the mystery of the yellow room-第37章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


…　alone。　　He　would　never　have　dared　to　attack　her　at　that　hour；　if
he　had　not　found　her　alone。　　His　mind　was　made　up。　　He　would　be
more　at　ease　alone　with　Mademoiselle　Stangerson　in　the　pavilion；
than　he　would　have　been　in　the　middle　of　the　night；　with　Daddy
Jacques　sleeping　in　the　attic。　　So　he　shut　the　vestibule　window。
That　explains　why　neither　Monsieur　Stangerson；　nor　the　keeper；　who
were　at　some　distance　from　the　pavilion；　had　heard　the　revolver　shot。

〃Then　he　went　back　to　The　Yellow　Room。　　Mademoiselle　Stangerson　came
in。　　What　passed　must　have　taken　place　very　quickly。　　Mademoiselle
tried　to　call　for　help；　but　the　man　had　seized　her　by　the　throat。
Her　hand　had　sought　and　grasped　the　revolver　which　she　had　been
keeping　in　the　drawer　of　her　night…table；　since　she　had　come　to
fear　the　threats　of　her　pursuer。　　The　murderer　was　about　to　strike
her　on　the　head　with　the　mutton…bone　…　a　terrible　weapon　in　the
hands　of　a　Larsan　or　Ballmeyer；　but　she　fired　in　time；　and　the　shot
wounded　the　hand　that　held　the　weapon。　　The　bone　fell　to　the　floor
covered　with　the　blood　of　the　murderer；　who　staggered；　clutched　at
the　wall　for　support　…　imprinting　on　it　the　red　marks　…　and；　fearing
another　bullet；　fled。

〃She　saw　him　pass　through　the　laboratory；　and　listened。　　He　was　long
at　the　window。　　At　length　he　jumped　from　it。　　She　flew　to　it　and
shut　it。　　The　danger　past；　all　her　thoughts　were　of　her　father。　　Had
he　either　seen　or　heard？　　At　any　cost　to　herself　she　must　keep　this
from　him。　　Thus　when　Monsieur　Stangerson　returned；　he　found　the　door
of　The　Yellow　Room　closed；　and　his　daughter　in　the　laboratory；
bending　over　her　desk；　at　work！〃

Turning　towards　Monsieur　Darzac；　Rouletabille　cried：　　〃You　know　the
truth！　　Tell　us；　then；　if　that　is　not　how　things　happened。〃

〃I　don't　know　anything　about　it；〃　replied　Monsieur　Darzac。

　〃I　admire　you　for　your　silence；〃　said　Rouletabille；　〃but　if
Mademoiselle　Stangerson　knew　of　your　danger；　she　would　release　you
from　your　oath。　　She　would　beg　of　you　to　tell　all　she　has　confided
to　you。　　She　would　be　here　to　defend　you！〃

Monsieur　Darzac　made　no　movement；　nor　uttered　a　word。　　He　looked
at　Rouletabille　sadly。

〃However；〃　said　the　young　reporter；　〃since　Mademoiselle　is　not　here；
I　must　do　it　myself。　　But；　believe　me；　Monsieur　Darzac；　the　only
means　to　save　Mademoiselle　Stangerson　and　restore　her　to　her　reason；
is　to　secure　your　acquittal。〃

〃What　is　this　secret　motive　that　compels　Mademoiselle　Stangerson　to
hide　her　knowledge　from　her　father？〃　asked　the　President。

〃That；　Monsieur；　I　do　not　know；〃　said　Rouletabile。　　〃It　is　no
business　of　mine。〃

The　President；　turning　to　Monsieur　Darzac；　endeavoured　to　induce
him　to　tell　what　he　knew。

〃Do　you　still　refuse；　Monsieur；　to　tell　us　how　you　employed　your
time　during　the　attempts　on　the　life　of　Mademoiselle　Stangerson？〃

〃I　cannot　tell　you　anything；　Monsieur。〃

The　President　turned　to　Rouletabille　as　if　appealing　for　an
explanation。

〃We　must　assume；　Monsieur　President；　that　Monsieur　Robert　Darzac's
absensions　are　closely　connected　with　Mademoiselle　Stangerson's
secret；　and　that　Monsieur　Darzac　feels　himself　in　honour　bound　to
remain　silent。　　It　may　be　that　Larsan；　who；　since　his　three　attempts；
has　had　everything　in　training　to　cast　suspicion　on　Monsieur　Darzac；
had　fixed　on　just　those　occasions　for　a　meeting　with　Monsieur　Darzac
at　a　spot　most　compromising。　　Larsan　is　cunning　enough　to　have　done
that。〃

The　President　seemed　partly　convinced；　but　still　curious；　he　asked：

〃But　what　is　this　secret　of　Mademoiselle　Stangerson？〃

〃That　I　cannot　tell　you；〃　said　Rouletabille。　　〃I　think；　however；
you　know　enough　now　to　acquit　Monsieur　Robert　Darzac！　　Unless
Larsan　should　return；　and　I　don't　think　he　will；〃　he　added；　with
a　laugh。

