the mystery of the yellow room-µÚ32½Ú
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document¡¡Monsieur¡¡Stangerson¡¡signed¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡gave¡¡all¡¡the¡¡necessary
'proofs£»'¡¡were¡¡set¡¡at¡¡liberty£»¡¡and¡¡have¡¡now¡¡a¡¡lively¡¡gratitude¡¡for¡¡me¡£
Why¡¡did¡¡I¡¡not¡¡get¡¡them¡¡released¡¡sooner£¿¡¡¡¡Because¡¡I¡¡was¡¡not¡¡sure¡¡that
nothing¡¡more¡¡than¡¡poaching¡¡was¡¡against¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡study¡¡the
ground¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡the¡¡days¡¡went¡¡by£»¡¡my¡¡conviction¡¡became¡¡more¡¡and¡¡more
certain¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡day¡¡after¡¡the¡¡events¡¡of¡¡the¡¡inexplicable¡¡gallery¡¡I¡¡had
need¡¡of¡¡help¡¡I¡¡could¡¡rely¡¡on£»¡¡so¡¡I¡¡resolved¡¡to¡¡have¡¡them¡¡released
at¡¡once¡£¡¨
That¡¡was¡¡how¡¡Joseph¡¡Rouletabille¡¡explained¡¡himself¡£¡¡¡¡Once¡¡more¡¡I
could¡¡not¡¡but¡¡be¡¡astonished¡¡at¡¡the¡¡simplicity¡¡of¡¡the¡¡reasoning¡¡which
had¡¡brought¡¡him¡¡to¡¡the¡¡truth¡¡of¡¡the¡¡matter¡£¡¡¡¡Certainly¡¡this¡¡was¡¡no
big¡¡thing£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡think£»¡¡myself£»¡¡that¡¡the¡¡young¡¡man¡¡will£»¡¡one¡¡of
these¡¡days£»¡¡explain¡¡with¡¡the¡¡same¡¡simplicity£»¡¡the¡¡fearful¡¡tragedy
in¡¡The¡¡Yellow¡¡Room¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡the¡¡phenomenon¡¡of¡¡the¡¡inexplicable
gallery¡£
We¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡Donjon¡¡Inn¡¡and¡¡entered¡¡it¡£
This¡¡time¡¡we¡¡did¡¡not¡¡see¡¡the¡¡landlord£»¡¡but¡¡were¡¡received¡¡with¡¡a
pleasant¡¡smile¡¡by¡¡the¡¡hostess¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡have¡¡already¡¡described¡¡the¡¡room
in¡¡which¡¡we¡¡found¡¡ourselves£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡have¡¡given¡¡a¡¡glimpse¡¡of¡¡the
charming¡¡blonde¡¡woman¡¡with¡¡the¡¡gentle¡¡eyes¡¡who¡¡now¡¡immediately¡¡began
to¡¡prepare¡¡our¡¡breakfast¡£
¡¨How's¡¡Daddy¡¡Mathieu£¿¡¨¡¡asked¡¡Rouletabille¡£
¡¨Not¡¡much¡¡better¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡much¡¡better£»¡¡he¡¡is¡¡still¡¡confined¡¡to¡¡his¡¡bed¡£¡¨
¡¨His¡¡rheumatism¡¡still¡¡sticks¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡then£¿¡¨
¡¨Yes¡£¡¡¡¡Last¡¡night¡¡I¡¡was¡¡again¡¡obliged¡¡to¡¡give¡¡him¡¡morphine¡¡¡¡¡the
only¡¡drug¡¡that¡¡gives¡¡him¡¡any¡¡relief¡£¡¨
She¡¡spoke¡¡in¡¡a¡¡soft¡¡voice¡£¡¡¡¡Everything¡¡about¡¡her¡¡expressed
gentleness¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡was£»¡¡indeed£»¡¡a¡¡beautiful¡¡woman£»¡¡somewhat¡¡with¡¡an
air¡¡of¡¡indolence£»¡¡with¡¡great¡¡eyes¡¡seemingly¡¡black¡¡and¡¡blue¡¡¡¡¡amorous
eyes¡£¡¡¡¡Was¡¡she¡¡happy¡¡with¡¡her¡¡crabbed£»¡¡rheumatic¡¡husband£¿¡¡¡¡The¡¡scene
at¡¡which¡¡we¡¡had¡¡once¡¡been¡¡present¡¡did¡¡not¡¡lead¡¡us¡¡to¡¡believe¡¡that
