Original subtitles

An Osso Films production

Sound recording: Antoine Archambault, using the RCA Photophone process

Cinematography: L�once-Henri Burel, Nikolai Toporkoff

Production Design: Lucien Jaquelux, Lazare Meerson, Andr� Barsacq

Directed by Marcel L'Herbier

Assistant Director: Georges Lampin, Suzanne Vial

Edited by Jacques Manuel and Marguerite Beaug�

Starring Huguette Duflos � Mathilde Stangerson

Kissa Kouprine - The Maid

Maxime Desjardins - The Professor

Marcel Vibert � The Inspector

Edmond Van Da�le � The Fianc�

Pierre Juvenet � The Judge

Charles Redgie � The Gamekeeper

Henri Kerny � The Butler

with L�on Beli�re � The Journalist

and Roland Toutain � Rouletabille

This film is based on the celebrated novel by Gaston Leroux

The Mystery of the Yellow Room

The press is requested to please wait here for a few moments

Professor Stangerson, in recognition of your valuable work...

the government names you Commander of the Legion of Honor...

I'm sorry to have to tell you this, gentlemen...

...but Professor Stangerson does not like to give interviews

...offer my heartfelt thanks

And absolutely no photos!

No, no, sir! Who gave you permission?

Let's see who it is!

Ah, Mr. Darzac!

Rouletabille!

Joseph Rouletabille, Assistant Reporter, L'Epoque

Really, sir! Is this some kind of joke?

Mr. Darzac, we know that you are engaged to Professor Stangerson's daughter!

Your paper is very well informed!

Not at all; your wedding is quite an event! --- You don't say!

My paper would like any photos of the famous Professor Stangerson's son-in-law!

Father, I'm so happy! I'm so proud of you!

Recognition at last, Mathilde! And I owe it to you

Thanks to your brilliant help and devotion

No, Father. --- It's true.

Ah, what will I do without you?

Papa!

Oh, Robert, where have you been?

I went to fend off the reporters.

Your father hates all this publicity.

Congratulations. Your charms work on everyone

Let's dance, Robert, shall we?

Alright, Papa?

Mademoiselle, could you say a few words regarding your work?

Well, Rouletabille, what did she say?

The scent of the lady in black...

What did he mean by that?

He sure leaves his public hanging!

Robert, you can't be glum when I'm so happy!

Your father hates me.

No, no, Robert.

Oh, I was forgetting! You spoil me, Robert!

Spoil you?

Yes � the camellias! They're so beautiful!

I'm sorry, Mathilde, but I didn't send them.

You didn't? --- No, I wish I had!

What's wrong, Mathilde?

Robert, I must speak to you. --- Where? How?

Come, Mathilde, come.

What does that mean, 'The scent of the lady in black'?

Mathilde, what has upset you?

This letter says terrible things!

What does it say?

�The vicarage has not lost its charm, nor the garden its brightness!�

Can it be...?

Mathilde, to keep you, I would commit...

No one has seen Mr. Sainclair yet!

Who's Mr. Sainclair?

News editor at L'Epoque � Rouletabille's boss!

Oh, the most precise man in the world!

I believe that this handkerchief belongs to you, Mademoiselle

Quite so, sir. Thank you.

You're leaving already?

Yes, my father and I have work to do at our estate at Glandier.

Is it far away? --- Fifty kilometers away, in the countryside.

We have some work to finish this evening.

Yes, that's true! It's your last evening with him.

Good night, sir.

Good evening, Mr. Sainclair!

I've come for an interview with Professor Stangerson!

You're too early. --- Too early?

He's still here!

Oh, you're joking! Actually, I'm two days early.

I've already got my story written on Mlle Stangerson's wedding

Listen: �Glandier's delightful chapel could not hold the throng of friends -�

Mlle Stangerson will not marry Mr. Darzac

You and your jokes!

�...friends of Professor Stangerson, his daughter, and Mr. Robert Darzac...

