May 5, 2024 • 30 mins
"The Mystery of the Yellow Room" by Gaston Leroux is a classic locked-room mystery set in France. When Mathilde Stangerson is found in a locked room with no apparent way in or out, journalist Joseph Rouletabille is determined to unravel the mystery. Leroux's tale is renowned for its suspenseful plot, clever twists, and exploration of themes like deception and truth. It's a gripping story that keeps readers guessing until the end, making it a seminal work in detective fiction.
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(00:01):
Chapter twenty seven, Part B ofthe Mystery of the Yellow Room. This
is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVoxrecordings are in the public domain. For
more free audiobooks or to volunteer,please visit LibriVox dot org. Recording by
J. C. Guan. TheMystery of the Yellow Room by Gaston Leroux,
Chapter twenty seven, Parch B.That revelation staggered me. I tried
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to regain my balance by going overthe evidence previously traced, but which had
diverted my mind and led me awayfrom Fredrich Clarson. What were these evidences?
First, I had seen the unknownin Mademoiselle Stangerson's chamber. On going
to Fredrich Clarson's room, I hadfound Frederic sound asleep. Second, the
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latter third, I had placed FredrickClarcon at the end of the off turning
gallery and had told him that Iwould rush into Mademoiselle Stangerson's room to try
to capture the murderer. Then Ireturned to MADEMOISEE. Stangerson's chamber, where
I had seen the unknown. Thefirst evidence did not disturb me much.
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It is likely that when I descendedfrom my ladder after having seen the unknown
in Mademoiselle Stangerson's chamber, Laxan hadalready finished what he was doing there.
Then, while I was re enteringthe chateau, Lazon went back to his
own room, and, undressing himself, went to sleep. Nor did the
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second evidence trouble me. If Laxanwere the murderer, he could have no
use for a ladder. But theladder my had been placed there to give
an appearance to the murderer's entrance fromwithout the chateau, especially as Laxon had
accused Darzac and Darzac was not inthe chateau that night. Further, the
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ladder might have been placed there tofacilitate Laxon's flight in case of absolute necessity.
But the third evidence puzzled me altogether. Having placed Lasan at the end
of the off turning gallery, Icould not explain how he had taken advantage
of the moment when I had goneto the left wing of the chateau to
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find Monsieur Stangerson and Daddy Jacques toreturn to Mademoiselle Stangerson's room. It was
a very dangerous thing to do.He risked being captured, and he knew
it, and he was very nearlycaptured, he had not had time to
regain his post, as he hadcertainly hoped to do. He had then
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a very strong reason for returning tohis room. As for myself, when
I sent Daddy Jacques to the endof the right gallery, I naturally thought
that La San was still at hispost. Dad de Jacques, going to
his post, had not looked whenhe passed to see whether La San was
at his post or not. Whatthen was the urgent reason which had compelled
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Lason to go to the room asecond time? I guessed it would be
some evidence of his presence there.He had left something very important in that
room. What was it? Andhad he recovered it? I begged Madame
Bernier, who was accustomed to cleanthe room, to look, and she
found a pair of eye glasses.This pair, Monsieur Prisidon and Rouletabille drew
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the eye glasses of which we knowfrom his pocket. When I saw these
eye glasses, he continued, Iwas utterly nonplused. I had never seen
lazon we eye glasses. What didthey mean? Suddenly, I exclaimed to
myself, I wonder if he islong sighted. I had never seen Lazan
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write. He might then be longsighted. They would certainly know what des
sourte, and also know if theglasses were his. Such evidence would be
damning. That explained Lason's return.I know now that Larsan or ball Maire
is long sighted, and that theseclasses belonged to him. I now made
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one mistake. I was not satisfiedwith the evidence I had obtained. I
wished to see the man's face.Had I refrained from this, the second
terrible attack would not have occurred.But asked the President, why should Lacan
go to MADEMOISEE Stangerson's room at all? Why should he twice attempt to murder
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her because he loves her? MonsieurPresident, That is certainly a reason,
but it is the only reason.He was madly in love, and because
of that and other things, hewas capable of committing any crime. Did
Mademoiselle Stangerson know this, yes,Monsieur, but she was ignorant of the
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fact that the man who was pursuingher was Frederic Larsan. Otherwise, of
course he would not have been allowedto be at the chateau. I noticed
when he was in her room afterthe incident in the gallery, that he
kept himself in the shadow, andthat he kept his head bunds down.
He was looking for the lost eyeglasses. Mademoiselle Stangerson knew lesson under another
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name. Monsieur Darzac asked the President. Did Mademoiselle Stangerson in any way confide
in you on this matter? Howis it that she has never spoken about
it to any one? If youare innocent, she would have wished to
spare you the pain of being accused. Mademoiselle Stangerson told me nothing, replied
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Monsieur Darzac. Does what this youngman says appear probable to you, the
President asked, Mademoiselle Stangerson has toldme nothing, he replied stolidly. How
do you explain that on the nightof the murder of the keeper, the
President asked, turning to the mergererbrought back the papers stolen from Monsieur Stangerson.
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How do you explain how the mergerergained entrance into Mademoiselle Stangerson's locked room.
The last question is easily answered.A man like Larson or a ball
Mayer could have had made duplicate keysas to the documents. I think Larson
had not intended to steal them.At first closely watching Mademoiselle with the purpose
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of preventing her marriage with Monsieur roBert Darzac. He one day followed her
and Monsieur into the Grandmagainzando la Louver. There he got possession of the reticule
which she lost or left behind.In that reticule was a key with a
brass head. He did not knowthere was any value attached to the quay
till the advertisement in the papers revealedit. He then wrote to Mademoiselle.
