the mystery of the yellow room-第8章

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ever　say　what　passes　through　the　brain　of　an　examining　magistrate？〃
Rouletabille　added　with　contemptuous　irony。

〃Has　a　mutton…bone　been　found　in　The　Yellow　Room？〃　I　asked　him。

〃Yes；　Monsieur；〃　said　Robert　Darzac；　〃at　the　foot　of　the　bed；　but　I
beg　of　you　not　to　say　anything　about　it。〃　　（I　made　a　gesture　of
assent。）　〃It　was　an　enormous　mutton…bone；　the　top　of　which；　or
rather　the　joint；　was　still　red　with　the　blood　of　the　frightful
wound。　　It　was　an　old　bone；　which　may；　according　to　appearances；
have　served　in　other　crimes。　　That's　what　Monsieur　de　Marquet
thinks。　　He　has　had　it　sent　to　the　municipal　laboratory　at　Paris　to
be　analysed。　　In　fact；　he　thinks　he　has　detected　on　it；　not　only
the　blood　of　the　last　victim；　but　other　stains　of　dried　blood；
evidences　of　previous　crimes。〃

〃A　mutton…bone　in　the　hand　of　a　skilled　assassin　is　a　frightful
weapon；〃　said　Rouletabille；　〃a　more　certain　weapon　than　a　heavy
hammer。〃

〃The　scoundrel　has　proved　it　to　be　so；〃　said　Monsieur　Robert
Darzac；　sadly。　　〃The　joint　of　the　bone　found　exactly　fits　the
wound　inflicted。

My　belief　is　that　the　wound　would　have　been　mortal；　if　the　murderer's
blow　had　not　been　arrested　in　the　act　by　Mademoiselle　Stangerson's
revolver。　　Wounded　in　the　hand；　he　dropped　the　mutton…bone　and　fled。
Unfortunately；　the　blow　had　been　already　given；　and　Mademoiselle　was
stunned　after　having　been　nearly　strangled。　　If　she　had　succeeded　in
wounding　the　man　with　the　first　shot　of　the　revolver；　she　would；
doubtless；　have　escaped　the　blow　with　the　bone。　　But　she　had
certainly　employed　her　revolver　too　late；　the　first　shot　deviated　and
lodged　in　the　ceiling；　it　was　the　second　only　that　took　effect。〃

Having　said　this；　Monsieur　Darzac　knocked　at　the　door　of　the　pavilion。
I　must　confess　to　feeling　a　strong　impatience　to　reach　the　spot　where
the　crime　had　been　committed。　　It　was　some　time　before　the　door　was
pened　by　a　man　whom　I　at　once　recognised　as　Daddy　Jacques。

He　appeared　to　be　well　over　sixty　years　of　age。　　He　had　a　long　white
beard　and　white　hair；　on　which　he　wore　a　flat　Basque　cap。　　He　was
dressed　in　a　complete　suit　of　chestnut…coloured　velveteen；　worn　at
the　sides；　sabots　were　on　his　feet。　　He　had　rather　a　waspish…looking
face；　the　expression　of　which　lightened；　however；　as　soon　as　he　saw
Monsieur　Darzac。

〃Friends；〃　said　our　guide。　　〃Nobody　in　the　pavilion；　Daddy　Jacques？〃

〃I　ought　not　to　allow　anybody　to　enter；　Monsieur　Robert；　but　of
course　the　order　does　not　apply　to　you。　　These　gentlemen　of　justice
have　seen　everything　there　is　to　be　seen；　and　made　enough　drawings；
and　drawn　up　enough　reports　…〃

〃Excuse　me；　Monsieur　Jacques；　one　question　before　anything　else；〃
said　Rouletabille。

〃What　is　it；　young　man？　　If　I　can　answer　it　…〃

〃Did　your　mistress　wear　her　hair　in　bands；　that　evening？　　You　know
what　I　mean　…　over　her　forehead？〃

〃No；　young　man。　　My　mistress　never　wore　her　hair　in　the　way　you
suggest；　neither　on　that　day　nor　on　any　other。　　She　had　her　hair
drawn　up；　as　usual；　so　that　her　beautiful　forehead　could　be　seen；
pure　as　that　of　an　unborn　child！〃

Rouletabille　grunted　and　set　to　work　examining　the　door；　finding
that　it　fastened　itself　automatically。　　He　satisfied　himself　that
it　could　never　remain　open　and　needed　a　key　to　open　it。　　Then　we
entered　the　vestibule；　a　small；　well…lit　room　paved　with　square
red　tiles。

〃Ah！　　This　is　the　window　by　which　the　murderer　escaped！〃　said
Rouletabille。

〃So　they　keep　on　saying；　monsieur；　so　they　keep　on　saying！　　But　if
he　had　gone　off　that　way；　we　should　have　been　sure　to　have　seen　him。
We　are　not　blind；　neither　Monsieur　Stangerson　nor　me；　nor　the
concierges　who　are　in　prison。　　Why　have　they　not　put　me　in　prison；
too；　on　account　of　my　revolver？〃

