the mystery of the yellow room-第34章

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at　the　same　time　as　Rouletabille。　　He　greeted　me　heartily；　and
looked　happy。

〃I'll　not　ask　you；　my　dear　fellow；〃　I　said；　smiling；　〃what　you've
been　doing　in　America；　because　I've　no　doubt　you'll　say　you　can't
tell　me　until　after　half…past　six。〃

〃No；　my　dear　Sainclair；　I'll　tell　you　right　now　why　I　went　to
America。　　I　went　in　search　of　the　name　of　the　other　half　of　the
murderer！〃

〃The　name　of　the　other　half？〃

〃Exactly。　　When　we　last　left　the　Glandier　I　knew　there　were　two
halves　to　the　murderer　and　the　name　of　only　one　of　them。　　I　went
to　America　for　the　name　of　the　other　half。〃

I　was　too　puzzled　to　answer。　　Just　then　we　entered　the　witnesses'
room；　and　Rouletabille　was　immediately　surrounded。　　He　showed
himself　very　friendly　to　all　except　Arthur　Rance　to　whom　he
exhibited　a　marked　coldness　of　manner。　　Frederic　Larsan　came　in
also。　　Rouletabille　went　up　and　shook　him　heartily　by　the　hand。
His　manner　toward　the　detective　showed　that　he　had　got　the　better
of　the　policeman。　　Larsan　smiled　and　asked　him　what　he　had　been
doing　in　America；　Rouletabille　began　by　telling　him　some　anecdotes
of　his　voyage。　　They　then　turned　aside　together　apparently　with
the　object　of　speaking　confidentially。　　I；　therefore；　discreetly
left　them　and；　being　curious　to　hear　the　evidence；　returned　to　my
seat　in　the　court…room　where　the　public　plainly　showed　its　lack
of　interest　in　what　was　going　on　in　their　impatience　for
Rouletabille's　return　at　the　appointed　time。

On　the　stroke　of　half…past　six　Joseph　Rouletabille　was　again　brought
in。　　It　is　impossible　for　me　to　picture　the　tense　excitement　which
appeared　on　every　face；　as　he　made　his　way　to　the　bar。　　Darzac　rose
to　his　feet；　frightfully　pale。

The　President；　addressing　Rouletabille；　said　gravely：

〃I　will　not　ask　you　to　take　the　oath；　because　you　have　not　been
regularly　summoned；　but　I　trust　there　is　no　need　to　urge　upon　you
the　gravity　of　the　statement　you　are　about　to　make。〃

Rouletabille　looked　the　President　quite　calmly　and　steadily　in　the
face；　and　replied：

〃Yes；　Monsieur。〃

〃At　your　last　appearance　here；〃　said　the　President；　〃we　had　arrived
at　the　point　where　you　were　to　tell　us　how　the　murderer　escaped；
and　also　his　name。　　Now；　Monsieur　Rouletabille；　we　await　your
explanation。〃

〃Very　well；　Monsieur；〃　began　my　friend　amidst　a　profound　silence。
〃I　had　explained　how　it　was　impossible　for　the　murderer　to　get　away
without　being　seen。　　And　yet　he　was　there　with　us　in　the　courtyard。〃

〃And　you　did　not　see　him？　　At　least　that　is　what　the　prosecution
declares。〃

〃No！　　We　all　of　us　saw　him；　Monsieur　le　President！〃　cried
Rouletabille。

〃Then　why　was　he　not　arrested？〃

〃Because　no　one；　besides　myself；　knew　that　he　was　the　murderer。　　It
would　have　spoiled　my　plans　to　have　had　him　arrested；　and　I　had　then
no　proof　other　than　my　own　reasoning。　　I　was　convinced　we　had　the
murderer　before　us　and　that　we　were　actually　looking　at　him。　　I
have　now　brought　what　I　consider　the　indisputable　proof。〃

〃Speak　out；　Monsieur！　　Tell　us　the　murderer's　name。〃

〃You　will　find　it　on　the　list　of　names　present　in　the　court　on　the
night　of　the　tragedy；〃　replied　Rouletabille。

The　people　present　in　the　court…room　began　showing　impatience。
Some　of　them　even　called　for　the　name；　and　were　silenced　by　the
usher。

〃The　list　includes　Daddy　Jacques；　Bemier　the　concierge；　and　Mr。
Arthur　Rance；〃　said　the　President。　　〃Do　you　accuse　any　of　these？〃

〃No；　Monsieur！〃

〃Then　I　do　not　understand　what　you　are　driving　at。　　There　was　no
other　person　at　the　end　of　the　court。〃

〃Yes；　Monsieur；　there　was；　not　at　the　end；　but　above　the　court；　who
was　leaning　out　of　the　window。〃

〃Do　you　mean　Frederic　Larsan！〃　exclaimed　the　President。

〃Yes！　　Frederic　Larsan！〃　replied　Rouletabille　in　a　ringing　tone。
〃Frederic　Larsan　is　the　murderer！〃