she¡¡was£»¡¡yet¡¡there¡¡was¡¡something¡¡in¡¡her¡¡bearing¡¡that¡¡was¡¡not
suggestive¡¡of¡¡despair¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡disappeared¡¡into¡¡the¡¡kitchen¡¡to¡¡prepare
our¡¡repast£»¡¡leaving¡¡on¡¡the¡¡table¡¡a¡¡bottle¡¡of¡¡excellent¡¡cider¡£
Rouletabille¡¡filled¡¡our¡¡earthenware¡¡mugs£»¡¡loaded¡¡his¡¡pipe£»¡¡and
quietly¡¡explained¡¡to¡¡me¡¡his¡¡reason¡¡for¡¡asking¡¡me¡¡to¡¡come¡¡to¡¡the
Glandier¡¡with¡¡revolvers¡£
¡¨Yes£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡contemplatively¡¡looking¡¡at¡¡the¡¡clouds¡¡of¡¡smoke¡¡he
was¡¡puffing¡¡out£»¡¡¡¨yes£»¡¡my¡¡dear¡¡boy£»¡¡I¡¡expect¡¡the¡¡assassin¡¡to¡night¡£¡¨
A¡¡brief¡¡silence¡¡followed£»¡¡which¡¡I¡¡took¡¡care¡¡not¡¡to¡¡interrupt£»¡¡and
then¡¡he¡¡went¡¡on£º
¡¨Last¡¡night£»¡¡just¡¡as¡¡I¡¡was¡¡going¡¡to¡¡bed£»¡¡Monsieur¡¡Robert¡¡Darzac
knocked¡¡at¡¡my¡¡room¡£¡¡¡¡When¡¡he¡¡came¡¡in¡¡he¡¡confided¡¡to¡¡me¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was
compelled¡¡to¡¡go¡¡to¡¡Paris¡¡the¡¡next¡¡day£»¡¡that¡¡is£»¡¡this¡¡morning¡£¡¡¡¡The
reason¡¡which¡¡made¡¡this¡¡journey¡¡necessary¡¡was¡¡at¡¡once¡¡peremptory¡¡and
mysterious£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡not¡¡possible¡¡for¡¡him¡¡to¡¡explain¡¡its¡¡object¡¡to¡¡me¡£
'I¡¡go£»¡¡and¡¡yet£»'¡¡he¡¡added£»¡¡'I¡¡would¡¡give¡¡my¡¡life¡¡not¡¡to¡¡leave
Mademoiselle¡¡Stangerson¡¡at¡¡this¡¡moment¡£'¡¡¡¡He¡¡did¡¡not¡¡try¡¡to¡¡hide
that¡¡he¡¡believed¡¡her¡¡to¡¡be¡¡once¡¡more¡¡in¡¡danger¡£¡¡¡¡'It¡¡will¡¡not
greatly¡¡astonish¡¡me¡¡if¡¡something¡¡happens¡¡to¡morrow¡¡night£»'¡¡he¡¡avowed£»
'and¡¡yet¡¡I¡¡must¡¡be¡¡absent¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡cannot¡¡be¡¡back¡¡at¡¡the¡¡Glandier¡¡before
the¡¡morning¡¡of¡¡the¡¡day¡¡after¡¡to¡morrow¡£'
¡¨I¡¡asked¡¡him¡¡to¡¡explain¡¡himself£»¡¡and¡¡this¡¡is¡¡all¡¡he¡¡would¡¡tell¡¡me¡£
His¡¡anticipation¡¡of¡¡coming¡¡danger¡¡had¡¡come¡¡to¡¡him¡¡solely¡¡from¡¡the
coincidence¡¡that¡¡Mademoiselle¡¡Stangerson¡¡had¡¡been¡¡twice¡¡attacked£»
and¡¡both¡¡times¡¡when¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡absent¡£¡¡¡¡On¡¡the¡¡night¡¡of¡¡the¡¡incident
of¡¡the¡¡inexplicable¡¡gallery¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡obliged¡¡to¡¡be¡¡away¡¡from¡¡the
Glandier¡£¡¡¡¡On¡¡the¡¡night¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tragedy¡¡in¡¡The¡¡Yellow¡¡Room¡¡he¡¡had
also¡¡not¡¡been¡¡able¡¡to¡¡be¡¡at¡¡the¡¡Glandier£»¡¡though¡¡this¡¡was¡¡the¡¡first
time¡¡he¡¡had¡¡declared¡¡himself¡¡on¡¡the¡¡matter¡£¡¡¡¡Now¡¡a¡¡man¡¡so¡¡moved¡¡who
would¡¡still¡¡go¡¡away¡¡must¡¡be¡¡acting¡¡under¡¡compulsion¡¡¡¡¡must¡¡be¡¡obeying
a¡¡will¡¡stronger¡¡than¡¡his¡¡own¡£¡¡¡¡That¡¡was¡¡how¡¡I¡¡reasoned£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡told
