had　been
a　man　on　the　bicycle；　the　wheels　would　have　sunk　deeply　into　the
soil。　　No；　no；　there　was　but　one　man　there；　the　murderer　on　foot。〃

〃Bravo！　　…　bravo！〃　cried　Fred　again；　and　coming　suddenly　towards
us　and；　planting　himself　in　front　of　Monsieur　Robert　Darzac；　he
said　to　him：

〃If　we　had　a　bicycle　here；　we　might　demonstrate　the　correctness　of
the　young　man's　reasoning；　Monsieur　Robert　Darzac。　　Do　you　know
whether　there　is　one　at　the　chateau？〃

〃No！〃　replied　Monsieur　Darzac。　　〃There　is　not。　　I　took　mine；　four
days　ago；　to　Paris；　the　last　time　I　came　to　the　chateau　before　the
crime。〃

〃That's　a　pity！〃　replied　Fred；　very　coldly。　　Then；　turning　to
Rouletabille；　he　said：　〃If　we　go　on　at　this　rate；　we'll　both　come
to　the　same　conclusion。　　Have　you　any　idea；　as　to　how　the　murderer
got　away　from　The　Yellow　Room？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　my　young　friend；　〃I　have　an　idea。〃

〃So　have　I；〃　said　Fred；　〃and　it　must　be　the　same　as　yours。　　There
are　no　two　ways　of　reasoning　in　this　affair。　　I　am　waiting　for　the
arrival　of　my　chief　before　offering　any　explanation　to　the　examining
magistrate。〃

〃Ah！　　Is　the　Chief　of　the　Surete　coming？〃

〃Yes；　this　afternoon。　　He　is　going　to　summon；　before　the　magistrate；
in　the　laboratory；　all　those　who　have　played　any　part　in　this
tragedy。　　It　will　be　very　interesting。　　It　is　a　pity　you　won't　be
able　to　be　present。〃

〃I　shall　be　present；〃　said　Rouletabille　confidently。

〃Really　…　you　are　an　extraordinary　fellow　…　for　your　age！〃　replied
the　detective　in　a　tone　not　wholly　free　from　irony。　　〃You'd　make　a
wonderful　detective　…　if　you　had　a　little　more　method　…　if　you
didn't　follow　your　instincts　and　that　bump　on　your　forehead。　　As　I
have　already　several　times　observed；　Monsieur　Rouletabille；　you
reason　too　much；　you　do　not　allow　yourself　to　be　guided　by　what　you
have　seen。　　What　do　you　say　to　the　handkerchief　full　of　blood；　and
the　red　mark　of　the　hand　on　the　wall？　　You　have　seen　the　stain　on
the　wall；　but　I　have　only　seen　the　handkerchief。〃

〃Bah！〃　cried　Rouletabille；　〃the　murderer　was　wounded　in　the　hand
by　Mademoiselle　Stangerson's　revolver！〃

〃Ah！　　…　a　simply　instinctive　observation！　　Take　care！　　…　You　are
becoming　too　strictly　logical；　Monsieur　Rouletabille；　logic　will
upset　you　if　you　use　it　indiscriminately。　　You　are　right；　when　you
say　that　Mademoiselle　Stangerson　fired　her　revolver；　but　you　are
wrong　when　you　say　that　she　wounded　the　murderer　in　the　hand。〃

〃I　am　sure　of　it；〃　cried　Rouletabille。

Fred；　imperturbable；　interrupted　him：

〃Defective　observation　…　defective　observation！　　…　the　examination
of　the　handkerchief；　the　numberless　little　round　scarlet　stains；　the
impression　of　drops　which　I　found　in　the　tracks　of　the　footprints；
at　the　moment　when　they　were　made　on　the　floor；　prove　to　me　that　the
murderer　was　not　wounded　at　all。　　Monsieur　Rouletabille；　the　murderer
bled　at　the　nose！〃

