the mystery of the yellow room-第29章

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and　then　I　saw　him；　with　the　same　precaution；　return　to　his　room。
Astonished　by　his　embrace；　and　somewhat　disquieted　by　it；　I　arrived
at　the　right　gallery　without　difficulty；　crossing　the　landing…place；
and　reaching　the　dark　closet。

Before　entering　it　I　examined　the　curtain…cord　of　the　window　and
found　that　I　had　only　to　release　it　from　its　fastening　with　my
fingers　for　the　curtain　to　fall　by　its　own　weight　and　hide　the
square　of　light　from　Rouletabille　…　the　signal　agreed　upon。　　The
sound　of　a　footstep　made　me　halt　before　Arthur　Rance's　door。　　He
was　not　yet　in　bed；　then！　　How　was　it　that；　being　in　the　chateau；
he　had　not　dined　with　Monsieur　Stangerson　and　his　daughter？　　I　had
not　seen　him　at　table　with　them；　at　the　moment　when　we　looked　in。

I　retired　into　the　dark　closet。　　I　found　myself　perfectly　situated。
I　could　see　along　the　whole　length　of　the　gallery。　　Nothing；
absolutely　nothing　could　pass　there　without　my　seeing　it。　　But　what
was　going　to　pass　there？　　Rouletabille's　embrace　came　back　to　my
mind。　　I　argued　that　people　don't　part　from　each；　other　in　that　way
unless　on　an　important　or　dangerous　occasion。　　Was　I　then　in　danger？

My　hand　closed　on　the　butt　of　my　revolver　and　I　waited。　　I　am　not
a　hero；　but　neither　am　I　a　coward。

I　waited　about　an　hour；　and　during　all　that　time　I　saw　nothing
unusual。　　The　rain；　which　had　begun　to　come　down　strongly　towards
nine　o'clock；　had　now　ceased。

My　friend　had　told　me　that；　probably；　nothing　would　occur　before
midnight　or　one　o'clock　in　the　morning。　　It　was　not　more　than
half…past　eleven；　however；　when　I　heard　the　door　of　Arthur　Rance's
room　open　very　slowly。　　The　door　remained　open　for　a　minute；　which
seemed　to　me　a　long　time。　　As　it　opened　into　the　gallery；　that　is
to　say；　outwards；　I　could　not　see　what　was　passing　in　the　room
behind　the　door。

At　that　moment　I　noticed　a　strange　sound；　three　times　repeated；
coming　from　the　park。　　Ordinarily　I　should　not　have　attached　any
more　importance　to　it　than　I　would　to　the　noise　of　cats　on　the　roof。
But　the　third　time；　the　mew　was　so　sharp　and　penetrating　that　I
remembered　what　I　had　heard　about　the　cry　of　the　Bete　du　bon　Dieu。
As　the　cry　had　accompanied　all　the　events　at　the　Glandier；　I　could
not　refrain　from　shuddering　at　the　thought。

Directly　afterwards　I　saw　a　man　appear　on　the　outside　of　the　door；
and　close　it　after　him。　　At　first　I　could　not　recognise　him；　for
his　back　was　towards　me　and　he　was　bending　over　a　rather　bulky
package。　　When　he　had　closed　the　door　and　picked　up　the　package；
he　turned　towards　the　dark　closet；　and　then　I　saw　who　he　was。　　He
was　the　forest…keeper；　the　Green　Man。　　He　was　wearing　the　same
costume　that　he　had　worn　when　I　first　saw　him　on　the　road　in　front
of　the　Donjon　Inn。　　There　was　no　doubt　about　his　being　the　keeper。
As　the　cry　of　the　Bete　du　Bon　Dieu　came　for　the　third　time；　he　put
down　the　package　and　went　to　the　second　window；　counting　from　the
dark　closet。　　I　dared　not　risk　making　any　movement；　fearing　I　might
betray　my　presence。

Arriving　at　the　window；　he　peered　out　on　to　the　park。　　The　night
was　now　light；　the　moon　showing　at　intervals。　　The　Green　Man　raised
his　arms　twice；　making　signs　which　I　did　not　understand；　then；
leaving　the　window；　he　again　took　up　his　package　and　moved　along
the　gallery　towards　the　landing…place。

Rouletabille　had　instructed　me　to　undo　the　curtain…cord　when　I　saw
anything。　　Was　Rouletabille　expecting　this？　　It　was　not　my　business
to　question。　　All　I　had　to　do　was　obey　instructions。　　I　unfastened
the　window…cord；　my　heart　beating　the　while　as　if　it　would　burst。
The　man　reached　the　landing…place；　but；　to　my　utter　surprise　…　I
had　expected　to　see　him　continue　to　pass　along　the　gallery　…　I　saw
him　descend　the　stairs　leading　to　the　vestibule。

