the mystery of the yellow room-第25章

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bring　light　with　it。'〃





CHAPTER　XVIII

Rouletabille　Has　Drawn　a　Circle　Between　the　Two　Bumps　on　His　Forehead


（EXTRACT　FROM　THE　NOTE…BOOK　OF　JOSEPH　ROULETABILLE；　continued）

〃We　separated　on　the　thresholds　of　our　rooms；　with　a　melancholy
shake　of　the　hands。　　I　was　glad　to　have　aroused　in　him　a　suspicion
of　error。　　His　was　an　original　brain；　very　intelligent　but　…　without
method。　　I　did　not　go　to　bed。　　I　awaited　the　coming　of　daylight　and
then　went　down　to　the　front　of　the　chateau；　and　made　a　detour；
examining　every　trace　of　footsteps　coming　towards　it　or　going　from
it。　　These；　however；　were　so　mixed　and　confusing　that　I　could　make
nothing　of　them。　　Here　I　may　make　a　remark；　…　I　am　not　accustomed
to　attach　an　exaggerated　importance　to　exterior　signs　left　in　the
track　of　a　crime。

〃The　method　which　traces　the　criminal　by　means　of　the　tracks　of　his
footsteps　is　altogether　primitive。　　So　many　footprints　are　identical。
However；　in　the　disturbed　state　of　my　mind；　I　did　go　into　the
deserted　court　and　did　look　at　all　the　footprints　I　could　find　there；
seeking　for　some　indication；　as　a　basis　for　reasoning。

〃If　I　could　but　find　a　right　starting…point！　　In　despair　I　seated
myself　on　a　stone。　　For　over　an　hour　I　busied　myself　with　the　common；
ordinary　work　of　a　policeman。　　Like　the　least　intelligent　of
detectives　I　went　on　blindly　over　the　traces　of　footprints　which
told　me　just　no　more　than　they　could。

〃I　came　to　the　conclusion　that　I　was　a　fool；　lower　in　the　scale　of
intelligence　than　even　the　police　of　the　modern　romancer。　　Novelists
build　mountains　of　stupidity　out　of　a　footprint　on　the　sand；　or　from
an　impression　of　a　hand　on　the　wall。　　That's　the　way　innocent　men
are　brought　to　prison。　　It　might　convince　an　examining　magistrate　or
the　head　of　a　detective　department；　but　it's　not　proof。　　You　writers
forget　that　what　the　senses　furnish　is　not　proof。　　If　I　am　taking
cognisance　of　what　is　offered　me　by　my　senses　I　do　so　but　to　bring
the　results　within　the　circle　of　my　reason。　　That　circle　may　be　the
most　circumscribed；　but　if　it　is；　it　has　this　advantage　…　it　holds
nothing　but　the　truth！　　Yes；　I　swear　that　I　have　never　used　the
evidence　of　the　senses　but　as　servants　to　my　reason。　　I　have　never
permitted　them　to　become　my　master。　　They　have　not　made　of　me　that
monstrous　thing；　…　worse　than　a　blind　man；　…　a　man　who　sees　falsely。
And　that　is　why　I　can　triumph　over　your　error　and　your　merely　animal
intelligence；　Frederic　Larsan。

〃Be　of　good　courage；　then；　friend　Rouletabille；　it　is　impossible
that　the　incident　of　the　inexplicable　gallery　should　be　outside　the
circle　of　your　reason。　　You　know　that！　　Then　have　faith　and　take
thought　with　yourself　and　forget　not　that　you　took　hold　of　the　right
end　when　you　drew　that　circle　in　your　brain　within　which　to　unravel
this　mysterious　play　of　circumstance。

〃To　it；　once　again！　　Go　…　back　to　the　gallery。　　Take　your　stand　on
your　reason　and　rest　there　as　Frederic　Larsan　rests　on　his　cane。
You　will　then　soon　prove　that　the　great　Fred　is　nothing　but　a　fool。
…　30th　October。　Noon。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　JOSEPH　ROULETABILLE。〃


〃I　acted　as　I　planned。　　With　head　on　fire；　I　retraced　my　way　to　the
gallery；　and　without　having　found　anything　more　than　I　had　seen　on
the　previous　night；　the　right　hold　I　had　taken　of　my　reason　drew　me
to　something　so　important　that　I　was　obliged　to　cling　to　it　to　save
myself　from　falling。

〃Now　for　the　strength　and　patience　to　find　sensible　traces　to　fit
in　with　my　thinking　…　and　these　must　come　within　the　circle　I　have
drawn　between　the　two　bumps　on　my　forehead！
…　30th　of　October。　　Midnight。〃
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃JOSEPH　ROULETABILLE。〃





