the police as he had eluded them throughout the whole of his career。
Ballmeyer was the best specimen of the high…class 〃gentleman
swindler。〃 He was adept at sleight of hand tricks； and no bolder
or more ruthless crook ever lived。 He was received in the best
society； and was a member of some of the most exclusive clubs。 On
many of his depredatory expeditions he had not hesitated to use
the knife and the mutton…bone。 No difficulty stopped him and no
〃operation〃 was too dangerous。 He had been caught； but escaped
on the very morning of his trial； by throwing pepper into the
eyes of the guards who were conducting him to Court。 It was known
later that； in spite of the keen hunt after him by the most expert
of detectives； he had sat that same evening at a first performance
in the Theatre Francais； without the slightest disguise。
He left France； later； to 〃work〃 America； The police there
succeeded in capturing him once； but the extraordinary man escaped
the next day。 It would need a volume to recount the adventures of
this master…criminal。 And yet this was the man Rouletabille had
allowed to get away！ Knowing all about him and who he was； he
afforded the criminal an opportunity for another laugh at the
society he had defied！ I could not help admiring the bold stroke
of the young journalist； because I felt certain his motive had been
to protect both Mademoiselle Stangerson and rid Darzac of an enemy
at the same time。
The crowd had barely recovered from the effect of the astonishing
revelation when the hearing was resumed。 The question in everybody's
mind was： Admitting that Larsan was the murderer； how did he get out
of The Yellow Room？
Rouletabille was immediately called to the bar and his examination
continued。
〃You have told us；〃 said the President； 〃that it was impossible to
escape from the end of the court。 Since Larsan was leaning out of
his window； he had left the court。 How did he do that？〃
〃He escaped by a most unusual way。 He climbed the wall； sprang
onto the terrace； and； while we were engaged with the keeper's body；
reached the gallery by the window。 He then had little else to do
than to open the window； get in and call out to us； as if he had
just come from his own room。 To a man of Ballmeyer's strength all
that was mere child's play。 And here； Monsieur； is the proof of
what I say。〃
Rouletabille drew from his pocket a small packet； from which he
produced a strong iron peg。
〃This； Monsieur；〃 he said； 〃is a spike which perfectly fits a hole
still to be seen in the cornice supporting the terrace。 Larsan；
who thought and prepared for everything in case of any emergency；
had fixed this spike into the cornice。 All he had to do to make
his escape good was to plant one foot on a stone which is placed
at the corner of the chateau； another on this support； one hand
on the cornice of the keeper's door and the other on the terrace；
and Larsan was clear of the ground。 The rest was easy。 His acting
after dinner as if he had been drugged was make believe。 He was
not drugged； but he did drug me。 Of course he had to make it
appear as if he also had been drugged so that no suspicion should
fall on him for my condition。 Had I not been thus overpowered；
Larsan would never have entered Mademoiselle Stangerson's chamber
that night； and the attack on her would not have taken place。〃
A groan came from Darzac； who appeared to be unable to control
his suffering。
〃You can understand；〃 added Rouletabile； 〃that Larsan would feel
himself hampered from the fact that my room was so close to his； and
from a suspicion that I would be on the watch that night。 Naturally；
he could not for a moment believe that I suspected him！ But I might
see him leaving his room when he was about to go to Mademoiselle
Stangerson。 He waited till I was asleep； and my friend Sainclair
was busy trying to rouse me。 Ten minutes after that Mademoiselle
was calling out； 〃Murder！〃
〃How did you come to suspect Larsan？〃 asked the President。
〃My pure reason pointed to him。 That was why I watched him。 But
I did not foresee the drugging。 He is very cunning。 Yes； my pure
reason pointed to him； but I required tangible proof so that my
eyes could see him as my pure reason saw him。〃
〃What do you mean by your pure reason？〃
〃That power of one's mind which admits of no disturbing elements
to a conclusion。 The day following the incident of 'the
inexplicable gallery；' I felt myself losing control of it。 I had
allowed myself to be diverted by fallacious evidence； but I
recovered and again took hold of the right end。 I satisfied myself
that the murderer could not have left the gallery； either naturally
or supernaturally。 I narrowed the field of consideration to that
small circle； so to speak。 The murderer could not be outside that
circle。 Now who was in it？ There was； first； the murderer。 Then
there were Daddy Jacques； Monsieur Stangerson； Frederic Larsan； and
