THE EUGENE WEEKLY GUAR D. THURSDAY, f
18
T-
The Mystery of
The Yellow Room
By GASTON LEROUX
COPYRIGHT. 1908.
BY BRENTANO'S
tery. explain jt to us and w? Khan j>er-
haps be able to eave you.’ How I
longed to gave her from herself and
P,. ln.xpl.~H«
I I
from the other! It brought the tear*
to my eyes
“Who can tell that, shouli* we learn
ILF STANGERSON appear- the se- ret of her mystery ' w.-">d n<>,
at the door of ber ante- precipitate a tragedy more terrible
r«x>ni" continues Rouieta- than that which bad already l«-eti en
bU!e'9 notebook. “We were acted here? Who can tell if it might
.ardour lu the gallery where his not mean her death?
Yet it had
**Lible phenomenon bad taken brought her close to death, and we
Tb-n' lire momenta when oue at til knew nothing, or, rather, there
|Uce. .. 1.' one's brain were about to
■La
are some of us who know nothing
. bul|et iu the head, a fracture But I ..............
—If 1 knew who. 1 should know
,kull. the seat of reason sbai- nil Who? Who? Not knowing who.
1 wilb ouly these cau 1 compare 1 must reninin silent out of pity for
{^nsatlou which exhausted and left her. For there Is no doubt that she
knows how he escai«Ml from tbe yellow
void sense
-Hinpilv All'« Stangerson appeared room. When I know who 1 will speak
.A« threshold of ber anteroom. 1 to tdm—to him!
*, her and ‘bat bell*d to relieve my
"She looked at us now. with a far
Ihsotic state of 'hind. ‘ breathed berk away look In her eyes, ns if we were
TLiled the perfume of tbe lady in not in the chamber. M. Stangerson
iS who had been kind to me in broke the silence. He declared that,
1. cbildiwod whom 1 should never henceforth, he would no more absent
“• aKalu. 1 would have given ten himself from Ills daughter's apart
mb of niy lift-half my life—to see ments.
Sin* tried to oppose him In
iL more the lady In black. Alas, vain. He adhered firmly to his pur
i more meet ber but from time to pose. He would Install himself there
toe and yet. and yet, how tbe mem- this very night, lie said. Solely con
¿7if that perfume, felt by me alone, cerned for the health of his daughter,
¿riel me back to the days of my he reproached her for having left her
atdbocd: It was this sharp reminder bed. Then lie suddenly began talking
frou. inv beloved perfume of the lady to her as if she were a little child. He
blxck which made me go to her. smiled at her and seemed not to know
¿read wholly in white and so pale, so either what he said or what he did
ale aud so beautiful, ou the threshold The illustrious professor had lost his
Jfthe inexplicable gallery. Iler beau- bead. Mlle. Stangerson In a tone of
tifui Jolden hair, gathered Into u knot tender distress said. ‘Father, father!'
the back of ber neck, left visible the Daddy Jacques blows his nose, and
nd scar on ber temple which had so Frederic Larsan himself Is obliged to
nearly been the cause of her death. turn away to hide his emotion. For
When I first got on the right track myself, I am able neither to think or
of tbe mystery of this case I had feel. I felt a contempt for myself,
toagiued that on the ulght of the trag
"It was the first time that Frederic
edy ia the yellow room Mlle. Btanger- Larsan, like myself, found himself
loa bad worn her hair lu bauds, lfut, face to face with Mlle. Stangerson
ttrt. bow could 1 have Imagined otber- since the attack in the yellow room.
viie when I bad not been in tbe yel Like me. he had Insisted on being al
low room?
lowed to question the unhappy lady,
"But now, since the occurrence of but be had not. any more than had 1,
tte Inexplicable gailery. I did not rea been iiermlttcd. To him, as to me. the
son at all. I sbxxl there, stupid, before same answer had always been given:
th* apparition—so pale and so beauti- Mlle. Stangers«™ win too weak to re
fnl-of Mlle. Stnugersou. She was clad ceive us. The qn««atlonlngs of the ex
to a dressing gown of dreamy white. amining magistrate had overfattgned
One might have taken ber to be a her. It wm evidently Intended not to
tfimt-a lovely phantom. Her father give us sny ssatataace la our re
I »11 r«M serpeis«!. but
tuck her In bis sruis and kissed her searches
jusiouatel;', as If he had recovered Frederic Larooa b«d always resented
ktr after being long lost to hlru. I this conduct. It Is tree that he sad I
dared not question her. He drew ber had a »'tally different theory of the
Into the room, and we followed them— crime. I st fit catch myself repeating
tor we had to know! The door of the from the depths of my heart: ‘Save
b ui dr was open. The terrltied faces ber! Save tier without his s,»eaklng!'