Rouletabille　had　already　opened　the　window　and　was　examining　the
shutters。

〃Were　these　closed　at　the　time　of　the　crime？〃

〃And　fastened　with　the　iron　catch　inside；〃　said　Daddy　Jacques；　〃and
I　am　quite　sure　that　the　murderer　did　not　get　out　that　way。〃

〃Are　there　any　blood　stains？〃

〃Yes；　on　the　stones　outside；　but　blood　of　what？〃

〃Ah！〃　said　Rouletabille；　〃there　are　footmarks　visible　on　the　path
…　the　ground　was　very　moist。　　I　will　look　into　that　presently。〃

〃Nonsense！〃　interrupted　Daddy　Jacques；　〃the　murderer　did　not　go
that　way。〃

〃Which　way　did　he　go；　then？〃

〃How　do　I　know？〃

Rouletabille　looked　at　everything；　smelled　everything。　　He　went　down
on　his　knees　and　rapidly　examined　every　one　of　the　paving　tiles。
Daddy　Jacques　went　on：

〃Ah！　…　you　can't　find　anything；　monsieur。　　Nothing　has　been　found。
And　now　it　is　all　dirty；　too　many　persons　have　tramped　over　it。
They　wouldn't　let　me　wash　it；　but　on　the　day　of　the　crime　I　had
washed　the　floor　thoroughly；　and　if　the　murderer　had　crossed　it　with
his　hobnailed　boots；　I　should　not　have　failed　to　see　where　he　had
been；　he　has　left　marks　enough　in　Mademoiselle's　chamber。〃

Rouletabille　rose。

〃When　was　the　last　time　you　washed　these　tiles？〃　he　asked；　and　he
fixed　on　Daddy　Jacques　a　most　searching　look。

〃Why　…　as　I　told　you　…　on　the　day　of　the　crime；　towards　half…past
five　…　while　Mademoiselle　and　her　father　were　taking　a　little　walk
before　dinner；　here　in　this　room：　they　had　dined　in　the　laboratory。
The　next　day；　the　examining　magistrate　came　and　saw　all　the　marks
there　were　on　the　floor　as　plainly　as　if　they　had　been　made　with
ink　on　white　paper。　　Well；　neither　in　the　laboratory　nor　in　the
vestibule；　which　were　both　as　clean　as　a　new　pin；　were　there　any
traces　of　a　man's　footmarks。　　Since　they　have　been　found　near　this
window　outside；　he　must　have　made　his　way　through　the　ceiling　of
The　Yellow　Room　into　the　attic；　then　cut　his　way　through　the　roof
and　dropped　to　the　ground　outside　the　vestibule　window。　　But
…　there's　no　hole；　neither　in　the　ceiling　of　The　Yellow　Room　nor
in　the　roof　of　my　attic　…　that's　absolutely　certain！　　So　you　see
we　know　nothing　…　nothing！　　And　nothing　will　ever　be　known！　　It's
a　mystery　of　the　Devil's　own　making。〃

Rouletabille　went　down　upon　his　knees　again　almost　in　front　of　a
small　lavatory　at　the　back　of　the　vestibule。　　In　that　position　he
remained　for　about　a　minute。

〃Well？〃　I　asked　him　when　he　got　up。

〃Oh！　　nothing　very　important；　…　a　drop　of　blood；〃　he　replied；
turning　towards　Daddy　Jacques　as　he　spoke。　　〃While　you　were　washing
the　laboratory　and　this　vestibule；　was　the　vestibule　window　open？〃
he　asked。

〃No；　Monsieur；　it　was　closed；　but　after　I　had　done　washing　the　floor；
I　lit　some　charcoal　for　Monsieur　in　the　laboratory　furnace；　and；　as
I　lit　it　with　old　newspapers；　it　smoked；　so　I　opened　both　the　windows
in　the　laboratory　and　this　one；　to　make　a　current　of　air；　then　I　shut
those　in　the　laboratory　and　left　this　one　open　when　I　went　out。　　When
I　returned　to　the　pavilion；　this　window　had　been　closed　and　Monsieur
and　Mademoiselle　were　already　at　work　in　the　laboratory。〃

〃Monsieur　or　Mademoiselle　Stangerson　had；　no　doubt；　shut　it？〃

〃No　doubt。〃

〃You　did　not　ask　them？〃

After　a　close　scrutiny　of　the　little　lavatory　and　of　the　staircase
leading　up　to　the　attic；　Rouletabille　…　to　whom　we　seemed　no　longer
to　exist　…　entered　the　laboratory。　　I　followed　him。　　It　was；　I
confess；　in　a　state　of　great　excitement。　　Robert　Darzac　lost　none
of　my　friend's　movements。　　As　for　me；　my　eyes　were　drawn　at　once　to
the　door　of　The　Yellow　Room。　　It　was　closed　and；　as　I　immediately
saw；　partially　shattered　and　out　of　commission。

