the mystery of the yellow room-第26节

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The　Trap


（EXTRACT　FROM　THE　NOTE…BOOK　OF　JOSEPH　ROULETABILLE）

〃Last　night　？the　night　between　the　29th　and　30th　of　October　？〃wrote
Joseph　Rouletabille；　〃I　woke　up　towards　one　o'clock　in　the　morning。
Was　it　sleeplessness；　or　noise　without？　　？The　cry　of　the　Bete　du
Bon　Dieu　rang　out　with　sinister　loudness　from　the　end　of　the　park。
I　rose　and　opened　the　window。　　Cold　wind　and　rain；　opaque　darkness；
silence。　　I　reclosed　my　window。　　Again　the　sound　of　the　cat's　weird
cry　in　the　distance。　　I　partly　dressed　in　haste。　　The　weather　was
too　bad　for　even　a　cat　to　be　turned　out　in　it。　　What　did　it　mean；
then　？that　imitating　of　the　mewing　of　Mother　Angenoux'　cat　so　near
the　chateau？　　I　seized　a　good…sized　stick；　the　only　weapon　I　had；
and；　without　making　any　noise；　opened　the　door。

〃The　gallery　into　which　I　went　was　well　lit　by　a　lamp　with　a
reflector。　　I　felt　a　keen　current　of　air　and；　on　turning；　found　the
window　open；　at　the　extreme　end　of　the　gallery；　which　I　call　the
'off…turning'　gallery；　to　distinguish　it　from　the　'right'　gallery；
on　to　which　the　apartment　of　Mademoiselle　Stangerson　opened。　　These
two　galleries　cross　each　other　at　right　angles。　　Who　had　left　that
window　open？　　Or；　who　had　come　to　open　it？　　I　went　to　the　window　and
leaned　out。　　Five　feet　below　me　there　was　a　sort　of　terrace　over　the
semi…circular　projection　of　a　room　on　the　ground…floor。　　One　could；
if　one　wanted；　jump　from　the　window　on　to　the　terrace；　and　allow
oneself　to　drop　from　it　into　the　court　of　the　chateau。　　Whoever　had
entered　by　this　road　had；　evidently；　not　had　a　key　to　the　vestibule
door。　　But　why　should　I　be　thinking　of　my　previous　night's　attempt
with　the　ladder？　　？Because　of　the　open　window　？left　open；　perhaps；
by　the　negligence　of　a　servant？　　I　reclosed　it；　smiling　at　the　ease
with　which　I　built　a　drama　on　the　mere　suggestion　of　an　open　window。

〃Again　the　cry　of　the　Bete　du　Bon　Dieu！　　？and　then　silence。　　The
rain　ceased　to　beat　on　the　window。　　All　in　the　chateau　slept。　　I
walked　with　infinite　precaution　on　the　carpet　of　the　gallery。　　On
reaching　the　corner　of　the　'right'　gallery；　I　peered　round　it
cautiously。　　There　was　another　lamp　there　with　a　reflector　which
quite　lit　up　the　several　objects　in　it；　？three　chairs　and　some
pictures　hanging　on　the　wall。　　What　was　I　doing　there？　　Perfect
silence　reigned　throughout。　　Everything　was　sunk　in　repose。　　What
was　the　instinct　that　urged　me　towards　Mademoiselle　Stangerson's
chamber？　　Why　did　a　voice　within　me　cry：　'Go　on；　to　the　chamber　of
Mademoiselle　Stangerson！'　　I　cast　my　eyes　down　upon　the　carpet　on
which　I　was　treading　and　saw　that　my　steps　were　being　directed
towards　Mademoiselle　Stangerson's　chamber　by　the　marks　of　steps
that　had　already　been　made　there。　　Yes；　on　the　carpet　were　traces
of　footsteps　stained　with　mud　leading　to　the　chamber　of　Mademoiselle
Stangerson。　　Horror！　　Horror！　　？I　recognised　in　those　footprints
the　impression　of　the　neat　boots　of　the　murderer！　　He　had　come；　then；
from　without　in　this　wretched　night。　　If　you　could　descend　from　the
gallery　by　way　of　the　window；　by　means　of　the　terrace；　then　you　could
get　into　the　chateau　by　the　same　means。

