the mystery of the yellow room-第18章

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ade　his　appearance；　brandishing　his　famous　cane。

〃I　found　it！〃　he　said　laughingly。

The　three　of　us　seated　ourselves　at　a　table。　　Rouletabille　never　took
his　eyes　off　the　cane；　he　was　so　absorbed　that　he　did　not　notice　a
sign　Larsan　made　to　a　railway　employe；　a　young　man　with　a　chin
decorated　by　a　tiny　blond　and　ill…kept　beard。　　On　the　sign　he　rose；
paid　for　his　drink；　bowed；　and　went　out。　　I　should　not　myself　have
attached　any　importance　to　the　circumstance；　if　it　had　not　been
recalled　to　my　mind；　some　months　later；　by　the　reappearance　of　the
man　with　the　beard　at　one　of　the　most　tragic　moments　of　this　case。
I　then　learned　that　the　youth　was　one　of　Larsan's　assistants　and　had
been　charged　by　him　to　watch　the　going　and　coming　of　travellers　at
the　station　of　Epinay…sur…Orge。　　Larsan　neglected　nothing　in　any
case　on　which　he　was　engaged。

I　turned　my　eyes　again　on　Rouletabille。

〃Ah；　…　Monsieur　Fred！〃　he　said；　〃when　did　you　begin　to　use　a
walking…stick？　　I　have　always　seen　you　walking　with　your　hands　in
your　pockets！〃

〃It　is　a　present；〃　replied　the　detective。

〃Recent？〃　insisted　Rouletabille。

〃No；　it　was　given　to　me　in　London。〃

〃Ah；　yes；　I　remember　…　you　have　just　come　from　London。　　May　I　look
at　it？〃

〃Oh！　　…　certainly！〃

Fred　passed　the　cane　to　Rouletabille。　　It　was　a　large　yellow　bamboo
with　a　crutch　handle　and　ornamented　with　a　gold　ring。　　Rouletabille；
after　examining　it　minutely；　returned　it　to　Larsan；　with　a　bantering
expression　on　his　face；　saying：

〃You　were　given　a　French　cane　in　London！〃

〃Possibly；〃　said　Fred；　imperturbably。

〃Read　the　mark　there；　in　tiny　letters：　Cassette；　6a；　Opera。〃

〃Cannot　English　people　buy　canes　in　Paris？〃

When　Rouletabille　had　seen　me　into　the　train；　he　said：

〃You'll　remember　the　address？〃

〃Yes；　…　Cassette；　6a；　Opera。　　Rely　on　me；　you　shall　have　word
tomorrow　morning。〃

That　evening；　on　reaching　Paris；　I　saw　Monsieur　Cassette；　dealer　in
walking…sticks　and　umbrellas；　and　wrote　to　my　friend：

〃A　man　unmistakably　answering　to　the　description　of　Monsieur　Robert
Darzac　…　same　height；　slightly　stooping；　putty…coloured　overcoat；
bowler　hat　…　purchased　a　cane　similar　to　the　one　in　which　we　are
interested；　on　the　evening　of　the　crime；　about　eight　o'clock。
Monsieur　Cassette　had　not　sold　another　such　cane　during　the　last　two
years。　　Fred's　cane　is　new。　　It　is　quite　clear　that　it's　the　same
cane。　　Fred　did　not　buy　it；　since　he　was　in　London。　　Like　you；　I
think　that　he　found　it　somewhere　near　Monsieur　Robert　Darzac。　　But
if；　as　you　suppose；　the　murderer　was　in　The　Yellow　Room　for　five；
or　even　six　hours；　and　the　crime　was　not　committed　until　towards
midnight；　the　purchase　of　this　cane　proves　an　incontestable　alibi
for　Darzac。〃





CHAPTER　XIII

〃The　Presbytery　Has　Lost　Nothing　of　Its　Charm；　Nor　the　Garden
Its　Brightness〃


A　week　after　the　occurrence　of　the　events　I　have　just　recounted　…　on
the　2nd　of　November；　to　be　exact　…　I　received　at　my　home　in　Paris　the
following　telegraphic　message：　〃Come　to　the　Glandier　by　the　earliest
train。　　Bring　revolvers。　　Friendly　greetings。　　Rouletabille。〃

I　have　already　said；　I　think；　that　at　that　period；　being　a　young
barrister　with　but　few　briefs；　I　frequented　the　Palais　de　Justice
rather　for　the　purpose　of　famiiarising　myself　with　my　professional
duties　than　for　the　defence　of　the　widow　and　orphan。　　I　could；
therefore；　feel　no　surprise　at　Rouletabille　disposing　of　my　time。
Moreover；　he　knew　how　keenly　interested　I　was　in　his　journalistic
adventures　in　general　and；　above　all；　in　the　murder　at　the　Glandier。
I　had　not　heard　from　him　for　a　week；　nor　of　the　progress　made　with
that　mysterious　case；　except　by　the　innumerable　paragraphs　in　the
newspapers　and　by　the　very　brief　notes　of　Rouletabille　in　the
〃Epoque。〃　　Those　notes　had　divulged　the　fact　that　traces　of　human
blood　had　been　found　on　the　muttonbone；　as　well　as　fresh　traces　of
the　blood　of　Mademoiselle　Stangerson　…　the　old　stains　belonged　to
other　crimes；　probably　dating　years　back。

