the mystery of the yellow room-第25章
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there。 However； a cab was waiting for me and I was soon at the
Glandier。 Nobody was at the gate； and it was only on the threshold
of the chateau that I met the young man。 He saluted me with a
friendly gesture and threw his arms about me； inquiring warmly as
to the state of my health。
When we were in the little sitting…room of which I have spoken；
Rouletabille made me sit down。
〃It's going badly；〃 he said。
〃What's going badly？〃 I asked。
〃Everything。〃
He came nearer to me and whispered：
〃Frederic Larsan is working with might and main against Darzac。〃
This did not astonish me。 I had seen the poor show Mademoiselle
Stangerson's fiance had made at the time of the examination of the
footprints。 However； I immediately asked：
〃What about that cane？〃
〃It is still in the hands of Frederic Larsan。 He never lets go
of it。〃
〃But doesn't it prove the alibi for Monsieur Darzac？〃
〃Not at all。 Gently questioned by me； Darzac denied having； on
that evening； or on any other； purchased a cane at Cassette's。
However；〃 said Rouletabille； 〃I'll not swear to anything； Monsieur
Darzac has such strange fits of silence that one does not know
exactly what to think of what he says。〃
〃To Frederic Larsan this cane must mean a piece of very damaging
evidence。 But in what way？ The time when it was bought shows it
could not have been in the murderer's possession。〃
〃The time doesn't worry Larsan。 He is not obliged to adopt my
theory which assumes that the murderer got into The Yellow Room
between five and six o'clock。 But there's nothing to prevent him
assuming that the murderer got in between ten and eleven o'clock
at night。 At that hour Monsieur and Mademoiselle Stangerson；
assisted by Daddy Jacques； were engaged in making an interesting
chemical experiment in the part of the laboratory taken up by the
furnaces。 Larsan says； unlikely as that may seem； that the murderer
may have slipped behind them。 He has already got the examining
magistrate to listen to him。 When one looks closely into it； the
reasoning is absurd； seeing that the 'intimate' … if there is one
… must have known that the professor would shortly leave the
pavilion； and that the 'friend' had only to put off operating till
after the professor's departure。 Why should he have risked crossing
the laboratory while the professor was in it？ And then； when he
had got into The Yellow Room？
〃There are many points to be cleared up before Larsan's theory can
be admitted。 I sha'n't waste my time over it； for my theory won't
allow me to occupy myself with mere imagination。 Only； as I am
obliged for the moment to keep silent； and Larsan sometimes talks；
he may finish by coming out openly against Monsieur Darzac； … if
I'm not there；〃 added the young reporter proudly。 〃For there are
surface evidences against Darzac； much more convincing than that
cane； which remains incomprehensible to me； all the more so as
Larsan does not in the least hesitate to let Darzac see him with
it！ … I understand many things in Larsan's theory； but I can't make
anything of that cane。
〃Is he still at the chateau？〃
〃Yes； he hardly ever leaves it！ … He sleeps there； as I do； at the
request of Monsieur Stangerson； who has done for him what Monsieur
Robert Darzac has done for me。 In spite of the accusation made by
Larsan that Monsieur Stangerson knows who the murderer is he yet
affords him every facility for arriving at the truth； … just as
Darzac is doing for me。〃
〃But you are convinced of Darzac's innocence？〃
〃At one time I did believe in the possiblity of his guilt。 That
was when we arrived here for the first time。 The time has come
for me to tell you what has passed between Monsieur Darzac and
myself。〃
Here Rouletabille interrupted himself and asked me if I had brought
the revolvers。 I showed him them。 Having examined both； he
pronounced them excellent； and handed them back to me。
〃Shall we have any use for them？〃 I asked。
〃No doubt； this evening。 We shall pass the night here … if that
won't tire you？〃
〃On the contrary；〃 I said with an expression that made Rouletabille
laugh。
〃No； no；〃 he said； 〃this is no time for laughing。 You remember the
phrase which was the 'open sesame' of this chateau full of mystery？〃
〃Yes；〃 I said； 〃perfectly； … 'The presbytery has lost nothing of its
charm； nor the garden its brightness。' It was the phrase which you
found on the half…burned piece of paper amongst the ashes in the
laboratory。〃
〃Yes； at the bottom of the paper； where the flame had not reached；
was this date： 23rd of October。 Remember this date； it is highly
important。 I am now going to tell you about that curious phrase。
On the evening before the crime； that is to say； on the 23rd；
Monsieur and Mademoiselle Stangerson were at a reception at the
Elysee。 I know that； because I was there on duty； having to
interview one of the savants of the Academy of Philadelphia； who
was being feted there。 I had never before seen either Monsieur or
Mademoiselle Stangerson。 I was seated in the room which precedes
the Salon des Ambassadeurs； and； tired of being jostled by so many
noble personages； I had fallen into a vague reverie； when I scented
near me the perfume of the lady in black。
〃Do you ask me what is the 'perfume of the lady in black'？ It must
suffice for you to know that it is a perfume of which I am very fond；
because it was that of a lady who had been very kind to me in my
childhood； … a lady whom I had always seen dressed in black。 The
lady who； that evening； was scented with the perfume of the lady in
black； was dressed in white。 She was wonderfully beautiful。 I
could not help rising and following her。 An old man gave her his
arm and； as they passed； I heard voices say： 'Professor Stangerson
and his daughter。' It was in that way I learned who it was I was
following。
〃They met Monsieur Robert Darzac； whom I knew by sight。 Professor
Stangerson； accosted by Mr。 Arthur William Rance； one of the
American savants； seated himself in the great gallery； and Monsieur
Robert Darzac led Mademoiselle Stangerson into the conservatory。 I
followed。 The weather was very mild that evening； the garden doors
were open。 Mademoiselle Stangerson threw a fichu shawl over her
shoulders and I plainly saw that it was she who was begging Monsieur
Darzac to go with her into the garden。 I continued to follow；
interested by the agitation plainly exhibited by the bearing of
Monsieur Darzac。 They slowly passed along the wall abutting on the
Avenue Marigny。 I took the central alley； walking parallel with
them； and then crossed over for the purpose of getting nearer to
them。 The night was dark； and the grass deadened the sound of my
steps。 They had stopped under the vacillating light of a gas jet
and appeared to be both bending over a paper held by Mademoiselle
Stangerson； reading something which deeply interested them。 I
stopped in the darkness and silence。
〃Neither of them saw me； and I distinctly heard Mademoiselle
Stangerson repeat； as she was refolding the paper： 'The presbytery
has lost nothing of its charm； nor the garden its brightness！' … It
was said in a tone at once mocking and despairing； and was followed
by a burst of such nervous laughter that I think her words will
never cease to sound in my ears。 But another phrase was uttered by
Monsieur Robert Darzac： 'Must I commit a crime； then； to win you？'
He was in an extraordinarily agitated state。 He took the hand of
Mademoiselle Stangerson and held it for a long time to his lips；
and I thought； from the movement of his shoulders； that he was
crying。 Then they went away。
〃When I returned to the great gallery；〃 continued Rouletabille； 〃I
saw no more of Monsieur Robert Darzac； and I was not to see him
again until after the tragedy at the Glandier。 Mademoiselle was
near Mr。 Rance； who was talking with much animation； his eyes；
during the conversation； glowing with a singular brightness。
Mademoiselle Stangerson； I thought； was not even listening to what
he was saying； her face expressing perfect indifference。 His face
was the red face of a drunkard。 When Monsieur and Mademoiselle
Stangerson l