〃The　murderer　was　still　in　the　chateau；　for　here　were　marks　as　of
returning　footsteps。　　He　had　entered　by　the　open　window　at　the
extremity　of　the　'off…turning'　gallery；　he　had　passed　Frederic
Larsan's　door　and　mine；　had　turned　to　the　right；　and　had　entered
Mademoiselle　Stangerson's　room。　　I　am　before　the　door　of　her
ante…room　？it　is　open。　　I　push　it；　without　making　the　least　noise。
Under　the　door　of　the　room　itself　I　see　a　streak　of　light。　　I
listen　？no　sound　？not　even　of　breathing！　　Ah！　？if　I　only　knew
what　was　passing　in　the　silence　that　is　behind　that　door！　　I　find
the　door　locked　and　the　key　turned　on　the　inner　side。　　And　the
murderer　is　there；　perhaps。　　He　must　be　there！　　Will　he　escape　this
time？　　？All　depends　on　me！　？I　must　be　calm；　and　above　all；　I　must
make　no　false　steps。　　I　must　see　into　that　room。　　I　can　enter　it　by
Mademoiselle　Stangerson's　drawing…room；　but；　to　do　that　I　should
have　to　cross　her　boudoir；　and　while　I　am　there；　the　murderer　may
escape　by　the　gallery　door　？the　door　in　front　of　which　I　am　now
standing。

〃I　am　sure　that　no　other　crime　is　being　committed；　on　this　night；
for　there　is　complete　silence　in　the　boudoir；　where　two　nurses　are
taking　care　of　Mademoiselle　Stangerson　until　she　is　restored　to
health。

〃As　I　am　almost　sure　that　the　murderer　is　there；　why　do　I　not　at
once　give　the　alarm？　　The　murderer　may；　perhaps；　escape；　but；
perhaps；　I　may　be　able　to　save　Mademoiselle　Stangerson's　life。
Suppose　the　murderer　on　this　occasion　is　not　here　to　murder？　　The
door　has　been　opened　to　allow　him　to　enter；　by　whom？　　？And　it　has
been　refastened　？by　whom？　？Mademoiselle　Stangerson　shuts　herself
up　in　her　apartment　with　her　nurses　every　night。　　Who　turned　the
key　of　that　chamber　to　allow　the　murderer　to　enter？　？The　nurses；
？two　faithful　domestics？　　The　old　chambermaid；　Sylvia？　　It　is　very
improbable。　　Besides；　they　slept　in　the　boudoir；　and　Mademoiselle
Stangerson；　very　nervous　and　careful；　Monsieur　Robert　Darzac　told
me；　sees　to　her　own　safety　since　she　has　been　well　enough　to　move
about　in　her　room；　which　I　have　not　yet　seen　her　leave。　　This
nervousness　and　sudden　care　on　her　part；　which　had　struck　Monsieur
Darzac；　had　given　me；　also；　food　for　thought。　　At　the　time　of　the
crime　in　The　Yellow　Room；　there　can　be　no　doubt　that　she　expected
the　murderer。　　Was　he　expected　this　night？　　？Was　it　she　herself
who　had　opened　her　door　to　him？　　Had　she　some　reason　for　doing　so？
Was　she　obliged　to　do　it？　？Was　it　a　meeting　for　purposes　of　crime？
？Certainly　it　was　not　a　lover's　meeting；　for　I　believe　Mademoiselle
Stangerson　adores　Monsieur　Darzac。

〃All　these　reflections　ran　through　my　brain　like　a　flash　of
lightning。　　What　would　I　not　give　to　know！

〃It　is　possible　that　there　was　some　reason　for　the　awful　silence。
My　intervention　might　do　more　harm　than　good。　　How　could　I　tell？
How　could　I　know　I　might　not　any　moment　cause　another　crime？　　If
I　could　only　see　and　know；　without　breaking　that　silence！