myself。 Five persons in all； counting in the murderer。 And yet；
in the gallery； there were but four。 Now since it had been
demonstrated to me that the fifth could not have escaped； it was
evident that one of the four present in the gallery must be a double
… he must be himself and the murderer also。 Why had I not seen
this before？ Simply because the phenomenon of the double personality
had not occurred before in this inquiry。
〃Now who of the four persons in the gallery was both that person
and the assassin？ I went over in my mind what I had seen。 I had
seen at one and the same time； Monsieur Stangerson and the murderer；
Daddy Jacques and the murderer； myself and the murderer； so that
the murderer； then； could not be either Monsieur Stangerson； Daddy
Jacques； or myself。 Had I seen Frederic Larsan and the murderer
at the same time？ … No！ … Two seconds had passed； during which I
lost sight of the murderer； for； as I have noted in my papers； he
arrived two seconds before Monsieur Stangerson； Daddy Jacques； and
myself at the meeting…point of the two galleries。 That would have
given Larsan time to go through the 'off…turning' gallery； snatch
off his false beard； return； and hurry with us as if； like us； in
pursuit of the murderer。 I was sure now I had got hold of the
right end in my reasoning。 With Frederic Larsan was now always
associated； in my mind； the personality of the unknown of whom I
was in pursuit … the murderer； in other words。
〃That revelation staggered me。 I tried to regain my balance by
going over the evidences previously traced； but which had diverted
my mind and led me away from Frederic Larsan。 What were these
evidences？
〃1st。 I had seen the unknown in Mademoiselle Stangerson's chamber。
On going to Frederic Larsan's room； I had found Larsan sound asleep。
〃2nd。 The ladder。
〃3rd。 I had placed Frederic Larsan at the end of the 'off…turning'
gallery and had told him that I would rush into Mademoiselle
Stangerson's room to try to capture the murderer。 Then I returned
to Mademoiselle Stangerson's chamber where I had seen the unknown。
〃The first evidence did not disturb me much。 It is likely that；
when I descended from my ladder； after having seen the unknown in
Mademoiselle Stangerson's chamber； Larsan had already finished what
he was doing there。 Then； while I was re…entering the chateau；
Larsan went back to his own room and； undressing himself； went to
sleep。
〃Nor did the second evidence trouble me。 If Larsan were the
murderer； he could have no use for a ladder； but the ladder might
have been placed there to give an appearance to the murderer's
entrance from without the chateau； especially as Larsan had accused
Darzac and Darzac was not in the chateau that night。 Further； the
ladder might have been placed there to facilitate Larsan's flight
in case of absolute necessity。
〃But the third evidence puzzled me altogether。 Having placed Larsan
at the end of the 'off…turning gallery；' I could not explain how he
had taken advantage of the moment when I had gone to the left wing
of the chateau to find Monsieur Stangerson and Daddy Jacques； to
return 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 nearly captured。 He had not had time to regain his post；
as he had certainly hoped to do。 He had then a very strong reason
for returning to his room。 As for myself； when I sent Daddy Jacques
to the end of the 'right gallery；' I naturally thought that Larsan
was still at his post。 Daddy Jacques； in going to his post； had not
looked； when he passed； to see whether Larsan was at his post or not。
〃What； then； was the urgent reason which had compelled Larsan to
go to the room a second time？ I guessed it to be some evidence of
his presence there。 He had left something very important in that
room。 What was it？ And had he recovered it？ I begged Madame
Bernier who was accustomed to clean the room to look； and she found
a pair of eye…glasses … this pair； Monsieur President！〃
And Rouletabille drew the eye…glasses； of which we know； from his
pocket。
〃When I saw these eye…glasses；〃 he continued； 〃I was utterly
nonplussed。 I had never seen Larsan wear eye…glasses。 What did
they mean？ Suddenly I exclaimed to myself： 'I wonder if he is
long。sighted？' I had never seen Larsan write。 He might； then； be
long…sighted。 They would certainly know at the Surete； and also
know if the glasses were his。 Such evidence would be damning。
That explained Larsan's return。 I know now that Larsan； or
Ballmeyer； is long…sighted and that these glasses belonged to him。
〃I now made one mistake。 I was not satisfied with 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 Larsan go to Mademoiselle
Stangerson's room； at all？ Why should he twice attempt to murder
her？〃
〃Because he loves her； Monsieur President。〃
〃That is certainly a reason； but…〃
〃It is the only reason。 He was madly in love； and because of that；
nd … other things； he was capable of committing any crime。〃
〃Did Mademoiselle Stang