the mystery of the yellow room-第3章

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du　Boulevard。〃　　My　entry　into　journalism　could　not　but　strengthen
the　ties　which　united　me　to　Rouletabille。　　After　a　while；　my　new
friend　being　allowed　to　carry　out　an　idea　of　a　judicial
correspondence　column；　which　he　was　allowed　to　sign　〃Business；〃　in
the　〃Epoque；〃　I　was　often　able　to　furnish　him　with　the　legal
information　of　which　he　stood　in　need。

Nearly　two　years　passed　in　this　way；　and　the　better　I　knew　him；　the
more　I　learned　to　love　him；　for；　in　spite　of　his　careless
extravagance；　I　had　discovered　in　him　what　was；　considering　his　age；
an　extraordinary　seriousness　of　mind。　　Accustomed　as　I　was　to　seeing
him　gay　and；　indeed；　often　too　gay；　I　would　many　times　find　him
plunged　in　the　deepest　melancholy。　　I　tried　then　to　question　him　as
to　the　cause　of　this　change　of　humour；　but　each　time　he　laughed　and
made　me　no　answer。　　One　day；　having　questioned　him　about　his　parents；
of　whom　he　never　spoke；　he　left　me；　pretending　not　to　have　heard
what　I　said。

While　things　were　in　this　state　between　us；　the　famous　case　of　The
Yellow　Room　took　place。　　It　was　this　case　which　was　to　rank　him　as
the　leading　newspaper　reporter；　and　to　obtain　for　him　the　reputation
of　being　the　greatest　detective　in　the　world。　　It　should　not　surprise
us　to　find　in　the　one　man　the　perfection　of　two　such　lines　of
activity　if　we　remember　that　the　daily　press　was　already　beginning
to　transform　itself　and　to　become　what　it　is　to…day　…　the　gazette
of　crime。

Morose…minded　people　may　complain　of　this；　for　myself　I　regard　it
a　matter　for　congratulation。　　We　can　never　have　too　many　arms；
public　or　private；　against　the　criminal。　　To　this　some　people　may
answer　that；　by　continually　publishing　the　details　of　crimes；　the
press　ends　by　encouraging　their　commission。　　But　then；　with　some
people　we　can　never　do　right。　　Rouletabille；　as　I　have　said；　entered
my　room　that　morning　of　the　26th　of　October；　1892。　　He　was　looking
redder　than　usual；　and　his　eyes　were　bulging　out　of　his　head；　as
the　phrase　is；　and　altogether　he　appeared　to　be　in　a　state　of
extreme　excitement。　　He　waved　the　〃Matin〃　with　a　trembling　hand；
and　cried：

〃Well；　my　dear　Sainclair；　…　have　you　read　it？〃

〃The　Glandier　crime？〃

〃Yes；　The　Yellow　Room！　　…　What　do　you　think　of　it？〃

〃I　think　that　it　must　have　been　the　Devil　or　the　Bete　du　Bon　Dieu
that　committed　the　crime。〃

〃Be　serious！〃

〃Well；　I　don't　much　believe　in　murderers*　who　make　their　escape
through　walls　of　solid　brick。　　I　think　Daddy　Jacques　did　wrong　to
leave　behind　him　the　weapon　with　which　the　crime　was　committed　and；
as　he　occupied　the　attic　immediately　above　Mademoiselle　Stangerson's
room；　the　builder's　job　ordered　by　the　examining　magistrate　will
give　us　the　key　of　the　enigma　and　it　will　not　be　long　before　we
learn　by　what　natural　trap；　or　by　what　secret　door；　the　old　fellow
was　able　to　slip　in　and　out；　and　return　immediately　to　the　laboratory
to　Monsieur　Stangerson；　without　his　absence　being　noticed。　　That；　of
course；　is　only　an　hypothesis。〃

____________________________________________________________________

　　　*Although　the　original　English　translation　often　uses　the　words
　　　〃murder〃　and　〃murderer；〃　the　reader　may　substitute　〃attack〃　and
　　　〃attacker〃　since　no　murder　is　actually　committed。
____________________________________________________________________

Rouletabille　sat　down　in　an　armchair；　lit　his　pipe；　which　he　was
never　without；　smoked　for　a　few　minutes　in　silence　…　no　doubt　to
calm　the　excitement　which；　visibly；　dominated　him　…　and　then
replied：

〃Young　man；〃　he　said；　in　a　tone　the　sad　irony　of　which　I　will　not
attempt　to　render；　〃young　man；　you　are　a　lawyer　and　I　doubt　not　your
ability　to　save　the　guilty　from　conviction；　but　if　you　were　a
magistrate　on　the　bench；　how　easy　it　would　be　for　you　to　condemn
innocent　persons！　…　You　are　really　gifted；　young　man！〃

