第 40 节
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管他三七二十一 更新:2021-04-30 16:21 字数:9313
depicting of character constituted my design; and this design was
thoroughly fulfilled in the wild train of circumstances brought to
instance Dupin's idiosyncrasy。 I might have adduced other examples;
but I should have proven no more。 Late events; however; in their
surprising development; have startled me into some farther details;
which will carry with them the air of extorted confession。 Hearing
what I have lately heard; it would be indeed strange should I remain
silent in regard to what I both heard and saw so long ago。
Upon the winding up of the tragedy involved in the deaths of Madame
L'Espanaye and her daughter; the Chevalier dismissed the affair at
once from his attention; and relapsed into his old habits of moody
reverie。 Prone; at all times; to abstraction; I readily fell in with
his humor; and; continuing to occupy our chambers in the Faubourg
Saint Germain; we gave the Future to the winds; and slumbered
tranquilly in the Present; weaving the dull world around us into
dreams。
But these dreams were not altogether uninterrupted。 It may readily be
supposed that the part played by my friend; in the drama at the Rue
Morgue; had not failed of its impression upon the fancies of the
Parisian police。 With its emissaries; the name of Dupin had grown
into a household word。 The simple character of those inductions by
which he had disentangled the mystery never having been explained
even to the Prefect; or to any other individual than myself; of
course it is not surprising that the affair was regarded as little
less than miraculous; or that the Chevalier's analytical abilities
acquired for him the credit of intuition。 His frankness would have
led him to disabuse every inquirer of such prejudice; but his
indolent humor forbade all farther agitation of a topic whose
interest to himself had long ceased。 It thus happened that he found
himself the cynosure of the policial eyes; and the cases were not few
in which attempt was made to engage his services at the Prefecture。
One of the most remarkable instances was that of the murder of a
young girl named Marie Rog阾。
This event occurred about two years after the atrocity in the Rue
Morgue。 Marie; whose Christian and family name will at once arrest
attention from their resemblance to those of the unfortunate 〃cigar…
girl;〃 was the only daughter of the widow Estelle Rog阾。 The father
had died during the child's infancy; and from the period of his
death; until within eighteen months before the assassination which
forms the subject of our narrative; the mother and daughter had dwelt
together in the Rue Pav閑 Saint Andr閑; {*3} Madame there keeping a
pension; assisted by Marie。 Affairs went on thus until the latter had
attained her twenty…second year; when her great beauty attracted the
notice of a perfumer; who occupied one of the shops in the basement
of the Palais Royal; and whose custom lay chiefly among the desperate
adventurers infesting that neighborhood。 Monsieur Le Blanc {*4} was
not unaware of the advantages to be derived from the attendance of
the fair Marie in his perfumery; and his liberal proposals were
accepted eagerly by the girl; although with somewhat more of
hesitation by Madame。
The anticipations of the shopkeeper were realized; and his rooms soon
became notorious through the charms of the sprightly grisette。 She
had been in his employ about a year; when her admirers were thrown
info confusion by her sudden disappearance from the shop。 Monsieur Le
Blanc was unable to account for her absence; and Madame Rog阾 was
distracted with anxiety and terror。 The public papers immediately
took up the theme; and the police were upon the point of making
serious investigations; when; one fine morning; after the lapse of a
week; Marie; in good health; but with a somewhat saddened air; made
her re…appearance at her usual counter in the perfumery。 All inquiry;
except that of a private character; was of course immediately hushed。
Monsieur Le Blanc professed total ignorance; as before。 Marie; with
Madame; replied to all questions; that the last week had been spent
at the house of a relation in the country。 Thus the affair died away;
and was generally forgotten; for the girl; ostensibly to relieve
herself from the impertinence of curiosity; soon bade a final adieu
to the perfumer; and sought the shelter of her mother's residence in
the Rue Pav閑 Saint Andr閑。
It was about five months after this return home; that her friends
were alarmed by her sudden disappearance for the second time。 Three
days elapsed; and nothing was heard of her。 On the fourth her corpse
was found floating in the Seine; * near the shore which is opposite
the Quartier of the Rue Saint Andree; and at a point not very far
distant from the secluded neighborhood of the Barri鑢e du Roule。 {*6}
The atrocity of this murder; (for it was at once evident that murder
had been committed;) the youth and beauty of the victim; and; above
all; her previous notoriety; conspired to produce intense excitement
in the minds of the sensitive Parisians。 I can call to mind no
similar occurrence producing so general and so intense an effect。 For
several weeks; in the discussion of this one absorbing theme; even
the momentous political topics of the day were forgotten。 The Prefect
made unusual exertions; and the powers of the whole Parisian police
were; of course; tasked to the utmost extent。
Upon the first discovery of the corpse; it was not supposed that the
murderer would be able to elude; for more than a very brief period;
the inquisition which was immediately set on foot。 It was not until
the expiration of a week that it was deemed necessary to offer a
reward; and even then this reward was limited to a thousand francs。
In the mean time the investigation proceeded with vigor; if not
always with judgment; and numerous individuals were examined to no
purpose; while; owing to the continual absence of all clue to the
mystery; the popular excitement greatly increased。 At the end of the
tenth day it was thought advisable to double the sum originally
proposed; and; at length; the second week having elapsed without
leading to any discoveries; and the prejudice which always exists in
Paris against the Police having given vent to itself in several
serious 閙eutes; the Prefect took it upon himself to offer the sum of
twenty thousand francs 〃for the conviction of the assassin;〃 or; if
more than one should prove to have been implicated; 〃for the
conviction of any one of the assassins。〃 In the proclamation setting
forth this reward; a full pardon was promised to any accomplice who
should come forward in evidence against his fellow; and to the whole
was appended; wherever it appeared; the private placard of a
committee of citizens; offering ten thousand francs; in addition to
the amount proposed by the Prefecture。 The entire reward thus stood
at no less than thirty thousand francs; which will be regarded as an
extraordinary sum when we consider the humble condition of the girl;
and the great frequency; in large cities; of such atrocities as the
one described。
No one doubted now that the mystery of this murder would be
immediately brought to light。 But although; in one or two instances;
arrests were made which promised elucidation; yet nothing was
elicited which could implicate the parties suspected; and they were
discharged forthwith。 Strange as it may appear; the third week from
the discovery of the body had passed; and passed without any light
being thrown upon the subject; before even a rumor of the events
which had so agitated the public mind; reached the ears of Dupin and
myself。 Engaged in researches which absorbed our whole attention; it
had been nearly a month since either of us had gone abroad; or
received a visiter; or more than glanced at the leading political
articles in one of the daily papers。 The first intelligence of the
murder was brought us by G ; in person。 He called upon us early
in the afternoon of the thirteenth of July; 18; and remained with
us until late in the night。 He had been piqued by the failure of all
his endeavors to ferret out the assassins。 His reputation … so he
said with a peculiarly Parisian air … was at stake。 Even his honor
was concerned。 The eyes of the public were upon him; and there was
really no sacrifice which he would not be willing to make for the
development of the mystery。 He concluded a somewhat droll speech with
a compliment upon what he was pleased to term the tact of Dupin; and
made him a direct; and certainly a liberal proposition; the precise
nature of which I do not feel myself at liberty to disclose; but
which has no bearing upon the proper subject of my narrative。
The compliment my friend rebutted as best he could; but the
proposition he accepted at once; although its advantages were
altogether provisional。 This point being settled; the Prefect broke
forth at once into explanations of his own views; interspersing them
with long comments upon the evidence; of which latter we were not yet
in possession。 He discoursed much; and be