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As the advertisement requested no doubt,he asked for a meeting, making known
to her that he was also theperson who had for some time pursued her
with his love. He received noanswer. He went to the post office
and ascertained that his letter was nolonger there. He had already taken complete
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stock of Monsieuse Darzac, and havingdecided to go to any lands to gain
Mademoiselle Stangerson, he had planned thatwhatever might happen, Monsieur Darzac, his
hated rival, should be the manto be suspected. I do not think
that Larsan had as yet thought ofmurdering Mademoiselle Stangerson, but whatever he might
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do he made sure that Monsieur Darzacshould suffer for it. He was very
nearly of the same height as MonsieurDarzac, and had almost the same sized
feet. It would not be difficultto take an impression of Monsieur Darzac's footprints
and have similar boots made for himself. Such tricks were mere child's play for
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larsan Or or ball Mayer. Receivingno reply to his letter, he determined,
since Mademoiselle Stangerson would not come tohim, that he would go to
her. His plan had long beenformed. He had made himself master of
the plans of the chateau and thepavilion, so that one afternoon, while
Monsieur and Mademoiselle Stangerson were out fora walk, and while da de Jacques
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was away, he entered the latterby the vestibule window. He was alone,
and being in no hurry, hebegan examining the furniture. One of
the pieces resembling his safe, hada very small keyhole that interested him.
He had with them the little keywith the brass head, and associating one
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with the other, he tried thekey in the lock. The door opened.
He saw nothing but papers. Theymust be very valuable to have been
put away in a safe, andthe key to which to be of so
much importance. Perhaps he thought ofblackmail occurred to him as a useful possibility
in helping him in his designs onMademoiselle Stangerson. He quickly made a parcel
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of the papers and took it tothe laboratory in the vestibule. Between the
time of his first examination of thepavilion and the knights of the murder of
the keeper, Lasan had had timeto find out what those papers contained.
He could do nothing with them,and they were rather compromising. That night,
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he took them back to the chateau. Perhaps he hoped that by returning
the papers he might obtain some gratitudefrom Mademoiselle Stangerson. But whatever may have
been his reasons, he took thepapers back and so rid himself of an
encumbrance. Rouletabille coughed, it wasevident to me that he was embarrassed.
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He had arrived at the point wherehe had to keep back his knowledge of
Lason's true motive. The explanation hehad given had evidently been unsatisfactory. Rouletabille
was quick enough to note the badimpression he had made for Turning to the
President, he said, and nowwe come to the explanation of the mystery
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of the Yellow Room. A movementof chairs in the court, with a
rustling of dresses and an energetic whisperingof hush, showed the curiosity that had
been aroused. It seems to me, said the President, that the mystery
of the Yellow Room, Monsieur Roletabyt, is wholly explained by your hypothesis.
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Frederic Larson, is the explanation.We have merely to substitute him for Monsieur
le Berdarzac. Evidently the door ofthe Yellow Room was open at the time
Missus Stangerson was alone, and thathe allowed the man who was coming out
of his daughter's chamber to pass withoutarresting him, perhaps at her entreaty to
avoid all scandal, No, misterPresident, protested the young man. You
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forget that, stunned by the attackmade on her, Mademoiselle Stangerson was not
in a condition to have made suchan appeal, nor could she have locked
and bolted herself in her room.You must also remember that Missus Stangerson has
sworn that the door was not open, that however, is the only way
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in which it can be explained.The yellow room was as closely shut as
an iron safe. To use yourown expression, it was impossible for the
murderer to make his escape, eithernaturally or supernaturally. When the room was
broken into. He was not there. He must therefore have escaped. That
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does not follow. What do youmean there was no need for him to
escape if he was not there?Not there, evidently not. He could
not have been there if he werenot found there. But what about the
evidences of his presence? Asked thePresident. That, mister President, is
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where we have taken hold of thewrong end. From the time Mademoiselle Stangerson
shut herself in the room to thetime her door was burst open, it
was impossible for the murderer to escape. He was not found because he was
not there during that time. Butthe evidences they have led us astray in
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reasoning on this mystery. We mustnot take them to mean what they apparently
mean. Why do we conclude themurderer was there because he left his tracks
in the room? Good? Butmay he not have been there before the
room was locked? Nay, hemust have been there before. Let us
look into the matter of these traces, and see if they do not point
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to my conclusion. After the publicationof the article in the and my conversation
with the examining magistrates on the journeyfrom Paris to Epinay, so Urge,
I was certain that the Yellow Roomhad been hermetically sealed, so to speak,
and that consequently the mergerer had escapedbefore Mademoiselle Stangerson had gone into her
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chamber at midnight. At the time, I was much puzzled. Mademoiselle Stangerson
could not have been her own murderer, since the evidences pointed to some other
person. The assassin then had comebefore. If that were so, how
was it that Mademoiselle had been attackedafter, or rather that she appeared to
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have been attacked after. It wasnecessary for me to reconstruct the occurrence and
make of it two phases, eachseparated from the other in time by the
space of several hours, one phasein which Mademoiselle's dangers had really been attacked,
the other face, in which thosewho heard her cries thought she was
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being attacked. I had not thenexamined the Yellow Room. What were the
marks on Mademoiselle Stangerson, there weremarks of strangulation, and the wound from
a hard blow on the temple.The marks of strangulation did not interest me
much. They might have been madebefore, and Mademoiselle could have concealed them
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by a coloret or any similar articleof a peril. I had to suppose
this the moment I was compelled toreconstruct the occurrence by two phases. Mademoiselle
Stangerson had no doubt her own reasonfor so doing, since she had told
her father nothing of it, andhad made it understood to the examining magistrate
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that the attack had taken place inthe night. During the second phase,
she was forced to say that,otherwise her father would have questioned her as