it the two nurses craned toward us. Who Is he—the murderer? T»ks him
Staugi'rsou inquired tbe meuiuing and shut his m«™th. Rut M I Mi crac
a a!l tae disturbance. That she was made it clear that In order to ahnt his
s t in ber own room was quite easily mouth he must lie killed. Have 1 the
explained -quite easily. She bad a right to kill Mlle Stangerson's mur
lai.’, not to sleep that ulght In her derer? No. I had not. But let him
elumber, but in tbe boudoir with her only give me the chance! Let me find
lorses. locking the door on them. Since out whether be is really a creature of
tie night of the crime she Lad experi flesh ar.d blood! I.e< me see bls dead
ence! feelings of terror, and fears came body, since it cannot be taken alive.
"If 1 could but make this woman,
ver her that are easily to be compre-
bended.
who does not even l«>ok at us, under
"But who could imagine that on that stand! She Is absorbed by her fears
part.n: ar tight when he was to come and by her father's distress of mind.
•be " ;i by a mere chance determine And 1 can do nothing to save her. Yes,
to shut berself in with her women? I will go to work once more and ac
Wb would think that she would act complish wonders.
“1 move toward her. 1 would speak
<w.tnry to her father’s wish to sleep
h the drawing room ? Who could lie- to her. 1 would entreat her to have
liere that tbe letter which had so re- confidence In me. 1 would, in a word,
•tihy been on tbe table lu ber room make her understand-sbe alone-tbat
»c l no longer be there? He who I know how the murderer escaped
«» I anderstand all this would have from the yellow room, that 1 have
toiisit ae that Mlle. Staugersou knew guessed the motives foe ber secrecy,
“*t the murderer was coming—she and that 1 pity her with all my heart.
•wld not prevent his coming again— But by her gestures she boggl'd us to
ttkaiwn t0 her father, unknown to all leave her alone, expressing weariness
to M. Robert Darzac. For he must and the need for immediate rest. M.
»It now Perhaps be bu«l known Stangerson asked us to g>> back to our
before! Did be remember that rooms and thanked us. Frederic Lar
*** la tbe Elys«» garden. Must I san nnd I bowed to him, and. followed
tmt a crime, then, to win you?’ bv Daddy Jacques, we regained the
1 heard ' Larsan murmur:
*'wt whom tbe crime If not against gallery.
lie made a sign
•ik °« ,ace' a'aillst the murderer? ,‘Strange! Strange!-
_ wou.il kill him with my own to me to go with him into bls room.
—
•Aa'l I replied, ‘You have not On the threshold b» turned toward
Daddy Jacques.
That wns the
‘“Did you see him distinctly?* be
truth, in truth, in truth. M. Dar-
»'
,he mur,!er.»r so well that asked.
••‘Who*
vu .« j *
Blmself. he
»traid | ,hwI11 fin(] hlm Thprp
“ The man.’
" ‘Saw him! Why. be had a big red
» but two reasons why he had
beard and red hair.’
l l'"s’iitatlon. First.
“ That's how be appeared to me.’ I
•M ««■
force'1 him to do It,
i'«'.iiise she would be the aaid.
“‘And to me,’ said Larsan.
[
protected.
"Tbe great Fred and I were alone
t** s?hl2. ,h.e '^ ttti’s'f-her room. !
In hla chamlwr now to talk over this
lua « * S° at ,lle Place where the thing. We talk«! for an hour, turn
*-«i
D"W l,ePn' Sbp has pos- lng the matter over arid view lug it
for hof lt: 11 was <‘v|d,'nt|y from every side. From tbe questions
**■ ■«*’ t "r ''Vident|y- How she put by him. from tbe explanation
•“T W r.;['>tnble8 at ">** strange which be give« me. it is clear to me
►~-tk >.
*r ls Ie,,lnK hpr. of the that In spite of all >>ur
he
'’itociik * n:’,rd,,rpr In her cham- persuaded the man disappeared by
t” 1»
,tut it is plain- acme »«ret pa «sage in the chateau
b ¿hat »be Is not wholly
known to bitn alone.