It　may　be　easily　imagined　that　the　crime　engaged　the　attention　of
the　press　throughout　the　world。　　No　crime　known　had　more　absorbed
the　minds　of　people。　　It　appeared　to　me；　however；　that　the　judicial
inquiry　was　making　but　very　little　progress；　and　I　should　have　been
very　glad；　if；　on　the　receipt　of　my　friend's　invitation　to　rejoin
him　at　the　Glandier；　the　despatch　had　not　contained　the　words；
〃Bring　revolvers。〃

That　puzzled　me　greatly。　　Rouletabille　telegraphing　for　revolvers
meant　that　there　might　be　occasion　to　use　them。　　Now；　I　confess　it
without　shame；　I　am　not　a　hero。　　But　here　was　a　friend；　evidently
in　danger；　calling　on　me　to　go　to　his　aid。　　I　did　not　hesitate　long；
and　after　assuring　myself　that　the　only　revolver　I　possessed　was
properly　loaded；　I　hurried　towards　the　Orleans　station。　　On　the　way
I　remembered　that　Rouletabille　had　asked　for　two　revolvers；　I
therefore　entered　a　gunsmith's　shop　and　bought　an　excellent　weapon
for　my　friend。

I　had　hoped　to　find　him　at　the　station　at　Epinay；　but　he　was　not
there。　　However；　a　cab　was　waiting　for　me　and　I　was　soon　at　the
Glandier。　　Nobody　was　at　the　gate；　and　it　was　only　on　the　threshold
of　the　chateau　that　I　met　the　young　man。　　He　saluted　me　with　a
friendly　gesture　and　threw　his　arms　about　me；　inquiring　warmly　as
to　the　state　of　my　health。

When　we　were　in　the　little　sitting…room　of　which　I　have　spoken；
Rouletabille　made　me　sit　down。

〃It's　going　badly；〃　he　said。

〃What's　going　badly？〃　I　asked。

〃Everything。〃

He　came　nearer　to　me　and　whispered：

〃Frederic　Larsan　is　working　with　might　and　main　against　Darzac。〃

This　did　not　astonish　me。　　I　had　seen　the　poor　show　Mademoiselle
Stangerson's　fiance　had　made　at　the　time　of　the　examination　of　the
footprints。　　However；　I　immediately　asked：

〃What　about　that　cane？〃

〃It　is　still　in　the　hands　of　Frederic　Larsan。　　He　never　lets　go
of　it。〃

〃But　doesn't　it　prove　the　alibi　for　Monsieur　Darzac？〃

〃Not　at　all。　　Gently　questioned　by　me；　Darzac　denied　having；　on
that　evening；　or　on　any　other；　purchased　a　cane　at　Cassette's。
However；〃　said　Rouletabille；　〃I'll　not　swear　to　anything；　Monsieur
Darzac　has　such　strange　fits　of　silence　that　one　does　not　know
exactly　what　to　think　of　what　he　says。〃

〃To　Frederic　Larsan　this　cane　must　mean　a　piece　of　very　damaging
evidence。　　But　in　what　way？　　The　time　when　it　was　bought　shows　it
could　not　have　been　in　the　murderer's　possession。〃

〃The　time　doesn't　worry　Larsan。　　He　is　not　obliged　to　adopt　my
theory　which　assumes　that　the　murderer　got　into　The　Yellow　Room
between　five　and　six　o'clock。　　But　there's　nothing　to　prevent　him
assuming　that　the　murderer　got　in　between　ten　and　eleven　o'clock
at　night。　　At　that　hour　Monsieur　and　Mademoiselle　Stangerson；
assisted　by　Daddy　Jacques；　were　engaged　in　making　an　interesting
chemical　experiment　in　the　part　of　the　laboratory　taken　up　by　the
furnaces。　　Larsan　says；　unlikely　as　that　may　seem；　that　the　murderer
may　have　slipped　behind　them。　　He　has　already　got　the　examining
magistrate　to　listen　to　him。　　When　one　looks　closely　into　it；　the
reasoning　is　absurd；　seeing　that　the　'intimate'　…　if　there　is　one
…　must　have　known　that　the　professor　would　shortly　leave　the
pavilion；　and　that　the　'friend'　had　only　to　put　off　operating　till
after　the　professor's　departure。　　Why　should　he　have　risked　crossing
the　laboratory　while　the　professor　was　in　it？　　And　then；　when　he
had　got　into　The　Yellow　Room？

