the mystery of the yellow room-第24章

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and　kissed　her　passionately；　as　if　he　had　recovered　her　after　being
long　lost　to　him。　　I　dared　not　question　her。　He　drew　her　into　the
room　and　we　followed　them；　…　for　we　had　to　know！　…　The　door　of　the
boudoir　was　open。　　The　terrified　faces　of　the　two　nurses　craned
towards　us。　　Mademoiselle　Stangerson　inquired　the　meaning　of　all
the　disturbance。　　That　she　was　not　in　her　own　room　was　quite　easily
explained　…　quite　easily。　　She　had　a　fancy　not　to　sleep　that　night
in　her　chamber；　but　in　the　boudoir　with　her　nurses；　locking　the　door
on　them。　　Since　the　night　of　the　crime　she　had　experienced　feelings
of　terror；　and　fears　came　over　her　that　are　easily　to　be
comprehended。

〃But　who　could　imagine　that　on　that　particular　night　when　he　was
to　come；　she　would；　by　a　mere　chance；　determine　to　shut　herself　in
with　her　women？　　Who　would　think　that　she　would　act　contrary　to　her
father's　wish　to　sleep　in　the　drawing…room？　　Who　could　believe　that
the　letter　which　had　so　recently　been　on　the　table　in　her　room　would
no　longer　be　there？　　He　who　could　understand　all　this；　would　have　to
assume　that　Mademoiselle　Stangerson　knew　that　the　murderer　was　coming
…　she　could　not　prevent　his　coming　again　…　unknown　to　her　father；
unknown　to　all　but　to　Monsieur　Robert　Darzac。　　For　he　must　know　it
now　…　perhaps　he　had　known　it　before！　　Did　he　remember　that　phrase
in　the　Elysee　garden：　'Must　I　commit　a　crime；　then；　to　win　you？'
Against　whom　the　crime；　if　not　against　the　obstacle；　against　the
murderer？　　'Ah；　I　would　kill　him　with　my　own　hand！'　　And　I　replied；
'You　have　not　answered　my　question。'　That　was　the　very　truth。　　In
truth；　in　truth；　Monsieur　Darzac　knew　the　murderer　so　well　that
…　while　wishing　to　kill　him　himself　…　he　was　afraid　I　should　find
him。　　There　could　be　but　two　reasons　why　he　had　assisted　me　in　my
investigation。　　First；　because　I　forced　him　to　do　it；　and；　second；
because　she　would　be　the　better　protected。

〃I　am　in　the　chamber　…　her　room。　　I　look　at　her；　also　at　the　place
where　the　letter　had　just　now　been。　　She　has　possessed　herself　of
it；　it　was　evidently　intended　for　her　…　evidently。　　How　she　trembles！
…　Trembles　at　the　strange　story　her　father　is　telling　her；　of　the
presence　of　the　murderer　in　her　chamber；　and　of　the　pursuit。　　But
it　is　plainly　to　be　seen　that　she　is　not　wholly　satisfied　by　the
assurance　given　her　until　she　had　been　told　that　the　murderer；　by
some　incomprehensible　means；　had　been　able　to　elude　us。

〃Then　follows　a　silence。　　What　a　silence！　　We　are　all　there　…　looking
at　her　…　her　father；　Larsan；　Daddy　Jacques　and　I。　　What　were　we　all
thinking　of　in　the　silence？　　After　the　events　of　that　night；　of　the
mystery　of　the　inexplicable　gallery；　of　the　prodigious　fact　of　the
presence　of　the　murderer　in　her　room；　it　seemed　to　me　that　all　our
thoughts　might　have　been　translated　into　the　words　which　were
addressed　to　her。　　'You　who　know　of　this　mystery；　explain　it　to　us；
and　we　shall　perhaps　be　able　to　save　you。　　How　I　longed　to　save　her
…　for　herself；　and；　from　the　other！　…　It　brought　the　tears　to　my　eyes。

〃She　is　there；　shedding　about　her　the　perfume　of　the　lady　in　black。
At　last；　I　see　her；　in　the　silence　of　her　chamber。　　Since　the　fatal
hour　of　the　mystery　of　The　Yellow　Room；　we　have　hung　about　this
invisible　and　silent　woman　to　learn　what　she　knows。　　Our　desires；
our　wish　to　know　must　be　a　torment　to　her。　　Who　can　tell　that；　should
we　learn　the　secret　of　her　mystery；　it　would　not　precipitate　a
ragedy　more　terrible　than　that　which　had　already　been　enacted　here？
Who　can　tell　if　it　might　not　mean　her　death？　　Yet　it　had　brought　her
close　to　death；　…　and　we　still　knew　nothing。　　Or；　rather；　there　are
some　of　us　who　know　nothing。　　But　I　…　if　I　knew　who；　I　should　know
all。　　Who？　…　Who？　…　Not　knowing　who；　I　must　remain　silent；　out　of
pity　for　her。　　For　there　is　no　doubt　that　she　knows　how　he　escaped
from　The　Yellow　Room；　and　yet　she　keeps　the　secret。　　When　I　know
who；　I　will　speak　to　him　…　to　him！〃

