the mystery of the yellow room-第4章

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on；　with　infinite　contempt　in　his　lower　lip；　〃I　am　a　theatrical
reporter；　and　this　evening　I　shall　have　to　give　a　little　account
of　the　play　at　the　Scala。〃

〃Get　in；　sir；　please；〃　said　the　Registrar。

Rouletabille　was　already　in　the　compartment。　　I　went　in　after　him
and　seated　myself　by　his　side。　　The　Registrar　followed　and　closed
the　carriage　door。

Monsieur　de　Marquet　looked　at　him。

〃Ah；　sir；〃　Rouletabille　began；　〃You　must　not　be　angry　with　Monsieur
de　Maleine。　　It　is　not　with　Monsieur　de　Marquet　that　I　desire　to
have　the　honour　of　speaking；　but　with　Monsieur　'Castigat　Ridendo。'
Permit　me　to　congratulate　you　…　personally；　as　well　as　the　writer
for　the　'Epoque。'　　And　Rouletabille；　having　first　introduced　me；
introduced　himself。

Monsieur　de　Marquet；　with　a　nervous　gesture；　caressed　his　beard　into
a　point；　and　explained　to　Rouletabille；　in　a　few　words；　that　he　was
too　modest　an　author　to　desire　that　the　veil　of　his　pseudonym　should
be　publicly　raised；　and　that　he　hoped　the　enthusiasm　of　the
journalist　for　the　dramatist's　work　would　not　lead　him　to　tell　the
public　that　Monsieur　〃Castigat　Ridendo〃　and　the　examining　magistrate
of　Corbeil　were　one　and　the　same　person。

〃The　work　of　the　dramatic　author　may　interfere；〃　he　said；　after　a
slight　hesitation；　〃with　that　of　the　magistrate；　especially　in　a
province　where　one's　labours　are　little　more　than　routine。〃

〃Oh；　you　may　rely　on　my　discretion！〃　cried　Rouletabille。

The　train　was　in　motion。

〃We　have　started！〃　said　the　examining　magistrate；　surprised　at
seeing　us　still　in　the　carriage。

〃Yes；　Monsieur；　…　truth　has　started；〃　said　Rouletabile；　smiling
amiably；　…　〃on　its　way　to　the　Chateau　du　Glandier。　　A　fine　case；
Monsieur　de　Marquet；　…　a　fine　case！〃

〃An　obscure　…　incredible；　unfathomable；　inexplicable　affair　…　and
there　is　only　one　thing　I　fear；　Monsieur　Rouletabille；　…　that　the
journalists　will　be　trying　to　explain　it。〃

My　friend　felt　this　a　rap　on　his　knuckles。

〃Yes；〃　he　said　simply；　〃that　is　to　be　feared。　　They　meddle　in
everything。　　As　for　my　interest；　monsieur；　I　only　referred　to　it　by
mere　chance；　…　the　mere　chance　of　finding　myself　in　the　same　train
with　you；　and　in　the　same　compartment　ofthe　same　carriage。〃

〃Where　are　you　going；　then？〃　asked　Monsieur　de　Marquet。

〃To　the　Chateau　du　Glandier；〃　replied　Rouletabille；　without　turnimg。

〃You'll　not　get　in；　Monsieur　Rouletabile！〃

〃Will　you　prevent　me？〃　said　my　friend；　already　prepared　to　fight。

〃Not　I！　…　I　like　the　press　and　journalists　too　well　to　be　in　any
way　disagreeable　to　them；　but　Monsieur　Stangerson　has　given　orders
for　his　door　to　be　closed　against　everybody；　and　it　is　well　guarded。
Not　a　journalist　was　able　to　pass　through　the　gate　of　the　Glandier
yesterday。〃

Monsieur　de　Marquet　compressed　his　lips　and　seemed　ready　to　relapse
into　obstinate　silence。　　He　only　relaxed　a　little　when　Rouletabille
no　longer　left　him　in　ignorance　of　the　fact　that　we　were　going　to
the　Glandier　for　the　purpose　of　shaking　hands　with　an　〃old　and
intimate　friend；〃　Monsieur　Robert　Darzac　…　a　man　whom　Rouletabille
had　perhaps　seen　once　in　his　life。

〃Poor　Robert！〃　continued　the　young　reporter；　〃this　dreadful　affair
may　be　his　death；　…　he　is　so　deeply　in　love　with　Mademoiselle
Stangerson。〃

〃His　sufferings　are　truly　painful　to　witness；〃　escaped　like　a　regret
from　the　lips　of　Monsieur　de　Marquet。

〃But　it　is　to　be　hoped　that　Mademoiselle　Stangerson's　life　will　be
saved。〃

〃Let　us　hope　so。　　Her　father　told　me　yesterday　that；　if　she　does　not
recover；　it　will　not　be　long　before　he　joins　her　in　the　grave。　　What
an　incalculable　loss　to　science　his　death　would　be！〃