him¡¡so¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡replied¡¡'Perhaps¡£'¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡asked¡¡him¡¡if¡¡Mademoiselle
Stangerson¡¡was¡¡compelling¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡protested¡¡that¡¡she¡¡was¡¡not¡£¡¡¡¡His
determination¡¡to¡¡go¡¡to¡¡Paris¡¡had¡¡been¡¡taken¡¡without¡¡any¡¡conference
with¡¡Mademoiselle¡¡Stangerson¡£
¡¨To¡¡cut¡¡the¡¡story¡¡short£»¡¡he¡¡repeated¡¡that¡¡his¡¡belief¡¡in¡¡the
possibility¡¡of¡¡a¡¡fresh¡¡attack¡¡was¡¡founded¡¡entirely¡¡on¡¡the
extraordinary¡¡coincidence¡£¡¡¡¡'If¡¡anything¡¡happens¡¡to¡¡Mademoiselle
Stangerson£»'¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡'it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡terrible¡¡for¡¡both¡¡of¡¡us¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡her£»
because¡¡her¡¡life¡¡would¡¡be¡¡in¡¡danger£»¡¡for¡¡me¡¡because¡¡I¡¡could¡¡neither
defend¡¡her¡¡from¡¡the¡¡attack¡¡nor¡¡tell¡¡of¡¡where¡¡I¡¡had¡¡been¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡am
perfectly¡¡aware¡¡of¡¡the¡¡suspicions¡¡cast¡¡on¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡examining
magistrate¡¡and¡¡Monsieur¡¡Larsan¡¡are¡¡both¡¡on¡¡the¡¡point¡¡of¡¡believing
in¡¡my¡¡guilt¡£¡¡¡¡Larsan¡¡tracked¡¡me¡¡the¡¡last¡¡time¡¡I¡¡went¡¡to¡¡Paris£»¡¡and
I¡¡had¡¡all¡¡the¡¡trouble¡¡in¡¡the¡¡world¡¡to¡¡get¡¡rid¡¡of¡¡him¡£'
¡¨'Why¡¡do¡¡you¡¡not¡¡tell¡¡me¡¡the¡¡name¡¡of¡¡the¡¡murderer¡¡now£»¡¡if¡¡you¡¡know
it£¿'¡¡I¡¡cried¡£
¡¨Monsieur¡¡Darzac¡¡appeared¡¡extremely¡¡troubled¡¡by¡¡my¡¡question£»¡¡and
replied¡¡to¡¡me¡¡in¡¡a¡¡hesitating¡¡tone£º
¡¨'I£¿¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡know¡¡the¡¡name¡¡of¡¡the¡¡murderer£¿¡¡¡¡Why£»¡¡how¡¡could¡¡I¡¡know
his¡¡name£¿'
¡¨I¡¡at¡¡once¡¡replied£º¡¡'From¡¡Mademoiselle¡¡Stangerson¡£'
¡¨He¡¡grew¡¡so¡¡pale¡¡that¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡he¡¡was¡¡about¡¡to¡¡faint£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡saw
that¡¡I¡¡had¡¡hit¡¡the¡¡nail¡¡right¡¡on¡¡the¡¡head¡£¡¡¡¡Mademoiselle¡¡and¡¡he
knew¡¡the¡¡name¡¡of¡¡the¡¡murderer£¡¡¡¡¡When¡¡he¡¡recovered¡¡himself£»¡¡he¡¡said
to¡¡me£º¡¡'I¡¡am¡¡going¡¡to¡¡leave¡¡you¡£¡¡¡¡Since¡¡you¡¡have¡¡been¡¡here¡¡I¡¡have
appreciated¡¡your¡¡exceptional¡¡intelligence¡¡and¡¡your¡¡unequalled
ingenuity¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡I¡¡ask¡¡this¡¡service¡¡of¡¡you¡£¡¡¡¡Perhaps¡¡I¡¡am¡¡wrong¡¡to
fear¡¡an¡¡attack¡¡during¡¡the¡¡coming¡¡night£»¡¡but£»¡¡as¡¡I¡¡must¡¡act¡¡with
foresight£»¡¡I¡¡count¡¡on¡¡you¡¡to¡¡frustrate¡¡any¡¡attempt¡¡that¡¡may¡¡be¡¡made¡£
Take¡¡every¡¡step¡¡needful¡¡to¡¡protect¡¡Mademoiselle¡¡Stangerson¡£¡¡¡¡Keep¡¡a
most¡¡careful¡¡watch¡¡of¡¡her¡¡room¡£¡¡¡¡Don't¡¡go¡¡to¡¡sleep£»¡¡nor¡¡allow