What　was　I　to　do？　　I　looked　stupidly　at　the　heavy　curtain　which　had
shut　the　light　from　the　window。　　The　signal　had　been　given；　and　I
did　not　see　Rouletabille　appear　at　the　corner　of　the　off…turning
gallery。　　Nobody　appeared。　　I　was　exceedingly　perplexed。　　Half　an
hour　passed；　an　age　to　me。　　What　was　I　to　do　now；　even　if　I　saw
something？　　The　signal　once　given　I　could　not　give　it　a　second　time。
To　venture　into　the　gallery　might　upset　all　Rouletabille's　plans。
After　all；　I　had　nothing　to　reproach　myself　for；　and　if　something
had　happened　that　my　friend　had　not　expected　he　could　only　blame
himself。　　Unable　to　be　of　any　further　assistance　to　him　by　means
of　a　signal；　I　left　the　dark　closet　and；　still　in　my　socks；　made
my　way　to　the　〃off…turning〃　gallery。

There　was　no　one　there。　　I　went　to　the　door　of　Rouletabille's　room
and　listened。　　I　could　hear　nothing。　　I　knocked　gently。　　There　was
no　answer。　　I　turned　the　door…handle　and　the　door　opened。　　I　entered。
Rouletabille　lay　extended　at　full　length　on　the　floor。





CHAPTER　XXII

The　Incredible　Body


I　bent　in　great　anxiety　over　the　body　of　the　reporter　and　had　the
joy　to　find　that　he　was　deeply　sleeping；　the　same　unhealthy　sleep
that　I　had　seen　fall　upon　Frederic　Larsan。　　He　had　succumbed　to　the
influence　of　the　same　drug　that　had　been　mixed　with　our　food。　　How
was　it　then；　that　I；　also；　had　not　been　overcome　by　it？　　I　reflected
that　the　drug　must　have　been　put　into　our　wine；　because　that　would
explain　my　condition。　　I　never　drink　when　eating。　　Naturally
inclined　to　obesity；　I　am　restricted　to　a　dry　diet。　　I　shook
Rouletabille；　but　could　not　succeed　in　waking　him。　　This；　no　doubt；
was　the　work　of　Mademoiselle　Stangerson。

She　had　certainly　thought　it　necessary　to　guard　herself　against　this
young　man　as　well　as　her　father。　　I　recalled　that　the　steward；　in
serving　us；　had　recommended　an　excellent　Chablis　which；　no　doubt；
had　come　from　the　professor's　table。

More…than　a　quarter　of　an　hour　passed。　　I　resolved；　under　the
pressing　circumstances；　to　resort　to　extreme　measures。　　I　threw　a
pitcher　of　cold　water　over　Rouletabille's　head。　　He　opened　his　eyes。
I　beat　his　face；　and　raised　him　up。　　I　felt　him　stiffen　in　my　arms
and　heard　him　murmur：　〃Go　on；　go　on；　but　don't　make　any　noise。〃　　I
pinched　him　and　shook　him　until　he　was　able　to　stand　up。　　We　were
saved！

〃They　sent　me　to　sleep；〃　he　said。　　〃Ah！　　I　passed　an　awful　quarter
of　an　hour　before　giving　way。　　But　it　is　over　now。　　Don't　leave　me。〃

He　had　no　sooner　uttered　those　words　than　we　were　thrilled　by　a
frightful　cry　that　rang　through　the　chateau；　…　a　veritable　death　cry。

〃Malheur！〃　roared　Rouletabille；　〃we　shall　be　too　late！〃

He　tried　to　rush　to　the　door；　but　he　was　too　dazed；　and　fell　against
the　wall。　　I　was　already　in　the　gallery；　revolver　in　hand；　rushing
like　a　madman　towards　Mademoiselle　Stangerson's　room。　　The　moment　I
arrived　at　the　intersection　of　the　〃offturning〃　gallery　and　the
〃right〃　gallery；　I　saw　a　figure　leaving　her　apartment；　which；　in　a
few　strides　had　reached　the　landing…place。

I　was　not　master　of　myself。　　I　fired。　　The　report　from　the　revolver
made　a　deafening　noise；　but　the　man　continued　his　flight　down　the
stairs。　　I　ran　behind　him；　shouting：　〃Stop！　…　stop！　　or　I　will　kill
you！〃　　As　I　rushed　after　him　down　the　stairs；　I　came　face　to　face
with　Arthur　Rance　coming　from　the　left　wing　of　the　chateau；　yelling：
〃What　is　it？　　What　is　it？〃　　We　arrived　almost　at　the　same　time　at
the　foot　of　the　staircase。　　The　window　of　the　vestibule　was　open。
We　distinctly　saw　the　form　of　a　man　running　away。　　Instinctively　we
fired　our　revolvers　in　his　direction。　　He　was　not　more　than　ten
paces　in　front　of　us；　he　staggered　and　we　thought　he　was　going　to
fall。　　We　had　sprung　out　of　the　window；　but　the　man　dashed　off　with
renewed　vigour。　　I　was　in　my　socks；　and　the　American　was　barefooted。
There　being　no　hope　of　overtaking　him；　we　fired　our　last　cartridges
at　him。　　But　he　still　kept　on　running；　going　along　the　right　side
of　the　court　towards　the　end　of　the　right　wing　of　the　chateau；　which
had　no　other　outlet　than　the　door　of　the　little　chamber　occupied　by
the　forest…keeper。　　The　man；　though　he　was　evidently　wounded　by　our
bullets；　was　now　twenty　yards　ahead　of　us。　　Suddenly；　behind　us；
and　above　our　heads；　a　window　in　the　gallery　opened　and　we　heard
the　voice　of　Rouletabille　crying　out　desperately：

