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,
the 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 escaped!"
Everybody turned round, astonished. The clerks of the court sprang
towards the speaker, calling out silence, and the President angrily
ordered the intruder to be immediately expelled. The same clear
voice, however, was again heard:
"It is I, Monsieur President--Joseph Rouletabille!"
CHAPTER XXVII
In Which Joseph Rouletabille Appears in All His Glory
The excitement was extreme. Cries from fainting women were to be
heard amid the extraordinary bustle and stir. The "majesty of the
law" was utterly forgotten. The President tried in vain to make
himself heard. Rouletabille made his way forward with difficulty,
but by dint of much elbowing reached his manager and greeted him
cordially. The letter was passed to him and pocketing it he turned
to the witness-box. He was dressed exactly as on the day he left
me even to the ulster over his arm. Turning to the President, he
said:
"I beg your pardon, Monsieur President, but I have only just arrived
from America. The steamer was late. My name is Joseph Rouletabille!"
The silence which followed his stepping into the witness-box was
broken by laughter when his words were heard. Everybody seemed
relieved and glad to find him there, as if in the expectation of
hearing the truth at last.
But the President was extremely incensed:
"So, you are Joseph Rouletabille," he replied; "well, young man,
I'll teach you what comes of making a farce of justice. By virtue
of my discretionary power, I hold you at the court's disposition."
"I ask nothing better, Monsieur President. I have come here for
that purpose. I humbly beg the court's pardon for the disturbance
of which I have been the innocent cause. I beg you to believe that
nobody has a greater respect for the court than I have. I came in
as I could." He smiled.
"Take him away!" ordered the President.
Maitre Henri Robert intervened. He began by apologising for the
young man, who, he said, was moved only by the best intentions.
He made the President understand that the evidence of a witness who
had slept at the Glandier during the whole of that eventful week
could not be omitted, and the present witness, moreover, had come
to name the real murderer.
"Are you going to tell us who the murderer was?" asked the President,
somewhat convinced though still sceptical.
"I have come for that purpose, Monsieur President!" replied
Rouletabille.
An attempt at applause was silenced by the usher.
"Joseph Rouletabille," said Maitre Henri Robert, "has not been
regularly subpoenaed as a witness, but I hope, Monsieur President,
you will examine him in virtue of your discretionary powers."
"Very well!" said the President, "we will question him. But we must
proceed in order."
The Advocate-General rose:
"It would, perhaps, be better," he said, "if the young man were to
tell us now whom he suspects."
The President nodded ironically:
"If the Advocate-General attaches importance to the deposition of
Monsieur Joseph Rouletabille, I see no reason why this witness
should not give us the name of the murderer."
A pin drop could have been heard. Rouletabille stood silent looking
sympathetically at Darzac, who, for the first time since the opening
of the trial, showed himself agitated.
"Well," cried the President, "we wait for the name of the murderer."
Rouletabille, feeling in his waistcoat pocket, drew his watch and,
looking at it, said:
"Monsieur President, I cannot name the murderer before half-past
six o'clock!"
Loud murmurs of disappointment filled the room. Some of the lawyers
were heard to say: "He's making fun of us!"
The President in a stern voice, said:
"This joke has gone far enough. You may retire, Monsieur, into the
witnesses' room. I hold you at our disposition."
Rouletabille protested.
"I assure you, Monsieur President," he cried in his sharp, clear
voice, "that when I do name the murderer you will understand why
I could not speak before half-past six. I assert this on my honour.
I can, however, give you now some explanation of the murder of the
keeper. Monsieur Frederic Larsan, who has seen me at work at the
Glandier, can tell you with what care I studied this case. I found
myself compelled to differ with him in arresting Monsieur Robert
Darzac, who is innocent. Monsieur Larsan knows of my good faith
and knows that some importance may be attached to my discoveries,
which have often corroborated his own."
Frederic Larsan said:
"Monsieur President, it will be interesting to hear Monsieur Joseph
Rouletabille, especially as he differs from me."
A murmur of approbation greeted the detective's speech. He was a
good sportsman and accepted the challenge. The struggle between
the two promised to be exciting.
As the President remained silent, Frederic Larsan continued:
"We agree that the murderer of the keeper was the assailant of
Mademoiselle Stangerson; but as we are not agreed as to how the
murderer escaped, I am curious to hear Monsieur Rouletabille's
explanation."
"I have no doubt you are," said my friend.
General laughter followed this remark. The President angrily
declared that if it was repeated, he would have the court cleared.