〃One　question　more；〃　said　the　President。　　〃Admitting　your
explanation；　we　know　that　Larsan　wished　to　turn　suspicion　on　Monsieur
Robert　Darzac；　but　why　should　he　throw　suspicion　on　Daddy　Jacques
also？〃

〃There　came　in　the　professional　detective；　Monsieur；　who　proves
himself　an　unraveller　of　mysteries；　by　annihilating　the　very　proofs
he　had　accumulated。　　He's　a　very　cunning　man；　and　a　similar　trick
had　often　enabled　him　to　turn　suspicion　from　himself。　　He　proved
the　innocence　of　one　before　accusing　the　other。　　You　can　easily
believe；　Monsieur；　that　so　complicated　a　scheme　as　this　must　have
been　long　and　carefully　thought　out　in　advance　by　Larsan。　　I　can
tell　you　that　he　had　long　been　engaged　on　its　elaboration。　　If　you
care　to　learn　how　he　had　gathered　information；　you　will　find　that
he　had；　on　one　occasion；　disguised　himself　as　the　commissionaire
between　the　'Laboratory　of　the　Surete'　and　Monsieur　Stangerson；　of
whom　'experiments'　were　demanded。　　In　this　way　he　had　been　able
before　the　crime；　on　two　occasions　to　take　stock　of　the　pavilion。
He　had　'made　up'　so　that　Daddy　Jacques　had　not　recognised　him。　　And
yet　Larsan　had　found　the　opportunity　to　rob　the　old　man　of　a　pair
of　old　boots　and　a　cast…off　Basque　cap；　which　the　servant　had　tied
up　in　a　handkerchief；　with　the　intention　of　carrying　them　to　a
friend；　a　charcoal…burner　on　the　road　to　Epinay。　　When　the　crime
was　discovered；　Daddy　Jacques　had　immediately　recognised　these
objects　as　his。　　They　were　extremely　compromising；　which　explains
his　distress　at　the　time　when　we　spoke　to　him　about　them。　　Larsan
confessed　it　all　to　me。　　He　is　an　artist　at　the　game。　　He　did　a
similar　thing　in　the　affair　of　the　'Credit　Universel；'　and　in　that
of　the　'Gold　Ingots　of　the　Mint。'　Both　these　cases　should　be
revised。　　Since　Ballmeyer　or　Larsan　has　been　in　the　Surete　a　number
of　innocent　persons　have　been　sent　to　prison。〃





CHAPTER　XXVIII

In　Which　It　Is　Proved　That　One　Does　Not　Always　Think　of　Everything


Great　excitement　prevailed　when　Rouletabille　had　finished。　　The
court…room　became　agitated　with　the　murmurings　of　suppressed
applause。　　Maitre　Henri　Robert　called　for　an　adjournment　of　the
trial　and　was　supported　in　his　motion　by　the　public　prosecutor
himself。　　The　case　was　adjourned。　　The　next　day　Monsieur　Robert
Darzac　was　released　on　bail；　while　Daddy　Jacques　received　the
immediate　benefit　of　a　〃no　cause　for　action。〃　　Search　was
everywhere　made　for　Frederic　Larsan；　but　in　vain。　　Monsieur　Darzac
finally　escaped　the　awful　calamity　which；　at　one　time；　had
threatened　him。　　After　a　visit　to　Mademoiselle　Stangerson；　he　was
led　to　hope　that　she　might；　by　careful　nursing；　one　day　recover
her　reason。

Rouletabille；　naturally；　became　the　〃man　of　the　hour。〃　On　leaving
the　Palais　de　Justice；　the　crowd　bore　him　aloft　in　triumph。　　The
press　of　the　whole　world　published　his　exploits　and　his　photograph。
He；　who　had　interviewed　so　many　illustrious　personages；　had　himself
become　illustrious　and　was　interviewed　in　his　turn。　　I　am　glad　to
say　that　the　enormous　success　in　no　way　turned　his　head。

We　left　Versailles　together；　after　having　dined　at　〃The　Dog　That
Smokes。〃　　In　the　train　I　put　a　number　of　questions　to　him　which；
during　our　meal；　had　been　on　the　tip　of　my　tongue；　but　which　I　had
refrained　from　uttering；　knowing　he　did　not　like　to　talk　〃shop〃
while　eating。

〃My　friend；〃　I　said；　〃that　Larsan　case　is　wonderful。　　It　is　worthy
of　you。

He　begged　me　to　say　no　more；　and　humorously　pretended　an　anxiety
for　me　should　I　give　way　to　silly　praise　of　him　because　of　a
personal　admiration　for　his　ability。