yourself¡¡one¡¡moment¡¡of¡¡repose¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡man¡¡we¡¡dread¡¡is¡¡remarkably
cunning¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡a¡¡cunning¡¡that¡¡has¡¡never¡¡been¡¡equalled¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡you¡¡keep
watch¡¡his¡¡very¡¡cunning¡¡may¡¡save¡¡her£»¡¡because¡¡it's¡¡impossible¡¡that
he¡¡should¡¡not¡¡know¡¡that¡¡you¡¡are¡¡watching£»¡¡and¡¡knowing¡¡it£»¡¡he¡¡may
not¡¡venture¡£'
¡¨'Have¡¡you¡¡spoken¡¡of¡¡all¡¡this¡¡to¡¡Monsieur¡¡Stangerson£¿'
¡¨'No¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡do¡¡not¡¡wish¡¡him¡¡to¡¡ask¡¡me£»¡¡as¡¡you¡¡just¡¡now¡¡did£»¡¡for¡¡the
name¡¡of¡¡the¡¡murderer¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡tell¡¡you¡¡all¡¡this£»¡¡Monsieur¡¡Rouletabille£»
because¡¡I¡¡have¡¡great£»¡¡very¡¡great£»¡¡confidence¡¡in¡¡you¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡know¡¡that
you¡¡do¡¡not¡¡suspect¡¡me¡£'
¡¨The¡¡poor¡¡man¡¡spoke¡¡in¡¡jerks¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡evidently¡¡suffering¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡pitied
him£»¡¡the¡¡more¡¡because¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡sure¡¡that¡¡he¡¡would¡¡rather¡¡allow¡¡himself
to¡¡be¡¡killed¡¡than¡¡tell¡¡me¡¡who¡¡the¡¡murderer¡¡was¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡for¡¡Mademoiselle
Stangerson£»¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡that¡¡she¡¡would¡¡rather¡¡allow¡¡herself¡¡to¡¡be¡¡murdered
than¡¡denounce¡¡the¡¡man¡¡of¡¡The¡¡Yellow¡¡Room¡¡and¡¡of¡¡the¡¡inexplicable
gallery¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡man¡¡must¡¡be¡¡dominating¡¡her£»¡¡or¡¡both£»¡¡by¡¡some
inscrutable¡¡power¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡were¡¡dreading¡¡nothing¡¡so¡¡much¡¡as¡¡the¡¡chance
of¡¡Monsieur¡¡Stangerson¡¡knowing¡¡that¡¡his¡¡daughter¡¡was¡¡'held'¡¡by¡¡her
assailant¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡made¡¡Monsieur¡¡Darzac¡¡understand¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡explained
himself¡¡sufficiently£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡he¡¡might¡¡refrain¡¡from¡¡telling¡¡me¡¡any
more¡¡than¡¡he¡¡had¡¡already¡¡told¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡promised¡¡him¡¡to¡¡watch¡¡through
the¡¡night¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡insisted¡¡that¡¡I¡¡should¡¡establish¡¡an¡¡absolutely
impassable¡¡barrier¡¡around¡¡Mademoiselle¡¡Stangerson's¡¡chamber£»¡¡around
the¡¡boudoir¡¡where¡¡the¡¡nurses¡¡were¡¡sleeping£»¡¡and¡¡around¡¡the
drawing¡room¡¡where£»¡¡since¡¡the¡¡affair¡¡of¡¡the¡¡inexplicable¡¡gallery£»
Monsieur¡¡Stangerson¡¡had¡¡slept¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡short£»¡¡I¡¡was¡¡to¡¡put¡¡a¡¡cordon
round¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡apartment¡£
¡¨From¡¡his¡¡insistence¡¡I¡¡gathered¡¡that¡¡Monsieur¡¡Darzac¡¡intended¡¡not
only¡¡to¡¡make¡¡it¡¡impossible¡¡for¡¡the¡¡expected¡¡man¡¡to¡¡reach¡¡the¡¡chamber
of¡¡Mademoiselle¡¡Stangerson£»¡¡but¡¡to¡¡make¡¡that¡¡impossibility¡¡so
visibly¡¡clear¡¡that£»¡¡seeing¡¡himself¡¡expected£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡at¡¡once¡¡go
away¡£¡¡¡¡That¡¡was¡¡how¡¡I¡¡interpreted¡¡his¡¡final¡¡words¡¡when¡¡we¡¡parted£º
'You¡¡may¡¡mention¡¡your¡¡suspicions¡¡of¡¡the¡¡expected¡¡attack¡¡to¡¡Monsieur
Stangerson£»¡¡to¡¡Daddy¡¡Jacques£»¡¡to¡¡Frederic¡¡Larsan£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡anybody¡¡in
the¡¡chateau¡£'
¡¨The¡¡poor¡¡fellow¡¡left¡¡me¡¡hardly¡¡knowing¡¡what¡¡he¡¡was¡¡saying¡£¡¡¡¡My
silence¡¡and¡¡my¡¡eyes¡¡told¡¡him¡¡that¡¡I¡¡had¡¡guessed¡¡a¡¡large¡¡part¡¡of¡¡his
secret¡£¡¡¡¡And£»¡¡indeed£»¡¡he¡¡must¡¡have¡¡been¡¡at¡¡his¡¡wits'¡¡end£»¡¡to¡¡have
come¡¡to¡¡me¡¡at¡¡such¡¡a¡¡time£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡abandon¡¡Mademoiselle¡¡Stangerson
in¡¡spite¡¡of¡¡his¡¡fixed¡¡idea¡¡as¡¡to¡¡the¡¡consequence¡£
¡¨When¡¡he¡¡was¡¡gone£»¡¡I¡¡began¡¡to¡¡think¡¡that¡¡I¡¡should¡¡have¡¡to¡¡use¡¡even
a¡¡greater¡¡cunning¡¡than¡¡his¡¡so¡¡that¡¡if¡¡the¡¡man¡¡should¡¡come¡¡that
night£»¡¡he¡¡might¡¡not¡¡for¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡suspect¡¡that¡¡his¡¡coming¡¡had¡¡been
expected¡£¡¡¡¡Certainly£¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡would¡¡allow¡¡him¡¡to¡¡get¡¡in¡¡far¡¡enough£»¡¡so
that£»¡¡dead¡¡or¡¡alive£»¡¡I¡¡might¡¡see¡¡his¡¡face¡¡clearly£¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡must¡¡be¡¡got
rid¡¡of¡£¡¡¡¡Mademoiselle¡¡Stangerson¡¡must¡¡be¡¡freed¡¡from¡¡this¡¡continual
impending¡¡danger¡£
¡¨Yes£»¡¡my¡¡boy£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Rouletabille£»¡¡after¡¡placing¡¡his¡¡pipe¡¡on¡¡the
table£»¡¡and¡¡emptying¡¡his¡¡mug¡¡of¡¡cider£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡must¡¡see¡¡his¡¡face
distinctly£»¡¡so¡¡as¡¡to¡¡make¡¡sure¡¡to¡¡impress¡¡it¡¡on¡¡that¡¡part¡¡of¡¡my
brain¡¡where¡¡I¡¡have¡¡drawn¡¡my¡¡circle¡¡of¡¡reasoning¡£¡¨
The¡¡landlady¡¡re¡appeared¡¡at¡¡that¡¡moment£»¡¡bringing¡¡in¡¡the
traditional¡¡bacon¡¡omelette¡£¡¡¡¡Rouletabille¡¡chaffed¡¡her¡¡a¡¡little£»¡¡and
she¡¡took¡¡the¡¡chaff¡¡with¡¡the¡¡most¡¡charming¡¡good¡¡humour¡£
¡¨She¡¡is¡¡much¡¡jollier¡¡when¡¡Daddy¡¡Mathieu¡¡is¡¡in¡¡bed¡¡with¡¡his
rheumatism£»¡¨¡¡Rouletabille¡¡said¡¡to¡¡me¡£
But¡¡I¡¡had¡¡eyes¡¡neither¡¡for¡¡Rouletabille¡¡nor¡¡for¡¡the¡¡landlady's
smiles¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡was¡¡entirely¡¡absorbed¡¡over¡¡the¡¡last¡¡words¡¡of¡¡my¡¡young
friend¡¡and¡¡in¡¡thinking¡¡over¡¡Monsieur¡¡Robert¡¡Darzac's¡¡str