按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
a greater cunning than his so that if the man should come that
night； he might not for a moment suspect that his coming had been
expected。 Certainly！ I would allow him to get in far enough； so
that； dead or alive； I might see his face clearly！ He must be got
rid of。 Mademoiselle Stangerson must be freed from this continual
impending danger。
〃Yes； my boy；〃 said Rouletabille； after placing his pipe on the
table； and emptying his mug of cider； 〃I must see his face
distinctly； so as to make sure to impress it on that part of my
brain where I have drawn my circle of reasoning。〃
The landlady re…appeared at that moment； bringing in the
traditional bacon omelette。 Rouletabille chaffed her a little； and
she took the chaff with the most charming good humour。
〃She is much jollier when Daddy Mathieu is in bed with his
rheumatism；〃 Rouletabille said to me。
But I had eyes neither for Rouletabille nor for the landlady's
smiles。 I was entirely absorbed over the last words of my young
friend and in thinking over Monsieur Robert Darzac's strange
behaviour。
When he had finished his omelette and we were again alone；
Rouletabille continued the tale of his confidences。
〃When I sent you my telegram this morning；〃 he said； 〃I had only
the word of Monsieur Darzac； that 'perhaps' the assassin would
come to…night。 I can now say that he will certainly come。 I
expect him。〃
〃What has made you feel this certainty？〃
〃I have been sure since half…past ten o'clock this morning that he
would come。 I knew that before we saw Arthur Rance at the window
in the court。〃
〃Ah！〃 I said； 〃But； again … what made you so sure？ And why since
half…past ten this morning？〃
〃Because； at half…past ten； I had proof that Mademoiselle Stangerson
was making as many efforts to permit of the murderer's entrance as
Monsieur Robert Darzac had taken precautions against it。〃
〃Is that possible！〃 I cried。 〃Haven't you told me that Mademoiselle
Stangerson loves Monsieur Robert Darzac？〃
〃I told you so because it is the truth。〃
〃Then do you see nothing strange …〃
〃Everything in this business is strange； my friend； but take my word
for it； the strangeness you now feel is nothing to the strangeness
that's to come！〃
〃It must be admitted； then；〃 I said； 〃that Mademoiselle Stangerson
and her murderer are in communication … at any rate in writing？〃
〃Admit it； my friend； admit it！ You don't risk anything！ I told
you about the letter left on her table； on the night of the
inexplicable gallery affair； … the letter that disappeared into
the pocket of Mademoiselle Stangerson。 Why should it not have been
a summons to a meeting？ Might he not； as soon as he was sure of
Darzac's absence； appoint the meeting for 'the coming night？〃
And my friend laughed silently。 There are moments when I ask
myself if he is not laughing at me。
The door of the inn opened。 Rouletabille was on his feet so
suddenly that one might have thought he had received an electric
shock。
〃Mr。 Arthur Rance！〃 he cried。
Mr。 Arthur Rance stood before us calmly bowing。
CHAPTER XX
An Act of Mademoiselle Stangerson
〃You remember me； Monsieur？〃 asked Rouletabile。
〃Perfectly！〃 replied Arthur Rance。 〃I recognise you as the lad at
the bar。 ＇The face of Rouletabille crimsoned at being called a
〃lad。〃＇ I want to shake hands with you。 You are a bright little
fellow。〃
The American extended his hand and Rouletabille； relaxing his frown；
shook it and introduced Mr。 Arthur Rance to me。 He invited him to
share our meal。
〃No thanks。 I breakfasted with Monsieur Stangerson。〃
Arthur Rance spoke French perfectly； … almost without an accent。
〃I did not expect to have the pleasure of seeing you again；
Monsieur。 I thought you were to have left France the day after the
reception at the Elysee。〃
Rouletabille and I； outwardly indifferent； listened most intently
for every word the American would say。
The man's purplish red face； his heavy eyelids； the nervous
twitchings； all spoke of his addiction to drink。 How came it that
so sorry a specimen of a man should be so intimate with Monsieur
Stangerson？
Some days later； I learned from Frederic Larsan … who； like
ourselves； was surprised and mystified by his appearance and
reception at the chateau … that Mr。 Rance had been an inebriate
for only about fifteen years； that is to say； since the professor
and his daughter left Philadelphia。 During the time the Stangersons
lived in America they were very intimate with Arthur Rance； who was
one of the most distinguished phrenologists of the new world。 Owing
to new experiments； he had made enormous strides beyond the science
of Gall and Lavater。 The friendliness with which he was received at
the Glandier may be explained by the fact that he had once rendered
Mademoiselle Stangerson a great service by stopping； at the peril of
his own life； the runaway horses of her carriage。 The immediate
result of that could； however； have been no more than a mere
friendly association with the Stangersons； certainly； not a love
affair。
Frederic Larsan did not tell me where he had picked up this
information； but he appeared to be quite sure of what he said。
Had we known these facts at the time Arthur Rance met us at the
Donjon Inn； his presence at the chateau might not have puzzled us；
but they could not have failed to increase our interest in the man
himself。 The American must have been at least forty…five years old。
He spoke in a perfectly natural tone in reply to Rouletabille's
question。
〃I put off my return to America when I heard of the attack on
Mademoiselle Stangerson。 I wanted to be certain the lady had not
been killed； and I shall not go away until she is perfectly
recovered。〃
Arthur Rance then took the lead in talk； paying no heed to some of
Rouletabille's questions。 He gave us； without our inviting him； his
personal views on the subject of the tragedy； … views which； as well
as I could make out； were not far from those held by Frederic Larzan。
The American also thought that Robert Darzac had something to do
with the matter。 He did not mention him by name； but there was no
room to doubt whom he meant。 He told us he was aware of the efforts
young Rouletabille was making to unravel the tangled skein of The
Yellow Room mystery。 He explained that Monsieur Stangerson had
related to him all that had taken place in the inexplicable gallery。
He several times expressed his regret at Monsieur Darzac's absence
from the chateau on all these occasions； and thought that Monsieur
Darzac had done cleverly in allying himself with Monsieur Joseph
Rouletabille； who could not fail； sooner or later； to discover the
murderer。 He spoke the last sentence with unconcealed irony。 Then
he rose； bowed to us； and left the inn。
Rouletabille watched him through the window。
〃An odd fish； that！〃 he said。
〃Do you think he'll pass the night at the Glandier？〃 I asked。
To my amazement the young reporter answered that it was a matter
of entire indifference to him whether he did or not。
As to how we spent our time during the afternoon； all I need say is
that Rouletabille led me to the g