to the reason for having said nothingabout it. But I could not explain
the blow on the temple. Iunderstood it even less when I learned that
the mutton bone had been found inher room. She could not hide the
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fact that she had been struck onthe head. And yet that wound appeared
evidently to have been inflicted during thefirst phase, since it required the presence
of the murderer. I thought MademoiselleStangerson had hidden the wound by arranging her
hair in bands on her forehead.As to the mark of the hands on
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the wall that had evidently been madeduring the first phase, when the mergerer
was really there, all the tracesof his presence had naturally been left during
the first phase, the mutton bone, the black footprint, the basque cap,
the handkerchief, the blood on wall, on the door, and on
the floor. If those traces werestill all there, they showed that Mademoiselle
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Stangerson, who desired that nothing shouldbe known, had not had time yet
to clear them away. This ledme to the conclusion that the two phases
had taken place, one shortly afterthe other. She had not had the
opportunity, after leaving her room andgoing back to the laboratory to her father,
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to get back again to her roomand put it in order. Her
father was all the time with her, working, so that after the first
phase she did not re enter herchamber till midnight. That Jacques was there
at ten o'clock, as he wasevery night, but he went in merely
to close the blinds and light thenight light. Owing to her disturbed state
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of mind, she had forgotten thatthe Jacques would go into her room,
and had begged him not to troublehimself. All this was set forth in
the article in the matter that Jacquesdid go, however, and in the
dim light of the room nothing.Mademoiselle Stangerson must have lived some anxious moments
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while Daddy Jacques was absent, butI think she was not aware that so
many evidences had been left. Aftershe had been attacked, she had only
time to hide the traces of theman's fingers on her neck and to hurry
to the laboratory. Had she knownof the bone, the cap, and
the handkerchief, she would have madeaway with them after she had gone back
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to her chamber at midnight. Shedid not see them, and, undressed
by the uncertain glimmer of the nightlight, she went to bed, worn
out by anxiety and fear, afear that had made her remain in the
laboratory as late as possible. Myreasoning had thus brought me to the second
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phase of the tragedy. When MademoiselleStangerson was alone in the room, I
had now to explain the revolver shotsfired during the second phase, cries of
help murder had been heard. Howto explain these As to the cries,
I was in no difficulty, sinceshe was alone in her room. These
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could result from nightmare only. Myexplanation of the struggle and noise that were
heard is simply that in her nightmare, she was haunted by the terrible experience
she had passed through in the afternoon. In her dream, she sees the
murderer about to spring upon her,and she cries help murder. Her hand
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wild beseeks the revolver she had placedwithin her reach on the night table by
the side of her bed, buther hand striking the table overturns it,
and the revolver, falling to thefloor, discharges itself. The bullet lodging
in the ceiling. I knew fromthe first that the bullet in the ceiling
must have resulted from an accident.Its very position suggested an accident to my
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mind, and so fell was mytheory of a nightmare. I no longer
doubted that the attack had taken placebefore Mademoiselle had retired for the night.
After wakening from her frightful dream andcrying aloud for help, she had fainted.
My theory, based on the evidenceof the shots that were heard at
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midnight demanded two shots, one whichwounded the murderer at the time of his
attack, and one fired at thetime of the nightmare. The evidence given
by the berniers before the examining Magistratewas to the effect that only one shot
had been heard. Missus Stangerson testifiedto hearing a dull sound first, followed
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by a sharp ringing sound. Thedull sound I explained by the falling of
the marble topped table. The ringingsound was the shot from the revolver.
I was now convinced I was right. The shot that had wanted the hand
of the murderer and had caused itto bleed so that he left the bloody
imprint on the wall was fired byMademoiselle in self defense before the second phase,
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when she had been really attacked.The shot in the ceiling which the
bernieis heard, was the accidental shotduring the nightmare. I had now to
explain the wounds on the temple.It was not severe enough to have been
made by means of the mutton bone, and Mademoiselle had not attempted to hide
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it. It must have been madeduring the second phase. It was to
find this out that I went tothe Yellow room, and I obtained my
answer. There. Rouletabay drew apiece of white folded paper from his pocket
and drew out of it an almostinvisible object, which he held between his
thumb and forefinger. This, misterPresident, he said, is a here,
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a blonde hair stained with blood.It is a hare from the head
of Mademoiselle Stangerson. I found itsticking to one of the corners of the
overturned table. The corner of thetable was itself stained with blood, a
tiny stain, hardly visible. Butit told me that, on rising from
her bed, Mademoiselle Stangerson had fallenheavily and had struck her head on the
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corner of its marble top. Istill had to learn, in addition to
the name of the assassin, whichI did later the time of the original
attack. I learned this from theexamination of Mademoiselle Stangerson and her father.
Though the answers given by the formerwere well calculated to deceive the examining magistrate,
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Mademoiselle Stangerson had stated very minutely howshe had spent the whole of her
time that day. We established thefact that the murderer had introduced himself into
the pavilion between five and six o'clock. At a quarter past six, the
professor and his daughter had resumed theirwork. At five, the professor had
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been with his daughter, and sincethe attack took place in the professor's absence
from his daughter, I had tofind out just when he left her.
The professor had stated that at thetime when he and his daughter were about
to re enter the laboratory, hewas met by the keeper and held in
conversation about the cutting of some woodand the poachers. Mademoiselle Dangerson was not
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with him then, Since the Professorsaid, I left the keeper and rejoin
my daughter, who was at workin the laboratory, it was during that
short interval of time that the tragedytook place. That is certain in my
mind's eye, I saw Mademoiselle Dangersonre enter the pavilion, go to her
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room to take off her hat,and find herself faced by the murderer.
