the mystery of the yellow room-第13章

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had　not　only　determined　not　to　speak；　but　also　enjoined　silence　on
my　part。

Meantime　the　man　had　pushed　open　a　little　side　door　and　called　to
somebody　to　bring　him　half　a　dozen　eggs　and　a　piece　of　beefsteak。
The　commission　was　quickly　executed　by　a　strongly…built　young　woman
with　beautiful　blonde　hair　and　large；　handsome　eyes；　who　regarded
us　with　curiosity。

The　innkeeper　said　to　her　roughly：

〃Get　out！　　…　and　if　the　Green　Man　comes；　don't　let　me　see　him。〃

She　disappeared。　　Rouletabille　took　the　eggs；　which　had　been　brought
to　him　in　a　bowl；　and　the　meat　which　was　on　a　dish；　placed　all
carefully　beside　him　in　the　chimney；　unhooked　a　frying…pan　and　a
gridiron；　and　began　to　beat　up　our　omelette　before　proceeding　to
grill　our　beefsteak。　　He　then　ordered　two　bottles　of　cider；　and
seemed　to　take　as　little　notice　of　our　host　as　our　host　did　of　him。
The　landlord　let　us　do　our　own　cooking　and　set　our　table　near　one
of　the　windows。

Suddenly　I　heard　him　mutter：

〃Ah！　…　there　he　is。〃

His　face　had　changed；　expressing　fierce　hatred。　　He　went　and　glued
himself　to　one　of　the　windows；　watching　the　road。　　There　was　no　need
for　me　to　draw　Rouletabille's　attention；　he　had　already　left　our
omelette　and　had　joined　the　landlord　at　the　window。　　I　went　with　him。

A　man　dressed　entirely　in　green　velvet；　his　head　covered　with　a
huntsman's　cap　of　the　same　colour；　was　advancing　leisurely；　lighting
a　pipe　as　he　walked。　　He　carried　a　fowling…piece　slung　at　his　back。
His　movements　displayed　an　almost　aristocratic　ease。　　He　wore
eye…glasses　and　appeared　to　be　about　five　and　forty　years　of　age。
His　hair　as　well　as　his　moustache　were　salt　grey。　　He　was　remarkably
handsome。　　As　he　passed　near　the　inn；　he　hesitated；　as　if　asking
himself　whether　or　no　he　should　enter　it；　gave　a　glance　towards　us；
took　a　few　whiffs　at　his　pipe；　and　then　resumed　his　walk　at　the　same
nonchalant　pace。

Rouletabille　and　I　looked　at　our　host。　　His　flashing　eyes；　his
clenched　hands；　his　trembling　lips；　told　us　of　the　tumultuous
feelings　by　which　he　was　being　agitated。

〃He　has　done　well　not　to　come　in　here　to…day！〃　he　hissed。

〃Who　is　that　man？〃　asked　Rouletabille；　returning　to　his　omelette。

〃The　Green　Man；〃　growled　the　innkeeper。　　〃Don't　you　know　him？　　Then
all　the　better　for　you。　　He　is　not　an　acquaintance　to　make。　…　Well；
he　is　Monsieur　Stangerson's　forest…keeper。〃

〃You　don't　appear　to　like　him　very　much？〃　asked　the　reporter；
pouring　his　omelette　into　the　frying…pan。

〃Nobody　likes　him；　monsieur。　　He's　an　upstart　who　must　once　have
had　a　fortune　of　his　own；　and　he　forgives　nobody　because；　in　order
to　live；　he　has　been　compelled　to　become　a　servant。　　A　keeper　is　as
much　a　servant　as　any　other；　isn't　he？　　Upon　my　word；　one　would　say
that　he　is　the　master　of　the　Glandier；　and　that　all　the　land　and
woods　belong　to　him。　　He'll　not　let　a　poor　creature　eat　a　morsel　of
bread　on　the　grass　his　grass！〃

〃Does　he　often　come　here？〃

〃Too　often。　　But　I've　made　him　understand　that　his　face　doesn't
please　me；　and；　for　a　month　past；　he　hasn't　been　here。　　The　Donjon
Inn　has　never　existed　for　him！　…　he　hasn't　had　time！　　…　been　too
much　engaged　in　paying　court　to　the　landlady　of　the　Three　Lilies
at　Saint…Michel。　　A　bad　fellow！　…　There　isn't　an　honest　man　who　can
bear　him。　　Why；　the　concierges　of　the　chateau　would　turn　their　eyes
away　from　a　picture　of　him！〃

〃The　concierges　of　the　chateau　are　honest　people；　then？〃

〃Yes；　they　are；　as　true　as　my　name's　Mathieu；　monsieur。　　I　believe
them　to　be　honest。〃

〃Yet　they've　been　arrested？〃

〃What　does　that　prove？　　…　But　I　don't　want　to　mix　myself　up　in
other　people's　affairs。〃