...the renowned engineer whose brilliant career...'

I repeat: Mlle Stangerson will not marry Mr. Darzac.

Cursed animal! Get out! Get out!

Beware! Beware! The Green Man is coming!

Beware! Beware!

Here comes the Green Man!

Halt!

Hey there - it's me! Reggie!

Oh, the gamekeeper!

Have you nothing better to do than come here frightening people?

Mr. Darzac had me get his gun ready.

He's coming tomorrow to hunt that demon cat!

You and your tall tales, Mr. Reggie.

You think that he'll be hunting tomorrow? They're getting married the next day!

They're back

I'm coming! I'm coming!

Finally!

Look Jacques!

Oh, Sir, it's like a picture-book!

Why are you retiring so early? Are you sick?

No, Father, I'm fine, really!

Alright, Jacques... now, what are you looking for?

Nothing, sir, nothing!

Now a storm!

What is it? Is something wrong?

Oh, no, Father, I'm fine!

It's so nice to be home.

Oh, Jacques, be careful!

It's this thunder, sir!

I'll take you to your room, Mathilde

No, no, father

I'll go alone - I'm not afraid

Ah, it's you, Marie!

The room is ready.

I've closed the shutters and barred the window

Is there anything else?

No, Marie

You may go

I'll go up to the chateau to change, and then I'll come right back

No, father, be reasonable

You need rest, and it's so late

It's half past eleven!

Do it for me � get some rest!

Have you lost something?

My head, sir. --- Come!

Hurry --- Yes, sir

My God!

Professor, it's midnight! You must get some rest

Help! Help!

Mathilde! It's me! Open the door, Mathilde, it's me!

He's killed her! --- I'll go for help!

Help! --- What's wrong?

Mademoiselle has been killed!

You two, stay here! Watch the window - the killer can't escape that way

The Professor is guarding the door.

The Yellow Room! Go up!

Well? --- The window never budged

Then he can't have escaped

There are only 2 exits: the window and the door

She's alive! She's alive!

Oh, Sir! What about the killer?

I've looked everywhere, I didn't see anyone

Check the window.

She's in pain

He couldn't have escaped by the window; you see, it's barred from the inside

Not by the door, either � it's locked from the inside

Besides, we never left the door!

Then he must be here!

Maybe under the bed?

At any rate, he had big feet

Look, he wore clogs!

Clogs?

Look, his revolver!

Why, it's Old Jacques' revolver!

It IS my revolver!

He's about to faint!

It's no use, gentlemen, no one is allowed in

Whose orders? --- The examining judge

Well, your examining judge needs his head examined!

Doesn't matter, Ma'am, we have our orders

This is ridiculous! We've been stuck for 3 days outside this gate!

No, no, I don't know anything! Let me pass!

Sir, how is Miss Stangerson?

A bit better. The fever is going down. But no one can question her yet.

Chef, can you give me any fresh news on Mademoiselle Stangerson?

Ah, Rouletabille, so you finally made it!

Well, I broke down on the way.

So I've heard. Pity it wasn't inside.

I'm from L'Epoque � can I go in?

Nobody is allowed in.

Not even me? --- Who are you?

Joseph Rouletabille! --- Never heard of you.

You've never heard of Rouletabille?

What do they teach you at the police academy?

Do you know who's handling the case?

Frederic Larsan himself!

Really? Big Fred himself?

Then we'll get somewhere! He's a great man

Yes, it's fantastic! But meanwhile, we're stuck!

Larsan hates journalists!

He's no friend of ours on the inside.

Rouletabille, this is a job for a youngster

I understand, chief

It's the inspector. --- Someone from the police.

We certainly needed to call in this Larsan

What a bore!

From what I've seen already, this business is hopelessly complicated

It sure is, sir.

Inspector

Professor, you can count on me completely.

Thank you, Mr. Larsan.

Mr. Larsan? --- How do you do?

We are entirely at your service

I don't know if this a crime of passion, but it's passionately exciting!