The　great　Fred　spoke　quite　seriously。　　However；　I　could　not　refrain
from　uttering　an　exclamation。

The　reporter　looked　gravely　at　Fred；　who　looked　gravely　at　him。
And　Fred　immediately　concluded：

〃The　man　allowed　the　blood　to　flow　into　his　hand　and　handkerchief；
and　dried　his　hand　on　the　wall。　　The　fact　is　highly　important；〃　he
added；　〃because　there　is　no　need　of　his　being　wounded　in　the　hand
for　him　to　be　the　murderer。〃

Rouletabille　seemed　to　be　thinking　deeply。　　After　a　moment　he
said：

〃There　is　something　…　a　something；　Monsieur　Frederic　Larsan；　much
graver　than　the　misuse　of　logic　the　disposition　of　mind　in　some
detectives　which　makes　them；　in　perfect　good　faith；　twist　logic　to
the　necessities　of　their　preconceived　ideas。　　You；　already；　have
your　idea　about　the　murderer；　Monsieur　Fred。　　Don't　deny　it；　and
your　theory　demands　that　the　murderer　should　not　have　been　wounded
in　the　hand；　otherwise　it　comes　to　nothing。　　And　you　have　searched；
and　have　found　something　else。　　It's　dangerous；　very　dangerous；
Monsieur　Fred；　to　go　from　a　preconceived　idea　to　find　the　proofs　to
fit　it。　　That　method　may　lead　you　far　astray　Beware　of　judicial
error；　Monsieur　Fred；　it　will　trip　you　up！〃

And　laughing　a　little；　in　a　slightly　bantering　tone；　his　hands　in
his　pockets；　Rouletabille　fixed　his　cunning　eyes　on　the　great　Fred。

Frederic　Larsan　silently　contemplated　the　young　reporter　who
pretended　to　be　as　wise　as　himself。　　Shrugging　his　shoulders；　he
bowed　to　us　and　moved　quickly　away；　hitting　the　stones　on　his　path
with　his　stout　cane。

Rouletabille　watched　his　retreat；　and　then　turned　toward　us；　his
face　joyous　and　triumphant。

〃I　shall　beat　him！〃　he　cried。　　〃I　shall　beat　the　great　Fred；　clever
as　he　is；　I　shall　beat　them　all！〃

And　he　danced　a　double　shuffle。　　Suddenly　he　stopped。　　My　eyes
followed　his　gaze；　they　were　fixed　on　Monsieur　Robert　Darzac；　who
was　looking　anxiously　at　the　impression　left　by　his　feet　side　by
side　with　the　elegant　footmarks。　　There　was　not　a　particle　of
difference　between　them！

We　thought　he　was　about　to　faint。　　His　eyes；　bulging　with　terror；
avoided　us；　while　his　right　hand；　with　a　spasmodic　movement；
twitched　at　the　beard　that　covered　his　honest；　gentle；　and　now
despairing　face。　　At　length　regaining　his　self…possession；　he　bowed
to　us；　and　remarking；　in　a　changed　voice；　that　he　was　obliged　to
return　to　the　chateau；　left　us。

〃The　deuce！〃　exclaimed　Rouletabille。

He；　also；　appeared　to　be　deeply　concerned。　　From　his　pocket…book　he
took　a　piece　of　white　paper　as　I　had　seen　him　do　before；　and　with
his　scissors；　cut　out　the　shape　of　the　neat　bootmarks　that　were　on
the　ground。　　Then　he　fitted　the　new　paper　pattern　with　the　one　he
had　previously　made　…　the　two　were　exactly　alike。　　Rising；
Rouletabille　exclaimed　again：　〃The　deuce！〃　　Presently　he　added：
〃Yet　I　believe　Monsieur　Robert　Darzac　to　be　an　honest　man。〃　　He
then　led　me　on　the　road　to　the　Donjon　Inn；　which　we　could　see　on
the　highway；　by　the　side　of　a　small　clump　of　trees。





