Le mystère de la chambre jaune. English, Page 27

  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 thetragic events I have narrated, the "Epoque" printed, as the first columnof the front page, the following sensational article: "The Seine-et-Oisejury is summoned to-day to give its verdict on one of the mostmysterious affairs in the annals of crime. There never has been a casewith so many obscure, incomprehensible, and inexplicable points. And yetthe prosecution has not hesitated to put into the prisoner's dock aman who is respected, esteemed, and loved by all who knew him--a youngsavant, the hope of French science, whose whole life has been devoted toknowledge and truth. When Paris heard of Monsieur Robert Darzac's arresta unanimous cry of protest arose from all sides. The whole Sorbonne,disgraced by this act of the examining magistrate, asserted itsbelief in the innocence of Mademoiselle Stangerson's fiance. MonsieurStangerson was loud in his denunciation of this miscarriage of justice.There is no doubt in the mind of anybody that could the victim speak shewould claim from the jurors of Seine-et-Oise the man she wishes to makeher husband and whom the prosecution would send to the scaffold. Itis to be hoped that Mademoiselle Stangerson will shortly recover herreason, which has been temporarily unhinged by the horrible mystery atthe Glandier. The question before the jury is the one we propose to dealwith this very day.

  "We have decided not to permit twelve worthy men to commit a disgracefulmiscarriage of justice. We confess that the remarkable coincidences, themany convicting evidences, and the inexplicable silence on the part ofthe 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 thisman alone was centered the truth of the affair. The evidences are,in appearance, so overwhelming against Monsieur Robert Darzac that adetective so well informed, so intelligent, and generally so successful,as Monsieur Frederic Larsan, may be excused for having been misled bythem. Up to now everything has gone against Monsieur Robert Darzac inthe magisterial inquiry. To-day, however, we are going to defend himbefore the jury, and we are going to bring to the witness stand a lightthat will illumine the whole mystery of the Glandier. For we possess thetruth.

  "If we have not spoken sooner, it is because the interests of certainparties in the case demand that we should take that course. Our readersmay remember the unsigned reports we published relating to the 'Leftfoot of the Rue Oberkampf,' at the time of the famous robbery of theCredit 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 eventhe excellent ingenuity of Frederic Larsan had been able to unravelit. These reports were written by our youngest reporter, JosephRouletabille, a youth of eighteen, whose fame to-morrow will beworld-wide. When attention was first drawn to the Glandier case, ouryouthful reporter was on the spot and installed in the chateau, whenevery other representative of the press had been denied admission. Heworked side by side with Frederic Larsan. He was amazed and terrified atthe grave mistake the celebrated detective was about to make, and triedto divert him from the false scent he was following; but the great Fredrefused to receive instructions from this young journalist. We know nowwhere it brought Monsieur Robert Darzac.

  "But now, France must know--the whole world must know, that, on thevery evening on which Monsieur Darzac was arrested, young Rouletabilleentered our editorial office and informed us that he was about to goaway 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 Darzacis to appear before the Assize Court, have this letter opened and readto the court, after all the witnesses have been heard. Arrange it withMonsieur Darzac's counsel. Monsieur Darzac is innocent. In this letteris 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 themurderer's guilt.' Our reporter departed. For a long time we werewithout news from him; but, a week ago, a stranger called upon ourmanager and said: 'Act in accordance with the instructions of JosephRouletabille, if it becomes necessary to do so. The letter left by himholds the truth.' The gentleman who brought us this message would notgive us his name.

  "To-day, the 15th of January, is the day of the trial. JosephRouletabille 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 isno longer living. We shall know how to avenge him. Our manager will,this afternoon, be at the Court of Assize at Versailles, with theletter--the letter containing the name of the murderer!"

  Those Parisians who flocked to the Assize Court at Versailles, to bepresent at the trial of what was known as the "Mystery of The YellowRoom," will certainly remember the terrible crush at the Saint-Lazarestation. The ordinary trains were so full that special trains had to bemade up. The article in the "Epoque" had so excited the populace thatdiscussion was rife everywhere even to the verge of blows. Partisans ofRouletabille fought with the supporters of Frederic Larsan. Curiouslyenough the excitement was due less to the fact that an innocent man wasin danger of a wrongful conviction than to the interest taken in theirown ideas as to the Mystery of The Yellow Room. Each had his explanationto which each held fast. Those who explained the crime on FredericLarsan's theory would not admit that there could be any doubt as tothe perspicacity of the popular detective. Others who had arrived ata different solution, naturally insisted that this was Rouletabille'sexplanation, 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 Palaisde Justice, right into the court itself. Those who could not getin remained in the neighbourhood until evening and were, with greatdifficulty, kept back by the soldiery and the police. They became hungryfor news, welcoming the most absurd rumours. At one time the rumourspread that Monsieur Stangerson himself had been arrested in the courtand had confessed to being the murderer. This goes to show to what apitch of madness nervous excitement may carry people. Rouletabille wasstill expected. Some pretended to know him; and when a young man with a"pass" crossed the open space which separated the crowd from theCourt House, a scuffle took place. Cries were raised of"Rouletabille!--there's Rouletabille!" The arrival of the manager of thepaper was the signal for a great demonstration. Some applauded, othershissed.