He　continued　to　smoke　energetically；　and　then　went　on：

〃No　trap　will　be　found；　and　the　mystery　of　The　Yellow　Room　will
become　more　and　more　mysterious。　　That's　why　it　interests　me。
The　examining　magistrate　is　right；　nothing　stranger　than　this　crime
has　ever　been　known。〃

〃Have　you　any　idea　of　the　way　by　which　the　murderer　escaped？〃　I
asked。

〃None；〃　replied　Rouletabille　…　〃none；　for　the　present。　　But　I　have
an　idea　as　to　the　revolver；　the　murderer　did　not　use　it。〃

〃Good　Heavens！　　By　whom；　then；　was　it　used？〃

〃Why　…　by　Mademoiselle　Stangerson。〃

〃I　don't　understand；　…　or　rather；　I　have　never　understood；〃　I　said。

Rouletabille　shrugged　his　shoulders。

〃Is　there　nothing　in　this　article　in　the　'Matin'　by　which　you　were
particularly　struck？〃

〃Nothing；　…　I　have　found　the　whole　of　the　story　it　tells　equally
strange。〃

〃Well；　but　…　the　locked　door　…　with　the　key　on　the　inside？〃

〃That's　the　only　perfectly　natural　thing　in　the　whole　article。〃

〃Really！　　…　And　the　bolt？〃

〃The　bolt？〃

〃Yes；　the　bolt　…　also　inside　the　room　…　a　still　further　protection
against　entry？　　Mademoiselle　Stangerson　took　quite　extraordinary
precautions！　　It　is　clear　to　me　that　she　feared　someone。　　That　was
why　she　took　such　precautions　…　even　Daddy　Jacques's　revolver
…　without　telling　him　of　it。　　No　doubt　she　didn't　wish　to　alarm
anybody；　and　least　of　all；　her　father。　　What　she　dreaded　took　place；
and　she　defended　herself。　　There　was　a　struggle；　and　she　used　the
revolver　skilfully　enough　to　wound　the　assassin　in　the　hand　…　which
explains　the　impression　on　the　wall　and　on　the　door　of　the　large；
blood…stained　hand　of　the　man　who　was　searching　for　a　means　of
exit　from　the　chamber。　　But　she　didn't　fire　soon　enough　to　avoid
the　terrible　blow　on　the　right　temple。〃

〃Then　the　wound　on　the　temple　was　not　done　with　the　revolver？〃

〃The　paper　doesn't　say　it　was；　and　I　don't　think　it　was；　because
logically　it　appears　to　me　that　the　revolver　was　used　by　Mademoiselle
Stangerson　against　the　assassin。　　Now；　what　weapon　did　the　murderer
use？　　The　blow　on　the　temple　seems　to　show　that　the　murderer　wished
to　stun　Mademoiselle　Stangerson；　…　after　he　had　unsuccessfully　tried
to　strangle　her。　　He　must　have　known　that　the　attic　was　inhabited
by　Daddy　Jacques；　and　that　was　one　of　the　reasons；　I　think；　why　he
must　have　used　a　quiet　weapon；　…　a　life…preserver；　or　a　hammer。〃

〃All　that　doesn't　explain　how　the　murderer　got　out　of　The　Yellow
Room；〃　I　observed。

〃Evidently；〃　replied　Rouletabille；　rising；　〃and　that　is　what　has　to
be　explained。　　I　am　going　to　the　Chateau　du　Glandier；　and　have　come
to　see　whether　you　will　go　with　me。〃

〃I？〃　…

〃Yes；　my　boy。　　I　want　you。　　The　'Epoque'　has　definitely　entrusted
this　case　to　me；　and　I　must　clear　it　up　as　quickly　as　possible。〃

〃But　in　what　way　can　I　be　of　any　use　to　you？〃

〃Monsieur　Robert　Darzac　is　at　the　Chateau　du　Glandier。〃

〃That's　true。　　His　despair　must　be　boundless。〃

〃I　must　have　a　talk　with　him。〃

Rouletabille　said　it　in　a　tone　that　surprised　me。

〃Is　it　because　…　you　think　there　is　something　to　be　got　out　of　him？〃
I　asked。

〃Yes。〃

That　was　all　he　would　say。　　He　retired　to　my　sitting…room；　begging
me　to　dress　quickly。

I　knew　Monsieur　Robert　Darzac　from　having　been　of　great　service　to
him　in　a　civil　action；　while　I　was　acting　as　secretary　to　Maitre
Barbet　Delatour。　　Monsieur　Robert　Darzac；　who　was　at　that　time　about
forty　years　of　age；　was　a　professor　of　physics　at　the　Sorbonne。　　He
was　intimately　acquainted　with　the　Stangersons；　and；　after　an
assiduous　seven　years'　courtship　of　the　daughter；　had　been　on　the
point　of　marrying　her。　　In　spite　of　the　fact　that　she　has　become；　as
the　phrase　goes；　〃a　person　of　a　certain　age；〃　she　was　still
remarkably　good…looking。　　While　I　was　dressing　I　called　out　to
Rouletabille；　who　was　impatiently　moving　about　my　sitting…room：