CHAPTER　X

We　Shall　Have　to　Eat　Red　Meat　…　Now〃


The　Donjon　Inn　was　of　no　imposing　appearance；　but　I　like　these
buildings　with　their　rafters　blackened　with　age　and　the　smoke　of
their　hearths　…　these　inns　of　the　coaching…days；　crumbling　erections
that　will　soon　exist　in　the　memory　only。　　They　belong　to　the　bygone
days；　they　are　linked　with　history。　　They　make　us　think　of　the　Road；
of　those　days　when　highwaymen　rode。

I　saw　at　once　that　the　Donjon　Inn　was　at　least　two　centuries　old
…　perhaps　older。　　Under　its　sign…board；　over　the　threshold；　a　man
with　a　crabbed…looking　face　was　standing；　seemingly　plunged　in
unpleasant　thought；　if　the　wrinkles　on　his　forehead　and　the　knitting
of　his　brows　were　any　indication。

When　we　were　close　to　him；　he　deigned　to　see　us　and　asked　us；　in　a
tone　anything　but　engaging；　whether　we　wanted　anything。　　He　was；　no
doubt；　the　not　very　amiable　landlord　of　this　charming　dwelling…place。
As　we　expressed　a　hope　that　he　would　be　good　enough　to　furnish　us
with　a　breakfast；　he　assured　us　that　he　had　no　provisions；　regarding
us；　as　he　said　this；　with　a　look　that　was　unmistakably　suspicious。

〃You　may　take　us　in；〃　Rouletabille　said　to　him；　〃we　are　not
policemen。〃

〃I'm　not　afraid　of　the　police　…　I'm　not　afraid　of　anyone！〃　replied
the　man。

I　had　made　my　friend　understand　by　a　sign　that　we　should　do　better
not　to　insist；　but；　being　determined　to　enter　the　inn；　he　slipped
by　the　man　on　the　doorstep　and　was　in　the　common　room。

〃Come　on；〃　he　said；　〃it　is　very　comfortable　here。〃

A　good　fire　was　blazing　in　the　chimney；　and　we　held　our　hands　to
the　warmth　it　sent　out；　it　was　a　morning　in　which　the　approach　of
winter　was　unmistakable。　　The　room　was　a　tolerably　large　one；
furnished　with　two　heavy　tables；　some　stools；　a　counter　decorated
with　rows　of　bottles　of　syrup　and　alcohol。　　Three　windows　looked
out　on　to　the　road。　　A　coloured　advertisement　lauded　the　many
merits　of　a　new　vermouth。　　On　the　mantelpiece　was　arrayed　the
innkeeper's　collection　of　figured　earthenware　pots　and　stone　jugs。

〃That's　a　fine　fire　for　roasting　a　chicken；〃　said　Rouletabille。
〃We　have　no　chicken　…　not　even　a　wretched　rabbit；〃　said　the
landlord。

〃I　know；〃　said　my　friend　slowly；　〃I　know　…　We　shall　have　to　eat　red
meat　…　now。〃

I　confess　I　did　not　in　the　least　understand　what　Rouletabille　meant
by　what　he　had　said；　but　the　landlord；　as　soon　as　he　heard　the　words；
uttered　an　oath；　which　he　at　once　stifled；　and　placed　himself　at　our
orders　as　obediently　as　Monsieur　Robert　Darzac　had　done；　when　he
heard　Rouletabille's　prophetic　sentence　…　〃The　presbytery　has　lost
nothing　of　its　charm；　nor　the　garden　its　brightness。〃　　Certainly　my
friend　knew　how　to　make　people　understand　him　by　the　use　of　wholly
incomprehensible　phrases。　　I　observed　as　much　to　him；　but　he　merely
smiled。　　I　should　have　proposed　that　he　give　me　some　explanation；
but　he　put　a　finger　to　his　lips；　which　evidently　signified　that　he
had　not　only　determined　not　to　speak；　but　also　enjoined　silence　on
my