〃The　wound　on　her　temple　is　serious；　is　it　not？〃

〃Evidently；　but；　by　a　wonderful　chance；　it　has　not　proved　mortal。
The　blow　was　given　with　great　force。〃

〃Then　it　was　not　with　the　revolver　she　was　wounded；〃　said
Rouletabille；　glancing　at　me　in　triumph。

Monsieur　de　Marquet　appeared　greatly　embarrassed。

〃I　didn't　say　anything　…　I　don't　want　to　say　anything　…　I　will　not
say　anything；〃　he　said。　　And　he　turned　towards　his　Registrar　as　if
he　no　longer　knew　us。

But　Rouletabille　was　not　to　be　so　easily　shaken　off。　　He　moved
nearer　to　the　examining　magistrate　and；　drawing　a　copy　of　the
〃Matin〃　from　his　pocket；　he　showed　it　to　him　and　said：

〃There　is　one　thing；　Monsieur；　which　I　may　enquire　of　you　without
committing　an　indiscretion。　　You　have；　of　course；　seen　the　account
given　in　the　'Matin'？　　It　is　absurd；　is　it　not？〃

〃Not　in　the　slightest；　Monsieur。〃

〃What！　　The　Yellow　Room　has　but　one　barred　window　…　the　bars　of
which　have　not　been　moved　…　and　only　one　door；　which　had　to　be
broken　open　…　and　the　assassin　was　not　found！〃

〃That's　so；　monsieur；　…　that's　so。　　That's　how　the　matter　stands。〃

Rouletabille　said　no　more　but　plunged　into　thought。　　A　quarter　of
an　hour　thus　passed。

Coming　back　to　himself　again　he　said；　addressing　the　magistrate：

〃How　did　Mademoiselle　Stangerson　wear　her　hair　on　that　evening？〃

〃I　don't　know；〃　replied　Monsieur　de　Marquet。

〃That's　a　very　important　point；〃　said　Rouletabile。　　〃Her　hair　was
done　up　in　bands；　wasn't　it？　　I　feel　sure　that　on　that　evening；　the
evening　of　the　crime；　she　had　her　hair　arranged　in　bands。〃

〃Then　you　are　mistaken；　Monsieur　Rouletabile；〃　replied　the
magistrate；　〃Mademoiselle　Stangerson　that　evening　had　her　hair　drawn
up　in　a　knot　on　the　top　of　her　head；　…　her　usual　way　of　arranging　it
…　her　forehead　completely　uncovered。　　I　can　assure　you；　for　we　have
carefully　examined　the　wound。　　There　was　no　blood　on　the　hair；　and
the　arrangement　of　it　has　not　been　disturbed　since　the　crime　was
committed。〃

〃You　are　sure！　　You　are　sure　that；　on　the　night　of　the　crime；　she
had　not　her　hair　in　bands？〃

〃Quite　sure；〃　the　magistrate　continued；　smiling；　〃because　I
remember　the　Doctor　saying　to　me；　while　he　was　examining　the　wound；
'It　is　a　great　pity　Mademoiselle　Stangerson　was　in　the　habit　of
drawing　her　hair　back　from　her　forehead。　　If　she　had　worn　it　in
bands；　the　blow　she　received　on　the　temple　would　have　been　weakened。'
It　seems　strange　to　me　that　you　should　attach　so　much　importance
to　this　point。〃

〃Oh！　　if　she　had　not　her　hair　in　bands；　I　give　it　up；〃　said
Rouletabille；　with　a　despairing　gesture。

〃And　was　the　wound　on　her　temple　a　bad　one？〃　he　asked　presently。

〃Terrible。〃

〃With　what　weapon　was　it　made？〃

〃That　is　a　secret　of　the　investigation。〃

〃Have　you　found　the　weapon　…　whatever　it　was？〃

The　magistrate　did　not　answer。

　〃And　the　wound　in　the　throat？〃

Here　the　examining　magistrate　readily　confirmed　the　decision　of　the
doctor　that；　if　the　murderer　had　pressed　her　throat　a　few　seconds
longer；　Mademoiselle　Stangerson　would　have　died　of　strangulation。

〃The　affair　as　reported　in　the　'Matin；'　〃　said　Rouletabille　eagerly；
〃seems　to　me　more　and　more　inexplicable。　　Can　you　tell　me；　Monsieur；
how　many　openings　there　are　in　the　pavilion？　　I　mean　doors　and
windows。〃