*°1 ’be s a as,ura’1<’* given her
“ ‘He knows tbe chateau,' be said to
*«Ur.r
b‘*!1 told that the
__ knows It well.’
me; 'be
**•« bad
,ncon»prohensible
He 1» a ratber tall man. well
Tb.a ¿ ju T* abl*“ ,o Hude us.
built.' I Suggested.
“ He is as tali as be wants to be,
We
“
"hat *
father ,n ,her*~looking at
murmured Fred.
•M L
’ Larsan. Daddy Jacques
__ j paid. 'But bow do
•*‘1 understand.'
«fienc ****
al' tanking of you a«K?ount for
1— bls red hair and
n»e.k
the events of
beard
v
»^^‘“tystery of the inex-
“Too much t*-ard. too much hair-
' '5 ,b* I'r,,digl«ius fact
false.' says Fred
ft
, ’h« murderer in her
" ‘That's easily said. Too are al
**ta »«-?*■• ,0
that all our wars thinking of Robert Darzac You
Tie
been translated can't get rhl of that idea! I
'eT'
* *■
Wep* ’’ddre*»«“’’
tain that be Is innocent
know nf Q<a
“ 'it«i much tbs better. I bopa
CHAPTER XVII
71
but everything condemns him.
you notice the marks on the carpet?
Come and look at them.'
“'1 have seen them. They are the
marks of the neat boots the same as
those we saw ou the border of the
lake.'
“ 'Can you deny that they belong to
Robert Darzac ?*
“ 'Of course one may be mistaken.'
** 'Have you noticed that those foot
prints only go In one direction, that
there are no return marks? When the
man came from the chamber, pursued
by all of us, his footsteps left no traces
behind them.'
“ 'He had perhaps been In the cham
ber for hours. The mud from his boots
had dried, and he moved with such
rapidity on the points of his toes. We
saw him running, but we did not hear
his steps.'
“I suddenly put an end to this idle
chatter, void of any logic, and made a
s!rn to Larsan to listen.
“‘There, below, some one Is shuttfig
a door.’
"I rise,
Larsan follows me.
We
descend to the ground floor of the
chateau. 1 lead him to the little semi
circular room under the terrace be
neath the window of the 'otf turning
gallery.
I point to the door, now
dosed, open a Rliort time before, under
which a shaft of light is visible.
" 'The forest keeper!' says Fred.
I
“‘Come on!’ I whisper:
“Prepared. I know not why, to be
lieve that the keeper Is the guilty man
I go to the door and rnp smartly on It.
"Some might think that we were
rather late in thinking of the keeper,
since our first business, after having
found that the murderer hnd escaped
us In the gallery, ought to have been
to senrch everywhere else—around the
chateau, tn the park—
“Had this criticism been mnde nt the
time we could only have answen-d that
the assassin had disappear««! from the
gallery in such a way that we thought
he was no longer anywhere! He had
eluded us when we all hnd our hands
stretched out ready to seize him—
when we wore almost touching him
Wo had no longer any ground for hop
ing that we conld clear tip the mys
tery of that night.
‘‘As soon ns I rapped at the door ft
was opened, nnd the keeper asked us
quietly what we wanted He was un
dressed nnd preparing to go to bed.
The lied had not yet been disturbed.
"We entered and I affe-ted surprise.
“ 'Not gone to bed yet?"
“ 'No.' he replied roughly
‘I have
been making a round of th- perk nnd
In the woods. I am only Just back—
and sleepy. Good night!’
‘“Listen.' 1 said. ‘An hour ago there
was a ladder close by your window.'
"‘What ladder? I did not see any
ladder. Good night!"
"And lie simply put ns out of the
room. When we were outside 1 looked
at Iotrsan. His face was Impenetra
ble."
CHAPTER XVIII
Rouletabille Has Drawn a Circle
Between the Two Bump* on Ilia
Forehead.
E separated on the thresholds
of our rooms with a melan
choly shake of the bands.
Larsen’s was an original
brain, very Intelligent, but without
metlxid. I did not go to tied. I await
ed the coming of daylight and then
went down to the front of the chateau
and made a detour, examining every
trace of foot »tape coming toward It or
going from It. These, however, wore
so mixed and confusing that I could
make nothing of them. Here I may
make a remark—I am not accustomed
to attach nn exaggerated Importance
to exterior signB left in the track ot a
crime.