〃And　what　do　you　think　of　the　murder？〃

〃Of　the　murder　of　poor　Mademoiselle　Stangerson？　　…　A　good　girl　much
loved　everywhere　in　the　country。　　That's　what　I　think　of　it　…　and
many　things　besides；　but　that's　nobody's　business。〃

〃Not　even　mine？〃　insisted　Rouletabille。

The　innkeeper　looked　at　him　sideways　and　said　gruffly：

〃Not　even　yours。〃

The　omelette　ready；　we　sat　down　at　table　and　were　silently　eating；
when　the　door　was　pushed　open　and　an　old　woman；　dressed　in　rags；
leaning　on　a　stick；　her　head　doddering；　her　white　hair　hanging
loosely　over　her　wrinkled　forehead；　appeared　on　the　threshold。

〃Ah！　…　there　you　are；　Mother　Angenoux！　…　It's　long　since　we　saw
you　last；〃　said　our　host。

〃I　have　been　very　ill；　very　nearly　dying；〃　said　the　old　woman。　　〃If
ever　you　should　have　any　scraps　for　the　Bete　du　Bon　Dieu　…？〃

And　she　entered；　followed　by　a　cat；　larger　than　any　I　had　ever
believed　could　exist。　　The　beast　looked　at　us　and　gave　so　hopeless
a　miau　that　I　shuddered。　　I　had　never　heard　so　lugubrious　a　cry。

As　if　drawn　by　the　cat's　cry　a　man　followed　the　old　woman　in。　　It
was　the　Green　Man。　　He　saluted　by　raising　his　hand　to　his　cap　and
seated　himself　at　a　table　near　to　ours。

〃A　glass　of　cider；　Daddy　Mathieu；〃　he　said。

As　the　Green　Man　entered；　Daddy　Mathieu　had　started　violently；　but
visibly　mastering　himself　he　said：

〃I've　no　more　cider；　I　served　the　last　bottles　to　these　gentlemen。〃

〃Then　give　me　a　glass　of　white　wine；〃　said　the　Green　Man；　without
showing　the　least　surprise。

〃I've　no　more　white　wine　…　no　more　anything；〃　said　Daddy　Mathieu；
surlily。

〃How　is　Madame　Mathieu？〃

〃Quite　well；　thank　you。〃

So　the　young　Woman　with　the　large；　tender　eyes；　whom　we　had　just
seen；　was　the　wife　of　this　repugnant　and　brutal　rustic；　whose
jealousy　seemed　to　emphasise　his　physical　ugliness。

Slamming　the　door　behind　him；　the　innkeeper　left　the　room。　　Mother
Angenoux　was　still　standing；　leaning　on　her　stick；　the　cat　at　her
feet。

〃You've　been　ill；　Mother　Angenoux？　　…　Is　that　why　we　have　not　seen
you　for　the　last　week？〃　asked　the　Green　Man。

〃Yes；　Monsieur　keeper。　　I　have　been　able　to　get　up　but　three　times；
to　go　to　pray　to　Sainte…Genevieve；　our　good　patroness；　and　the　rest
of　the　time　I　have　been　lying　on　my　bed。　　There　was　no　one　to　care
for　me　but　the　Bete　du　bon　Dieu！〃

〃Did　she　not　leave　you？〃

〃Neither　by　day　nor　by　night。〃

〃Are　you　sure　of　that？〃

〃As　I　am　of　Paradise。〃

〃Then　how　was　it；　Madame　Angenoux；　that　all　through　the　night　of
the　murder　nothing　but　the　cry　of　the　Bete　du　bon　Dieu　was　heard？〃

Mother　Angenoux　planted　herself　in　front　of　the　forest…keeper　and
struck　the　floor　with　her　stick。

〃I　don't　know　anything　about　it；〃　she　said。　　〃But　shall　I　tell　you
something？　　There　are　no　two　cats　in　the　world　that　cry　like　that。
Well；　on　the　night　of　the　murder　I　also　heard　the　cry　of　the　Bete
du　bon　Dieu　outside；　and　yet　she　was　on　my　knees；　and　did　not　mew
once；　I　swear。　　I　crossed　myself　when　I　heard　that；　as　if　I　had
heard　the　devil。〃

I　looked　at　the　keeper　when　he　put　the　last　question；　and　I　am　much
mistaken　if　I　did　not　detect　an　evil　smile　on　his　lips。　　At　that
moment；　the　noise　of　loud　quarrelling　reached　us。　　We　even　thought
we　heard　a　dull　sound　of　blows；　as　if　some　one　was　being　beaten。
The　Green　Man　quickly　rose　and　hurried　to　the　door　by　the　side　of
the　fireplace；　but　it　was　opened　by　the　landlord　who　appeared；　and
said　to　the　keeper：

〃Don't　alarm　yourself；　Monsieur　…　it　is　my　wife；　she　has　the
toothache。〃　　And　he　laughed。　　〃Here；　Mother　Angenoux；　here　are　some
scraps　for　your　cat。〃

