第 51 节
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管他三七二十一 更新:2021-04-30 16:22 字数:9319
expressions in question are distinctly and invariably employed just
as I have employed them in this conversation with yourself; no notice
whatever of the gross discrepancy has; as yet; been taken by any of
the public journals; or by any of the Myrmidons of police。
〃I shall add but one to the arguments against a gang; but this one
has; to my own understanding at least; a weight altogether
irresistible。 Under the circumstances of large reward offered; and
full pardon to any King's evidence; it is not to be imagined; for a
moment; that some member of a gang of low ruffians; or of any body of
men; would not long ago have betrayed his accomplices。 Each one of a
gang so placed; is not so much greedy of reward; or anxious for
escape; as fearful of betrayal。 He betrays eagerly and early that he
may not himself be betrayed。 That the secret has not been divulged;
is the very best of proof that it is; in fact; a secret。 The horrors
of this dark deed are known only to one; or two; living human beings;
and to God。
〃Let us sum up now the meagre yet certain fruits of our long
analysis。 We have attained the idea either of a fatal accident under
the roof of Madame Deluc; or of a murder perpetrated; in the thicket
at the Barri鑢e du Roule; by a lover; or at least by an intimate and
secret associate of the deceased。 This associate is of swarthy
complexion。 This complexion; the 'hitch' in the bandage; and the
'sailor's knot;' with which the bonnet…ribbon is tied; point to a
seaman。 His companionship with the deceased; a gay; but not an abject
young girl; designates him as above the grade of the common sailor。
Here the well written and urgent communications to the journals are
much in the way of corroboration。 The circumstance of the first
elopement; as mentioned by Le Mercurie; tends to blend the idea of
this seaman with that of the 'naval officer' who is first known to
have led the unfortunate into crime。
〃And here; most fitly; comes the consideration of the continued
absence of him of the dark complexion。 Let me pause to observe that
the complexion of this man is dark and swarthy; it was no common
swarthiness which constituted the sole point of remembrance; both as
regards Valence and Madame Deluc。 But why is this man absent? Was he
murdered by the gang? If so; why are there only traces of the
assassinated girl? The scene of the two outrages will naturally be
supposed identical。 And where is his corpse? The assassins would most
probably have disposed of both in the same way。 But it may be said
that this man lives; and is deterred from making himself known;
through dread of being charged with the murder。 This consideration
might be supposed to operate upon him now … at this late period …
since it has been given in evidence that he was seen with Marie … but
it would have had no force at the period of the deed。 The first
impulse of an innocent man would have been to announce the outrage;
and to aid in identifying the ruffians。 This policy would have
suggested。 He had been seen with the girl。 He had crossed the river
with her in an open ferry…boat。 The denouncing of the assassins would
have appeared; even to an idiot; the surest and sole means of
relieving himself from suspicion。 We cannot suppose him; on the night
of the fatal Sunday; both innocent himself and incognizant of an
outrage committed。 Yet only under such circumstances is it possible
to imagine that he would have failed; if alive; in the denouncement
of the assassins。
〃And what means are ours; of attaining the truth? We shall find these
means multiplying and gathering distinctness as we proceed。 Let us
sift to the bottom this affair of the first elopement。 Let us know
the full history of 'the officer;' with his present circumstances;
and his whereabouts at the precise period of the murder。 Let us
carefully compare with each other the various communications sent to
the evening paper; in which the object was to inculpate a gang。 This
done; let us compare these communications; both as regards style and
MS。; with those sent to the morning paper; at a previous period; and
insisting so vehemently upon the guilt of Mennais。 And; all this
done; let us again compare these various communications with the
known MSS。 of the officer。 Let us endeavor to ascertain; by repeated
questionings of Madame Deluc and her boys; as well as of the omnibus
driver; Valence; something more of the personal appearance and
bearing of the 'man of dark complexion。' Queries; skilfully directed;
will not fail to elicit; from some of these parties; information on
this particular point (or upon others) … information which the
parties themselves may not even be aware of possessing。 And let us
now trace the boatpicked up by the bargeman on the morning of Monday
the twenty…third of June; and which was removed from the
barge…office; without the cognizance of the officer in attendance;
and without the rudder; at some period prior to the discovery of the
corpse。 With a proper caution and perseverance we shall infallibly
trace this boat; for not only can the bargeman who picked it up
identify it; but the rudder is at hand。 The rudder of a sail…boat
would not have been abandoned; without inquiry; by one altogether at
ease in heart。 And here let me pause to insinuate a question。 There
was no advertisement of the picking up of this boat。 It was silently
taken to the barge…office; and as silently removed。 But its owner or
employer … how happened he; at so early a period as Tuesday morning;
to be informed; without the agency of advertisement; of the locality
of the boat taken up on Monday; unless we imagine some connexion with
the navy … some personal permanent connexion leading to cognizance of
its minute in interests … its petty local news?
〃In speaking of the lonely assassin dragging his burden to the shore;
I have already suggested the probability of his availing himself of a
boat。 Now we are to understand that Marie Rog阾 was precipitated from
a boat。 This would naturally have been the case。 The corpse could not
have been trusted to the shallow waters of the shore。 The peculiar
marks on the back and shoulders of the victim tell of the bottom ribs
of a boat。 That the body was found without weight is also
corroborative of the idea。 If thrown from the shore a weight would
have been attached。 We can only account for its absence by supposing
the murderer to have neglected the precaution of supplying himself
with it before pushing off。 In the act of consigning the corpse to
the water; he would unquestionably have noticed his oversight; but
then no remedy would have been at hand。 Any risk would have been
preferred to a return to that accursed shore。 Having rid himself of
his ghastly charge; the murderer would have hastened to the city。
There; at some obscure wharf; he would have leaped on land。 But the
boat … would he have secured it? He would have been in too great
haste for such things as securing a boat。 Moreover; in fastening it
to the wharf; he would have felt as if securing evidence against
himself。 His natural thought would have been to cast from him; as far
as possible; all that had held connection with his crime。 He would
not only have fled from the wharf; but he would not have permitted
the boat to remain。 Assuredly he would have cast it adrift。 Let us
pursue our fancies。 … In the morning; the wretch is stricken with
unutterable horror at finding that the boat has been picked up and
detained at a locality which he is in the daily habit of frequenting
… at a locality; perhaps; which his duty compels him to frequent。 The
next night; without daring to ask for the rudder; he removes it。 Now
where is that rudderless boat? Let it be one of our first purposes to
discover。 With the first glimpse we obtain of it; the dawn of our
success shall begin。 This boat shall guide us; with a rapidity which
will surprise even ourselves; to him who employed it in the midnight
of the fatal Sabbath。 Corroboration will rise upon corroboration; and
the murderer will be traced。〃
'For reasons which we shall not specify; but which to many readers
will appear obvious; we have taken the liberty of here omitting; from
the MSS。 placed in our hands; such portion as details the following
up of the apparently slight clew obtained by Dupin。 We feel it
advisable only to state; in brief; that the result desired was
brought to pass; and that the Prefect fulfilled punctually; although
with reluctance; the terms of his compact with the Chevalier。 Mr。
Poe's article concludes with the following words。 … Eds。 {*23}'
It will be understood that I speak of coincidences and no more。 What
I have said above upon this topic must suffice。 In my own heart there
dwells no faith in pr鎡er…nature。 That Nature and its God are two; no
man who thinks; will deny。 That the latter; creating the former; can;
at will; control or modify it; is also unquestionable。 I say 〃at
will;〃 for the question is of will; and not; as the insanity of logic
has assumed; of power。 It is not that the Deity cannot modify his
laws; but tha