You've left everything as it was?

Of course. I've questioned the servants and put their statements in this report

Oh, sorry, small error � here you are

I'll read it later

Professor, could you please show me this �Yellow Room�?

Of course

Would you like me to come? --- No, you stay

I need to see the Professor alone

But... --- It's necessary for my inquiries.

Very well � do what you think best.

So it was here that the attack on your poor daughter took place?

Poor thing! Half strangled and a wound on her forehead!

Quite a problem � how did the attacker get out of a room sealed from the inside?

There isn't even a chimney

True

The attacker left footprints, you see

Very clear. I'd say he was wearing clogs

Well, well!

Forgive me, Professor, but I have something to ask you:

Exactly where were you at the time of the crime?

In my laboratory. It was midnight. Old Jacques was with me.

Good. And when your daughter screamed � you rushed immediately to the door?

Naturally. I didn't leave the spot.

And when it was opened, you found the window fastened on the inside.

Exactly.

Well then, the man could only have left by the door.

But... but I've told you � I never left for a moment!

They don't rule each other out

What are you insinuating, Inspector?

Forgive me, but even the most honest man can find himself in a certain situation...

But I deny any such thing! I deny it!

...I was about to say ...unwittingly complicit

What do you mean? Do I understand you correctly -

Yes. It's my duty to suspect everything...

...and everyone.

Gamekeeper

Go on � answer when you're called!

Come along, gamekeeper...

I want to talk to you. Your full name?

Reggie Stanton, former captain, U.S. Army.

I knew the Stangersons when they lived there

I was flat broke -

That will do. Now, as to your statement:

You were outside, and you heard a shot;

Next, Mlle Stangerson's scream, then...

Excuse me...Mlle Stangerson's scream...

...followed by a short silence!

Oh, come now! � Yes, but we must be accurate

...followed by a short silence

Then another scream and a sound of furniture falling, and finally a third cry

Exactly

Fine, thank you

Instead of thanking him, you should ask him why he was outside the window...

...fully dressed, at half past midnight on the night of the crime!

Reggie, you hear what he says. How do you respond?

I was cleaning Mr. Darzac's gun

Did you do what I asked?

Yes. We've established that the night of the crime...

...Mr. Darzac did not come home until early in the morning

Excuse me � exactly 5:00 AM

Silence!

Mr. Larsan --- Yes?

I have a parcel for you

Who brought it?

I didn't know him

Give it to me

What the devil? --- What's going on?

Listen

Yes, that's funny

There's a ticking clock in this parcel

It's a bomb!

Everyone calm down!

Judge, will you help me open this parcel?

I really can't

Professional duty?

Grandier, give Mr. Larsan a hand

But, but �-- Oh, come now!

Now, that's odd!

My watch!

Oh, it's yours, eh?

Now, now

Those are Old Jacques' clogs! --- It's true

Why they are my clogs!

Thank you

I'm pleased to deliver to Mr. Larsan the killer's clogs

Young man, the person who gave you this parcel, is he still outside?

I believe so

Send him up. --� Yes, tell him to come up

There was nothing but this vest

What? But where has he gone?

That's quite an entrance!

It was the most direct route

You've got a nerve!

I do my best

Don't you know that the chateau is off-limits to reporters?

Quite! Off-limits!

Yes, that's true! --- How did you get in?

At the same time you did!

The same time as me! Did someone let you in?

When you're with Mr. Larsan, you can go anywhere!

Thank you very much

Well now, what are you doing here?

While you were working in here, I poked around outside a bit

I found this big watch which belonged to the butler

They wrapped it in my vest so we couldn't hear it

And these clogs?

The killer's clogs

No. The killer stole them to throw suspicion on this poor fellow.

Oh, thank you, sir!

And that's why my revolver went missing too!

No

The revolver is a different matter. We'll see later

Mr. Rouletabille, you seem to have overheard our questioning here

It's not my fault. Sound rises up the chimney

Yes, and you came down by the chimney, eh?