〃There　are　many　points　to　be　cleared　up　before　Larsan's　theory　can
be　admitted。　　I　sha'n't　waste　my　time　over　it；　for　my　theory　won't
allow　me　to　occupy　myself　with　mere　imagination。　　Only；　as　I　am
obliged　for　the　moment　to　keep　silent；　and　Larsan　sometimes　talks；
he　may　finish　by　coming　out　openly　against　Monsieur　Darzac；　…　if
I'm　not　there；〃　added　the　young　reporter　proudly。　　〃For　there　are
surface　evidences　against　Darzac；　much　more　convincing　than　that
cane；　which　remains　incomprehensible　to　me；　all　the　more　so　as
Larsan　does　not　in　the　least　hesitate　to　let　Darzac　see　him　with
it！　…　I　understand　many　things　in　Larsan's　theory；　but　I　can't　make
anything　of　that　cane。

〃Is　he　still　at　the　chateau？〃

〃Yes；　he　hardly　ever　leaves　it！　…　He　sleeps　there；　as　I　do；　at　the
request　of　Monsieur　Stangerson；　who　has　done　for　him　what　Monsieur
Robert　Darzac　has　done　for　me。　　In　spite　of　the　accusation　made　by
Larsan　that　Monsieur　Stangerson　knows　who　the　murderer　is　he　yet
affords　him　every　facility　for　arriving　at　the　truth；　…　just　as
Darzac　is　doing　for　me。〃

〃But　you　are　convinced　of　Darzac's　innocence？〃

〃At　one　time　I　did　believe　in　the　possiblity　of　his　guilt。　　That
was　when　we　arrived　here　for　the　first　time。　　The　time　has　come
for　me　to　tell　you　what　has　passed　between　Monsieur　Darzac　and
myself。〃

Here　Rouletabille　interrupted　himself　and　asked　me　if　I　had　brought
the　revolvers。　　I　showed　him　them。　　Having　examined　both；　he
pronounced　them　excellent；　and　handed　them　back　to　me。

〃Shall　we　have　any　use　for　them？〃　I　asked。

〃No　doubt；　this　evening。　　We　shall　pass　the　night　here　…　if　that
won't　tire　you？〃

〃On　the　contrary；〃　I　said　with　an　expression　that　made　Rouletabille
laugh。

〃No；　no；〃　he　said；　〃this　is　no　time　for　laughing。　　You　remember　the
phrase　which　was　the　'open　sesame'　of　this　chateau　full　of　mystery？〃

〃Yes；〃　I　said；　〃perfectly；　…　'The　presbytery　has　lost　nothing　of　its
charm；　nor　the　garden　its　brightness。'　It　was　the　phrase　which　you
found　on　the　half…burned　piece　of　paper　amongst　the　ashes　in　the
laboratory。〃

〃Yes；　at　the　bottom　of　the　paper；　where　the　flame　had　not　reached；
was　this　date：　23rd　of　October。　　Remember　this　date；　it　is　highly
important。　　I　am　now　going　to　tell　you　about　that　curious　phrase。
On　the　evening　before　the　crime；　that　is　to　say；　on　the　23rd；
Monsieur　and　Mademoiselle　Stangerson　were　at　a　reception　at　the
Elysee。　　I　know　that；　because　I　was　there　on　duty；　having　to
interview　one　of　the　savants　of　the　Academy　of　Philadelphia；　who
was　being　feted　there。　　I　had　never　before　seen　either　Monsieur　or
Mademoiselle　Stangerson。　　I　was　seated　in　the　room　which　precedes
the　Salon　des　Ambassadeurs；　and；　tired　of　being　jostled　by　so　many
noble　personages；　I　had　fallen　into　a　vague　reverie；　when　I　scented
near　me　the　perfume　of　the　lady　in　black。

〃Do　you　ask　me　what　is　the　'perfume　of　the　lady　in　black'？　　It　must
suffice　for　you　to　know　that　it　is　a　perfume　of　which　I　am　very　fond；
because　it　was　that　of　a　lady　who　had　been　very　kind　to　me　in　my
childhood；　…　a　lady　whom　I　had　always　seen　dressed　in　black。　　The
lady　who；　that　evening；　was　scented　with　the　perfume　of　the　lady　in
black；　was　dressed　in　white。　　She　was　wonderfully　beautiful。　　I
could　not　help　rising　and　following　her。　　An　old　man　gave　her　his
arm　and；　as　they　passed；　I　heard　voices　say：　'Professor　Stangerson
and　his　daughter。'　　It　was　in　that　way　I　learned　who　it　was　I　was
following。

〃They　met　Monsieur　Robert　Darzac；　whom　I　knew　by　sight。　　Professor
Stangerson；　accosted　by　Mr。　Arthur　William　Rance；　one　of　the
American　savants；　seated　himself　in　the　great　gallery；　and　Monsieur
Robert　Darzac　led　Mademoiselle　Stangerson　into　the　conservatory。　　I
followed。　　The　weather　was　ver