  The trial itself was presided over by Monsieur de Rocouz, a judgefilled with the prejudice of his class, but a man honest at heart. Thewitnesses 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. MonsieurStangerson--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, MadameMathieu, in tears, the two Berniers, the two nurses, the steward, allthe domestics of the chateau, the employeee of the Paris Post Office, therailway employeee from Epinay, some friends of Monsieur and MademoiselleStangerson, and all Monsieur Darzac's witnesses. I was lucky enough tobe called early in the trial, so that I was then able to watch and bepresent at almost the whole of the proceedings.

  The court was so crowded that many lawyers were compelled to find seatson the steps. Behind the bench of justices were representatives fromother benches. Monsieur Robert Darzac stood in the prisoner's dockbetween policemen, tall, handsome, and calm. A murmur of admirationrather than of compassion greeted his appearance. He leaned forwardtowards his counsel, Maitre Henri Robert, who, assisted by his chiefsecretary, Maitre Andre Hesse, was busily turning over the folios of hisbrief.

  Many expected that Monsieur Stangerson, after giving his evidence, wouldhave gone over to the prisoner and shaken hands with him; but he leftthe court without another word. It was remarked that the jurors appearedto be deeply interested in a rapid conversation which the manager of the"Epoque" was having with Maitre Henri Robert. The manager, later, satdown in the front row of the public seats.
Some were surprised that hewas not asked to remain with the other witnesses in the room reservedfor them.

  The reading of the indictment was got through, as it always is, withoutany incident. I shall not here report the long examination to whichMonsieur Darzac was subjected. He answered all the questions quicklyand easily. His silence as to the important matters of which we know wasdead against him. It would seem as if this reticence would be fatalfor him. He resented the President's reprimands. He was told that hissilence 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 tookadvantage of the incident, and tried to show that it brought out innoble relief his client's character; for only heroic natures couldremain silent for moral reasons in face of such a danger. The eminentadvocate however, only succeeded in assuring those who were alreadyassured of Darzac's innocence. At the adjournment Rouletabille had notyet arrived. Every time a door opened, all eyes there turned towards itand 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 expectationfollowed. The letter!

  It is not, however, my intention to report in detail the course ofthe trial. My readers are sufficiently acquainted with the mysteriessurrounding the Glandier case to enable me to go on to the reallydramatic denouement of this ever-memorable day.

  When the trial was resumed, Maitre Henri Robert questioned Daddy Mathieuas to his complicity in the death of the keeper. His wife was alsobrought in and was confronted by her husband. She burst into tears andconfessed that she had been the keeper's mistress, and that her husbandhad suspected it. She again, however, affirmed that he had had nothingto do with the murder of her lover. Maitre Henri Robert thereupon askedthe court to hear Frederic Larsan on this point.

  "In a short conversation which I have had with Frederic Larsan, duringthe adjournment," declared the advocate, "he has made me understand thatthe death of the keeper may have been brought about otherwise than bythe hand of Mathieu. It will be interesting to hear Frederic Larsan'stheory."

  Frederic Larsan was brought in. His explanation was quite clear.

  "I see no necessity," he said, "for bringing Mathieu in this. Ihave told Monsieur de Marquet that the man's threats had biassedthe examining magistrate against him. To me the attempt to murderMademoiselle and the death of the keeper are the work of one and thesame person. Mademoiselle Stangerson's murderer, flying through thecourt, was fired on; it was thought he was struck, perhaps killed. Asa matter of fact, he only stumbled at the moment of his disappearancebehind the corner of the right wing of the chateau. There he encounteredthe keeper who, no doubt, tried to seize him. The murderer had in hishand the knife with which he had stabbed Mademoiselle Stangerson andwith 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 thekeeper, the murderer quietly made his escape."

  The words had scarcely left Larsan's mouth when from the back of thecourt came a youthful voice:

  "I agree with Frederic Larsan as to the death of the keeper; but I donot agree with him as to the way the murderer escaped!"

  Everybody turned round, astonished. The clerks of the court sprangtowards the speaker, calling out silence, and the President angrilyordered the intruder to be immediately expelled. The same clear voice,however, was again heard:

  "It is I, Monsieur President--Joseph Rouletabille!"