the mystery of the yellow room-第6章

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to　marry。

Suddenly；　some　weeks　before　the　events　with　which　we　are　occupied；
a　report　…　to　which　nobody　attached　any　importance；　so　incredible
did　it　sound　…　was　spread　about　Paris；　that　Mademoiselle　Stangerson
had　at　last　consented　to　〃crown〃　the　inextinguishable　flame　of
Monsieur　Robert　Darzac！　　It　needed　that　Monsieur　Robert　Darzac
himself　should　not　deny　this　matrimonial　rumour　to　give　it　an
appearance　of　truth；　so　unlikely　did　it　seem　to　be　well　founded。
One　day；　however；　Monsieur　Stangerson；　as　he　was　leaving　the　Academy
of　Science；　announced　that　the　marriage　of　his　daughter　and　Monsieur
Robert　Darzac　would　be　celebrated　in　the　privacy　of　the　Chateau　du
Glandier；　as　soon　as　he　and　his　daughter　had　put　the　finishing
touches　to　their　report　summing　up　their　labours　on　the　〃Dissociation
of　Matter。〃　　The　new　household　would　install　itself　in　the　Glandier；
and　the　son…in…law　would　lend　his　assistance　in　the　work　to　which
the　father　and　daughter　had　dedicated　their　lives。

The　scientific　world　had　barely　had　time　to　recover　from　the　effect
of　this　news；　when　it　learned　of　the　attempted　assassination　of
Mademoiselle　under　the　extraordinary　conditions　which　we　have
detailed　and　which　our　visit　to　the　chateau　was　to　enable　us　to
ascertain　with　yet　greater　precision。　　I　have　not　hesitated　to
furnish　the　reader　with　all　these　retrospective　details；　known　to
me　through　my　business　relations　with　Monsieur　Robert　Darzac。　　On
crossing　the　threshold　of　The　Yellow　Room　he　was　as　well　posted
as　I　was。





CHAPTER　V

In　Which　Joseph　Rouletabille　Makes　a　Remark　to　Monsieur　Robert
Darzac　Which　Produces　Its　Little　Effect


Rouletabille　and　I　had　been　walking　for　several　minutes；　by　the　side
of　a　long　wall　bounding　the　vast　property　of　Monsieur　Stangerson　and
had　already　come　within　sight　of　the　entrance　gate；　when　our
attention　was　drawn　to　an　individual　who；　half　bent　to　the　ground；
seemed　to　be　so　completely　absorbed　in　what　he　was　doing　as　not　to
have　seen　us　coming　towards　him。　　At　one　time　he　stooped　so　low　as
almost　to　touch　the　ground；　at　another　he　drew　himself　up　and
attentively　examined　the　wall；　then　he　looked　into　the　palm　of　one
of　his　hands；　and　walked　away　with　rapid　strides。　　Finally　he　set
off　running；　still　looking　into　the　palm　of　his　hand。　　Rouletabille
had　brought　me　to　a　standstill　by　a　gesture。

〃Hush！　　Frederic　Larsan　is　at　work！　　Don't　let　us　disturb　him！〃

Rouletabille　had　a　great　admiration　for　the　celebrated　detective。
I　had　never　before　seen　him；　but　I　knew　him　well　by　reputation。
At　that　time；　before　Rouletabille　had　given　proof　of　his　unique
talent；　Larsan　was　reputed　as　the　most　skilful　unraveller　of　the
most　mysterious　and　complicated　crimes。　　His　reputation　was
world…wide；　and　the　police　of　London；　and　even　of　America；　often
called　him　in　to　their　aid　when　their　own　national　inspectors　and
detectives　found　themselves　at　the　end　of　their　wits　and　resources。

No　one　was　astonished；　then；　that　the　head　of　the　Surete　had；　at　the
outset　of　the　mystery　of　The　Yellow　Room；　telegraphed　his　precious
subordinate　to　London；　where　he　had　been　sent　on　a　big　case　of
stolen　securities；　to　return　with　all　haste。　　Frederic　who；　at　the
Surete；　was　called　the　〃great　Frederic；〃　had　made　all　speed；
doubtless　knowing　by　experience　that；　if　he　was　interrupted　in　what
he　was　doing；　it　was　because　his　services　were　urgently　needed　in
another　direction；　so；　as　Rouletabille　said；　he　was　that　morning
already　〃at　work。〃　　We　soon　found　out　in　what　it　consisted。

What　he　was　continually　looking　at　in　the　palm　of　his　right　hand
was　nothing　but　his　watch；　the　minute　hand　of　which　he　appeared
to　be　noting　intently。　　Then　he　turned　back　still　running；　stopping
only　when　he　reached　the　park　gate；　where　he　again　consulted　his
watch　and　then　put　it　away　in　his　pocket；　shrugging　his　shoulders
with　a　gesture　of　discouragement。　　He　pushed　open　the　park　gate；
reclosed　and　locked　it；　raised　his　head　and；　through　the　bars；
perceived　us。　　Rouletabille　rushed　after　him；　and　I　followed。
Frederic　Larsan　waited　for　us。