〃I　left　the　ante…room　and　descended　the　central　stairs　to　the
vestibule　and；　as　silently　as　possible；　made　my　way　to　the　little
room　on　the　ground…floor　where　Daddy　Jacques　had　been　sleeping　since
the　attack　made　at　the　pavilion。

〃I　found　him　dressed；　his　eyes　wide　open；　almost　haggard。　　He　did
not　seem　surprised　to　see　me。　　He　told　me　that　he　had　got　up　because
he　had　heard　the　cry　of　the　Bete　du　bon　Dieu；　and　because　he　had
heard　footsteps　in　the　park；　close　to　his　window；　out　of　which　he
had　looked　and；　just　then；　had　seen　a　black　shadow　pass　by。　　I　asked
him　whether　he　had　a　firearm　of　any　kind。　　No；　he　no　longer　kept
one；　since　the　examining　magistrate　had　taken　his　revolver　from　him。
We　went　out　together；　by　a　little　back　door；　into　the　park；　and
stole　along　the　chateau　to　the　point　which　is　just　below　Mademoiselle
Stangerson's　window。

〃I　placed　Daddy　Jacques　against　the　wall；　ordering　him　not　to　stir
from　the　spot；　while　I；　taking　advantage　of　a　moment　when　the　moon
was　hidden　by　a　cloud；　moved　to　the　front　of　the　window；　out　of　the
patch　of　light　which　came　from　it；　？for　the　window　was　half…open！
If　I　could　only　know　what　was　passing　in　that　silent　chamber！　　I
returned　to　Daddy　Jacques　and　whispered　the　word　'ladder'　in　his　ear。
At　first　I　had　thought　of　the　tree　which；　a　week　ago；　served　me　for
an　observatory；　but　I　immediately　saw　that；　from　the　way　the　window
was　half…opened；　I　should　not　be　able　to　see　from　that　point　of　view
anything　that　was　passing　in　the　room；　and　I　wanted；　not　only　to　see；
but　to　hear；　and　？to　act。

〃Greatly　agitated；　almost　trembling；　Paddy　Jacques　disappeared　for
a　moment　and　returned　without　the　ladder；　but　making　signs　to　me
with　his　arms；　as　signals　to　me　to　come　quickly　to　him。　　When　I　got
near　him　he　gasped：　'Come！'

〃'I　went　to　the　donjon　in　search　of　my　ladder；　and　in　the　lower　part
of　the　donjon　which　serves　me　and　the　gardener　for　a　lumber　room；　I
found　the　door　open　and　the　ladder　gone。　　On　coming　out；　that's　what
I　caught　sight　of　by　the　light　of　the　moon。

〃And　he　pointed　to　the　further　end　of　the　chateau；　where　a　ladder
stood　resting　against　the　stone　brackets　supporting　the　terrace；
under　the　window　which　I　had　found　open。　　The　projection　of　the
terrace　had　prevented　my　seeing　it。　　Thanks　to　that　ladder；　it　was
quite　easy　to　get　into　the　'off…turning'　gallery　of　the　first　floor；
and　I　had　no　doubt　of　it　having　been　the　road　taken　by　the　unknown。

〃We　ran　to　the　ladder；　but　at　the　moment　of　reaching　it；　Daddy
Jacques　drew　my　attention　to　the　half…open　door　of　the　little
semi…circular　room；　situated　under　the　terrace；　at　the　extremity　of
the　right　wing　of　the　chateau；　having　the　terrace　for　its　roof。
Daddy　Jacques　pushed　the　door　open　a　little　further　and　looked　in。

〃'He's　not　there！〃　he　whispered。

〃Who　is　not　there？〃

〃The　forest梜eeper。〃

With　his　lips　once　more　to　my　ear；　he　added：

〃'Do　you　know　that　he　has　slept　in　the　upper　room　of　the　donjon　ever
since　it　was　restored？'　　And　with　the　same　gesture　he　pointed　to　the
half…open　door；