"The method which traces the crim
Inal by means of the tracks of his foot-
stepa is altogether primitive. So many
footprints are Identical. However. In
the disturtied state of my mind I did
go Into the deserted court anrl did look
at all the footprints I could fin<l there,
seeking for some Indication as a liasis
for reasoning.
• If I coul<l but find a right starting
point t! In despair 1 seated myself on a
stone > For over an hour I busied my-
the common, ordinary work
Belt with
1
of a policeman. Like the least Intelli
gent of detectives 1 went on blindly
over the tniHü
trars-s of footprints which told
me Just no more than they could.
"1 came to the conclusion that I was
a fool, lower In the sctle of Intelligence
than even the police of the modern ro
mancer. Novelists build mountains of
stupidity out of a footprint on the
sand or from an impression of a hand
on the wall That’s tbe way Innocent
men are brought to prison. It might
convince nn examining magistrate or
the head of a detective dopartment. but
It's not proof You writers forget that
what the sens»-s furnish Is not proof.
If 1 am taking cognisance of what Is
offered me by my «enses I do ao but
to bring the results within the circle
of mj reason. That circle may be the
most rtrcnmecTltied. but. If it fs. ft haa
thia advantage - It holds nothing but
tfr, troth! Tea. I •’*’«»
L bees
never used the evidence of the sbfi.se-
but as servants to luy reason. I have
never permitted them to become nr
master. They have not made of me
that monstrous thing worse tliau s
blind man—a man who sees falsely
And that Is why I cau triumph over
your error and your merely animal In
telllgence. Frederic Larsan.
"Be of good courage, then. Friend
Rouletabille. It is Impossible that the
Incident of the inexplicable gallery
should be outside the circle of your
reason. You know that! Then have
faith and take thought with yourself
and forget uot that you took hold of
the right end when you drew that dr
cle In your brain within which to un
ravel this mysterious play of clrcum
stance.
"To It”, once again! Go back to the
gallery
Take your stand on your
reason nnd rest there as Frederic I.ar-
sail rests on his cane, You will then
soon prove that the great Fred Is noth
ing but a fool !!Oth October Noon.
"JOSEPH ROULETABILLE."
•
•••••
“1 acted as I planned. With head on
fire, I retraced my way to the gallery,
and without having found anything
more than I had seen on the previous
night, the right hold I had taken of my
reason drew me to somethin'’ so Impor
tant that I was obliged to ding to It to
wave myself from falling
“Now for the strength and patience
A> find sensible traces to fit in with
my thinking—and these must come
s'tthln the circle 1 have drawn be
tween the two bumps on my forehead
•3'tth Octnl-er Midnight
“JOSEPH ROULETABILLE.”
CHAPTER XIX.
Rouletabille Invites Me to Bresk-
fasl al the Donjon Inn.
IT was not until later that Roule-
I tabille sent me the notebook
th which he had written nt
I length the story of the pile-
nomenon of the Inexplicable gallery.
On the day I arrived nt the Glandler
nnd Joined him In bls room he recount
ed to me, with the greatest detnil. till
that I have related, telling me also
how be had spent several hours In
Paris, where he had learned nothing
that could be of any help to him.
The event of the Inexplicable gal
lery hnd occurred on the night between
the 291 b nnd 30th of October—that is
to say, three days before my return to
the chateau.
It was on the 2d of
November, then, that 1 went bnck to
the Glandler, summoned there by my
friend's telegram ami taking the re
volvers with me.
I am now In Rouletabllle’s room, and
he has finished his recital.
While he had been telling me the
story I noticed him continually rubbing
the glass of the eyeglasses he had
found on the side table From the evi
dent pleasure he was taking in han
dllng them 1 felt they must lie one of
those sensible evidence« destined to en
ter what he had called the circle of the
right end of his reason.
When he had finished his recital he
asked me what I thought of ft. I re
plied that I was much puzzled by his
question. Then he begged me to try.
In tny turn, to take my reason In hand
“by the right end."
“Very well,” I said. “It s«-enis to me
that the point of departure of my rea
son • would la- this there can be no
doubt that the murderer you pursued
was in the gallery.” I (inused.
“After making so good a start, you
ought not to stop so soon," he exclaim
ed. “Come, make another effort."
“I'll try. Since he disappeared from
the gal.ery without passing through
any door or. window, lie must have es
caped by some other opening."
Rouletabille looked at me pityingly,
smiled carelessly nnd remarked that 1
was reasoning like a postman or—like
Frederic Larsan.
