the mystery of the yellow room-第44章
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upon our manager and said： 'Act in accordance with the instructions
of Joseph Rouletabille； if it becomes necessary to do so。 The
letter left by him holds the truth。' The gentleman who brought us
this message would not give us his name。
〃To…day； the 15th of January； is the day of the trial。 Joseph
Rouletabille has not returned。 It may be we shall never see him
again。 The press also counts its heroes； its martyrs to duty。 It
may be he is no longer living。 We shall know how to avenge him。
Our manager will； this afternoon； be at the Court of Assize at
Versailles； with the letter … the letter containing the name of
the murderer！〃
Those Parisians who flocked to the Assize Court at Versailles； to
be present at the trial of what was known as the 〃Mystery of The
Yellow Room；〃 will certainly remember the terrible crush at the
Saint…Lazare station。 The ordinary trains were so full that special
trains had to be made up。 The article in the 〃Epoque〃 had so
excited the populace that discussion was rife everywhere even to
the verge of blows。 Partisans of Rouletabille fought with the
supporters of Frederic Larsan。 Curiously enough the excitement
was due less to the fact that an innocent man was in danger of a
wrongful conviction than to the interest taken in their own ideas
as to the Mystery of The Yellow Room。 Each had his explanation to
which each held fast。 Those who explained the crime on Frederic
Larsan's theory would not admit that there could be any doubt as
to the perspicacity of the popular detective。 Others who had
arrived at a different solution； naturally insisted that this was
Rouletabille's explanation； though they did not as yet know what
that was。
With the day's 〃Epoque〃 in their hands； the 〃Larsans〃 and the
〃Rouletabilles〃 fought and shoved each other on the steps of the
Palais de Justice； right into the court itself。 Those who could
not get in remained in the neighbourhood until evening and were；
with great difficulty； kept back by the soldiery and the police。
They became hungry for news； welcoming the most absurd rumours。
At one time the rumour spread that Monsieur Stangerson himself had
been arrested in the court and had confessed to being the murderer。
This goes to show to what a pitch of madness nervous excitement
may carry people。 Rouletabille was still expected。 Some pretended
to know him； and when a young man with a 〃pass〃 crossed the open
space which separated the crowd from the Court House； a scuffle
took place。 Cries were raised of 〃Rouletabille！ … there's
Rouletabille！〃 The arrival of the manager of the paper was the
signal for a great demonstration。 Some applauded； others hissed。
The trial itself was presided over by Monsieur de Rocouz； a judge
filled with the prejudice of his class； but a man honest at heart。
The witnesses had been called。 I was there； of course； as were all
who had； in any way； been in touch with the mysteries of the
Glandier。 Monsieur Stangerson … looking many years older and almost
unrecognisable … Larsan； Arthur Rance； with his face ruddy as ever；
Daddy Jacques； Daddy Mathieu； who was brought into court handcuffed
between two gendarmes； Madame Mathieu； in tears； the two Berniers；
he two nurses； the steward； all the domestics of the chateau； the
employe of the Paris Post Office； the railway employe from Epinay；
some friends of Monsieur and Mademoiselle Stangerson； and all
Monsieur Darzac's witnesses。 I was lucky enough to be called early
in the trial； so that I was then able to watch and be present at
almost the whole of the proceedings。
The court was so crowded that many lawyers were compelled to find
seats on the steps。 Behind the bench of justices were
representatives from other benches。 Monsieur Robert Darzac stood
in the prisoner's dock between policemen； tall； handsome； and calm。
A murmur of admiration rather than of compassion greeted his
appearance。 He leaned forward towards his counsel； Maitre Henri
Robert； who； assisted by his chief secretary； Maitre Andre Hesse；
was busily turning over the folios of his brief。
Many expected that Monsieur Stangerson； after giving his evidence；
would have gone over to the prisoner and shaken hands with him； but
he left the court without another word。 It was remarked that the
jurors appeared to be deeply interested in a rapid conversation
which the manager of the 〃Epoque〃 was having with Maitre Henri
Robert。 The manager； later； sat down in the front row of the public
seats。 Some were surprised that he was not asked to remain with
the other witnesses in the room reserved for them。
The reading of the indictment was got through； as it always is；
without any incident。 I shall not here report the long examination
to which Monsieur Darzac was subjected。 He answered all the
questions quickly and easily。 His silence as to the important
matters of which we know was dead against him。 It would seem as if
this reticence would be fatal for him。 He resented the President's
reprimands。 He was told that his silence might mean death。
〃Very well；〃 he said； 〃I will submit to it； but I am innocent。〃
With that splendid ability which has made his fame； Maitre Robert
took advantage of the incident； and tried to show that it brought
out in noble relief his client's character； for only heroic natures
could remain silent for moral reasons in face of such a danger。
The eminent advocate however； only succeeded in assuring those who
were already assured of Darzac's innocence。 At the adjournment
Rouletabille had not yet arrived。 Every time a door opened； all
eyes there turned towards it and back to the manager of the 〃Epoque；〃
who sat impassive in his place。 When he once was feeling in his
pocket a loud murmur of expectation followed。 The letter！
It is not； however； my intention to report in detail the course of
the trial。 My readers are sufficiently acquainted with the
mysteries surrounding the Glandier case to enable me to go on to
the really dramatic denouement of this ever…memorable day。
When the trial was resumed； Maitre Henri Robert questioned Daddy
Mathieu as to his complicity in the death of the keeper。 His wife
was also brought in and was confronted by her husband。 She burst
into tears and confessed that she had been the keeper's mistress；
and that her husband had suspected it。 She again； however；
affirmed that he had had nothing to do with the murder of her lover。
Maitre Henri Robert thereupon asked the court to hear Frederic
Larsan on this point。
〃In a short conversation which I have had with Frederic Larsan；
during the adjournment；〃 declared the advocate； 〃he has made me
understand that the death of the keeper may have been brought about
otherwise than by the hand of Mathieu。 It will be interesting to
hear Frederic Larsan's theory。〃
Frederic Larsan was brought in。 His explanation was quite clear。
〃I see no necessity；〃 he said； 〃for bringing Mathieu in this。 I
have told Monsieur de Marquet that the man's threats had biassed
the examining magistrate against him。 To me the attempt to murder
Mademoiselle and the death of the keeper are the work of one and
the same person。 Mademoiselle Stangerson's murderer； flying
through the court； was fired on； it was thought he was struck；
perhaps killed。 As a matter of fact； he only stumbled at the
moment of his disappearance behind the corner of the right wing
of the chateau。 There he encountered the keeper who； no doubt；
tried to seize him。 The murderer had in his hand the knife with
which he had stabbed Mademoiselle Stangerson and with this he
killed the keeper。〃
This very simple explanation appeared at once plausible and
satisfying。 A murmur of approbation was heard。
〃And the murderer？ What became of him？〃 asked the President。
〃He was evidently hidden in an obscure corner at the end of the
court。 After the people had left the court carrying with them the
body of the keeper； the murderer quietly made his escape。〃
The words had scarcely left Larsan's mouth when from the back of
the court came a youthful voice：
〃I agree with Frederic Larsan as to the death of the keeper； but I
do not agree with him as to the way the murderer