"Now, young man," said the President, "you have heard Monsieur
Frederic Larsan; how did the murderer get away from the court?"
Rouletabille looked at Madame Mathieu, who smiled back at him sadly.
"Since Madame Mathieu," he said, "has freely admitted her intimacy
with the keeper--"
"Why, it's the boy!" exclaimed Daddy Mathieu.
"Remove that man!" ordered the President.
Mathieu was removed from the court. Rouletabille went on:
"Since she has made this confession, I am free to tell you that she
often met the keeper at night on the first floor of the donjon, in
the room which was once an oratory. These meetings became more
frequent when her husband was laid up by his rheumatism. She gave
him morphine to ease his pain and to give herself more time for the
meetings. Madame Mathieu came to the chateau that night, enveloped
in a large black shawl which served also as a disguise. This was
the phantom that disturbed Daddy Jacques. She knew how to imitate
the mewing of Mother Angenoux' cat and she would make the cries to
advise the keeper of her presence. The recent repairs of the donjon
did not interfere with their meetings in the keeper's old room, in
the donjon, since the new room assigned to him at the end of the
right wing was separated from the steward's room by a partition only.
"Previous to the tragedy in the courtyard Madame Mathieu and the
keeper left the donjon together. I learnt these facts from my
examination of the footmarks in the court the next morning. Bernier, r />
the concierge, whom I had stationed behind the donjon--as he will
explain himself--could not see what passed in the court. He did
not reach the court until he heard the revolver shots, and then he
fired. When the woman parted from the man she went towards the open
gate of the court, while he returned to his room.
"He had almost reached the door when the revolvers rang out. He
had just reached the corner when a shadow bounded by. Meanwhile,
Madame Mathieu, surprised by the revolver shots and by the entrance
of people into the court, crouched in the darkness. The court is
a large one and, being near the gate, she might easily have passed
out unseen. But she remained and saw the body being carried away.
In great agony of mind she neared the vestibule and saw the dead
body of her lover on the stairs lit up by Daddy Jacques' lantern.
She then fled; and Daddy Jacques joined her.
"That same night, before the murder, Daddy Jacques had been awakened
by the cat's cry, and, looking through his window, had seen the
black phantom. Hastily dressing himself he went out and recognised
her. He is an old friend of Madame Mathieu, and when she saw him
she had to tell him of her relations with the keeper and begged his
assistance. Daddy Jacques took pity on her and accompanied her
through the oak grove out of the park, past the border of the lake
to the road to Epinay. From there it was but a very short distance
to her home.
"Daddy Jacques returned to the chateau, and, seeing how important
it was for Madame Mathieu's presence at the chateau to remain
unknown, he did all he could to hide it. I appeal to Monsieur
Larsan, who saw me, next morning, examine the two sets of
footprints."
Here Rouletabille turning towards Madame Mathieu, with a bow, said:
"The footprints of Madame bear a strange resemblance to the neat
footprints of the murderer."
Madame Mathieu trembled and looked at him with wide eyes as if in
wonder at what he would say next.
"Madame has a shapely foot, long and rather large for a woman. The
imprint, with its pointed toe, is very like that of the murderer's."
A movement in the court was repressed by Rouletabille. He held
their attention at once.
"I hasten to add," he went on, "that I attach no importance to this.
Outward signs like these are often liable to lead us into error, if
we do not reason rightly. Monsieur Robert Darzac's footprints are
also like the murderer's, and yet he is not the murderer!"
The President turning to Madame Mathieu asked:
"Is that in accordance with what you know occurred?"
"Yes, Monsieur President," she replied, "it is as if Monsieur
Rouletabille had been behind us."
"Did you see the murderer running towards the end of the right wing?"
"Yes, as clearly as I saw them afterwards carrying the keeper's
body."
"What became of the murderer?--You were in the courtyard and could
easily have seen.
"I saw nothing of him, Monsieur President. It became quite dark
just then."
"Then Monsieur Rouletabille," said the President, "must explain
how the murderer made his escape."
Rouletabille continued:
"It was impossible for the murderer to escape by the way he had
entered the court without our seeing him; or if we couldn't see him
we must certainly have felt him, since the court is a very narrow
one enclosed in high iron railings."
"Then if the man was hemmed in that narrow square, how is it you
did not find him?--I have been asking you that for the last
half hour."
"Monsieur President," replied Rouletabille, "I cannot answer that
question before half-past six!"
By this time the people in the court-room were beginning to believe