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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；〃 s