Rouletabüle bad altérente fits of ad
miration and disdain for the great
Fred. It all depended as to whether
Imrsan's diacoverles tallied with Roule
tabille’s reasoning or not. When they
did he would exclaim. "He is really
great!" When they did not. he would
grunt and mutter. "What an ass!" It
was a petty side of the noble character
of this strange youth
We had risen, and he led me Into the
park. When we reached th« court and
were making Coward the gate, the
sound of blinds thrown back against
the wall made us turn our beads, nnd
we saw at a window on the first floor
of the chateau the ruddy and clean
shaven face of a person I did not rec
ognise.
“Hello!" muttered Rouletnbllle. “Ar
thur Rance!” He lowered his bead,
quickened his pace, and I beard him
ask himself tietween his teeth; “Wns
he In the chateau that night? What
Is he doing here?”
We hnd gone some distance from the
chateau when I asked him who this
Arthur Rance was and how he had
come to know him He referred to his
story of that morning, and I remem
ber«! that Mr Arthur W Rance was
the American from Philadelphia with
whom he bad had so many drinks at
the Elyse«’ reception
“But was be not to have left France
almost Immediately?" I asked
“No doubt; that's why I am sur-
prised to find him here still and not
only In France, but above all, at the
Glandler.
He did not arrive this
morning, and he did not get here last
night. He must have got here before
dinner, then.
Why didn't the con
cierges tell me?"
I remind««! my friend, apropos of the
concierges, that he bad not yet told me
what had led him to get them set at
liberty.
We were close to their lodge. M. and
Mme. Bernier saw us coming. A frank
•mile lit op their happy faces. They
seemed '<» hsMtor no IE feeling barstiM
*TI. Darzac ap|M*ared extremely trow-
of their detention
My young friend concemea
asked them at what hour Mr Arthur
“1 bad Just learnisl that the con- bled by my question and replied to me
Rance bad arrlvtal They answered that derm
lmd been arrestt-d
Daddy lu a lit'sitatlng tone:
they did not know he was nt I be cha Mathieu spoke of them as of dear
“T? I know the name of the mur
teau He must have <-jme durla : the friends people for whom one Is sorry derer? Why, how could I know hia.
evening of the previous night, but they That was n a reckless
rtskless conjunction of name?-
hail net had to open th«> gate f r him. ideas. I said to myself
“1 at once replied. ‘From Mlle. Stae-
‘Now.' that
because, being a great walker ami not the com Ierres are arrested, ‘we shall gerson.’
wishing that s carriage should Im sent have to eat red me lt ’ No more con
"Ho grew so pale that I thought be
to meet hliu. he was accustomed to get cierge«. no n.ore game! The hatred ex was about to faint, ami I saw that 1
otT at the little hamlet of Saint Michel, pressed iiv Daddy Mathieu for M had hit the right nail on the bead.
front which he came to the chateau by Stangerson** forest keeper—a hatr««l Mademoiselle and he knew the name
way of the forest
He reached the he pretend««! was shared by the cen- of the mnrderer! When he r«-overe«t
park by the grotto of Salute Gene , cierges 1«! me easily to think of himself, he said to me: 'I am going to
vieve. over the little gate of which, ■ poaching
Now. as all the evidence leave you. Sime yon have been here
giving on to the park, he climbed
j showed Hie <-<>n< ierges had not been In I have appreciated vour ex«*eptlo«ial tn-
As the concierges spoke I saw lloule- tus! nt the time <>f the tragedy, why teillgenc«» and your unequaled inge
tiibille's face cloud over and exhibit dis were they abroad that night? As par- nuity
But I ask this service of you.
appointment — a disappointment, no th Ipants In th«> crime? I was not dis- Perhaps I am wr«.»<ig to fear an attack
doubt, with himself Evidently he was t»os«l to think so I bud already ar- during the coming night, blit as I
a little vexed, after having worked so rived at the con- Iitslon. bv steps of must act with foresight I ««Hint os you
much on the s|s>t. w'th so minute a which I will tell you later—that the as- : to frustrate any attempt that may bo
study of the people and events nt the sassiu had had no accomplice and that ' made.’
Glandler. that he had to learn now th« tragedy held a mystery between
“‘Have you upoken of all this to M.
th it Arthur Rance wss accustomed to Mlle Stangerson and tlw murderer, a > Stangerson?'
visit the chateau.
