Page:Mystery of the Yellow Room (Grosset Dunlap 1908).djvu/277

 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 Frédéric Larsan, who has seen me at work at the Glandier, can tell you with what care I studied this