CHAPTER　XIX

Rouletabille　Invites　Me　to　Breakfast　at　the　Donjon　Inn


It　was　not　until　later　that　Rouletabille　sent　me　the　note…book　in
which　he　had　written　at　length　the　story　of　the　phenomenon　of　the
inexplicable　gallery。　　On　the　day　I　arrived　at　the　Glandier　and
joined　him　in　his　room；　he　recounted　to　me；　with　the　greatest
detail；　all　that　I　have　now　related；　telling　me　also　how　he　had
spent　several　hours　in　Paris　where　he　had　learned　nothing　that　could
be　of　any　help　to　him。

The　event　of　the　inexplicable　gallery　had　occurred　on　the　night
etween　the　29th　and　30th　of　October；　that　is　to　say；　three　days
before　my　return　to　the　chateau。　　It　was　on　the　2nd　of　November；
then；　that　I　went　back　to　the　Glandier；　summoned　there　by　my
friend's　telegram；　and　taking　the　revolvers　with　me。

I　am　now　in　Rouletabille's　room　and　he　has　finished　his　recital。

While　he　had　been　telling　me　the　story　I　noticed　him　continually
rubbing　the　glass　of　the　eyeglasses　he　had　found　on　the　side　table。
》From　the　evident　pleasure　he　was　taking　in　handling　them　I　felt
they　must　be　one　of　those　sensible　evidences　destined　to　enter　what
he　had　called　the　circle　of　the　right　end　of　his　reason。　　That
strange　and　unique　way　of　his；　to　express　himself　in　terms
wonderfully　adequate　for　his　thoughts；　no　longer　surprised　me。
It　was　often　necessary　to　know　his　thought　to　understand　the　terms
he　used；　and　it　was　not　easy　to　penetrate　into　Rouletabille's
thinking。

This　lad's　brain　was　one　of　the　most　curious　things　I　have　ever
observed。　　Rouletabille　went　on　the　even　tenor　of　his　way　without
suspecting　the　astonishment　and　even　bewilderment　he　roused　in
others。　　I　am　sure　he　was　not　himself　in　the　least　conscious　of
the　originality　of　his　genius。　　He　was　himself　and　at　ease　wherever
he　happened　to　be。

When　he　had　finished　his　recital　he　asked　me　what　I　thought　of　it。
I　replied　that　I　was　much　puzzled　by　his　question。　　Then　he　begged
me　to　try；　in　my　turn；　to　take　my　reason　in　hand　〃by　the　right　end。〃

〃Very　well；〃　I　said。　　〃It　seems　to　me　that　the　point　of　departure
of　my　reason　would　be　this　…　there　can　be　no　doubt　that　the　murderer
you　pursued　was　in　the　gallery。〃　I　paused。

〃After　making　so　good　a　start；　you　ought　not　to　stop　so　soon；〃　he
exclaimed。　　〃Come；　make　another　effort。〃

〃I'll　try。　　Since　he　disappeared　from　the　gallery　without　passing
through　any　door　or　window；　he　must　have　escaped　by　some　other
opening。〃

Rouletabille　looked　at　me　pityingly；　smiled　carelessly；　and　remarked
that　I　was　reasoning　like　a　postman；　or　…　like　Frederic　Larsan。

Rouletabille　had　alternate　fits　of　admiration　and　disdain　for　the
great　Fred。　　It　all　depended　as　to　whether　Larsan's　discoveries
tallied　with　Rouletabille's　reasoning　or　not。　　When　they　did　he
would　exclaim：　〃He　is　really　great！〃　　When　they　did　not　he　would
grunt　and　mutter；　〃What　an　ass！〃　It　was　a　petty　side　of　the　noble
character　of　this　strange　youth。

We　had　risen；　and　he　led　me　into　the　park。　　When　we　reached　the
court　and　were　making　towards　the　gate；　the　sound　of　blinds　thrown
back　against　the　wall　made　us　turn　our　heads；　and　we　saw；　at　a
window　on　the　first　floor　of　the　chateau；　the　ruddy　and　clean　shaven
face　of　a　person　I　did　not　recognise。

〃Hullo！〃　muttered　Rouletabille。　　〃Arthur　Rance！〃　…　He　lowered　his
head；　quickened　his　pace；　and　I　heard　him　ask　himself　between　his
eeth：　〃Was　he　in　the　chateau　that　night？　　What　is　hedoing　here？〃

We　had　gone　some　distance　from　the　chateau　when　I　asked　him　who
this　Arthur　Rance　was；　and　how　he　had　come　to　know　him。　　He　referred
to　his　story　of　that　morning　and　I　remembered　that　Mr。　Arthur　W。
Rance　was　the　American　from　Philadelphia　with　whom　he　had　had　so
many　drinks　at　the　Elysee　reception。