He had been in the pavilion forsome time waiting for her. He had
arranged to pass the whole night there. He had taken off that Dejacque's boots,
He had removed the papers from thecabinet and had then slipped under the
bed. Finding the time long,he had risen, gone again into the
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laboratory, then into the vestibule,looked into the garden, and had seen
coming towards the pavilion Mademoiselle Stangerson alone. He would never have dared to attack
her at that hour if he hadnot found her alone. His mind was
made up. He would be moreat ease alone with Mademoiselle Stangerson in the
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pavilion than he would have been inthe middle of the night with dead de
Jacques sleeping in the attic. Sohe shut the vestibule window. That explains
why neither Mademoiselle Stangerson nor the keeper, who were at some distance from the
pavilion, had heard the revolver shot. Then he went back to the yellow
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room. Mademoiselle Stangerson came in.What passed must have taken place very quickly.
Mademoiselle tried to call for help,but the man had seized her by
the throat. Her hand had stoughtand grasped the revolver, which she had
been keeping in the drawer of hernight table since she had come to fear
the threats of her pursuer. Themurderer was about to strike her on the
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head with the mutton bone, aterrible weapon in the hands of a lexan
or ball mayer, but she firedin time, and the shot wounded the
hand that held the weapon. Thebone fell to the floor, covered with
the blood of the murderer, whostaggered, clutched at the wall for support
in printing on it the red marks, and hearing another bullet fled, She
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saw him pass through the laboratory andlistened. He was long at the window.
At length he jumped from it.She flew to it and shut it.
The danger passed. All her thoughtswere of her father, had he
either seen nor heard. At anycost to herself, she must keep this
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from him. Thus, when MissusStangerson returned, he found the door of
the Yellow room closed, his daughterin the laboratory, bending over her desk
at work, turning towards Monsie Darzac, Rouletabill cried, you know the truth,
tell us then, if that isnot how things happened, I don't
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know anything about it, replied monsterDarzac. I admire you for your silence,
said Rouletabille. But if Mademoiselle Stangersonknew of your danger. She would
release you from your oath. Shewould beg of you to tell all she
has confided to you. She wouldbe here to defend you. Monsie Darzac
made no movement nor utter the word. He looked at Rouletabill sadly, however,
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said the younger Porter, since MademoiselleDangerson is not here, I must
do it myself. But believe me, Monsieur Darzac, the only means to
save Mademoiselle Stangerson and restore her toher reason is to secure your acquittal.
What is this secret motive that compelsMademoiselle Stangerson to hide her knowledge from her
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father? Asked the President that Monsieur, I do not know, said Rouletabille.
It is no business of mine.The President, turning to Monsieur Darzac,
endeavored to induce him to tell whathe knew. Do you still refuse,
monsieur, to tell us how youemployed your time during the attempts on
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the life of Mademoiselle Dangerson. Icannot tell you anything, monsieur. The
President turned to Rouletabille, as ifappealing for an explanation. We must assume,
Monsieur President, that Monsieur ro BerDarzac's absences are closely conne with Mademoiselle
Dangerson's secret, and that monsie Darzacfeels himself in honor bound to remain silent.
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It may be that Larson, whosince his three attempts, has had
everything in training to cast suspicion onMonsieur Darzac, had fixed on just those
occasions for a meeting with Monsieur Darzacat a spot most compromising. Laarson is
cunning enough to have done that.The President seemed partly convinced, but still
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curious. He asked, but whatis this secret of Mademoiselle Dangerson that I
cannot tell? You, said Rouletabille. I think, however, you know
enough now to acquit Monsieur ber Darzac, unless Lazan should return, and I
don't think he will, he addedwith a laugh. One question more,
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said the President, admitting your explanation. We know that Laxan wished to turn
suspicion on Monsieur Berdarzac, but whyshould he throw suspicion on Daddi Jacques.
Also there came in the professional detectiveMonsieur, who proves himself an unraveler of
mysteries by annihilating the very proofs hehad accumulated. He is a very cunning
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man, and this similar trick hadoften enabled him to turn suspicion from himself.
He proved the innocence of one beforeaccusing the other. You can easily
believe, Monsieur, that so complicateda scheme as this must have been long
and carefully thought out in advance byLarsan. I can tell you that he
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had been long engaged in its elaboration. If you care to learn how he
had gathered information, you will findthat he had, on one occasion disguised
himself as the commissionaire between the laboratoryof de Sorte and Monsieur Stangerson, of
whom experiments or demanded. In thisway he had been able before the crime,
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on two occasions to take stock ofthe pavilion. He had made up
so that that de Jacques had notrecognized him, And yet Larsan had found
the opportunity to rob the old manof a pair of old boots and a
cast off basque camp, which theservant had tied up in a handkerchief,
with the intention of carrying them toa friend, a charcoal burner on the
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road to Epinay, when the crimewas discovered that Jacques had immediately recognized these
objects as his. They were extremelycompromising, which explains his distress at the
time. When we spoke to himabout them, Larsan confessed it all to
me. He is an artist atthe game. He did a similar thing
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in the affair of the credeu niVersailles and in that of the gold ingates
of the mint. Both these casesshould be revised. Since ball Major or
Larson has been in the curte anumber of innocent persons have been sent to
prison. End of Chapter twenty seven, Part B
Chapter twenty seven, Part B ofthe Mystery of the Yellow Room. This
is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVoxrecordings are in the public domain. For
more free audiobooks or to volunteer,please visit LibriVox dot org. Recording by
J. C. Guan. TheMystery of the Yellow Room by Gaston Leroux,
Chapter twenty seven, Parch B.That revelation staggered me. I tried
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to regain my balance by going overthe evidence previously traced, but which had
diverted my mind and led me awayfrom Fredrich Clarson. What were these evidences?
