# XVIII: Rouletabille Has Drawn a Circle Between the Two Bumps on His Forehead explained — The Mystery of the Yellow Room

> Chapter companion for The Mystery of the Yellow Room by Gaston Leroux.

## What happens

Rouletabille, in his notebook, reflects on his investigative method, rejecting reliance on physical traces like footprints as primitive and unreliable. He emphasizes that sensory evidence must be subordinated to reason, and he resolves to solve the mystery of the inexplicable gallery by drawing a 'circle' of logical reasoning within his mind, confident that truth lies within that circle.

## Themes in this chapter

### Reason vs. Intuition

Rouletabille explicitly champions reason over sensory evidence, drawing a 'circle' of logic to solve the crime, contrasting with Larsan's intuitive methods.

### The Limits of Perception

Rouletabille criticizes reliance on footprints and physical traces, arguing that the senses can deceive and must be subordinated to reason.

## Character check-ins

### Joseph Rouletabille

Narrates his notebook entry, articulating his method of reasoning over sensory evidence and his determination to solve the mystery.

### Frédéric Larsan

Rouletabille contrasts his own method with Larsan's, calling him a fool and accusing him of relying on 'merely animal intelligence.'

## Key lines

> The method which traces the criminal by means of the tracks of his footsteps is altogether primitive. So many footprints are identical.

Tracking a criminal through footprints is a crude method, as many footprints look alike.

_Rouletabille dismisses traditional police methods as unreliable._

> I have never used the evidence of the senses but as servants to my reason. I have never permitted them to become my master.

I have always treated sensory evidence as a tool for my reasoning, never letting it control me.

_Rouletabille asserts his philosophical approach to investigation._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_mystery_of_the_yellow_room_se/chapters/xviii-rouletabille-has-drawn-a-circle-between-the-two-bumps-on-his-forehead
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_mystery_of_the_yellow_room_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_mystery_of_the_yellow_room_se/chapters