〃There　are　five；〃　replied　Monsieur　de　Marquet；　after　having　coughed
once　or　twice；　but　no　longer　resisting　the　desire　he　felt　to　talk
of　the　whole　of　the　incredible　mystery　of　the　affair　he　was
investigating。　　〃There　are　five；　of　which　the　door　of　the　vestibule
is　the　only　entrance　to　the　pavilion；　…　a　door　always　automatically
closed；　which　cannot　be　opened；　either　from　the　outer　or　inside；
except　with　the　two　special　keys　which　are　never　out　of　the
possession　of　either　Daddy　Jacques　or　Monsieur　Stangerson。
Mademoiselle　Stangerson　had　no　need　for　one；　since　Daddy　Jacques
lodged　in　the　pavilion　and　because；　during　the　daytime；　she　never
left　her　father。　　When　they；　all　four；　rushed　into　The　Yellow　Room；
after　breaking　open　the　door　of　the　laboratory；　the　door　in　the
vestibule　remained　closed　as　usual　and；　of　the　two　keys　for　opening
it；　Daddy　Jacques　had　one　in　his　pocket；　and　Monsieur　Stangerson
the　other。　　As　to　the　windows　of　the　pavilion；　there　are　four；　the
one　window　of　The　Yellow　Room　and　those　of　the　laboratory　looking
out　on　to　the　country；　the　window　in　the　vestibule　looking　into
the　park。〃

〃It　is　by　that　window　that　he　escaped　from　the　pavilion！〃　cried
Rouletabille。

〃How　do　you　know　that？〃　demanded　Monsieur　de　Marquet；　fixing　a
strange　look　on　my　young　friend。

〃We'll　see　later　how　he　got　away　from　The　Yellow　Room；〃　replied
Rouletabille；　〃but　he　must　have　left　the　pavilion　by　the　vestibule
window。〃

〃Once　more；　…　how　do　you　know　that？〃

〃How？　　Oh；　the　thing　is　simple　enough！　　As　soon　as　he　found　he　could
not　escape　by　the　door　of　the　pavilion　his　only　way　out　was　by　the
window　in　the　vestibule；　unless　he　could　pass　through　a　grated　window。
The　window　of　The　Yellow　Room　is　secured　by　iron　bars；　because　it
looks　out　upon　the　open　country；　the　two　windows　of　the　laboratory
have　to　be　protected　in　like　manner　for　the　same　reason。　　As　the
murderer　got　away；　I　conceive　that　he　found　a　window　that　was　not
barred；　…　that　of　the　vestibule；　which　opens　on　to　the　park；　…　that
is　to　say；　into　the　interior　of　the　estate。　　There's　not　much　magic
in　all　that。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Monsieur　de　Marquet；　〃but　what　you　have　not　guessed　is
that　this　single　window　in　the　vestibule；　though　it　has　no　iron　bars；
has　solid　iron　blinds。　　Now　these　iron　blinds　have　remained　fastened
by　their　iron　latch；　and　yet　we　have　proof　that　the　murderer　made
his　escape　from　the；　pavilion　by　that　window！　　Traces　of　blood　on
the　inside　wall　and　on　the　blinds　as　well　as　on　the　floor；　and
footmarks；　of　which　I　have　taken　the　measurements；　attest　the　fact
that　the　murderer　made　his　escape　that　way。　　But　then；　how　did　he
do　it；　seeing　that　the　blinds　remained　fastened　on　the　inside？　　He
passed　through　them　like　a　shadow。　　But　what　is　more　bewildering
than　all　is　that　it　is　impossible　to　form　any　idea　as　to　how　the
murderer　got　out　of　The　Yellow　Room；　or　how　he　got　across　the
laboratory　to　reach　the　vestibule！　　Ah；　yes；　Monsieur　Rouletabille；
it　is　altogether　as　you　said；　a　fine　case；　the　key　to　which　will
not　be　discovered　for　a　long　time；　I　hope。〃

〃You　hope；　Monsieur？〃

Monsieur　de　Marquet　corrected　himself。

〃I　do　not　hope　so；　…　I　think　so。〃

〃Could　that　window　have　been　closed　and　refastened　after　the　flight
of　the　assassin？〃　asked　Rouletabille。

〃That　is　what　occurred　to　me　for　a　moment；　but　it　would　imply　an
accomplice　or　accomplices；　…　and　I　don't　see　…〃

After　a　short　silence　he　added：

〃Ah　…　if　Mademoiselle　Stangerson　were　only　well　enough　to…day　to
be　questioned！〃

Rouletabille　following　up　his　thought；　asked：

〃And　the　attic？　　…　There　must　be　some　opening　to　that？〃

〃Yes；　there　is　a　window；　or　rather　skylight；　in　it；　which；　as　it
looks　out　towards　the　country；　Monsieur　Stangerson　has　had　barred；
like　the　rest　of　the　windows。　　These　bars；　as　in　the　other　windows；
have　remained　intact；　and　the　blinds；　which　naturally　open　inwards；
have　not　been　unfastened。　　For　the　rest；　we　have　not　discovered
anything　to　lead　us　to　suspect　that　the　murderer　had　passed　through
the　attic。〃

〃It　seems　clear　to　you；　then；　Monsieur；　that　the　murderer　escaped
…　nobody　knows　how　…　by　the　window　in　the　vestibule？〃

〃Everything　goes　to　prove　it。〃

〃I　think　so；　too；〃　confessed　Rouletabille　gravely。

Af