the mystery of the yellow room-第15章

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examining　the　room；　at　length　deigned　to　open　his　lips：

〃While　search　is　being　made　for　the　criminal；　we　had　better　try　to
find　out　the　motive　for　the　crime；　that　will　advance　us　a　little；〃
he　said。　　urning　towards　Monsieur　Stangerson；　he　continued；　in　the
even；　intelligent　tone　indicative　of　a　strong　character；　〃I
understand　that　Mademoiselle　was　shortly　to　have　been　married？〃

The　professor　looked　sadly　at　Monsieur　Robert　Darzac。

〃To　my　friend　here；　whom　I　should　have　been　happy　to　call　my　son
…　to　Monsieur　Robert　Darzac。〃

〃Mademoiselle　Stangerson　is　much　better　and　is　rapidly　recovering
from　her　wounds。　　The　marriage　is　simply　delayed；　is　it　not；
Monsieur？〃　insisted　the　Chief　of　the　Surete。

〃I　hope　so。

〃What！　　Is　there　any　doubt　about　that？〃

Monsieur　Stangerson　did　not　answer。　　Monsieur　Robert　Darzac　seemed
agitated。　　I　saw　that　his　hand　trembled　as　it　fingered　his
watchchain。　　Monsieur　Dax　coughed；　as　did　Monsieur　de　Marquet。
Both　were　evidently　embarrassed。

〃You　understand；　Monsieur　Stangerson；〃　he　said；　〃that　in　an　affair
so　perplexing　as　this；　we　cannot　neglect　anything；　we　must　know　all；
even　the　smallest　and　seemingly　most　futile　thing　concerning　the
victim　…　information　apparently　the　most　insignificant。　　Why　do　you
doubt　that　this　marriage　will　take　place？　　You　expressed　a　hope；　but
the　hope　implies　a　doubt。　　Why　do　you　doubt？〃

Monsieur　Stangerson　made　a　visible　effort　to　recover　himself。

〃Yes；　Monsieur；〃　he　said　at　length；　〃you　are　right。　　It　will　be
best　that　you　should　know　something　which；　if　I　concealed　it；　might
appear　to　be　of　importance；　Monsieur　Darzac　agrees　with　me　in　this。〃

Monsieur　Darzac；　whose　pallor　at　that　moment　seemed　to　me　to　be
altogether　abnormal；　made　a　sign　of　assent。　　I　gathered　he　was
unable　to　speak。

〃I　want　you　to　know　then；〃　continued　Monsieur　Stangerson；　〃that　my
daughter　has　sworn　never　to　leave　me；　and　adheres　firmly　to　her
oath；　in　spite　of　all　my　prayers　and　all　that　I　have　argued　to　induce
her　to　marry。　　We　have　known　Monsieur　Robert　Darzac　many　years。　　He
loves　my　child；　and　I　believed　that　she　loved　him；　because　she　only
recently　consented　to　this　marriage　which　I　desire　with　all　my　heart。
I　am　an　old　man；　Monsieur；　and　it　was　a　happy　hour　to　me　when　I　knew
that；　after　I　had　gone；　she　would　have　at　her　side；　one　who　loved　her
and　who　would　help　her　in　continuing　our　common　labours。　　I　love　and
esteem　Monsieur　Darzac　both　for　his　greatness　of　heart　and　for　his
devotion　to　science。　　But；　two　days　before　the　tragedy；　for　I　know
not　what　reason；　my　daughter　declared　to　me　that　she　would　never
marry　Monsieur　Darzac。〃

A　dead　silence　followed　Monsieur　Stangerson's　words。　　It　was　a
moment　fraught　with　suspense。

〃Did　Mademoiselle　give　you　any　explanation；　…　did　she　tell　you　what
her　motive　was？〃　asked　Monsieur　Dax。

〃She　told　me　she　was　too　old　to　marry　…　that　she　had　waited　too
long。　　She　said　she　had　given　much　thought　to　the　matter　and　while
she　had　a　great　esteem；　even　affection；　for　Monsieur　Darzac；　she
felt　it　would　be　better　if　things　remained　as　they　were。　　She　would
be　happy；　she　said；　to　see　the　relations　between　ourselves　and
Monsieur　Darzac　become　closer；　but　only　on　the　understanding　that
there　would　be　no　more　talk　of　marriage。〃

〃That　is　very　strange！〃　muttered　Monsieur　Dax。

〃Strange！〃　repeated　Monsieur　de　Marquet。

〃You'll　certainly　not　find　the　motive　there；　Monsieur　Dax；〃　Monsieur
Stangerson　said　with　a　cold　smile。

〃In　any　case；　the　motive　was　not　theft！〃　said　the　Chief　impatiently。

〃Oh！　　we　are　quite　convinced　of　that！〃　cried　the　examining　magistrate。

At　that　moment　the　door　of　the　laboratory　opened　and　the　officer　in
charge　of　the　gendarmes　entered　and　handed　a　card　to　the　examining
magistrate。　　Monsieur　de　Marquet　read　it　and　uttered　a　half　angry
exclamation：

