the mystery of the yellow room-第31章

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Rouletabille　at　one　of　the　gallery　windows。　　He　heard　Rouletabille
call　out　to　him　to　fire；　and　he　had　fired。　　He　believed　he　had
killed　the　man　until　he　learned；　after　Rouletabille　had　uncovered
the　body；　that　the　man　had　died　from　a　knife　thrust。　　Who　had　given
it　he　could　not　imagine。　　〃Nobody　could　have　been　near　the　spot
without　my　seeing　him。〃　　When　the　examining　magistrate　reminded　him
that　the　spot　where　the　body　was　found　was　very　dark　and　that　he
himself　had　not　been　able　to　recognise　the　keeper　before　firing；
Daddy　Bernier　replied　that　neither　had　they　seen　the　other　body；
nor　had　they　found　it。　　In　the　narrow　court　where　five　people　were
standing　it　would　have　been　strange　if　the　other　body；　had　it　been
there；　could　have　escaped。　　The　only　door　that　opened　into　the　court
was　that　of　the　keeper's　room；　and　that　door　was　closed；　and　the
key　of　it　was　found　in　the　keeper's　pocket。

However　that　might　be；　the　examining　magistrate　did　not　pursue　his
inquiry　further　in　this　direction。　　He　was　evidently　convinced　that
we　had　missed　the　man　we　were　chasing　and　we　had　come　upon　the
keeper's　body　in　our　chase。　　This　matter　of　the　keeper　was　another
matter　entirely。　　He　wanted　to　satisfy　himself　about　that　without
any　further　delay。　　Probably　it　fitted　in　with　the　conclusions　he
had　already　arrived　at　as　to　the　keeper　and　his　intrigues　with　the
wife　of　Mathieu；　the　landlord　of　the　Donjon　Inn。　　This　Mathieu；
later　in　the　afternoon；　was　arrested　and　taken　to　Corbeil　in　spite
of　his　rheumatism。　　He　had　been　heard　to　threaten　the　keeper；　and
though　no　evidence　against　him　had　been　found　at　his　inn；　the
evidence　of　carters　who　had　heard　the　threats　was　enough　to　justify
his　retention。

The　examination　had　proceeded　thus　far　when；　to　our　surprise；
Frederic　Larsan　returned　to　the　chateau。　　He　was　accompanied　by　one
of　the　employes　of　the　railway。　　At　that　moment　Rance　and　I　were　in
the　vestibule　discussing　Mathieu's　guilt　or　innocence；　while
Rouletabille　stood　apart　buried；　apparently；　in　thought。　　The
examining　magistrate　and　his　Registrar　were　in　the　little　green
drawing…room；　while　Darzac　was　with　the　doctor　and　Stangerson　in
the　lady's　chamber。　　As　Frederic　Larsan　entered　the　vestibule　with
the　railway　employed；　Rouletabille　and　I　at　once　recognised　him　by
the　small　blond　beard。　　We　exchanged　meaningful　glances。　　Larsan
had　himself　announced　to　the　examining　magistrate　by　the　gendarme
and　entered　with　the　railway　servant　as　Daddy　Jacques　came　out。
Some　ten　minutes　went　by　during　which　Rouletabille　appeared
extremely　impatient。　　The　door　of　the　drawing…room　was　then　opened
and　we　heard　the　magistrate　calling　to　the　gendarme　who　entered。
Presently　he　came　out；　mounted　the　stairs　and；　coming　back　shortly；
went　in　to　the　magistrate　and　said：

〃Monsieur；　…　Monsieur　Robert　Darzac　will　not　come！〃

〃What！　　Not　come！〃　cried　Monsieur　de　Marquet。

〃He　says　he　cannot　leave　Mademoiselle　Stangerson　in　her　present
state。〃

〃Very　well；〃　said　Monsieur　de　Marquet；　〃then　we'll　go　to　him。〃

Monsieur　de　Marquet　and　the　gendarme　mounted　the　stairs。　　He　made
a　sign　to　Larsan　and　the　railroad　employe　to　follow。　　Rouletabille
and　I　went　along　too。

On　reaching　the　door　of　Mademoiselle　Stangerson's　chamber；　Monsieur
de　Marquet　knocked。　　A　chambermaid　appeared。　　It　was　Sylvia；　with
her　hair　all　in　disorder　and　consternation　showing　on　her　face。

〃Is　Monsieur　Stangerson　within？〃　asked　the　magistrate。

〃Yes；　Monsieur。〃

〃Tell　him　that　I　wish　to　speak　with　him。〃

Stangerson　came　out。　　His　appearance　was　wretched　in　the　extreme。

〃What　do　you　want？〃　he　demanded　of　the　magistrate。　　〃May　I　not　be
left　in　peace；　Monsieur？〃

〃Monsieur；〃　said　the　magistrate；　〃it　is　absolutely　necessary　that　I
should　see　Monsieur　Darzac　at　once。　　If　you　cannot　induce　him　to
come；　I　shall　be　compelled　to　use　the　help　of　the　law。〃