Why?

I was checking the roof for a secret trap door in the ceiling.

The killer could have used it...

And naturally, there was one!

No. There wasn't

There wasn't?

No. But if you like, Mr. Larsan, you could use that route!

Let's get back to the clogs

Where are the footprints of the killer?

This way, Mr. Larsan

This way

Here are the prints. They go from here straight to the bridge

Look, this is where the killer took off the stolen clogs.

He tossed them here, in this bush, then made off

Look, there are his footprints: a narrow shoe with rubber heels

Bring me the evidence --- Yes, sir

You enjoy a good mystery, young man?

I like finding out the truth

I would like to uncover it, and publish it for everyone to read!

Be careful where you spatter your ink

What do you mean, Mr. Larsan?

How did you know that Mlle Stangerson's engagement was broken?

That's what you said!

Oh, I didn't know �-- How then?

I was just bluffing

Bluffing only goes so far

Here is the evidence, Inspector

Lapi�, the person I summoned for 7:00; he should be here by now

I believe so, Inspector

Send him to me here at once --- Yes, sir

Mr. Darzac, do you recognize these shoes as yours?

Absolutely � they are mine

Please wait for me inside

But Mr. Larsan...

I have several points to verify

Robert...is he coming?

He's here � he's been here every day, since he got the news

Why hasn't he come to see me?

Why hasn't he come to see me?

Mathilde?

Her wounds are healing

Good, good

It doesn't take much to be happy in life

Someone is there!

It's you, Mr. Photographer?

Excuse me, Professor

I'd like to know why you are here

I'm here to try to serve the Truth

You have no right to be here!

And we don't share Mr. Larsan's enthusiasm for your presence here...

...which is unwelcome as well as surprising

Yes, surprising!

Mr. Larsan must have his reasons for tolerating me

Yes, and I have none at all. None!

I would prefer you to just go! At once!

I quite understand. Would you like to show me out?

Certainly. This way

Listen: �The vicarage has not lost its charm� --- What?

�Nor the garden its brightness�

How do you know that?

I'm an investigative reporter

You're one of Larsan's men --� No!

You want to destroy me! --- I want to save you!

Help me to stay in the chateau tonight

Here? Tonight? Impossible

You won't regret it

Come

Mr. Stangerson, will you permit this young man to stay the night?

From what he's told me, I believe he could be very useful

As you wish

Thank you! Could my boss, Mr. Sainclair, also come in?

He's been standing outside for three days

Go get him �-- Thank you

You'll have the room opposite Mr. Larsan; I'll give the orders for it

Thank you

But no photos, alright? �-- No, no

Mr. Stangerson, I absolutely must see Mathilde tonight

Impossible! She's too weak to see you

I know, but... --� She's too weak to see you!

Just a moment, please, Mr. Darzac

I need to verify a few things. Will you excuse us?

What is it?

Flowers, for Mademoiselle

Sit down

What does all this mean?

What do you want to �verify� with me? And who are you?

Frederic Larsan. That should be enough

I don't care. Since this outrageous attack I haven't seen Mlle Stangerson.

I wish to see her! --- No

You know that all this... --- No!

I gave the order that you were not to see her until I'd questioned you

By what right?

Mr. Darzac, calm down please, and answer me

When was the last time you saw Mlle Stangerson?

At the ball, three days ago

Three days ago. Anywhere else?

Where else would I have seen her?

I don't know...here, perhaps?

Here? --� Yes!

But I've only just left Paris; I had no reason to come here

Perhaps you forgot to give her something

A bouquet, for example?

A bouquet?

Yes, a bouquet of camellias

I don't understand --- Don't you?

But who brought them?

I don't know; I just found them at the gate

Didn't you give Mlle Stangerson the camellias found in the Yellow Room?

No, no, I don't believe so --� You don't believe so?

I mean, no � no, it wasn't me!

Yes, yes, just a moment Thank you, officers

Where were you the night of the crime?