My　friend；　who　went　about　his　work　methodically；　silently　studied
the　room　in　which　we　were。　　It　was　large　and　well…lighted。　　Two
big　windows　…　almost　bays　…　were　protected　by　strong　iron　bars　and
looked　out　upon　a　wide　extent　of　country。　　Through　an　opening　in
the　forest；　they　commanded　a　wonderful　view　through　the　length　of
the　valley　and　across　the　plain　to　the　large　town　which　could　be
clearly　seen　in　fair　weather。　　To…day；　however；　a　mist　hung　over
the　ground　…　and　blood　in　that　room！

The　whole　of　one　side　of　the　laboratory　was　taken　up　with　a　large
chimney；　crucibles；　ovens；　and　such　implements　as　are　needed　for
chemical　experiments；　tables；　loaded　with　phials；　papers；　reports；
an　electrical　machine；　…　an　apparatus；　as　Monsieur　Darzac　informed
me；　employed　by　Professor　Stangerson　to　demonstrate　the　Dissociation
of　Matter　under　the　action　of　solar　light　…　and　other　scientific
implements。

Along　the　walls　were　cabinets；　plain　or　glass…fronted；　through　which
were　visible　microscopes；　special　photographic　apparatus；　and　a　large
quantity　of　crystals。

Rouletabille；　who　was　ferreting　in　the　chimney；　put　his　fingers　into
one　of　the　crucibles。　　Suddenly　he　drew　himself　up；　and　held　up　a
piece　of　half…consumed　paper　in　his　hand。　　He　stepped　up　to　where
we　were　talking　by　one　of　the　windows。

〃Keep　that　for　us；　Monsieur　Darzac；〃　he　said。

I　bent　over　the　piece　of　scorched　paper　which　Monsieur　Darzac　took
from　the　hand　of　Rouletabille；　and　read　distinctly　the　only　words
that　remained　legible：

〃Presbytery　…　lost　nothing　…　charm；　nor　the　gar　…　its　brightness。〃

Twice　since　the　morning　these　same　meaningless　words　had　struck
me；　and；　for　the　second　time；　I　saw　that　they　produced　on　the
Sorbonne　professor　the　same　paralysing　effect。　　Monsieur　Darzac's
first　anxiety　showed　itself　when　he　turned　his　eyes　in　the　direction
of　Daddy　Jacques。　　But；　occupied　as　he　was　at　another　window；　he
had　seen　nothing。　　Then　tremblingly　opening　his　pocket…book　he　put
the　piece　of　paper　into　it；　sighing：　〃My　God！〃

During　this　time；　Rouletabille　had　mounted　into　the　opening　of　the
fire…grate　…　that　is　to　say；　he　had　got　upon　the　bricks　of　a　furnace
…　and　was　attentively　examining　the　chimney；　which　grew　narrower
towards　the　top；　the　outlet　from　it　being　closed　with　sheets　of
iron；　fastened　into　the　brickwork；　through　which　passed　three　small
chimneys。

〃Impossible　to　get　out　that　way；〃　he　said；　jumping　back　into　the
laboratory。　　〃Besides；　even　if　he　had　tried　to　do　it；　he　would　have
brought　all　that　ironwork　down　to　the　ground。　　No；　no；　it　is　not
on　that　side　we　have　to　search。〃

Rouletabille　next　examined　the　furniture　and　opened　the　doors　of　the
cabinet。　　Then　he　came　to　the　windows；　through　which　he　declared　no
one　could　possibly　have　passed。　　At　the　second　window　he　found　Daddy
Jacques　in　contemplation。

〃Well；　Daddy　Jacques；〃　he　said；　〃what　are　you　looking　at？〃

〃That　policeman　who　is　always　going　round　and　round　the　lake。
Another　of　those　fellows　who　think　they　can　see　better　than　anybody
else！〃

〃You　don't　know　Frederic　Larsan；　Daddy　Jacques；　or　you　wouldn't
speak　of　him　in　that　way；〃　said　Rouletabille　in　a　melancholy　tone。
〃If　there　is　anyone　who　will　find　the　murderer；　it　will　be　he。〃
And　Rouletabille　heaved　a　deep　sigh。

〃Before　they　find　him；　they　will　have　to　learn　how　they　lost　him；〃
said　Daddy　Jacques；　stolidly。

At　length　we　reached　the　door　of　The　Yellow　Room　itself。

〃There　is　the　door　behind　which　some　terrible　scene　took　place；〃
said　Rouletabille；　with　a　solemnity　which；　under　any　other
circumstances；　would　have　been　comical。





CHAPTER　VII

In　Which　Rouletabille　Sets　Out　on　an　Expedition　Under　the　Bed


Rouletabille　having　pushed　open　the　door　of　The　Yellow　Room　paused