First, I had seen the unknownin Mademoiselle Stangerson's chamber. On going
to Fredrich Clarson's room, I hadfound Frederic sound asleep. Second, the
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latter third, I had placed FredrickClarcon at the end of the off turning
gallery and had told him that Iwould rush into Mademoiselle Stangerson's room to try
to capture the murderer. Then Ireturned to MADEMOISEE. Stangerson's chamber, where
I had seen the unknown. Thefirst evidence did not disturb me much.
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It is likely that when I descendedfrom my ladder after having seen the unknown
in Mademoiselle Stangerson's chamber, Laxan hadalready finished what he was doing there.
Then, while I was re enteringthe chateau, Lazon went back to his
own room, and, undressing himself, went to sleep. Nor did the
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second evidence trouble me. If Laxanwere the murderer, he could have no
use for a ladder. But theladder my had been placed there to give
an appearance to the murderer's entrance fromwithout the chateau, especially as Laxon had
accused Darzac and Darzac was not inthe chateau that night. Further, the
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ladder might have been placed there tofacilitate Laxon's flight in case of absolute necessity.
But the third evidence puzzled me altogether. Having placed Lasan at the end
of the off turning gallery, Icould not explain how he had taken advantage
of the moment when I had goneto the left wing of the chateau to
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find Monsieur Stangerson and Daddy Jacques toreturn to Mademoiselle Stangerson's room. It was
a very dangerous thing to do.He risked being captured, and he knew
it, and he was very nearlycaptured, he had not had time to
regain his post, as he hadcertainly hoped to do. He had then
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a very strong reason for returning tohis room. As for myself, when
I sent Daddy Jacques to the endof the right gallery, I naturally thought
that La San was still at hispost. Dad de Jacques, going to
his post, had not looked whenhe passed to see whether La San was
at his post or not. Whatthen was the urgent reason which had compelled
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Lason to go to the room asecond time? I guessed it would be
some evidence of his presence there.He had left something very important in that
room. What was it? Andhad he recovered it? I begged Madame
Bernier, who was accustomed to cleanthe room, to look, and she
found a pair of eye glasses.This pair, Monsieur Prisidon and Rouletabille drew
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the eye glasses of which we knowfrom his pocket. When I saw these
eye glasses, he continued, Iwas utterly nonplused. I had never seen
lazon we eye glasses. What didthey mean? Suddenly, I exclaimed to
myself, I wonder if he islong sighted. I had never seen Lazan
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write. He might then be longsighted. They would certainly know what des
sourte, and also know if theglasses were his. Such evidence would be
damning. That explained Lason's return.I know now that Larsan or ball Maire
is long sighted, and that theseclasses belonged to him. I now made
(04:09):
one mistake. I was not satisfiedwith the evidence I had obtained. I
wished to see the man's face.Had I refrained from this, the second
terrible attack would not have occurred.But asked the President, why should Lacan
go to MADEMOISEE Stangerson's room at all? Why should he twice attempt to murder
(04:30):
her because he loves her? MonsieurPresident, That is certainly a reason,
but it is the only reason.He was madly in love, and because
of that and other things, hewas capable of committing any crime. Did
Mademoiselle Stangerson know this, yes,Monsieur, but she was ignorant of the
(04:55):
fact that the man who was pursuingher was Frederic Larsan. Otherwise, of
course he would not have been allowedto be at the chateau. I noticed
when he was in her room afterthe incident in the gallery, that he
kept himself in the shadow, andthat he kept his head bunds down.
He was looking for the lost eyeglasses. Mademoiselle Stangerson knew lesson under another
(05:19):
name. Monsieur Darzac asked the President. Did Mademoiselle Stangerson in any way confide
in you on this matter? Howis it that she has never spoken about
it to any one? If youare innocent, she would have wished to
spare you the pain of being accused. Mademoiselle Stangerson told me nothing, replied
(05:40):
Monsieur Darzac. Does what this youngman says appear probable to you, the
President asked, Mademoiselle Stangerson has toldme nothing, he replied stolidly. How
do you explain that on the nightof the murder of the keeper, the
President asked, turning to the mergererbrought back the papers stolen from Monsieur Stangerson.
(06:04):
How do you explain how the mergerergained entrance into Mademoiselle Stangerson's locked room.
The last question is easily answered.A man like Larson or a ball
Mayer could have had made duplicate keysas to the documents. I think Larson
had not intended to steal them.At first closely watching Mademoiselle with the purpose
(06:28):
of preventing her marriage with Monsieur roBert Darzac. He one day followed her
and Monsieur into the Grandmagainzando la Louver. There he got possession of the reticule
which she lost or left behind.In that reticule was a key with a
brass head. He did not knowthere was any value attached to the quay
till the advertisement in the papers revealedit. He then wrote to Mademoiselle.