“ ‘No 1 do uot wish hlin to ask me,
mystery with «hich the concierges
"You say that M Arthur Rance Is had nothing to do.
ns you Just now did. for ttee name of
accustomed to come to the chateau.
I tell you all this. bL
"With that theory In my mind. 1 the murderer
When did he come here last?"
scarehe«! for proof In their lodge, Rouletabille. be rinse I hnve great,
“We can't tell you exactly.” replied which, ns you know. I entered
1 very great, coutidi'iice In you I know
Mme Rertiler
"We couldn't know fount! there under
under their
their b««l some ' that you do not suspect me'
"The tsier man sjsikr In Jerks. He
while they wore keeping us In prison springs ami brass
brass wire.
wire ‘Ah.‘
I
Besides, ns the gentleman comes to thought, ‘these things explnln
explain why J wns evidently suffering I pitied him.
the chateau without passing through they were out In th«' park at night!* the mon' Ixs-ause I felt sure that tie
our gate he goes away by the way he I was not surprls«] at the dogginl si would rather allow himself to tie kill
conies "
lence they maintain««! liefor«' the ex ed than tel! me uh«» the murderer was.
“Do yon know when he came the amining magistrate, even under the ac i As for Mil«' Stangerson. I felt that
first time?"
cusation so grave as that of being ac she would rather allow herself to tie
Nine years complices In the crime
"Oh. yes. monsieur!
Poaching murder««! than denounce the man of
«go.”
would save them from th«' ass lie court, i the yellow room nn<) of the Inexptlca-
The man must tie domt-
"He was In France nine years ago. hut It would lose them their plac«w, I !<* gallery
then." said Rotiletabllle. “and since am! as they were perfectly sure <.T « ntliig her or Isith by some Inscruta
that time, as far as yon know, h««w tbelr Innocence of th« crlnw they ble power '1 hev were dreading notl»-
many tlmcH has be been at the Glsn- hoped It would soon be establish««!, ing so much as the chance of M Stsu-
dler?”
and then tbelr |Miachlng might go on gerson knowing that his daughter was
‘•Three times."
They could always confess ! 'held' by her ussnllanl. I made Nt.
m usual
Darzac understand that h«> hnd ex
•'When did lie come the last time, as later. 1. however, baatened their con
plained himself siifli« icnlly ami that
far as you know?"
fession by means of the dis-umeut Nl
“A week liefore the attempt In the Stangerson sl.:iie«l They gave all the he might refrain from telling tut* any
yellow room "
maessnry ‘proofs.' were set at liberty more than he had already told me. L
Itoiyletnbllle put another question, and have now a lively gratitude for promised him to waieli through the
lie Insisted that I should es
this time addressing himself particular me. Why did 1 not get them released ulght
ly to the woman:
sooner? Because 1 was not sure that tablish an ubsoluiely Impassable bar
"In the grove of the parquet?"
nothing more tlinn pom Idng was rier about Mlle Stiingersoii's cham
“In'the grove of the parquet, slic against them. I want««' to study the ber. lirnunrt the boudoir «-here the
replied.
ground, As the days went by, my coti- uurses were aleeping mid around the
“Be vlctlon Iss-aine more and more certain drawing r«M«m «There since tbe affair
"Thanks!" said Rotiletabllle,
ready for me tills evening ''
I The days lifter the events of the Inex- of the Inexplli ubh' gallery M Ktaujrer-
He spoke the last words with a finger I plicable gallery I had need of help I soii bad slept III short. I wns to put
on his lips as If to command silence could rely on, so I resolved to have a cordon round the whole apartiiient
"From his Insistence I gathered tbnt
and discretion.
them released at once.”
We left the park nnd took the way
We reached the Donjon inn and en M. Darzac Intend«! not only to make
It lni|M>ssible for th«* ex|><*ct«'<t man to
to the Donjon inn.
tered it.
"Do you often eat here?"
Tills time we did not see the land reach the cliamber of Mlle Stanger-
“Sometimes."
lord, but were receive«! with a pleas son. but to mnkt* that Impossibility « m »
visibly clear that, swing hlmm-lf ex
"But you also take your meals at the ant smile by the charming hostess.
chateau?"
"How's Daddy Mathieu?" asked pected, he would nt once go away.
That wns how 1 Interpreted hla final,
"Yes. Larsan and I are sometimes I Rouletabille.
served In one of our rooms "
“Not much better, not much better. wouls when we parted. ‘You may men
tion your own suspl Ions of I he exist« r-
“Hasn't M. Stangerson ever Invited j He is still confined to bis bed."
you to his own table?"