I went for a long walk. Nowhere in particular

Hard to believe

Mlle Stangerson and I had a discussion during the ball

About what? --- I don't remember

I'll refresh your memory

We found this at your home

Where did you get that photo?

Never mind. Wasn't your discussion about this person?

No! She knows nothing about that affair, which ended a long time ago anyway

Well then, it's simple: if there's no other woman in your life...

...then there's another man in Mlle Stangerson's!

Why, you...

Quiet please!

Yes, you're right. Come with me

Go to the gate � let in Mr. Sainclair.

A jolly little fat man. He's my boss

OK --- And I arranged it!

I repeat: there is another man in Mlle Stangerson's life --� No!

A man who sends her flowers --- You're mad!

And you know who it is! --- No! No!

If you won't say his name, then I will have to

Oh, enough, enough!

What would be more cruel?

Shall I tell you?

Shall I tell the Professor his daughter had a liaison with...

Not that!

Not that!

If there's no one else in her life, then...

Do the honorable thing, or I will speak!

It's me � only me, no one else

I am the criminal

Arrest me

Finally

Oh, sorry!

What are you doing?

Just taking a little exercise

Well, would you mind sending me two officers, please

Of course, Mr. Larsan

Whatever you say

Hurry! Mr. Larsan wants two policemen sent up to his room

Where? --- His room! --- OK

Ah, Mr. Sainclair!

Hello, my boy! So, this time I'm just in time, right?

No. You're early --- What do you mean, early?

You got here early

Mr. Darzac has confessed everything

He is under arrest, and will be brought at once before the Public Prosecutor

So, what do you mean, I got here early?

Everything's all over; the killer's been arrested

Mr. Darzac has been arrested, not the killer.

It's not quite the same thing

Mr. Darzac has confessed! --- That doesn't mean a thing

What do you mean?

We'll have some news shortly

Listen to me:

the killer will return to the chateau tonight!

You're a real joker, Rouletabille

He'll come back tonight, and you and I will catch him!

You and I...alone?

No, no, we have to get Mr. Larsan

Not a word to Larsan!

Who should get the glory? The paper or the police?

Oh, glory is all very well, but it's a bit dangerous

Gentlemen, would you dine with me this evening in my room?

We'd be delighted

Until this evening

You have to warn Mlle Stangerson!

Come on, boss � your room is the first on the left down the hall

Someone brought these flowers

Alright...thank you

Meet me tonight or else calamity will strike...

You know what I mean

Are you feeling better?

Oh, yes, papa � quite well!

Ah, good!

Robert has sent me flowers. I must thank him

I absolutely must see him

Why 'absolutely'?

I don't know; I just want to see him

There's no reason why he shouldn't be back tomorrow

Tomorrow

It's the usual wine, sir

Goodnight, my dear

I'm just tired this evening

I hope Mlle Stangerson is feeling better

Yes, she is better this evening. I hope she can answer questions tomorrow

She's so much better that you're not staying with her tonight?

I'm the one who's not feeling well

What's wrong?

I don't know. I'm sleepy...

I'm sleepy

You can go, Marie. No need to stay; I feel very well

Very well, Mademoiselle

Miss? --- Yes, sir? --- You're watching Mlle Stangerson tonight, aren't you?

No. I think she prefers to be alone

So I'll be in the little room next door

Who is there?

Don't be alarmed - a friend who wants to help

What's your concern with me?

If I told you, you'd laugh

Never mind. Tell me quickly

Well, you wear a perfume...

� the same scent as a lady who was kind to me when I was little

What?

Yes; a lady in black, always in black who came to see me from time to time

So you see, that calls up a great many things...

...very sweet things

But that doesn't explain why you're here

It's to warn you --- Of what?

Mr. Darzac has been arrested

Arrested? My God, my God!

Yes. He has confessed that he attacked you

But he's innocent! I swear it!

I believe you, Mademoiselle There are so many mysteries...