〃But　was　he　not　to　have　left　France　almost　immediately？〃　I　asked。

〃No　doubt；　that's　why　I　am　surprised　to　find　him　here　still；　and
not　only　in　France；　but　above　all；　at　the　Glandier。　　He　did　not
arrive　this　morning；　and　he　did　not　get　here　last　night。　　He　must
have　got　here　before　dinner；　then。　　Why　didn't　the　concierges
tell　me？〃

I　reminded　my　friend；　apropos　of　the　concierges；　that　he　had　not
yet　told　me　what　had　led　him　to　get　them　set　at　liberty。

We　were　close　to　their　lodge。　　Monsieur　and　Madame　Bemier　saw　us
coming。　　A　frank　smile　lit　up　their　happy　faces。　　They　seemed　to
harbour　no　ill…feeling　because　of　their　detention。　　My　young
friend　asked　them　at　what　hour　Mr。　Arthur　Rance　had　arrived。　　They
answered　that　they　did　not　know　he　was　at　the　chateau。　　He　must　have
come　during　the　evening　of　the　previous　night；　but　they　had　not　had
to　open　the　gate　for　him；　because；　being　a　great　walker；　and　not
wishing　that　a　carriage　should　be　sent　to　meet　him；　he　was　accustomed
to　get　off　at　the　little　hamlet　of　Saint…Michel；　from　which　he　came
to　the　chateau　by　way　of　the　forest。　　He　reached　the　park　by　the
grotto　of　Sainte…Genevieve；　over　the　little　gate　of　which；　giving
on　to　the　park；　he　climbed。

As　the　concierges　spoke；　I　saw　Rouletabille's　face　cloud　over　and
exhibit　disappointment　…　a　disappointment；　no　doubt；　with　himself。
Evidently　he　was　a　little　vexed；　after　having　worked　so　much　on　the
spot；　with　so　minute　a　study　of　the　people　and　events　at　the　Glandier；
that　he　had　to　learn　now　that　Arthur　Rance　was　accustomed　to　visit
the　chateau。

〃You　say　that　Monsieur　Arthur　Rance　is　accustomed　to　come　to　the
chateau。　　When　did　he　come　here　last？〃

〃We　can't　tell　you　exactly；〃　replied　Madame　Bemier　…　that　was　the
name　of　the　concierge　…　〃we　couldn't　know　while　they　were　keeping
us　in　prison。　　Besides；　as　the　gentleman　comes　to　the　chateau
without　passing　through　our　gate　he　goes　away　by　the　way　he　comes。〃

〃Do　you　know　when　he　came　the　first　time？〃

〃Oh　yes；　Monsieur！　…　nine　years　ago。〃

〃He　was　in　France　nine　years　ago；　then；〃　said　Rouletabille；　〃and；
since　that　time；　as　far　as　you　know；　how　many　times　has　he　been　at
the　Glandier？〃

〃Three　times。〃

〃When　did　he　come　the　last　time；　as　far　as　you　know？〃

〃A　week　before　the　attempt　in　The　Yellow　Room。〃

Rouletabille　put　another　question　…　this　time　addressing　himself
particularly　to　the　woman：

〃In　the　grove　of　the　parquet？〃

〃In　the　grove　of　the　parquet；〃　she　replied。

〃Thanks！〃　said　Rouletabille。　　〃Be　ready　for　me　this　evening。〃

He　spoke　the　last　words　with　a　finger　on　his　lips　as　if　to　command
silence　and　discretion。

We　left　the　park　and　took　the　way　to　the　Donjon　Inn。

〃Do　you　often　eat　here？〃

〃Sometimes。〃

〃But　you　also　take　your　meals　at　the　chateau？〃

〃Yes；　Larsan　and　I　are　sometimes　served　in　one　of　our　rooms。〃

〃Hasn't　Monsieur　Stangerson　ever　invited　you　to　his　own　table？〃

〃Never。〃

〃Does　your　presence　at　the　chateau　displease　him？〃

〃I　don't　know；　but；　in　any　case；　he　does　not　make　us　feel　that　we
are　in　his　way。〃

〃Doesn't　he　question　you？〃

〃Never。　　He　is　in　the　same　state　of　mind　as　he　was　in　at　the　door
of　The　Yellow　Room　when　his　daughter　was　being　murdered；　and　when
he　broke　open　the　door　and　did　not　find　the　murderer。　　He　is
persuaded；　since　he　could　discover　nothing；　that　there's　no　reason
why　we　should　be　able　to　discover　more　than　he　did。　　But　he　has　made
it　his　duty；　since　Larsan　expressed　his　theory；　not　to　oppose　us。

Rouletabille　buried　himself　in　thought　again　for　some　time。　　He
aroused　himself　later　to　tell　me　of　how　he　came　to　set　the　two
concierges　free。

〃I　went　recently　to　see　Monsieur　Stangerson；　and　took　with　me　a
piece　of　pap