〃She　looked　at　us　now　…　with　a　far…away　look　in　her　eyes　…　as　if　we
were　not　in　the　chamber。　　Monsieur　Stangerson　broke　the　silence。
He　declared　that；　henceforth；　he　would　no　more　absent　himself　from
his　daughter's　apartments。　　She　tried　to　oppose　him　in　vain。　　He
adhered　firmly　to　his　purpose。　　He　would　install　himself　there　this
very　night；　he　said。　　Solely　concerned　for　the　health　of　his
daughter；　he　reproached　her　for　having　left　her　bed。　　Then　he
suddenly　began　talking　to　her　as　if　she　were　a　little　child。　　He
smiled　at　her　and　seemed　not　to　know　either　what　he　said　or　what　he
did。　　The　illustrious　professor　had　lost　his　head。　　Mademoiselle
Stangerson　in　a　tone　of　tender　distress　said：　'Father！　…　father！'
Daddy　Jacques　blows　his　nose；　and　Frederic　Larsan　himself　is　obliged
to　turn　away　to　hide　his　emotion。　　For　myself；　I　am　able　neither　to
think　or　feel。　　I　felt　an　infinite　contempt　for　myself。

〃It　was　the　first　time　that　Frederic　Larsan；　like　myself；　found
himself　face　to　face　with　Mademoiselle　Stangerson　since　the　attack
in　The　Yellow　Room。　　Like　me；　he　had　insisted　on　being　allowed　to
question　the　unhappy　lady；　but　he　had　not；　any　more　than　had　I；　been
permitted。　　To　him；　as　to　me；　the　same　answer　had　always　been　given：
Mademoiselle　Stangerson　was　too　weak　to　receive　us。　　The　questionings
of　the　examining　magistrate　had　over…fatigued　her。　　It　was　evidently
intended　not　to　give　us　any　assistance　in　our　researches。　　I　was　not
surprised；　but　Frederic　Larsan　had　always　resented　this　conduct。　　It
is　true　that　he　and　I　had　a　totally　different　theory　of　the　crime。

〃I　still　catch　myself　repeating　from　the　depths　of　my　heart：　'Save
her！　…　save　her　without　his　speaking！'　　Who　is　he　…　the　murderer？
Take　him　and　shut　his　mouth。　　But　Monsieur　Darzac　made　it　clear　that
in　order　to　shut　his　mouth　he　must　be　killed。　　Have　I　the　right　to
kill　Mademoiselle　Stangerson's　murderer？　　No；　I　had　not。　　But　let
him　only　give　me　the　chance！　　Let　me　find　out　whether　he　is　really
a　creature　of　flesh　and　blood！　…　Let　me　see　his　dead　body；　since
it　cannot　be　taken　alive。

〃If　I　could　but　make　this　woman；　who　does　not　even　look　at　us；
understand！　　She　is　absorbed　by　her　fears　and　by　her　father's
distress　of　mind。　　And　I　can　do　nothing　to　save　her。　　Yes；　I　will
go　to　work　once　more　and　accomplish　wonders。

〃I　move　towards　her。　　I　would　speak　to　her。　　I　would　entreat　her
to　have　confidence　in　me。　　I　would；　in　a　word；　make　her　understand
…　she　alone　…　that　I　know　how　the　murderer　escaped　from　The　Yellow
Room　…　that　I　have　guessed　the　motives　for　her　secrecy　…　and　that　I
pity　her　with　all　my　heart。　　But　by　her　gestures　she　begged　us　to
leave　her　alone；　expressing　weariness　and　the　need　for　immediate
rest。　　Monsieur　Stangerson　asked　us　to　go　back　to　our　rooms　and
thanked　us。　　Frederic　Larsan　and　I　bowed　to　him　and；　followed　by
Daddy　Jacques；　we　regained　the　gallery。　　I　heard　Larsan　murmur：
'Strange！　　strange！'　He　made　a　sign　to　me　to　go　with　him　into　his
room。　　On　the　threshold　he　turned　towards　Daddy　Jacques。

〃'Did　you　see　him　distinctly？'　he　asked。

〃'Who？'

〃'The　man？'

〃'Saw　him！　…　why；　he　had　a　big　red　beard　and　red　hair。'

〃'That's　how　he　appeared　to　me；'　I　said。

〃'And　to　me；'　said　Larsan。

〃The　great　Fred　and　I　were　alone　in　his　chamber；　now；　to　talk　over
this　thing。　　We　talked　for　an　hour；　turning　the　matter　over　and
viewing　it　from　every　side。　　From　the　questions　put　by　him；　from
the　explanation　which　he　gives　me；　it　is　clear　to　me　that　…　in　spite
of　all　our　senses　…　he　is　persuaded　the　man　disappeared　by　some
secret　passage　in　the　chateau　known　to　him　alone。

