第 51 节
作者: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