The　court…room　became　immediately　filled　with　loud　and　indignant
protests。　　So　astonished　was　he　that　the　President　did　not　attempt
to　quiet　it。　　The　quick　silence　which　followed　was　broken　by　the
distinctly　whispered　words　from　the　lips　of　Robert　Darzac：

〃It's　impossible！　　He's　mad！〃

〃You　dare　to　accuse　Frederic　Larsan；　Monsieur？〃　asked　the　President。
〃If　you　are　not　mad；　what　are　your　proofs？〃

〃Proofs；　Monsieur？　…　Do　you　want　proofs？　　Well；　here　is　one；〃　cried
Rouletabille　shrilly。　　〃Let　Frederic　Larsan　be　called！〃

〃Usher；　call　Frederic　Larsan。〃

The　usher　hurried　to　the　side　door；　opened　it；　and　disappeared。　　The
door　remained　open；　while　all　eyes　turned　expectantly　towards　it。
The　clerk　re…appeared　and；　stepping　forward；　said：

〃Monsieur　President；　Frederic　Larsan　is　not　here。　　He　left　at　about
four　o'clock　and　has　not　been　seen　since。〃

〃That　is　my　proof！〃　cried　Rouletabille；　triumphantly。

〃Explain　yourself？〃　demanded　the　President。

〃My　proof　is　Larsan's　flight；〃　said　the　young　reporter。　　〃He　will
not　come　back。　　You　will　see　no　more　of　Frederic　Larsan。〃

〃Unless　you　are　playing　with　the　court；　Monsieur；　why　did　you　not
accuse　him　when　he　was　present？　　He　would　then　have　answered　you。〃

〃He　could　give　no　other　answer　than　the　one　he　has　now　given　by　his
flight。〃

〃We　cannot　believe　that　Larsan　has　fled。　　There　was　no　reason　for
his　doing　so。　　Did　he　know　you'd　make　this　charge？〃

〃He　did。　　I　told　him　I　would。〃

〃Do　you　mean　to　say　that　knowing　Larsan　was　the　murderer　you　gave
him　the　opportunity　to　escape？〃

〃Yes；　Monsieur　President；　I　did；〃　replied　Rouletabille；　proudly。
〃I　am　not　a　policeman；　I　am　a　journalist；　and　my　business　is　not
to　arrest　people。　　My　business　is　in　the　service　of　truth；　and　is
not　that　of　an　executioner。　　If　you　are　just；　Monsieur；　you　will
see　that　I　am　right。　　You　can　now　understand　why　I　refrained　until
this　hour　to　divulge　the　name。　　I　gave　Larsan　time　to　catch　the
4：17　train　for　Paris；　where　he　would　know　where　to　hide　himself；
and　leave　no　traces。　　You　will　not　find　Frederic　Larsan；〃　declared
Rouletabille；　fixing　his　eyes　on　Monsieur　Robert　Darzac。　　〃He　is
too　cunning。　　He　is　a　man　who　has　always　escaped　you　and　whom　you
have　long　searched　for　in　vain。　　If　he　did　not　succeed　in
outwitting　me；　he　can　yet　easily　outwit　any　police。　　This　man　who；
four　years　ago；　introduced　himself　to　the　Surete；　and　became
celebrated　as　Frederic　Larsan；　is　notorious　under　another　name　…　a
name　well　known　to　crime。　　Frederic　Larsan；　Monsieur　President；
is　Ballmeyer！〃

〃Ballmeyer！〃　cried　the　President。

〃Ballmeyer！〃　exclaimed　Robert　Darzac；　springing　to　his　feet。
〃Ballmeyer！　…　It　was　true；　then！〃

〃Ah！　　Monsieur　Darzac；　you　don't　think　I　am　mad；　now！〃　cried
Rouletabille。

Ballmeyer！　　Ballmeyer！　　No　other　word　could　be　heard　in　the
courtroom。　　The　President　adjourned　the　hearing。

Those　of　my　readers　who　may　not　have　heard　of　Ballmeyer　will　wonder
at　the　excitement　the　name　caused。　　And　yet　the　doings　of　this
remarkable　criminal　form　the　subject…matter　of　the　most　dramatic
narratives　of　the　newspapers　and　criminal　records　of　the　past　twenty
years。　　It　had　been　reported　that　he　was　dead；　and　thus　had　eluded
the　police　as　he　had　eluded　them　throughout　the　whole　of　his　career。