The　professor　made　no　reply。　　He　looked　at　us　all　like　a　man　being
led　to　execution；　and　then　went　back　into　the　room。

Almost　immediately　after　Monsieur　Robert　Darzac　came　out。　　He　was
very　pale。　　He　looked　at　us　and；　his　eyes　falling　on　the　railway
servant；　his　features　stiffened　and　he　could　hardly　repress　a　groan。

We　were　all　much　moved　by　the　appearance　of　the　man。　　We　felt　that
what　was　about　to　happen　would　decide　the　fate　of　Monsieur　Robert
Darzac。　　Frederic　Larsan's　face　alone　was　radiant；　showing　a　joy
as　of　a　dog　that　had　at　last　got　its　prey。

Pointing　to　the　railway　servant；　Monsieur　de　Marquet　said　to
Monsieur　Darzac：

〃Do　you　recognise　this　man；　Monsieur？〃

〃I　do；〃　said　Monsieur　Darzac；　in　a　tone　which　he　vainly　tried　to
make　firm。　　〃He　is　an　employe　at　the　station　at　Epinay…sur…Orge。〃

〃This　young　man；〃　went　on　Monsieur　de　Marquet；　〃affirms　that　he　saw
you　get　off　the　train　at　Epinay…sur…Orge　…〃

〃That　night；〃　said　Monsieur　Darzac；　interrupting；　〃at　half…past　ten
…　it　is　quite　true。〃

An　interval　of　silence　followed。

〃Monsieur　Darzac；〃　the　magistrate　went　on　in　a　tone　of　deep　emotion；
〃Monsieur　Darzac；　what　were　you　doing　that　night；　at　Epinay…sur…Orge
…　at　that　time？〃

Monsieur　Darzac　remained　silent；　simply　closing　his　eyes。

〃Monsieur　Darzac；〃　insisted　Monsieur　de　Marquet；　〃can　you　tell　me
how　you　employed　your　time；　that　night？〃

Monsieur　Darzac　opened　his　eyes。　　He　seemed　to　have　recovered　his
self…control。

〃No；　Monsieur。〃

〃Think；　Monsieur！　　For；　if　you　persist　in　your　strange　refusal；　I
shall　be　under　the　painful　necessity　of　keeping　you　at　my
disposition。〃

〃I　refuse。〃

〃Monsieur　Darzac！　…　in　the　name　of　the　law；　I　arrest　you！〃

The　magistrate　had　no　sooner　pronounced　the　words　than　I　saw
Rouletabille　move　quickly　towards　Monsieur　Darzac。　　He　would
certainly　have　spoken　to　him；　but　Darzac；　by　a　gesture；　held
him　off。　　As　the　gendarme　approached　his　prisoner；　a　despairing
cry　rang　through　the　room：

〃Robert！　…　Robert！〃

We　recognised　the　voice　of　Mademoiselle　Stangerson。　　We　all
shuddered。　　Larsan　himself　turned　pale。　　Monsieur　Darzac；　in　response
to　the　cry；　had　flown　back　into　the　room。

The　magistrate；　the　gendarme；　and　Larsan　followed　closely　after。
Rouletabille　and　I　remained　on　the　threshold。　　It　was　a
heart…breaking　sight　that　met　our　eyes。　　Mademoiselle　Stangerson；
with　a　face　of　deathly　pallor；　had　risen　on　her　bed；　in　spite　of
the　restraining　efforts　of　two　doctors　and　her　father。　　She　was
holding　out　her　trembling　arms　towards　Robert　Darzac；　on　whom
Larsan　and　the　gendarme　had　laid　hands。　　Her　distended　eyes　saw
…　she　understood　…　her　lips　seemed　to　form　a　word；　but　nobody　made
it　out；　and　she　fell　back　insensible。

Monsieur　Darzac　was　hurried　out　of　the　room　and　placed　in　the
vestibule　to　wait　for　the　vehicle　Larsan　had　gone　to　fetch。　　We
were　all　overcome　by　emotion　and　even　Monsieur　de　Marquet　had　tears
in　his　eyes。　　Rouletabille　took　advantage　of　the　opportunity　to
say　to　Monsieur　Darzac：

〃Are　you　going　to　put　in　any　defense？〃

〃No！〃　replied　the　prisoner。

〃Very　well；　then　I　will；　Monsieur。〃

〃You　cannot　do　it；〃　said　the　unhappy　man　with　a　faint　smile。

〃I　can　…　and　I　will。〃

Rouletabille's　voice　had　in　it　a　strange　strength　and　confidence。

〃I　can　do　it；　Monsieur　Robert　Darzac；　because　I　know　more　than
you　do！〃

〃Come！　　Come！〃　murmured　Darzac；　almost　angrily。

〃Have　no　fear！　　I　shall　know　only　what　will　benefit　you。〃

〃You　must　know　nothing；　young　man；　if　you　want　me　to　be　grateful。〃

Rouletabille　shook　his　head；　going　close　up　to　Darzac。

〃Listen　to　what　I　am　about　to　say；〃　he　said　in　a　low　tone；　〃and　let
it　give　you　confidence。　　You　do　not　know　the　name　of　the　murderer。
Mademoiselle　Stangerson　knows　it；　but　only　half　of　it；　but　I　know
his　two　halves；　I　know　the　whole　man！〃