〃Monsieur　Fred；〃　said　Rouletabille；　raising　his　hat　and　showing　the
profound　respect；　based　on　admiration；　which　the　young　reporter　felt
for　the　celebrated　detective；　〃can　you　tell　me　whether　Monsieur
Robert　Darzac　is　at　the　chateau　at　this　moment？　　Here　is　one　of　his
friends；　of　the　Paris　Bar；　who　desires　to　speak　with　him。〃

〃I　really　don't　know；　Monsieur　Rouletabille；〃　replied　Fred；　shaking
hands　with　my　friend；　whom　he　had　several　times　met　in　the　course
of　his　difficult　investigations。　　〃I　have　not　seen　him。〃

〃The　concierges　will　be　able　to　inform　us　no　doubt？〃　said
Rouletabille；　pointing　to　the　lodge　the　door　and　windows　of　which
were　close　shut。

〃The　concierges　will　not　be　able　to　give　you　any　information；
Monsieur　Rouletabille。〃

〃Why　not？〃

〃Because　they　were　arrested　half　an　hour　ago。〃

〃Arrested！〃　cried　Rouletabille；　〃then　they　are　the　murderers！〃

Frederic　Larsan　shrugged　his　shoulders。

〃When　you　can't　arrest　the　real　murderer；〃　he　said　with　an　air　of
supreme　irony；　〃you　can　always　indulge　in　the　luxury　of　discovering
accomplices。〃

〃Did　you　have　them　arrested；　Monsieur　Fred？〃

〃Not　I！　　…　I　haven't　had　them　arrested。　　In　the　first　place；　I　am
pretty　sure　that　they　have　not　had　anything　to　do　with　the　affair；
and　then　because　…〃

〃Because　of　what？〃　asked　Rouletabille　eagerly。

〃Because　of　nothing；〃　said　Larsan；　shaking　his　head。

〃Because　there　were　no　accomplices！〃　said　Rouletabille。

〃Aha！　…　you　have　an　idea；　then；　about　this　matter？〃　said　Larsan；
looking　at　Rouletabille　intently；　〃yet　you　have　seen　nothing；　young
man　…　you　have　not　yet　gained　admission　here！〃

〃I　shall　get　admission。〃

〃I　doubt　it。　　The　orders　are　strict。〃

〃I　shall　gain　admission；　if　you　let　me　see　Monsieur　Robert　Darzac。
Do　that　for　me。　　You　know　we　are　old　friends。　　I　beg　of　you；
Monsieur　Fred。　　Do　you　remember　the　article　I　wrote　about　you　on
the　gold　bar　case？〃

The　face　of　Rouletabille　at　the　moment　was　really　funny　to　look　at。
It　showed　such　an　irresistible　desire　to　cross　the　threshold　beyond
which　some　prodigious　mystery　had　occurred；　it　appealed　with　so　much
eloquence；　not　only　of　the　mouth　and　eyes；　but　with　all　its　features；
that　I　could　not　refrain　from　bursting　into　laughter。　　Frederic
Larsan；　no　more　than　myself；　could　retain　his　gravity。　　Meanwhile；
standing　on　the　other　side　of　the　gate；　he　calmly　put　the　key　in
his　pocket。　　I　closely　scrutinised　him。

He　might　be　about　fifty　years　of　age。　　He　had　a　fine　head；　his　hair
turning　grey；　a　colourless　complexion；　and　a　firm　profile。　　His
forehead　was　prominent；　his　chin　and　cheeks　clean　shaven。　　His　upper
lip；　without　moustache；　was　finely　chiselled。　　His　eyes　were　rather
small　and　round；　with　a　look　in　them　that　was　at　once　searching　and
disquieting。　　He　was　of　middle　height　and　well　built；　with　a　general
bearing　elegant　and　gentlemanly。　　There　was　nothing　about　him　of
the　vulgar　policeman。　　In　his　way；　he　was　an　artist；　and　one　felt
that　he　had　a　high　opinion　of　himself。　　The　sceptical　tone　of　his
conversation　was　that　of　a　man　who　had　been　taught　by　experience。
His　strange　profession　had　brought　him　into　contact　with　so　many
crimes　and　villanies　that　it　would　have　been　remarkable　if　his
nature　had　not　been　a　little　hardened。

Larsan　turned　his　head　at　the　sound　of　a　vehicle　which　had　come　from
the　chateau　and　reached　the　gate　behind　him。　　We　recognised　the　cab
which　had　conveyed　the　examining　magistrate　and　his　Registrar　from
the　station　at　Epinay。