(06:53):
As the advertisement requested no doubt,he asked for a meeting, making known
to her that he was also theperson who had for some time pursued her
with his love. He received noanswer. He went to the post office
and ascertained that his letter was nolonger there. He had already taken complete
(07:14):
stock of Monsieuse Darzac, and havingdecided to go to any lands to gain
Mademoiselle Stangerson, he had planned thatwhatever might happen, Monsieur Darzac, his
hated rival, should be the manto be suspected. I do not think
that Larsan had as yet thought ofmurdering Mademoiselle Stangerson, but whatever he might
(07:36):
do he made sure that Monsieur Darzacshould suffer for it. He was very
nearly of the same height as MonsieurDarzac, and had almost the same sized
feet. It would not be difficultto take an impression of Monsieur Darzac's footprints
and have similar boots made for himself. Such tricks were mere child's play for
(07:58):
larsan Or or ball Mayer. Receivingno reply to his letter, he determined,
since Mademoiselle Stangerson would not come tohim, that he would go to
her. His plan had long beenformed. He had made himself master of
the plans of the chateau and thepavilion, so that one afternoon, while
Monsieur and Mademoiselle Stangerson were out fora walk, and while da de Jacques
(08:22):
was away, he entered the latterby the vestibule window. He was alone,
and being in no hurry, hebegan examining the furniture. One of
the pieces resembling his safe, hada very small keyhole that interested him.
He had with them the little keywith the brass head, and associating one
(08:45):
with the other, he tried thekey in the lock. The door opened.
He saw nothing but papers. Theymust be very valuable to have been
put away in a safe, andthe key to which to be of so
much importance. Perhaps he thought ofblackmail occurred to him as a useful possibility
in helping him in his designs onMademoiselle Stangerson. He quickly made a parcel
(09:09):
of the papers and took it tothe laboratory in the vestibule. Between the
time of his first examination of thepavilion and the knights of the murder of
the keeper, Lasan had had timeto find out what those papers contained.
He could do nothing with them,and they were rather compromising. That night,
(09:31):
he took them back to the chateau. Perhaps he hoped that by returning
the papers he might obtain some gratitudefrom Mademoiselle Stangerson. But whatever may have
been his reasons, he took thepapers back and so rid himself of an
encumbrance. Rouletabille coughed, it wasevident to me that he was embarrassed.
(09:54):
He had arrived at the point wherehe had to keep back his knowledge of
Lason's true motive. The explanation hehad given had evidently been unsatisfactory. Rouletabille
was quick enough to note the badimpression he had made for Turning to the
President, he said, and nowwe come to the explanation of the mystery
(10:16):
of the Yellow Room. A movementof chairs in the court, with a
rustling of dresses and an energetic whisperingof hush, showed the curiosity that had
been aroused. It seems to me, said the President, that the mystery
of the Yellow Room, Monsieur Roletabyt, is wholly explained by your hypothesis.
(10:37):
Frederic Larson, is the explanation.We have merely to substitute him for Monsieur
le Berdarzac. Evidently the door ofthe Yellow Room was open at the time
Missus Stangerson was alone, and thathe allowed the man who was coming out
of his daughter's chamber to pass withoutarresting him, perhaps at her entreaty to
avoid all scandal, No, misterPresident, protested the young man. You
(11:03):
forget that, stunned by the attackmade on her, Mademoiselle Stangerson was not
in a condition to have made suchan appeal, nor could she have locked
and bolted herself in her room.You must also remember that Missus Stangerson has
sworn that the door was not open, that however, is the only way
(11:24):
in which it can be explained.The yellow room was as closely shut as
an iron safe. To use yourown expression, it was impossible for the
murderer to make his escape, eithernaturally or supernaturally. When the room was
broken into. He was not there. He must therefore have escaped. That
(11:45):
does not follow. What do youmean there was no need for him to
escape if he was not there?Not there, evidently not. He could
not have been there if he werenot found there. But what about the
evidences of his presence? Asked thePresident. That, mister President, is
(12:09):
where we have taken hold of thewrong end. From the time Mademoiselle Stangerson
shut herself in the room to thetime her door was burst open, it
was impossible for the murderer to escape. He was not found because he was
not there during that time. Butthe evidences they have led us astray in
(12:30):
reasoning on this mystery. We mustnot take them to mean what they apparently
mean. Why do we conclude themurderer was there because he left his tracks
in the room? Good? Butmay he not have been there before the
room was locked? Nay, hemust have been there before. Let us
look into the matter of these traces, and see if they do not point
(12:54):
to my conclusion. After the publicationof the article in the and my conversation
with the examining magistrates on the journeyfrom Paris to Epinay, so Urge,
I was certain that the Yellow Roomhad been hermetically sealed, so to speak,
and that consequently the mergerer had escapedbefore Mademoiselle Stangerson had gone into her
(13:18):
chamber at midnight. At the time, I was much puzzled. Mademoiselle Stangerson
could not have been her own murderer, since the evidences pointed to some other
person. The assassin then had comebefore. If that were so, how
was it that Mademoiselle had been attackedafter, or rather that she appeared to
(13:41):
have been attacked after. It wasnecessary for me to reconstruct the occurrence and
make of it two phases, eachseparated from the other in time by the
space of several hours, one phasein which Mademoiselle's dangers had really been attacked,
the other face, in which thosewho heard her cries thought she was
(14:05):
being attacked. I had not thenexamined the Yellow Room. What were the
marks on Mademoiselle Stangerson, there weremarks of strangulation, and the wound from
a hard blow on the temple.The marks of strangulation did not interest me
much. They might have been madebefore, and Mademoiselle could have concealed them
(14:28):
by a coloret or any similar articleof a peril. I had to suppose
this the moment I was compelled toreconstruct the occurrence by two phases. Mademoiselle
Stangerson had no doubt her own reasonfor so doing, since she had told
her father nothing of it, andhad made it understood to the examining magistrate
(14:50):
that the attack had taken place inthe night. During the second phase,
she was forced to say that,otherwise her father would have questioned her as