Ballmeyer　was　the　best　specimen　of　the　high…class　〃gentleman
swindler。〃　　He　was　adept　at　sleight　of　hand　tricks；　and　no　bolder
or　more　ruthless　crook　ever　lived。　　He　was　received　in　the　best
society；　and　was　a　member　of　some　of　the　most　exclusive　clubs。　　On
many　of　his　depredatory　expeditions　he　had　not　hesitated　to　use
the　knife　and　the　mutton…bone。　　No　difficulty　stopped　him　and　no
〃operation〃　was　too　dangerous。　　He　had　been　caught；　but　escaped
on　the　very　morning　of　his　trial；　by　throwing　pepper　into　the
eyes　of　the　guards　who　were　conducting　him　to　Court。　　It　was　known
later　that；　in　spite　of　the　keen　hunt　after　him　by　the　most　expert
of　detectives；　he　had　sat　that　same　evening　at　a　first　performance
in　the　Theatre　Francais；　without　the　slightest　disguise。

He　left　France；　later；　to　〃work〃　America；　The　police　there
succeeded　in　capturing　him　once；　but　the　extraordinary　man　escaped
the　next　day。　　It　would　need　a　volume　to　recount　the　adventures　of
this　master…criminal。　　And　yet　this　was　the　man　Rouletabille　had
allowed　to　get　away！　　Knowing　all　about　him　and　who　he　was；　he
afforded　the　criminal　an　opportunity　for　another　laugh　at　the
society　he　had　defied！　　I　could　not　help　admiring　the　bold　stroke
of　the　young　journalist；　because　I　felt　certain　his　motive　had　been
to　protect　both　Mademoiselle　Stangerson　and　rid　Darzac　of　an　enemy
at　the　same　time。

The　crowd　had　barely　recovered　from　the　effect　of　the　astonishing
revelation　when　the　hearing　was　resumed。　　The　question　in　everybody's
mind　was：　Admitting　that　Larsan　was　the　murderer；　how　did　he　get　out
of　The　Yellow　Room？

Rouletabille　was　immediately　called　to　the　bar　and　his　examination
continued。

〃You　have　told　us；〃　said　the　President；　〃that　it　was　impossible　to
escape　from　the　end　of　the　court。　　Since　Larsan　was　leaning　out　of
his　window；　he　had　left　the　court。　　How　did　he　do　that？〃

〃He　escaped　by　a　most　unusual　way。　　He　climbed　the　wall；　sprang
onto　the　terrace；　and；　while　we　were　engaged　with　the　keeper's　body；
reached　the　gallery　by　the　window。　　He　then　had　little　else　to　do
than　to　open　the　window；　get　in　and　call　out　to　us；　as　if　he　had
just　come　from　his　own　room。　　To　a　man　of　Ballmeyer's　strength　all
that　was　mere　child's　play。　　And　here；　Monsieur；　is　the　proof　of
what　I　say。〃

Rouletabille　drew　from　his　pocket　a　small　packet；　from　which　he
produced　a　strong　iron　peg。

〃This；　Monsieur；〃　he　said；　〃is　a　spike　which　perfectly　fits　a　hole
still　to　be　seen　in　the　cornice　supporting　the　terrace。　　Larsan；
who　thought　and　prepared　for　everything　in　case　of　any　emergency；
had　fixed　this　spike　into　the　cornice。　　All　he　had　to　do　to　make
his　escape　good　was　to　plant　one　foot　on　a　stone　which　is　placed
at　the　corner　of　the　chateau；　another　on　this　support；　one　hand
on　the　cornice　of　the　keeper's　door　and　the　other　on　the　terrace；
and　Larsan　was　clear　of　the　ground。　　The　rest　was　easy。　　His　acting
after　dinner　as　if　he　had　been　drugged　was　make　believe。　　He　was
not　drugged；　but　he　did　drug　me。　　Of　course　he　had　to　make　it
appear　as　if　he　also　had　been　drugged　so　that　no　suspicion　should
fall　on　him　for　my　condition。　　Had　I　not　been　thus　overpowered；
Larsan　would　never　have　entered　Mademoiselle　Stangerson's　chamber
that　night；　and　the　attack　on　her　would　not　have　taken　place。〃

A　groan　came　from　Darzac；　who　appeared　to　be　unable　to　control
his　suffering。

〃You　can　understand；〃　added　Rouletabile；　〃that　Larsan　would　feel
himself　hampered　from　the　fact　that　my　room　was　so　close　to　his；　and
from　a　suspicion　that　I　would　be　on　the　watch　that　night。　　Naturally；
he　could　not　for　a　moment　believe　that　I　suspected　him！　　But　I　might
see　him　leaving　his　room　when　he　was　about　to　go　to　Mademoiselle
Stangerson。　　He　waited　till　I　was　asleep；　and　my　friend　Sainclair
was　busy　trying　to　rouse　me。　　Ten　minutes　after　that　Mademoiselle
was　calling　out；　〃Murder！〃

〃How　did　you　come　to　suspect　Larsan？〃　asked　the　President。

〃My　pure　reason　pointed　to　him。　　That　was　why　I　watched　him。　　But
I　did　not　foresee　the　drugging。　　He　is　very　cunning。　　Yes；　my　pure
reason　pointed　to　hi