“Ill* rheumatism still sticks to hint e<1 attack Io M Riangwrson. Io Dnd«!y
Jacques, to Frederic Larsan mid to
“Never."
then?"
“Does your presence at the chateau
“Yes.
Last night I was again anybody in tlie chalenu *
“When he wns gone I began to think
displease him?"
obliged to give him morphine, the only
"1 don't know; but. In any case, lie drug lhat gives him any relief."
thnt 1 should hnve to u«e cv«qt n ijrea^
does not make us feel that we are In
She s|H>ke In a soft voice. Every er cunning than Ills Mi that If the man
his way.”
thing about her expressed gentleness should come that night he might not
"Doesn't he question you?"
J<he was. Indeed, a beautiful woman, fpr n moment suspe-f that hl« coming
Orertninl»''
I
"Never. He is In the same state of somewhat with nn air of Indolence, had been expt« ted
mind as lie was in at the tbsir of the with great eyes seemingly black and would allow h!m to g«-t In fur enough,
yellow room when his daughter was | blue, amorous eyes. Was she happy so th.nl, dead or nlfve I might see liK
being murdered and when he broke with her crabbed, rheumatic husband? face clcirly. He i n t I m ' got rl«1 <»f.
open the door nnd did not find the i The scene nt which we ha<! once been Mlle Stangerson miisl l>e free«) frou»
murderer He Is persuaded since be ■ present dl<l not lead us to believe that Ibis contlnt’.il Impending dinger."
could discover nothing that there’s no ' sh. was. Yet there was something In
Th«> I indlndy reappear <1 nt that mo
reason why we should be able to dis her bearing that was not suggestive ment. brlngl“g In Hie traditional Imron
cover more than lie did. But he has of despair. She disappeared Into the omelet Itnnletabllle «'Imfft-d ber a lit
jnnde It his duty since Larsan ex kitchen to prepare our repast, leaving tle. nnd she took the chaff with ibe
pressed his theory not to oppose us." I on the table a hottle of excellent «Ider most charming goc«l humor
Rouletnbllle buried himself In thought Rouletabille filled our earthenware
“She Is much Jollier when l»nd«!y
again for some time. He aroused him mugs, loaded bls pipe ami quietly ex Mntlileil 1» In bed with Ids rile Unia
self later to tell me of how lie came to plained to me his reason for asking tism," Rouletabille said to me.
set the two concierges free.
When ho li.nd finished Ids omelet
mo to com<> to the Glandler with re
"I went lately to see M Stangerson volvers.
, nnd we v ere ng'iln alone Ronlotsbllle
continue«! the tnlc of Ills < onflden«'es
nnd tiMik with me n piece of paper on
"Yes," he said contemplatively, look
which was written, '1 promise, what 1 Ing nt the clouds of smoke he was
“When I sent you tny telegram this
ever others may say. to keep In my I puffing out. "yes. tny dear boy, I exj morning," I k * said. “I hid only the
service my two faithful servants, Ber isn't th«' assassin tonight.”
word of M ll-Tzn«' that perhnps' the
nier mid his wife.' 1 explained to him
A brief silence followed, which I nssiissln would r/>uie tonight. I can
that by signing that document lie took care not to Interrupt, and then now say that lie will certainly
would enable me to compel those two lie went on:
I expect him ”
people to speak out. and I declared
"What has mnde you feel this cer-
“Last ulght Just ns 1 was going to
my own assurance of tbelr Innocence I bed M. Robert Darzac knocked at my talntyr
fl
of any part in the crime. That was room. When he came In be confided
"I have Iwen sure since half past iff
also his opinion. The examining mag to me that be .was compelled to go to o'clock this morning thnt be wnnhl
istrate after It was signed presented Paris tli«> uext day—that Is. lids morn come.
I knew flint liefore we saw
the document to the Berniers, who ing. The reason which made this Jour Arthur Rance at the window In the-
then did speak They said wliat I was ney necessary was nt once peremptory court.”
certain they would say ns s<x>n ns they and mysterious. It was not (Hisslble
“All!" I said.