〃This　is　really　too　much！〃　he　cried。

〃What　is　it？〃　asked　the　Chief。

〃It's　the　card　of　a　young　reporter　engaged　on　the　'Epoque；'　a
Monsieur　Joseph　Rouletabille。　　It　has　these　words　written　on　it：
〃One　of　the　motives　of　the　crime　was　robbery。〃

The　Chief　smiled。

〃Ah；　…　young　Rouletabille　…　I've　heard　of　him　he　is　considered
rather　clever。　　Let　him　come　in。〃

Monsieur　Joseph　Rouletabille　was　allowed　to　enter。　　I　had　made　his
acquaintance　in　the　train　that　morning　on　the　way　to　Epinay…sur…Orge。
He　had　introduced　himself　almost　against　my　wish　into　our
compartment。　　I　had　better　say　at　once　that　his　manners；　and　the
arrogance　with　which　he　aissumed　to　know　what　was　incomprehensible
even　to　us；　impressed　him　unfavourably　on　my　mind。　　I　do　not　like
journalists。　　They　are　a　class　of　writers　to　be　avoided　as　the　pest。
They　think　that　everything　is　permissible　and　they　respect　nothing。
Grant　them　the　least　favour；　allow　them　even　to　approach　you；　and
you　never　can　tell　what　annoyance　they　may　give　you。　　This　one
appears　to　be　scarcely　twenty　years　old；　and　the　effrontery　with
which　he　dared　to　question　us　and　discuss　the　matter　with　us　made
him　particularly　obnoxious　to　me。　　Besides；　he　had　a　way　of
expressing　himself　that　left　us　guessing　as　to　whether　he　was　mocking
us　or　not。　　I　know　quite　well　that　the　'Epoque'　is　an　influential
paper　with　which　it　is　well　to　be　on　good　terms；　but　the　paper　ought
not　to　allow　itself　to　be　represented　by　sneaking　reporters。

Monsieur　Joseph　Rouletabille　entered　the　laboratory；　bowed　to　us；
and　waited　for　Monsieur　de　Marquet　to　ask　him　to　explain　his
presence。

〃You　pretend；　Monsieur；　that　you　know　the　motive　for　the　crime；　and
that　that　motive　…　in　the　face　of　all　the　evidence　that　has　been
forthcoming　…　was　robbery？〃

〃No；　Monsieur；　I　do　not　pretend　that。　　I　do　not　say　that　robbery
was　the　motive　for　the　crime；　and　I　don't　believe　it　was。〃

〃Then；　what　is　the　meaning　of　this　card？〃

〃It　means　that　robbery　was　one　of　the　motives　for　the　crime。〃

〃What　leads　you　to　think　that？〃

〃If　you　will　be　good　enough　to　accompany　me；　I　will　show　you。〃

The　young　man　asked　us　to　follow　him　into　the　vestibule；　and　we　did。
He　led　us　towards　the　lavatory　and　begged　Monsieur　de　Marquet　to
kneel　beside　him。　　This　lavatory　is　lit　by　the　glass　door；　and；　when
the　door　was　open；　the　light　which　penetrated　was　sufficient　to　light
it　perfectly。　　Monsieur　de　Marquet　and　Monsieur　Joseph　Rouletabille
knelt　down　on　the　threshold；　and　the　young　man　pointed　to　a　spot　on
the　pavement。

〃The　stones　of　the　lavatory　have　not　been　washed　by　Daddy　Jacques
for　some　time；〃　he　said；　〃that　can　be　seen　by　the　layer　of　dust　that
covers　them。　　Now；　notice　here；　the　marks　of　two　large　footprints
and　the　black　ash　they　left　where　they　have　been。　　That　ash　is
nothing　else　than　the　charcoal　dust　that　covers　the　path　along　which
you　must　pass　through　the　forest；　in　order　to　get　directly　from
Epinay　to　the　Glandier。　　You　know　there　is　a　little　village　of
charcoal…burners　at　that　place；　who　make　large　quantities　of
charcoal。　　What　the　murderer　did　was　to　come　here　at　midday；　when
there　was　nobody　at　the　pavilion；　and　attempt　his　robbery。〃

〃But　what　robbery？　　…　Where　do　you　see　any　signs　of　robbery？　　What
proves　to　you　that　a　robbery　has　been　committed？〃　we　all　cried　at
once。　　〃What　put　me　on　the　trace　of　it；〃　continued　the　journalist。。。

〃Was　this？〃　interrupted　Monsieur　de　Marquet；　still　on　his　knees。

〃Evidently；〃　said　Rouletabille。

And　Monsieur　de　Marquet　explained　that　there　were　on　the　dust　of
the　pavement　marks　of　two　footsteps；　as　well　as　the　impression；
freshly…made；　of　a　heavy　rectangular　parcel；　the　marks　of　the　cord
with　which　it　had　been　fastened　being　easily　distinguished。