Robert　Darzac　opened　his　eyes；　with　a　look　that　showed　he　had　not
understood　a　word　of　what　Rouletabille　had　said　to　him。　　At　that
moment　the　conveyance　arrived；　driven　by　Frederic　Larsan。　　Darzac
and　the　gendarme　entered　it；　Larsan　remaining　on　the　driver's　seat。
The　prisoner　was　taken　to　Corbeil。





CHAPTER　XXV　　　CHAPTER　XXVI

Rouletabille　Goes　on　a　Journey


That　same　evening　Rouletabille　and　I　left　the　Glandier。　　We　were
very　glad　to　get　away　and　there　was　nothing　more　to　keep　us　there。
I　declared　my　intention　to　give　up　the　whole　matter。　　It　had　been
too　much　for　me。　　Rouletabille；　with　a　friendly　tap　on　my　shoulder；
confessed　that　he　had　nothing　more　to　learn　at　the　Glandier；　he　had
learned　there　all　it　had　to　tell　him。　　We　reached　Paris　about　eight
o'clock；　dined；　and　then；　tired　out；　we　separated；　agreeing　to　meet
the　next　morning　at　my　rooms。

Rouletabille　arrived　next　day　at　the　hour　agreed　on。　　He　was　dressed
in　a　suit　of　English　tweed；　with　an　ulster　on　his　arm；　and　a　valise
in　his　hand。　　Evidently　he　had　prepared　himself　for　a　journey。

〃How　long　shall　you　be　away？〃　I　asked。

〃A　month　or　two；〃　he　said。　　〃It　all　depends。〃

I　asked　him　no　more　questions。

〃Do　you　know；〃　he　asked；　〃what　the　word　was　that　Mademoiselle
Stangerson　tried　to　say　before　she　fainted？〃

〃No　…　nobody　heard　it。〃

〃I　heard　it！〃　replied　Rouletabille。　　〃She　said　'Speak！'〃

〃Do　you　think　Darzac　will　speak？〃

〃Never。〃

I　was　about　to　make　some　further　observations；　but　he　wrung　my　hand
warmly　and　wished　me　good…bye。　　I　had　only　time　to　ask　him　one
question　before　he　left。

〃Are　you　not　afraid　that　other　attempts　may　be　made　while　you're
away？〃

〃No！　　Not　now　that　Darzac　is　in　prison；〃　he　answered。

With　this　strange　remark　he　left。　　I　was　not　to　see　him　again　until
the　day　of　Darzac's　trial　at　the　court　when　he　appeared　to　explain
the　inexplicable。




CHAPTER　XXVI

In　Which　Joseph　Rouletabille　Is　Awaited　with　Impatience


On　the　15th　of　January；　that　is　to　say；　two　months　and　a　half　after
the　tragic　events　I　have　narrated；　the　〃Epoque〃　printed；　as　the
first　column　of　the　front　page；　the　following　sensational　article：
〃The　Seine…et…Oise　jury　is　summoned　to…day　to　give　its　verdict　on
one　of　the　most　mysterious　affairs　in　the　annals　of　crime。　　There
never　has　been　a　case　with　so　many　obscure；　incomprehensible；　and
inexplicable　points。　　And　yet　the　prosecution　has　not　hesitated　to
put　into　the　prisoner's　dock　a　man　who　is　respected；　esteemed；　and
loved　by　all　who　knew　him　…　a　young　savant；　the　hope　of　French
science；　whose　whole　life　has　been　devoted　to　knowledge　and　truth。
When　Paris　heard　of　Monsieur　Robert　Darzac's　arrest　a　unanimous　cry
of　protest　arose　from　all　sides。　　The　whole　Sorbonne；　disgraced　by
this　act　of　the　examining　magistrate；　asserted　its　belief　in　the
innocence　of　Mademoiselle　Stangerson's　fiance。　　Monsieur　Stangerson
was　loud　in　his　denunciation　of　this　miscarriage　of　justice。　　There
is　no　doubt　in　the　mind　of　anybody　that　could　the　victim　speak　she
would　claim　from　the　jurors　of　Seine…et…Oise　the　man　she　wishes　to
make　her　husband　and　whom　the　prosecution　would　send　to　the　scaffold。
It　is　to　be　hoped　that　Mademoiselle　Stangerson　will　shortly　recover
her　reason；　which　has　been　temporarily　unhinged　by　the　horrible
mystery　at　the　Glandier。　　The　question　before　the　jury　is　the　one
we　propose　to　deal　with　this　very　day。

〃We　have　decided　not　to　permit　twelve　worthy　men　to　commit　a
disgraceful　miscar