〃'He　knows　the　chateau；'　he　said　to　me；　'he　knows　it　well。'

〃'He　is　a　rather　tall　man　…　well…built；'　I　suggested。

〃'He　is　as　tall　as　he　wants　to　be；'　murmured　Fred。

〃'I　understand；'　I　said；　'but　how　do　you　account　for　his　red　hair
and　beard？'

〃'Too　much　beard　…　too　much　hair　…　false；'　says　Fred。

〃'That's　easily　said。　　You　are　always　thinking　of　Robert　Darzac。
You　can't　get　rid　of　that　idea？　　I　am　certain　that　he　is　innocent。'

〃'So　much　the　better。　　I　hope　so；　but　everything　condemns　him。　　Did
you　notice　the　marks　on　the　carpet？　…　Come　and　look　at　them。'

〃'I　have　seen　them；　they　are　the　marks　of　the　neat　boots；　the　same
as　those　we　saw　on　the　border　of　the　lake。'

〃'Can　you　deny　that　they　belong　to　Robert　Darzac？'

〃'Of　course；　one　may　be　mistaken。'

〃'Have　you　noticed　that　those　footprints　only　go　in　one　direction？
…　that　there　are　no　return　marks？　　When　the　man　came　from　the
chamber；　pursued　by　all　of　us；　his　footsteps　left　no　traces　behind
them。'

〃'He　had；　perhaps；　been　in　the　chamber　for　hours。　　The　mud　from　his
boots　had　dried；　and　he　moved　with　such　rapidity　on　the　points　of
his　toes　…　We　saw　him　running；　but　we　did　not　hear　his　steps。'

〃I　suddenly　put　an　end　to　this　idle　chatter　…　void　of　any　logic；　and
made　a　sign　to　Larsan　to　listen。

〃'There　…　below；　some　one　is　shutting　a　door。'

〃I　rise；　Larsan　follows　me；　we　descend　to　the　ground…floor　of　the
chateau。　　I　lead　him　to　the　little　semi…circular　room　under　the
terrace　beneath　the　window　of　the　'off…turning'　gallery。　　I　point
to　the　door；　now　closed；　open　a　short　time　before；　under　which　a
shaft　of　light　is　visible。

〃'The　forest…keeper！'　says　Fred。

〃'Come　on！'　I　whisper。

〃Prepared　…　I　know　not　why　…　to　believe　that　the　keeper　is　the
guilty　man　…　I　go　to　the　door　and　rap　smartly　on　it。　　〃Some　might
think　that　we　were　rather　late　in　thinking　of　the　keeper；　since　our
first　business；　after　having　found　that　the　murderer　had　escaped　us
in　the　gallery；　ought　to　have　been　to　search　everywhere　else；
…　around　the　chateau；　…　in　the　park　…

〃Had　this　criticism　been　made　at　the　time；　we　could　only　have
answered　that　the　assassin　had　disappeared　from　the　gallery　in　such
a　way　that　we　thought　he　was　no　longer　anywhere！　　He　had　eluded　us
when　we　all　had　our　hands　stretched　out　ready　to　seize　him　…　when
we　were　almost　touching　him。　　We　had　no　longer　any　ground　for　hoping
that　we　could　clear　up　the　mystery　of　that　night。

〃As　soon　as　I　rapped　at　the　door　it　was　opened；　and　the　keeper
asked　us　quietly　what　we　wanted。　　He　was　undressed　and　preparing
to　go　to　bed。　　The　bed　had　not　yet　been　disturbed。

〃We　entered　and　I　affected　surprise。

〃'Not　gone　to　bed　yet？'

〃'No；'　he　replied　roughly。　　'I　have　been　making　a　round　of　the　park
and　in　the　woods。　　I　am　only　just　back　…　and　sleepy。　　Good…night！'

〃'Listen；'　I　said。　　'An　hour　or　so　ago；　there　was　a　ladder　close　by
your　window。'

〃'What　ladder？　…　I　did　not　see　any　ladder。　　Good…night！'

〃And　he　simply　put　us　out　of　the　room。　　When　we　were　outside　I
looked　at　Larsan。　　His　face　was　impenetrable。

'Well？'　I　said。

〃'Well？'　he　repeated。

〃'Does　that　open　out　any　new　view　to　you？'

〃There　was　no　mistaking　Larsan's　bad　temper。　　On　re…entering　the
chateau；　I　heard　him　mutter：

〃'It　would　be　strange　…　very　strange　…　if　I　had　deceived　myself　on
that　point！'

〃He　seemed　to　be　talking　to　me　rather　than　to　himself。　　He　added：
〃'In　any　case；　we　shall　soon　know　what　to　think。　　The　morning　will
bring　light　with　it。'〃





CHAPTER　XVIII

Rouletabille　Has　Drawn　a　Circle　Between　the　Two　Bumps　on　His　Forehead