to the reason for having said nothingabout it. But I could not explain
the blow on the temple. Iunderstood it even less when I learned that
the mutton bone had been found inher room. She could not hide the
(15:11):
fact that she had been struck onthe head. And yet that wound appeared
evidently to have been inflicted during thefirst phase, since it required the presence
of the murderer. I thought MademoiselleStangerson had hidden the wound by arranging her
hair in bands on her forehead.As to the mark of the hands on
(15:33):
the wall that had evidently been madeduring the first phase, when the mergerer
was really there, all the tracesof his presence had naturally been left during
the first phase, the mutton bone, the black footprint, the basque cap,
the handkerchief, the blood on wall, on the door, and on
the floor. If those traces werestill all there, they showed that Mademoiselle
(15:56):
Stangerson, who desired that nothing shouldbe known, had not had time yet
to clear them away. This ledme to the conclusion that the two phases
had taken place, one shortly afterthe other. She had not had the
opportunity, after leaving her room andgoing back to the laboratory to her father,
(16:18):
to get back again to her roomand put it in order. Her
father was all the time with her, working, so that after the first
phase she did not re enter herchamber till midnight. That Jacques was there
at ten o'clock, as he wasevery night, but he went in merely
to close the blinds and light thenight light. Owing to her disturbed state
(16:42):
of mind, she had forgotten thatthe Jacques would go into her room,
and had begged him not to troublehimself. All this was set forth in
the article in the matter that Jacquesdid go, however, and in the
dim light of the room nothing.Mademoiselle Stangerson must have lived some anxious moments
(17:04):
while Daddy Jacques was absent, butI think she was not aware that so
many evidences had been left. Aftershe had been attacked, she had only
time to hide the traces of theman's fingers on her neck and to hurry
to the laboratory. Had she knownof the bone, the cap, and
the handkerchief, she would have madeaway with them after she had gone back
(17:27):
to her chamber at midnight. Shedid not see them, and, undressed
by the uncertain glimmer of the nightlight, she went to bed, worn
out by anxiety and fear, afear that had made her remain in the
laboratory as late as possible. Myreasoning had thus brought me to the second
(17:48):
phase of the tragedy. When MademoiselleStangerson was alone in the room, I
had now to explain the revolver shotsfired during the second phase, cries of
help murder had been heard. Howto explain these As to the cries,
I was in no difficulty, sinceshe was alone in her room. These
(18:10):
could result from nightmare only. Myexplanation of the struggle and noise that were
heard is simply that in her nightmare, she was haunted by the terrible experience
she had passed through in the afternoon. In her dream, she sees the
murderer about to spring upon her,and she cries help murder. Her hand
(18:33):
wild beseeks the revolver she had placedwithin her reach on the night table by
the side of her bed, buther hand striking the table overturns it,
and the revolver, falling to thefloor, discharges itself. The bullet lodging
in the ceiling. I knew fromthe first that the bullet in the ceiling
must have resulted from an accident.Its very position suggested an accident to my
(18:57):
mind, and so fell was mytheory of a nightmare. I no longer
doubted that the attack had taken placebefore Mademoiselle had retired for the night.
After wakening from her frightful dream andcrying aloud for help, she had fainted.
My theory, based on the evidenceof the shots that were heard at
(19:18):
midnight demanded two shots, one whichwounded the murderer at the time of his
attack, and one fired at thetime of the nightmare. The evidence given
by the berniers before the examining Magistratewas to the effect that only one shot
had been heard. Missus Stangerson testifiedto hearing a dull sound first, followed
(19:44):
by a sharp ringing sound. Thedull sound I explained by the falling of
the marble topped table. The ringingsound was the shot from the revolver.
I was now convinced I was right. The shot that had wanted the hand
of the murderer and had caused itto bleed so that he left the bloody
imprint on the wall was fired byMademoiselle in self defense before the second phase,
(20:08):
when she had been really attacked.The shot in the ceiling which the
bernieis heard, was the accidental shotduring the nightmare. I had now to
explain the wounds on the temple.It was not severe enough to have been
made by means of the mutton bone, and Mademoiselle had not attempted to hide
(20:29):
it. It must have been madeduring the second phase. It was to
find this out that I went tothe Yellow room, and I obtained my
answer. There. Rouletabay drew apiece of white folded paper from his pocket
and drew out of it an almostinvisible object, which he held between his
thumb and forefinger. This, misterPresident, he said, is a here,
(20:55):
a blonde hair stained with blood.It is a hare from the head
of Mademoiselle Stangerson. I found itsticking to one of the corners of the
overturned table. The corner of thetable was itself stained with blood, a
tiny stain, hardly visible. Butit told me that, on rising from
her bed, Mademoiselle Stangerson had fallenheavily and had struck her head on the
(21:21):
corner of its marble top. Istill had to learn, in addition to
the name of the assassin, whichI did later the time of the original
attack. I learned this from theexamination of Mademoiselle Stangerson and her father.
Though the answers given by the formerwere well calculated to deceive the examining magistrate,
(21:45):
Mademoiselle Stangerson had stated very minutely howshe had spent the whole of her
time that day. We established thefact that the murderer had introduced himself into
the pavilion between five and six o'clock. At a quarter past six, the
professor and his daughter had resumed theirwork. At five, the professor had
(22:07):
been with his daughter, and sincethe attack took place in the professor's absence
from his daughter, I had tofind out just when he left her.
The professor had stated that at thetime when he and his daughter were about
to re enter the laboratory, hewas met by the keeper and held in
conversation about the cutting of some woodand the poachers. Mademoiselle Dangerson was not
(22:34):
with him then, Since the Professorsaid, I left the keeper and rejoin
my daughter, who was at workin the laboratory, it was during that
short interval of time that the tragedytook place. That is certain in my
mind's eye, I saw Mademoiselle Dangersonre enter the pavilion, go to her
(22:55):
room to take off her hat,and find herself faced by the murderer.