〃I'll　come　to　the　point；　then；〃　I　said；　not　a　little　nettled。　　〃I
am　still　in　the　dark　as　to　your　reason　for　going　to　America。　　When
you　left　the　Glandier　you　had　found　out；　if　I　rightly　understand；
all　about　Frederic　Larsan；　you　had　discovered　the　exact　way　he　had
attempted　the　murder？〃

〃Quite　so。　　And　you；〃　he　said；　turning　the　conversation；　〃did　you
suspect　nothing？〃

〃Nothing！〃

〃It's　incredible！〃

〃I　don't　see　how　I　could　have　suspected　anything。　　You　took　great
pains　to　conceal　your　thoughts　from　me。　　Had　you　already　suspected
Larsan　when　you　sent　for　me　to　bring　the　revolvers？〃

〃Yes！　　I　had　come　to　that　conclusion　through　the　incident　of　the
'inexplicable　gallery。'　　Larsan's　return　to　Mademoiselle　Stangerson's
room；　however；　had　not　then　been　cleared　up　by　the　eye…glasses。　　My
suspicions　were　the　outcome　of　my　reasoning　only；　and　the　idea　of
Larsan　being　the　murderer　seemed　so　extraordinary　that　I　resolved　to
wait　for　actual　evidence　before　venturing　to　act。　　Nevertheless；　the
suspicion　worried　me；　and　I　sometimes　spoke　to　the　detective　in　a
way　that　ought　to　have　opened　your　eyes。　　I　spoke　disparagingly　of
his　methods。　　But　until　I　found　the　eye…glasses　I　could　but　look
upon　my　suspicion　of　him　in　the　light　of　an　absurd　hypothesis　only。
You　can　imagine　my　elation　after　I　had　explained　Larsan's　movements。
I　remember　well　rushing　into　my　room　like　a　mad…man　and　crying　to
you：　'I'll　get　the　better　of　the　great　Fred。　　I'll　get　the　better
of　him　in　a　way　that　will　make　a　sensation！'

〃I　was　then　thinking　of　Larsan；　the　murderer。　　It　was　that　same
evening　that　Darzac　begged　me　to　watch　over　Mademoiselle　Stangerson。
I　made　no　efforts　until　after　we　had　dined　with　Larsan；　until　ten
o'clock。　　He　was　right　there　before　me；　and　I　could　afford　to　wait。
You　ought　to　have　suspected；　because　when　we　were　talking　of　the
murderer's　arrival；　I　said　to　you：　'I　am　quite　sure　Larsan　will　be
here　to…night。'

〃But　one　important　point　escaped　us　both。　　It　was　one　which　ought
to　have　opened　our　eyes　to　Larsan。　　Do　you　remember　the　bamboo　cane？
I　was　surprised　to　find　Larsan　had　made　no　use　of　that　evidence
against　Robert　Darzac。　　Had　it　not　been　purchased　by　a　man　whose
description　tallied　exactly　with　that　of　Darzac？　　Well；　just　before
I　saw　him　off　at　the　train；　after　the　recess　during　the　trial；　I
asked　him　why　he　hadn't　used　the　cane　evidence。　　He　told　me　he　had
never　had　any　intention　of　doing　so；　that　our　discovery　of　it　in
the　little　inn　at　Epinay　had　much　embarrassed　him。　　If　you　will
remember；　he　told　us　then　that　the　cane　had　been　given　him　in　London。
Why　did　we　not　immediately　say　to　ourselves：　'Fred　is　lying。　　He
could　not　have　had　this　cane　in　London。　　He　was　not　in　London。　　He
bought　it　in　Paris'？　　Then　you　found　out；　on　inquiry　at　Cassette's；
that　the　cane　had　been　bought　by　a　person　dressed　very　like　Robert
Darzac；　though；　as　we　learned　later；　from　Darzac　himself；　it　was
not　he　who　had　made　the　purchase。　　Couple　this　with　the　fact　we
already　knew；　from　the　letter　at　the　poste　restante；　that　there　was
actually　a　man　in　Paris　who　was　passing　as　Robert　Darzac；　why　did
we　not　immediately　fix　on　Fred　himself？

〃Of　course；　his　position　at　the　Surete　was　against　us；　but　when　we
saw　the　evident　eagerness　on　his　part　to　find　convicting　evidence
against　Darzac；　nay；　even　the　passion　he　displayed　in　his　pursuit
of　the　man；　the　lie　about　the　cane　should　have　had　a　new　meaning
for　us。　　If　you　ask　why　Larsan　bought　the　cane；　if　he　had　no
intention　of　manufacturing　evidence　against　Darzac　by　means　of　it；
the　answer　is　quite　simple。　　He　had　been　wounded　in　the　hand　by
Mademoiselle　Stangerson；　so　that　the　cane　was　useful　to　enable　him
to　close　his　hand　in　carrying　it。　　You　remember　I　noticed　that　he
always　carried　it？

〃All　these　detai