〃Have　you　any　idea　as　to　the　murderer's　station　in　life？〃

〃Yes；〃　he　replied；　〃I　think　if　he　isn't　a　man　in　society；　he　is；　at
least；　a　man　belonging　to　the　upper　class。　　But　that；　again；　is　only
an　impression。〃

〃What　has　led　you　to　form　it？〃

〃Well；　…　the　greasy　cap；　the　common　handkerchief；　and　the　marks
of　the　rough　boots　on　the　floor；〃　he　replied。

〃I　understand；〃　I　said；　〃murderers　don't　leave　traces　behind　them
which　tell　the　truth。〃

〃We　shall　make　something　out　of　you　yet；　my　dear　Sainclair；〃
concluded　Rouletabille





CHAPTER　III

〃A　Man　Has　Passed　Like　a　Shadow　Through　the　Blinds〃


Half　an　hour　later　Rouletabille　and　I　were　on　the　platform　of　the
Orleans　station；　awaiting　the　departure　of　the　train　which　was　to
take　us　to　Epinay…sur…Orge。

On　the　platform　we　found　Monsieur　de　Marquet　and　his　Registrar；　who
represented　the　Judicial　Court　of　Corbeil。　　Monsieur　Marquet　had
spent　the　night　in　Paris；　attending　the　final　rehearsal；　at　the
Scala；　of　a　little　play　of　which　he　was　the　unknown　author；　signing
himself　simply　〃Castigat　Ridendo。〃

Monsieur　de　Marquet　was　beginning　to　be　a　〃noble　old　gentleman。〃
Generally　he　was　extremely　polite　and　full　of　gay　humour；　and　in
all　his　life　had　had　but　one　passion；　…　that　of　dramatic　art。
Throughout　his　magisterial　career　he　was　interested　solely　in　cases
capable　of　furnishing　him　with　something　in　the　nature　of　a　drama。
Though　he　might　very　well　have　aspired　to　the　highest　judicial
positions；　he　had　never　really　worked　for　anything　but　to　win　a
success　at　the　romantic　Porte…Saint…Martin；　or　at　the　sombre　Odeon。

Because　of　the　mystery　which　shrouded　it；　the　case　of　The　Yellow
Room　was　certain　to　fascinate　so　theatrical　a　mind。　　It　interested
him　enormously；　and　he　threw　himself　into　it；　less　as　a　magistrate
eager　to　know　the　truth；　than　as　an　amateur　of　dramatic　embroglios；
tending　wholly　to　mystery　and　intrigue；　who　dreads　nothing　so　much
as　the　explanatory　final　act。

So　that；　at　the　moment　of　meeting　him；　I　heard　Monsieur　de　Marquet
say　to　the　Registrar　with　a　sigh：

〃I　hope；　my　dear　Monsieur　Maleine；　this　builder　with　his　pickaxe
will　not　destroy　so　fine　a　mystery。〃

〃Have　no　fear；〃　replied　Monsieur　Maleine；　〃his　pickaxe　may　demolish
the　pavilion；　perhaps；　but　it　will　leave　our　case　intact。　　I　have
sounded　the　walls　and　examined　the　ceiling　and　floor　and　I　know　all
about　it。　　I　am　not　to　be　deceived。〃

Having　thus　reassured　his　chief；　Monsieur　Maleine；　with　a　discreet
movement　of　the　head；　drew　Monsieur　de　Marquet's　attention　to　us。
The　face　of　that　gentleman　clouded；　and；　as　he　saw　Rouletabille
approaching；　hat　in　hand；　he　sprang　into　one　of　the　empty　carriages
saying；　half　aloud　to　his　Registrar；　as　he　did　so；　〃Above　all；　no
journalists！〃

Monsieur　Maleine　replied　in　the　same　tone；　〃I　understand！〃　and　then
tried　to　prevent　Rouletabille　from　entering　the　same　compartment
with　the　examining　magistrate。

〃Excuse　me；　gentlemen；　…　this　compartment　is　reserved。〃

〃I　am　a　journalist；　Monsieur；　engaged　on　the　'Epoque；'〃　said　my
young　friend　with　a　great　show　of　gesture　and　politeness；　〃and　I
have　a　word　or　two　to　say　to　Monsieur　de　Marquet。〃

〃Monsieur　is　very　much　engaged　with　the　inquiry　he　has　in　hand。〃

〃Ah！　　his　inquiry；　pray　believe　me；　is　absolutely　a　matter　of
indifference　to　me。　　I　am　no　scavenger　of　odds　and　ends；〃　he　went
on；　with　infinite　contempt　in　his　lower　lip；　〃I　am　a　theatrical
reporter；　and　this　evening　I　shall　have　to　gi