"But. again, what
were sure they would not lose tbelr for him to eiplnln Its object to me. •1 mnde you s<> sure? And why since
places.
go. and yet.' he added, 'I would ghe half past 10 thin morning?'*
"They confessed to poaching on M. my life not to leave Mlle, Stangerson
"Because m half past 10 I had proof
Stangerson's estates, and ft was while nt thin moment.’ Hr did uot try to that Mlle. Stangerson was making an
they were poaching, on the night of hid«- that he believed her to be once many efforts to permit of the murder
the crime, that they were found not far m«>re in danger. 'It' will not greatly er's entrance as M Robert Darxac tia«t
from the pavilion at the moment when astonish me if something happens to taken pr««autlons against It."
the outrage was lielng committed. morrow night,' he avowed, 'nnd yet I
"Is thnt fxMUdble!" I cried “Haven’t
Some rabbits they caught In that way must lie absent. I cannot be back nt you told me that Mlle. Stangerson
were sold by them to the landlord of the Glandler before the morning of the loves M. Robert Darzac?"
“1 told you so Itccause it Is the
the Donjon Inn. who served them to day after tomorrow.’
his customers or sent them to Taris.
“I asked him to explain hltnself. and truth."
“Then do you see nothing strange” —
That was the truth, ns I had guessed this Is all he would tell me His antlcl
"Everything In this t>iisin<»HM In
from the first. Do you remember what imtlon of coming danger had come to
I said on entering the Donjon Inn? him solely from the coincidence that strange, tny friend; but take my word
'We shall have to eat red meat now!* Mlle. Stangerson had been twice at for It. the strangeness you now feel tn
I had heard the words on the same tacked. jttid both times when he had nothing to the strnngetierai that's to
morning when we arrive«] at the park been absent
Now a man so moved corner'
"It must lie admitted, then." I said,
gate. Y om beard them nlao. tint you who should still go away must be act
dl<l not attach any Importance to them. ing under compulsion must be obey "that Mlle. Stangerson and her mur
Yon recollect when we reached the ing n will stronger than his own. That derer are In communication—at any
park gate that we stoppml to l«s>k at a Was how I reasoned, nnd I told him ao. rate In writing?"
"Admit It. my friend; admit it! Yo«i
man who was running by the side of He repll«l ‘Perhaps.’ I asked him If
the wall, looking every minute nt Ills Mlle. Stangerson was compelling him. don't risk anything! I told you about
watch. That was Larsan. Well, tie He protest«'»! that she was not Ills de the letter left on her table on tbe
hind us the landlord of the Donjon inn. termination to go to Parts had been night of the Inexplicable gallery af
standing ou his doorstep, said to some taken without any conference with fair—the letter that disappeared Into
the pocket of Mlle. fMangeraon. Why
one Inside, ‘We shall have to eat red Mlle. Stangerson.
meat—now.*
“To cut the story short he repeated should li not have been a summons tn
“Why that 'now?* When you are. as that his belief In the possibility of a a meeting? Might he not. as soon a»
I am. In search of some bidden secret, fresh attack was found««! entirely on he was sure of Darznc's afstence, ap
yon can't afford to have anything es the extraordinary coincidence. ‘If any point the meeting for tbe condo*
cape you. You've got to know the thing hapfiens to Mlle. Stangerson.’ he night*’
And tny friend liuriu«! silently.
meaning of everything. We bad come said, ‘it would tie terrible for both of
into a rather out of the way part of us—for her, tiecans«' her life wouhl be There are moments when I ask myself
the country which had been tarred In danger; for me, tiecnnse I could net If ho Is not laughing st tne.
The door of the Inn «qs»ned. R«ui>e-
topey turry by a crime, and tny reason ther defend her from the attack nor
1«! me to suspect every phrase that tell of where 1 had l>een. I am perfect tabllle was on his feet so sixlilenly
conld bear upon the event of the day. ly aware of the suspicions cast on me. that one might hare thought he had
‘Now.* I took to mean, 'since the out- The examining magistrate and M. Lar received nn elretri«' shock
“Mr Arthur Uancer' he cried.
rage' In the «wirae of my Inqulry. osa are both on the point of believing
Mr .Arthur Ran«e stood tiefore us
therefore. I sought to find a telati on in my guilt Larsan tracked me the
tietween that phrase and the tragedy. last time I went to Parle, and I had all Caltnlv Ixiwlng
We went to the Donjon Inn for break the trouble In the world to get rid of
fast I repeated the phrase and saw him.’
tContlneuu «»«xt Week.)
by the surprise nnd trouble on Daddy
“ 'Why do you not tell me the name
Mathleu's face that 1 bad not exagger of the murderer now If you know ItF
ated its Importance so far as I m was 1 cried.
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