He had been in the pavilion forsome time waiting for her. He had
arranged to pass the whole night there. He had taken off that Dejacque's boots,
He had removed the papers from thecabinet and had then slipped under the
bed. Finding the time long,he had risen, gone again into the
(23:18):
laboratory, then into the vestibule,looked into the garden, and had seen
coming towards the pavilion Mademoiselle Stangerson alone. He would never have dared to attack
her at that hour if he hadnot found her alone. His mind was
made up. He would be moreat ease alone with Mademoiselle Stangerson in the
(23:40):
pavilion than he would have been inthe middle of the night with dead de
Jacques sleeping in the attic. Sohe shut the vestibule window. That explains
why neither Mademoiselle Stangerson nor the keeper, who were at some distance from the
pavilion, had heard the revolver shot. Then he went back to the yellow
(24:00):
room. Mademoiselle Stangerson came in.What passed must have taken place very quickly.
Mademoiselle tried to call for help,but the man had seized her by
the throat. Her hand had stoughtand grasped the revolver, which she had
been keeping in the drawer of hernight table since she had come to fear
the threats of her pursuer. Themurderer was about to strike her on the
(24:23):
head with the mutton bone, aterrible weapon in the hands of a lexan
or ball mayer, but she firedin time, and the shot wounded the
hand that held the weapon. Thebone fell to the floor, covered with
the blood of the murderer, whostaggered, clutched at the wall for support
in printing on it the red marks, and hearing another bullet fled, She
(24:48):
saw him pass through the laboratory andlistened. He was long at the window.
At length he jumped from it.She flew to it and shut it.
The danger passed. All her thoughtswere of her father, had he
either seen nor heard. At anycost to herself, she must keep this
(25:08):
from him. Thus, when MissusStangerson returned, he found the door of
the Yellow room closed, his daughterin the laboratory, bending over her desk
at work, turning towards Monsie Darzac, Rouletabill cried, you know the truth,
tell us then, if that isnot how things happened, I don't
(25:30):
know anything about it, replied monsterDarzac. I admire you for your silence,
said Rouletabille. But if Mademoiselle Stangersonknew of your danger. She would
release you from your oath. Shewould beg of you to tell all she
has confided to you. She wouldbe here to defend you. Monsie Darzac
made no movement nor utter the word. He looked at Rouletabill sadly, however,
(25:59):
said the younger Porter, since MademoiselleDangerson is not here, I must
do it myself. But believe me, Monsieur Darzac, the only means to
save Mademoiselle Stangerson and restore her toher reason is to secure your acquittal.
What is this secret motive that compelsMademoiselle Stangerson to hide her knowledge from her
(26:19):
father? Asked the President that Monsieur, I do not know, said Rouletabille.
It is no business of mine.The President, turning to Monsieur Darzac,
endeavored to induce him to tell whathe knew. Do you still refuse,
monsieur, to tell us how youemployed your time during the attempts on
(26:41):
the life of Mademoiselle Dangerson. Icannot tell you anything, monsieur. The
President turned to Rouletabille, as ifappealing for an explanation. We must assume,
Monsieur President, that Monsieur ro BerDarzac's absences are closely conne with Mademoiselle
Dangerson's secret, and that monsie Darzacfeels himself in honor bound to remain silent.
(27:07):
It may be that Larson, whosince his three attempts, has had
everything in training to cast suspicion onMonsieur Darzac, had fixed on just those
occasions for a meeting with Monsieur Darzacat a spot most compromising. Laarson is
cunning enough to have done that.The President seemed partly convinced, but still
(27:32):
curious. He asked, but whatis this secret of Mademoiselle Dangerson that I
cannot tell? You, said Rouletabille. I think, however, you know
enough now to acquit Monsieur ber Darzac, unless Lazan should return, and I
don't think he will, he addedwith a laugh. One question more,
(27:55):
said the President, admitting your explanation. We know that Laxan wished to turn
suspicion on Monsieur Berdarzac, but whyshould he throw suspicion on Daddi Jacques.
Also there came in the professional detectiveMonsieur, who proves himself an unraveler of
mysteries by annihilating the very proofs hehad accumulated. He is a very cunning
(28:19):
man, and this similar trick hadoften enabled him to turn suspicion from himself.
He proved the innocence of one beforeaccusing the other. You can easily
believe, Monsieur, that so complicateda scheme as this must have been long
and carefully thought out in advance byLarsan. I can tell you that he
(28:41):
had been long engaged in its elaboration. If you care to learn how he
had gathered information, you will findthat he had, on one occasion disguised
himself as the commissionaire between the laboratoryof de Sorte and Monsieur Stangerson, of
whom experiments or demanded. In thisway he had been able before the crime,
(29:03):
on two occasions to take stock ofthe pavilion. He had made up
so that that de Jacques had notrecognized him, And yet Larsan had found
the opportunity to rob the old manof a pair of old boots and a
cast off basque camp, which theservant had tied up in a handkerchief,
with the intention of carrying them toa friend, a charcoal burner on the
(29:29):
road to Epinay, when the crimewas discovered that Jacques had immediately recognized these
objects as his. They were extremelycompromising, which explains his distress at the
time. When we spoke to himabout them, Larsan confessed it all to
me. He is an artist atthe game. He did a similar thing
(29:51):
in the affair of the credeu niVersailles and in that of the gold ingates
of the mint. Both these casesshould be revised. Since ball Major or
Larson has been in the curte anumber of innocent persons have been sent to
prison. End of Chapter twenty seven, Part B
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