〃Ah！〃　said　Frederic　Larsan；　〃if　you　want　to　speak　with　Monsieur
Robert　Darzac；　he　is　here。〃

The　cab　was　already　at　the　park　gate　and　Robert　Darzac　was　begging
Frederic　Larsan　to　open　it　for　him；　explaining　that　he　was　pressed
for　time　to　catch　the　next　train　leaving　Epinay　for　Paris。　　Then　he
recognised　me。　　While　Larsan　was　unlocking　the　gate；　Monsieur　Darzac
inquired　what　had　brought　me　to　the　Glandier　at　such　a　tragic　moment。
I　noticed　that　he　was　frightfully　pale；　and　that　his　face　was　lined
as　if　from　the　effects　of　some　terrible　suffering。

〃Is　Mademoiselle　getting　better？〃　I　immediately　asked。

〃Yes　；〃he　said。　　〃She　will　be　saved　perhaps。　　She　must　be　saved！〃

He　did　not　add　〃or　it　will　be　my　death〃；　but　I　felt　that　the　phrase
trembled　on　his　pale　lips。

Rouletabille　intervened：

〃You　are　in　a　hurry；　Monsieur；　but　I　must　speak　with　you。　　I　have
something　of　the　greatest　importance　to　tell　you。〃

Frederic　Larsan　interrupted：

〃May　I　leave　you？〃　he　asked　of　Robert　Darzac。　　〃Have　you　a　key；　or
do　you　wish　me　to　give　you　this　one。〃

〃Thank　you。　　I　have　a　key　and　will　lock　the　gate。〃

Larsan　hurried　off　in　the　direction　of　the　chateau；　the　imposing
pile　of　which　could　be　perceived　a　few　hundred　yards　away。

Robert　Darzac；　with　knit　brow；　was　beginning　to　show　impatience。　　I
presented　Rouletabille　as　a　good　friend　of　mine；　but；　as　soon　as　he
learnt　that　the　young　man　was　a　journalist；　he　looked　at　me　very
reproachfully；　excused　himself；　under　the　necessity　of　having　to
reach　Epinay　in　twenty　minutes；　bowed；　and　whipped　up　his　horse。
But　Rouletabille　had　seized　the　bridle　and；　to　my　utter　astonishment；
stopped　the　carriage　with　a　vigorous　hand。　　Then　he　gave　utterance
to　a　sentence　which　was　utterly　meaningless　to　me。

〃The　presbytery　has　lost　nothing　of　its　charm；　nor　the　garden　its
brightness。〃

The　words　had　no　sooner　left　the　lips　of　Rouletabille　than　I　saw
Robert　Darzac　quail。　　Pale　as　he　was；　he　became　paler。　　His　eyes
were　fixed　on　the　young　man　in　terror；　and　he　immediately
descended　from　the　vehicle　in　an　inexpressible　state　of　agitation。

〃Come！　　…　come　in！〃　he　stammered。

hen；　suddenly；　and　with　a　sort　of　fury；　he　repeated：

〃Let　us　go；　monsieur。〃

He　turned　up　by　the　road　he　had　come　from　the　chateau；　Rouletabille
still　retaining　his　hold　on　the　horse's　bridle。　　I　addressed　a　few
words　to　Monsieur　Darzac；　but　he　made　no　answer。　　My　looks
questioned　Rouletabille；　but　his　gaze　was　elsewhere。





CHAPTER　VI

in　the　Heart　of　the　Oak　Grove


We　reached　the　chateau；　and；　as　we　approached　it；　saw　four
gendarmes　pacing　in　front　of　a　little　door　in　the　ground　floor　of
the　donjon。　　We　soon　learned　that　in　this　ground　floor；　which　had
formerly　served　as　a　prison；　Monsieur　and　Madame　Bernier；　the
concierges；　were　confined。　　Monsieur　Robert　Darzac　led　us　into　the
modern　part　of　the　chateau　by　a　large　door；　protected　by　a
projecting　awning　…　a　〃marquise〃　as　it　is　called。　　Rouletabille；
who　had　resigned　the　horse　and　the　cab　to　the　care　of　a　servant；
never　took　his　eyes　off　Monsieur　Darzac。　　I　followed　his　look　and
perceived　that　it　was　directed　solely　towards　the　gloved　hands　of
the　Sorbonne　professor。　　When　we　were　in　a　tiny　sitting…room
fitted　with　old　furniture；　Monsieur　Darzac　turned　to　Rouletabille
and　said　sharply：

〃What　do　you　want？〃

The　reporter　answered　in　an　equally　sharp　tone：

〃To　shake　you　by　the　hand。〃

Darzac　shrank　back。

〃What　does　that　mean？〃

Evidently　he　understood；　what　I　also　understood；　that　my　friend
suspected　him　of　the　abominable　attempt　on　the　life　of
Mademoiselle　Stangerson。　　The　im