Such as...what?

Such as...YOU

Me?

Yes, you. Why have you sent away your maid, your father? Why?

Quiet! Oh, you can't possibly understand! Go � it's useless!

Why you are determined to meet this killer - YOUR killer?

Quiet!

If you care about me, go away...go away

But where is Rouletabille?

Ah, there you are! --- Sorry

Where have you been?

I was talking to Mr. Stangerson

He's more cheerful this evening; his daughter is better

No thank you; I've had a slight upset stomach this evening

No, thank you, I'll have some red

Here you go, young man.

There's no disputing matters of taste...

I think we'll all sleep well tonight! --- I hope so

You must be tired, Mr. Larsan --- Oh, I'm used to it

It's a cat --- Obviously

Mr. Larsan, would you allow me to interview you regarding...

That's some cat!

What's wrong with me? I feel awful

My head is spinning. It's...

Come and lie down

Listen! The white wine was drugged!

Someone wanted to get rid of me!

He's sleeping; he should be able to sleep it off

The two of us � not a moment to lose!

Larsan drugged � Mr. Stangerson asleep; the killer has wasted no time!

Really!

And the two of us will catch him!

I'm not quite up to it. Maybe someone else might like to take my place...

There's no one! The servants are under guard. There's just us two

Well, when you put it like that...

Here, take this --- Is it loaded?

Twelve shots --- But...

Come on!

Come on � I'll show you where to hide

Hide here, behind this curtain

When you see something, turn on this lamp

Pull back the curtain; the light will fall on that statue

I'll be able to see your signal from my room.

I turn on the light...the curtain...

Just like that

You're going to leave me here?

Don't be afraid. As soon as there's any fighting I'll come right back

A cat that yowls without opening its mouth

Maybe there's another one --- Maybe

I'd really rather be in bed, you know

Shhh...it's time!

The red wine was drugged too!

The red wine!

The man was in Mlle Stangerson's room!

Quickly! Quickly!

Patience, for God's sake! We have to act methodically.

First I want to get a look at him

Wait here � I'm going to climb up

Help! Help! The killer! Help!

Help! Help!

The killer!

You heard cries? --- It's Mathilde! My daughter!

Let go! You're crazy!

Ah, Mr. Larsan! --- What did you see? --- He was here!

This is terrible! He's vanished into thin air!

I can't explain it

Look! After him!

I'm going to get my gun

There he is! There he is!

Shoot! Shoot!

Careful... watch his head

He's dead

What have you done?

Reggie!

Why? Why did you kill him? He wasn't the killer

Did he get away? Did he get away?

He was with me, in my room

He was my lover!

Mademoiselle, calm yourself... this is useless...

Gentlemen, this is very strange;

We thought we shot him...

...but our bullets never touched him

He was stabbed through the heart!

It's Mr. Darzac's knife!

Stay where you are!

Hello...yes, Larsan here.

What? Darzac has escaped?

When? Three hours ago

You've taken the necessary steps? Good, thank you.

Mr. Darzac escaped three hours ago

I think that we'll soon find him nearby

You think so?

Silence! Silence!

There's no doubt...

The murder weapon belonged to Darzac...

He was arrested for the attempt on Mlle Stangerson's life...

...and after his escape he was recaptured near the chateau shortly after the murder

Mr. Darzac did not escape in order to murder a gamekeeper!

He wanted to protect Mlle Stangerson from the attacker he feared would return

In sum: only two people saw the criminal;

The gamekeeper, who is dead...

...and Mlle Stangerson, who remains silent

Mlle Stangerson has recovered enough to go into public the first time

She is here. We will hear her at once Your witness, Mr. Prosecutor

Bailiff, bring in Mlle Stangerson

RETURNING FRANCE TODAY IMPOSSIBLE ARRIVE TRIAL IN TIME DOCUMENTS FOUND HERE STOP

BEG YOU AT ALL COSTS DO NOT SPEAK BEFORE ARRIVAL.....ROULETABILLE

Silence!

