第 39 节
作者:温暖寒冬      更新:2021-02-19 17:35      字数:9322
  certain parties in the case demand that we should take that course。
  Our readers may remember the unsigned reports we published relating
  to the 'Left foot of the Rue Oberkampf;' at the time of the famous
  robbery of the Credit Universel; and the famous case of the 'Gold
  Ingots of the Mint。'  In both those cases we were able to discover
  the truth long before even the excellent ingenuity of Frederic
  Larsan had been able to unravel it。  These reports were written by
  our youngest reporter; Joseph Rouletabille; a youth of eighteen;
  whose fame to…morrow will be world…wide。  When attention was first
  drawn to the Glandier case; our youthful reporter was on the spot
  and installed in the chateau; when every other representative of
  the press had been denied admission。  He worked side by side with
  Frederic Larsan。  He was amazed and terrified at the grave mistake
  the celebrated detective was about to make; and tried to divert
  him from the false scent he was following; but the great Fred
  refused to receive instructions from this young journalist。  We
  know now where it brought Monsieur Robert Darzac。
  〃But now; France must know … the whole world must know; that; on
  the very evening on which Monsieur Darzac was arrested; young
  Rouletabille entered our editorial office and informed us that he
  was about to go away on a journey。  'How long I shall be away;'
  he said; 'I cannot say; perhaps a month … perhaps two … perhaps
  three perhaps I may never return。  Here is a letter。  If I am not
  back on the day on which Monsieur Darzac is to appear before the
  Assize Court; have this letter opened and read to the court; after
  all the witnesses have been heard。  Arrange it with Monsieur Darzac's
  counsel。  Monsieur Darzac is innocent。  In this letter is written
  the name of the murderer; and … that is all I have to say。  I am
  leaving to get my proofs … for the irrefutable evidence of the
  murderer's guilt。'  Our reporter departed。  For a long time we
  were without news from him; but; a week ago; a stranger called
  upon our manager and said: 'Act in accordance with the instructions
  of Joseph Rouletabille; if it becomes necessary to do so。  The
  letter left by him holds the truth。' The gentleman who brought us
  this message would not give us his name。
  〃To…day; the 15th of January; is the day of the trial。  Joseph
  Rouletabille has not returned。  It may be we shall never see him
  again。  The press also counts its heroes; its martyrs to duty。  It
  may be he is no longer living。  We shall know how to avenge him。
  Our manager will; this afternoon; be at the Court of Assize at
  Versailles; with the letter … the letter containing the name of
  the murderer!〃
  Those Parisians who flocked to the Assize Court at Versailles; to
  be present at the trial of what was known as the 〃Mystery of The
  Yellow Room;〃 will certainly remember the terrible crush at the
  Saint…Lazare station。  The ordinary trains were so full that special
  trains had to be made up。  The article in the 〃Epoque〃 had so
  excited the populace that discussion was rife everywhere even to
  the verge of blows。  Partisans of Rouletabille fought with the
  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;
  he 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