〃You　have　been　here；　then；　Monsieur　Rouletabille？　　I　thought　I　had
given　orders　to　Daddy　Jacques；　who　Was　left　in　charge　of　the
pavilion；　not　to　allow　anybody　to　enter。〃

〃Don't　scold　Daddy　Jacques；　I　came　here　with　Monsieur　Robert　Darzac。〃

〃Ah；　…　Indeed！〃　exclaimed　Monsieur　de　Marquet；　disagreeably；　casting
a　side…glance　at　Monsieur　Darzac；　who　remained　perfectly　silent。

〃When　I　saw　the　mark　of　the　parcel　by　the　side　of　the　footprints；　I
had　no　doubt　as　to　the　robbery；〃　replied　Monsieur　Rouletabile。　　〃The
thief　had　not　brought　a　parcel　with　him；　he　had　made　one　here　…　a
parcel　with　the　stolen　objects；　no　doubt；　and　he　put　it　in　this
corner　intending　to　take　it　away　when　the　moment　came　for　him　to
make　his　escape。　　He　had　also　placed　his　heavy　boots　beside　the
parcel；　…　for；　see　…　there　are　no　marks　of　steps　leading　to　the
marks　left　by　the　boots；　which　were　placed　side　by　side。　　That
accounts　for　the　fact　that　the　murderer　left　no　trace　of　his　steps
when　he　fled　from　The　Yellow　Room；　nor　any　in　the　laboratory；　nor　in
the　vestibule。　　After　entering　The　Yellow　Room　in　his　boots；　he　took
them　off；　finding　them　troublesome；　or　because　he　wished　to　make　as
little　noise　as　possible。　　The　marks　made　by　him　in　going　through
the　vestibule　and　the　laboratory　were　subsequently　washed　out　by
Daddy　Jacques。　　Having；　for　some　reason　or　other；　taken　off　his
boots；　the　murderer　carried　them　in　his　hand　and　placed　them　by　the
side　of　the　parcel　he　had　made；　…　by　that　time　the　robbery　had　been
accomplished。　　The　man　then　returned　to　The　Yellow　Room　and　slipped
under　the　bed；　where　the　mark　of　his　body　is　perfectly　visible　on
the　floor　and　even　on　the　mat；　which　has　been　slightly　moved　from
its　place　and　creased。　　Fragments　of　straw　also；　recently　torn；　bear
witness　to　the　murderer's　movements　under　the　bed。〃

〃Yes；　yes；　…　we　know　all　about　that；〃　said　Monsieur　de　Marquet。

〃The　robber　had　another　motive　for　returning　to　hide　under　the　bed；〃
continued　the　astonishing　boy…journalist。　　〃You　might　think　that　he
was　trying　to　hide　himself　quickly　on　seeing；　through　the　vestibule
window；　Monsieur　and　Mademoiselle　Stangerson　about　to　enter　the
pavilion。　　It　would　have　been　much　easier　for　him　to　have　climbed
up　to　the　attic　and　hidden　there；　waiting　for　an　opportunity　to　get
away；　if　his　purpose　had　been　only　flight。　…　No！　　No！　…　he　had　to
be　in　The　Yellow　Room。〃

Here　the　Chief　intervened。

〃That's　not　at　all　bad；　young　man。　　I　compliment　you。　　If　we　do　not
know　yet　how　the　murderer　succeeded　in　getting　away；　we　can　at　any
rate　see　how　he　came　in　and　committed　the　robbery。　　But　what　did　he
steal？〃

〃Something　very　valuable；〃　replied　the　young　reporter。

At　that　moment　we　heard　a　cry　from　the　laboratory。　　We　rushed　in
and　found　Monsieur　Stangerson；　his　eyes　haggard；　his　limbs
trembling；　pointing　to　a　sort　of　bookcase　which　he　had　opened；　and
which；　we　saw；　was　empty。　　At　the　same　instant　he　sank　into　the
large　armchair　that　was　placed　before　the　desk　and　groaned；　the
tears　rolling　down　his　cheeks；　〃I　have　been　robbed　again！　　For　God's
sake；　do　not　say　a　word　of　this　to　my　daughter。　　She　would　be　more
pained　than　I　am。〃　　He　heaved　a　deep　sigh　and　added；　in　a　tone　I
shall　never　forget：　〃After　all；　what　does　it　matter；　…　so　long　as
she　lives！〃

〃She　will　live！〃　said　Monsieur　Darzac；　in　a　voice　strangely　touching。

〃And　we　will　find　the　stolen　articles；〃　said　Monsieur　Dax。　　〃But
what　was　in　the　cabinet？〃

〃Twenty　years　of　my　life；〃　replied　the　illustrious　professor　sadly；
〃or　rather　of　our　lives　…　the　lives　of　myself　and　my　daughter！　　Yes；
o