You may be seated, Mademoiselle

You continue to insist that Mr. Darzac is innocent.

What solid reason do you have for this?

I don't know. I believe it because it's true.

Robert � Mr. Darzac � is absolutely innocent of the crime he is accused of

He is incapable of killing the gamekeeper.

He would never kill... we love each other

Love can lead to crime

Besides, Darzac has admitted his guilt!

Mr. Darzac is the most chivalrous man in the world. He accused himself to save...

To save... who?

I didn't say that, Your Honor! ...I don't know... I...

If Mr. Darzac isn't the man who attacked you twice and stabbed the gamekeeper...

No, no, it's not him!

Then who is it?

I don't know

But you saw him!

Mademoiselle, I don't know if you fully understand the gravity of the situation

Darzac's life is at stake!

His life!

You could save him

Me? How? How?

By telling us the name of your attacker

I don't know... I can't say

Bailiff, call Mr. Larsan.

No, Mademoiselle, a moment, please

For weeks you have been too ill for Mr. Larsan's interrogation

I would like him to question you on certain points. Please be seated

Just a moment, Mr. Larsan.

Mlle Stangerson, I entreat you, for the last time;

If you know something, speak now

Mademoiselle, on my soul and conscience I am sure of Mr. Darzac's guilt

But nobody is infallible.

If you know the true identity of the killer...

...I beseech you to state his name

You wish me to state his name?

His name?

I beseech you

Then... the man...is...

...is.......

Let me go! Let me go!

Silence!

Stop!

Silence!

Guards, remove that person!

Your Honor, allow me to speak on behalf of Joseph Rouletabille.

He has on his own been on the trail of killer

I beg you to ask him if he has brought solid proof of my client's innocence

Yes, I have brought proof!

Your Honor, you cannot now refuse to hear Rouletabille!

Very well. But I warn you in advance that if he does not present clear facts...

I will have him arrested at once!

Justice will not be mocked!

Thank you, Your Honor

We will hear him.

And above all, be brief --- I will, Your Honor

Any further disturbance, and I will have the courtroom cleared!

Do not be angry, Your Honor

I will begin

I just got back from America with proof that Mr. Darzac is innocent

The evidence shows that Mr. Darzac is the only possible culprit

But what motive would Mr. Darzac have for killing him?

The reasons for the crime are clear

Two days before their wedding Mlle Stangerson refused to marry Darzac

He loved her, and what is more, she is very rich.

Exasperated, he meets her after the ball...

...enters her room while her father is at the chateau

He begs her to change her mind; she refuses � he grows angry � loses control

The inquiry did not find the accomplice who assisted him...

...but Darzac flees and gets away

Arrested 3 days later, he escapes;

As soon as he is free, he attacks her again

Unfortunately, the gamekeeper, leaving his mistress's room...

...sees Darzac as he is leaving his victim's room

The gamekeeper must be silenced

Darzac beats him to the garden, where he stabs him through the heart

Completely false!

First of all, for the first attack, the killer needed no accomplice

He left peacefully by the door

I've discovered the most amazing thing of all:

There is no mystery of the Yellow Room!

The Yellow Room was hermetically locked and sealed, like a safe

It is therefore impossible that the killer could have escaped from it

Perfectly true

So, since the killer could not have been in the Yellow Room...

...the only explanation is � he wasn't there!

Not bad, not bad!

Sir, I warned you about joking!

I am not joking, Your Honor

I'm saying the killer wasn't in the Yellow Room when he couldn't be there

That is, when the shots were fired and Mlle Stangerson cried for help

When was he there, then?

The night before the crime, probably.

This is no joke, Your Honor

Here's how it happened

The night of the ball, a man, under cover of the fog, crept into the pavillion

He hid himself in the Yellow Room, under a bed, probably

At 11:30, Mlle Stangerson returns home with her father

For several days, she's been uneasy

She received a threatening letter, mysterious flowers...

