the mystery of the yellow room-第43章
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The magistrate； the gendarme； and Larsan followed closely after。
Rouletabille and I remained on the threshold。 It was a
heart…breaking sight that met our eyes。 Mademoiselle Stangerson；
with a face of deathly pallor； had risen on her bed； in spite of
the restraining efforts of two doctors and her father。 She was
holding out her trembling arms towards Robert Darzac； on whom
Larsan and the gendarme had laid hands。 Her distended eyes saw
… she understood … her lips seemed to form a word； but nobody made
it out； and she fell back insensible。
Monsieur Darzac was hurried out of the room and placed in the
vestibule to wait for the vehicle Larsan had gone to fetch。 We
were all overcome by emotion and even Monsieur de Marquet had tears
in his eyes。 Rouletabille took advantage of the opportunity to
say to Monsieur Darzac：
〃Are you going to put in any defense？〃
〃No！〃 replied the prisoner。
〃Very well； then I will； Monsieur。〃
〃You cannot do it；〃 said the unhappy man with a faint smile。
〃I can … and I will。〃
Rouletabille's voice had in it a strange strength and confidence。
〃I can do it； Monsieur Robert Darzac； because I know more than
you do！〃
〃Come！ Come！〃 murmured Darzac； almost angrily。
〃Have no fear！ I shall know only what will benefit you。〃
〃You must know nothing； young man； if you want me to be grateful。〃
Rouletabille shook his head； going close up to Darzac。
〃Listen to what I am about to say；〃 he said in a low tone； 〃and let
it give you confidence。 You do not know the name of the murderer。
Mademoiselle Stangerson knows it； but only half of it； but I know
his two halves； I know the whole man！〃
Robert Darzac opened his eyes； with a look that showed he had not
understood a word of what Rouletabille had said to him。 At that
moment the conveyance arrived； driven by Frederic Larsan。 Darzac
and the gendarme entered it； Larsan remaining on the driver's seat。
The prisoner was taken to Corbeil。
CHAPTER XXV CHAPTER XXVI
Rouletabille Goes on a Journey
That same evening Rouletabille and I left the Glandier。 We were
very glad to get away and there was nothing more to keep us there。
I declared my intention to give up the whole matter。 It had been
too much for me。 Rouletabille； with a friendly tap on my shoulder；
confessed that he had nothing more to learn at the Glandier； he had
learned there all it had to tell him。 We reached Paris about eight
o'clock； dined； and then； tired out； we separated； agreeing to meet
the next morning at my rooms。
Rouletabille arrived next day at the hour agreed on。 He was dressed
in a suit of English tweed； with an ulster on his arm； and a valise
in his hand。 Evidently he had prepared himself for a journey。
〃How long shall you be away？〃 I asked。
〃A month or two；〃 he said。 〃It all depends。〃
I asked him no more questions。
〃Do you know；〃 he asked； 〃what the word was that Mademoiselle
Stangerson tried to say before she fainted？〃
〃No … nobody heard it。〃
〃I heard it！〃 replied Rouletabille。 〃She said 'Speak！'〃
〃Do you think Darzac will speak？〃
〃Never。〃
I was about to make some further observations； but he wrung my hand
warmly and wished me good…bye。 I had only time to ask him one
question before he left。
〃Are you not afraid that other attempts may be made while you're
away？〃
〃No！ Not now that Darzac is in prison；〃 he answered。
With this strange remark he left。 I was not to see him again until
the day of Darzac's trial at the court when he appeared to explain
the inexplicable。
CHAPTER XXVI
In Which Joseph Rouletabille Is Awaited with Impatience
On the 15th of January； that is to say； two months and a half after
the tragic events I have narrated； the 〃Epoque〃 printed； as the
first column of the front page； the following sensational article：
〃The Seine…et…Oise jury is summoned to…day to give its verdict on
one of the most mysterious affairs in the annals of crime。 There
never has been a case with so many obscure； incomprehensible； and
inexplicable points。 And yet the prosecution has not hesitated to
put into the prisoner's dock a man who is respected； esteemed； and
loved by all who knew him … a young savant； the hope of French
science； whose whole life has been devoted to knowledge and truth。
When Paris heard of Monsieur Robert Darzac's arrest a unanimous cry
of protest arose from all sides。 The whole Sorbonne； disgraced by
this act of the examining magistrate； asserted its belief in the
innocence of Mademoiselle Stangerson's fiance。 Monsieur Stangerson
was loud in his denunciation of this miscarriage of justice。 There
is no doubt in the mind of anybody that could the victim speak she
would claim from the jurors of Seine…et…Oise the man she wishes to
make her husband and whom the prosecution would send to the scaffold。
It is to be hoped that Mademoiselle Stangerson will shortly recover
her reason； which has been temporarily unhinged by the horrible
mystery at the Glandier。 The question before the jury is the one
we propose to deal with this very day。
〃We have decided not to permit twelve worthy men to commit a
disgraceful miscarriage of justice。 We confess that the remarkable
coincidences； the many convicting evidences； and the inexplicable
silence on the part of the accused； as well as a total absence of
any evidence for an alibi； were enough to warrant the bench of
judges in assuming that in this man alone was centered the truth
of the affair。 The evidences are； in appearance； so overwhelming
against Monsieur Robert Darzac that a detective so well informed；
so intelligent； and generally so successful； as Monsieur Frederic
Larsan； may be excused for having been misled by them。 Up to now
everything has gone against Monsieur Robert Darzac in the
magisterial inquiry。 To…day； however； we are going to defend him
before the jury； and we are going to bring to the witness stand a
light that will illumine the whole mystery of the Glandier。 For
we possess the truth。
〃If we have not spoken sooner； it is because the interests of
certain parties in the case demand that we should take that course。
Our readers may remember the unsigned reports we published relating
to the 'Left foot of the Rue Oberkampf；' at the time of the famous
robbery of the Credit Universel； and the famous case of the 'Gold
Ingots of the Mint。' In both those cases we were able to discover
the truth long before even the excellent ingenuity of Frederic
Larsan had been able to unravel it。 These reports were written by
our youngest reporter； Joseph Rouletabille； a youth of eighteen；
whose fame to…morrow will be world…wide。 When attention was first
drawn to the Glandier case； our youthful reporter was on the spot
and installed in the chateau； when every other representative of
the press had been denied admission。 He worked side by side with
Frederic Larsan。 He was amazed and terrified at the grave mistake
the celebrated detective was about to make； and tried to divert
him from the false scent he was following； but the great Fred
refused to receive instructions from this young journalist。 We
know now where it brought Monsieur Robert Darzac。
〃But now； France must know … the whole world must know； that； on
the very evening on which Monsieur Darzac was arrested； young
Rouletabille entered our editorial office and informed us that he
was about to go away on a journey。 'How long I shall be away；'
he said； 'I cannot say； perhaps a month … perhaps two … perhaps
three perhaps I may never return。 Here is a letter。 If I am not
back on the day on which Monsieur Darzac is to appear before the
Assize Court； have this letter opened and read to the court； after
all the witnesses have been heard。 Arrange it with Monsieur Darzac's
counsel。 Monsieur Darzac is innocent。 In this letter is written
the name of the murderer； and … that is all I have to say。 I am
leaving to get my proofs … for the irrefutable evidence of the
murderer's guilt。' Our reporter departed。 For a long time we
were without news from him； but； a week ago； a stranger called
upon our manager and said： 'Act in accordance with the instructions
of Joseph Rouletabille；