He　held　out　a　packet　to　the　old　woman；　who　took　it　eagerly　and
went　out　by　the　door；　closely　followed　by　her　cat。

〃Then　you　won't　serve　me？〃　asked　the　Green　Man。

Daddy　Mathieu's　face　was　placid　and　no　longer　retained　its
expression　of　hatred。

〃I've　nothing　for　you　…　nothing　for　you。　　Take　yourself　off。〃

The　Green　Man　quietly　refilled　his　pipe；　lit　it；　bowed　to　us；　and
went　out。　　No　sooner　was　he　over　the　threshold　than　Daddy　Mathieu
slammed　the　door　after　him　and；　turning　towards　us；　with　eyes
bloodshot；　and　frothing　at　the　mouth；　he　hissed　to　us；　shaking　his
clenched　fist　at　the　door　he　had　just　shut　on　the　man　he　evidently
hated：

〃I　don't　know　who　you　are　who　tell　me　'We　shall　have　to　eat　red
meat　…　now'；　but　if　it　will　interest　you　to　know　it　…　that　man　is
the　murderer！〃

With　which　words　Daddy　Mathieu　immediately　left　us。　　Rouletabille
returned　towards　the　fireplace　and　said：

〃Now　we'll　grill　our　steak。　　How　do　you　like　the　cider？　…　It's　a
little　tart；　but　I　like　it。〃

We　saw　no　more　of　Daddy　Mathieu　that　day；　and　absolute　silence
reigned　in　the　inn　when　we　left　it；　after　placing　five　francs　on
the　table　in　payment　for　our　feast。

Rouletabille　at　once　set　off　on　a　three　mile　walk　round　Professor
Stangerson's　estate。　　He　halted　for　some　ten　minutes　at　the　corner
of　a　narrow　road　black　with　soot；　near　to　some　charcoal…burners'
huts　in　the　forest　of　Sainte…Genevieve；　which　touches　on　the　road
from　Epinay　to　Corbeil；　to　tell　me　that　the　murderer　had　certainly
passed　that　way；　before　entering　the　grounds　and　concealing　himself
in　the　little　clump　of　trees。

〃You　don't　think；　then；　that　the　keeper　knows　anything　of　it？〃　I
asked。

〃We　shall　see　that；　later；〃　he　replied。　　〃For　the　present　I'm　not
interested　in　what　the　landlord　said　about　the　man。　　The　landlord
hates　him。　　I　didn't　take　you　to　breakfast　at　the　Donjon　Inn　for
the　sake　of　the　Green　Man。〃

Then　Rouletabille；　with　great　precaution　glided；　followed　by　me；
towards　the　little　building　which；　standing　near　the　park　gate；
served　for　the　home　of　the　concierges；　who　had　been　arrested　that
morning。　　With　the　skill　of　an　acrobat；　he　got　into　the　lodge　by
an　upper　window　which　had　been　left　open；　and　returned　ten　minutes
later。　　He　said　only；　〃Ah！〃　…　a　word　which；　in　his　mouth；　signified
many　things。

We　were　about　to　take　the　road　leading　to　the　chateau；　when　a
considerable　stir　at　the　park　gate　attracted　our　attention。　　A
carriage　had　arrived　and　some　people　had　come　from　the　chateau　to
meet　it。　　Rouletabille　pointed　out　to　me　a　gentleman　who　descended
from　it。

〃That's　the　Chief　of　the　Surete〃　he　said。　　〃Now　we　shall　see　what
Frederic　Larsan　has　up　his　sleeve；　and　whether　he　is　so　much
cleverer　than　anybody　else。〃

The　carriage　of　the　Chief　of　the　Surete　was　followed　by　three　other
vehicles　containing　reporters；　who　were　also　desirous　of　entering
the　park。　　But　two　gendarmes　stationed　at　the　gate　had　evidently
received　orders　to　refuse　admission　to　anybody。　　The　Chief　of　the
Surete　calmed　their　impatience　by　undertaking　to　furnish　to　the
press；　that　evening；　all　the　information　he　could　give　that　would
not　interfere　with　the　judicial　inquiry。





CHAPTER　XI

In　Which　Frederic　Larsan　Explains　How　the　Murderer　Was　Able　to　Get
Out　of　The　Yellow　Room


Among　the　mass　of　papers；　legal　documents；　memoirs；　and　extracts
from　newspapers；　which　I　have　collected；　relating　to　the　mystery
of　The　Yellow　Room；　there　is　one　very　interesting　piece；　it　is　a
detail　of　the　famous　examination　which　took　place　that　afternoon；
in　the　laboratory　of　Professor　Stangerson；　before　the　Chief　of　the
Surete。　　This　narrative　is　from　the　pen　of　Monsieur　Maleine；　the
Registrar；　who；　like　the　examining　magistrate；　had　spent　some　of
his　leisure　time　in　the　pursuit　of　literature。　　The　piece　was　to
have　made　part　of　a　book　which；　however；　has　never　been　published；
and　which　was　to　have　been　entitled：　〃My　Examinations。〃