...but she doesn't want to alarm her father

She hides everything from him

She arms herself with a gun the gamekeeper had taken from Old Jacques

She locks herself in her room

Suddenly, she is attacked � she screams for help, but nobody hears her

Her father is at the chateau; she is alone

She fights back desperately

The attacker fears someone will come - he lets go and flees

How? By the door, quite simply

Because at that moment the laboratory is deserted

Remember, it is not yet midnight!

But the cries for help, the shots �

They all happened AFTER midnight

When her father had come back from the chateau

Now, according to you, the crime had already taken place 15 minutes earlier

It's far-fetched!

Your Honor, picture this:

At 11:45, the killer leaves and she faints and falls, bleeding heavily

When she revives, she has a nightmare, a hallucination

She imagines that the killer is still there

Firing the gun, she tries to rise and stumbles against the door

She accidentally locks the bolt, then falls back, senseless...

...which is how her father found her

Bravo!

Young man, you haven't told us the name of the killer!

Wait! First I have to tell you how I cracked the whole case!

I examined the night of the second attack

The killer drugged Mr. Stangerson, Mr. Larsan and me...

...in order not to be interrupted

Fortunately, Mr. Sainclair woke me in time

The killer managed to get into Mlle Stangerson's room

I ran to the garden and climbed to the window...

...but through the blinds, I couldn't see the man's face

I raced to the hall, saw him as he was leaving his victim's room...

I chased after him, thought I'd caught him...

...and ran straight into Mr. Larsan

That ended the hunt for the killer

Mr. Larsan, very wide awake, hardly seemed to have been drugged

As for the killer...

Gone, as if by magic

That made me suspect...

Who?

Someone so safe from suspicion I began to doubt myself...

I worried about making a fool of myself

Well, you wanted concrete proof. I went in search of it, and here it is!

Are you telling us the killer's name is in that bag?

You're absolutely sure you want to know the name of the killer?

I do.

So do I

Very well. It is...Ballmeyer!

Silence!

Ballmeyer! The famous international criminal?

You forget one thing, young man; Ballmeyer has been dead for some time!

Ballmeyer is not dead!

He is hiding beneath the name of a police officer he killed.

Ballmeyer is...

Frederic Larsan!

Order! Order!

We demand proof of this claim

Proof? Here is as much as you like � I have a satchel full

Mr. Larsan, could you shed some light on this matter?

You have the floor

Well then...yes! I am Ballmeyer.

Larsan is dead.

Rouletabille is right � he was smarter than all of you. But...

But what?

Nothing. I've taken poison...

In a few moments I'll be out of your reach

Tell us!

I attacked Mathilde Stangerson. Me!

I alone killed the gamekeeper

Yes, he caught me, the night when I drugged the wine

How could I catch up with him?

I jumped from my window into the garden and I stopped him with one blow.

Why? What did you have against Mlle Stangerson?

Because there is something you don't know...

Back there... in America...

She... she was........

This hearing is adjourned! Clear the courtroom!

Oh, what a story, my boy!

In any case, you were absolutely great!

But tell me...do you know what was between Mlle Stangerson and Ballmeyer/Larsan?

She was his wife!

Good God!

Yes. He knew her in America when she was very young

They married in secret;

She even hid the marriage from her father

When she learned who he was, she wanted a divorce

When the papers announced that Ballmeyer was dead � she thought she was free

But Ballmeyer was alive

The real Larsan whom he'd killed was dead in his place

The poor thing!

How did you figure it all out?

�The vicarage has not lost its charm, nor the garden its brightness�

I overheard those words the night of the ball

Mlle Stangerson quoted them to Darzac from a letter from Larsan

He spoke of a vicarage?

Yes � where they were married long ago

Marvellous! Careful, here she comes

You have saved me! Thank you!

Until we meet again

In America! I even have a copy of the marriage certificate

Everything is clear then!

But one mystery remains

What might that be?

The scent of the lady in black.