〃Fire；　Bernier！　…　Fire！〃

At　that　moment　the　clear　moonlight　night　was　further　lit　by　a　broad
flash。　　By　its　light　we　saw　Daddy　Bernier　with　his　gun　on　the
threshold　of　the　donjon　door。

He　had　taken　good　aim。　　The　shadow　fell。　　But　as　it　had　reached　the
end　of　the　right　wing　of　the　chateau；　it　fell　on　the　other　side　of
the　angle　of　the　building；　that　is　to　say；　we　saw　it　about　to　fall；
but　not　the　actual　sinking　to　the　ground。　　Bernier；　Arthur　Rance
and　myself　reached　the　other　side　twenty　seconds　later。　　The　shadow
was　lying　dead　at　our　feet。

Aroused　from　his　lethargy　by　the　cries　and　reports；　Larsan　opened
the　window　of　his　chamber　and　called　out　to　us。　　Rouletabille；　quite
awake　now；　joined　us　at　the　same　moment；　and　I　cried　out　to　him：

〃He　is　dead！　…　is　dead！〃

〃So　much　the　better；〃　he　said。　　〃Take　him　into　the　vestibule　of　the
chateau。〃　Then　as　if　on　second　thought；　he　said：　〃No！　…　no！　　Let　us
put　him　in　his　own　room。〃

Rouletabille　knocked　at　the　door。　　Nobody　answered。　　Naturally；　this
did　not　surprise　me。

〃He　is　evidently　not　there；　otherwise　he　would　have　come　out；〃　said
the　reporter。　　〃Let　us　carry　him　to　the　vestibule　then。〃

Since　reaching　the　dead　shadow；　a　thick　cloud　had　covered　the　moon
and　darkened　the　night；　so　that　we　were　unable　to　make　out　the
features。　　Daddy　Jacques；　who　had　now　joined　us；　helped　us　to　carry
the　body　into　the　vestibule；　where　we　laid　it　down　on　the　lower　step
of　the　stairs。　　On　the　way；　I　had　felt　my　hands　wet　from　the　warm
blood　flowing　from　the　wounds。

Daddy　Jacques　flew　to　the　kitchen　and　returned　with　a　lantern。　　He
held　it　close　to　the　face　of　the　dead　shadow；　and　we　recognised　the
keeper；　the　man　called　by　the　landlord　of　the　Donjon　Inn　the　Green
Man；　whom；　an　hour　earlier；　I　had　seen　come　out　of　Arthur　Rance's
chamber　carrying　a　parcel。　　But　what　I　had　seen　I　could　only　tell
Rouletabille　later；　when　we　were　alone。

Rouletabille　and　Frederic　Larsan　experienced　a　cruel　disappointment
at　the　result　of　the　night's　adventure。　　They　could　only　look　in
consternation　and　stupefaction　at　the　body　of　the　Green　Man。

Daddy　Jacques　showed　a　stupidly　sorrowful　face　and　with　silly
lamentations　kept　repeating　that　we　were　mistaken　…　the　keeper　could
not　be　the　assailant。　　We　were　obliged　to　compel　him　to　be　quiet。
He　could　not　have　shown　greater　grief　had　the　body　been　that　of　his
own　son。　　I　noticed；　while　all　the　rest　of　us　were　more　or　less
undressed　and　barefooted；　that　he　was　fully　clothed。

Rouletabille　had　not　left　the　body。　　Kneeling　on　the　flagstones　by
the　light　of　Daddy　Jacques's　lantern　he　removed　the　clothes　from
the　body　and　laid　bare　its　breast。　　Then　snatching　the　lantern　from
Daddy　Jacques；　he　held　it　over　the　corpse　and　saw　a　gaping　wound。
Rising　suddenly　he　exclaimed　in　a　voice　filled　with　savage　irony：

〃The　man　you　believe　to　have　been　shot　was　killed　by　the　stab　of　a
knife　in　his　heart！〃

I　thought　Rouletabille　had　gone　mad；　but；　bending　over　the　body；　I
quickly　satisfied　myself　that　Rouletabil