the works of edgar allan poe-1-第21章

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saw　that　I　was　dying　with　impatience　for　a　solution　of　this　most　
extraordinary　riddle；　entered　into　a　full　detail　of　all　the　
circumstances　connected　with　it。

　　　　〃You　remember；〃　said　he；　〃the　night　when　I　handed　you　the　rough　
sketch　I　had　made　of　the　scarab鎢s。　You　recollect　also；　that　I　became　
quite　vexed　at　you　for　insisting　that　my　drawing　resembled　a　
death's…head。　When　you　first　made　this　assertion　I　thought　you　were　
jesting；　but　afterwards　I　called　to　mind　the　peculiar　spots　on　the　
back　of　the　insect；　and　admitted　to　myself　that　your　remark　had　some　
little　foundation　in　fact。　Still；　the　sneer　at　my　graphic　powers　
irritated　me　…　for　I　am　considered　a　good　artist　…　and；　therefore；　
when　you　handed　me　the　scrap　of　parchment；　I　was　about　to　crumple　it　
up　and　throw　it　angrily　into　the　fire。〃

　　　　〃The　scrap　of　paper；　you　mean；〃　said　I。

　　　　〃No；　it　had　much　of　the　appearance　of　paper；　and　at　first　I　
supposed　it　to　be　such；　but　when　I　came　to　draw　upon　it；　I　discovered　
it；　at　once；　to　be　a　piece　of　very　thin　parchment。　It　was　quite　
dirty；　you　remember。　Well；　as　I　was　in　the　very　act　of　crumpling　it　
up；　my　glance　fell　upon　the　sketch　at　which　you　had　been　looking；　and　
you　may　imagine　my　astonishment　when　I　perceived；　in　fact；　the　figure　
of　a　death's…head　just　where；　it　seemed　to　me；　I　had　made　the　drawing　
of　the　beetle。　For　a　moment　I　was　too　much　amazed　to　think　with　
accuracy。　I　knew　that　my　design　was　very　different　in　detail　from　
this　…　although　there　was　a　certain　similarity　in　general　outline。　
Presently　I　took　a　candle；　and　seating　myself　at　the　other　end　of　the　
room；　proceeded　to　scrutinize　the　parchment　more　closely。　Upon　
turning　it　over；　I　saw　my　own　sketch　upon　the　reverse；　just　as　I　had　
made　it。　My　first　idea；　now；　was　mere　surprise　at　the　really　
remarkable　similarity　of　outline　…　at　the　singular　coincidence　
involved　in　the　fact；　that　unknown　to　me；　there　should　have　been　a　
skull　upon　the　other　side　of　the　parchment；　immediately　beneath　my　
figure　of　the　scarab鎢s；　and　that　this　skull；　not　only　in　outline；　
but　in　size；　should　so　closely　resemble　my　drawing。　I　say　
the　singularity　of　this　coincidence　absolutely　stupified　me　for　a　
time。　This　is　the　usual　effect　of　such　coincidences。　The　mind　
struggles　to　establish　a　connexion　…　a　sequence　of　cause　and　effect　…　
and；　being　unable　to　do　so；　suffers　a　species　of　temporary　paralysis。　
But；　when　I　recovered　from　this　stupor；　there　dawned　upon　me　
gradually　a　conviction　which　startled　me　even　far　more　than　the　
coincidence。　I　began　distinctly；　positively；　to　remember　that　there　
had　been　no　drawing　upon　the　parchment　when　I　made　my　sketch　of　the　
scarab鎢s。　I　became　perfectly　certain　of　this；　for　I　recollected　
turning　up　first　one　side　and　then　the　other；　in　search　of　the　
cleanest　spot。　Had　the　skull　been　then　there；　of　course　I　could　not　
have　failed　to　notice　it。　Here　was　indeed　a　mystery　which　I　felt　it　
impossible　to　explain；　but；　even　at　that　early　moment；　there　seemed　
to　glimmer；　faintly；　within　the　most　remote　and　secret　chambers　of　my　
intellect；　a　glow…worm…like　conception　of　that　truth　which　last　
night's　adventure　brought　to　so　magnificent　a　demonstration。　I　arose　
at　once；　and　putting　the　parchment　securely　away；　dismissed　all　
farther　reflection　until　I　should　be　alone。

　　　　〃When　you　had　gone；　and　when　Jupiter　was　fast　asleep；　I　betook　
myself　to　a　more　methodical　investigation　of　the　affair。　In　the　first　
place　I　considered　the　manner　in　which　the　parchment　had　come　into　my　
possession。　The　spot　where　we　discovered　the　scarabaeus　was　on　the　
coast　of　the　main　land；　about　a　mile　eastward　of　the　island；　and　but　
a　short　distance　above　high　water　mark。　Upon　my　taking　hold　of　it；　it　
gave　me　a　sharp　bite；　which　caused　me　to　let　it　drop。　Jupiter；　with　
his　accustomed　caution；　before　seizing　the　insect；　which　had　flown　
towards　him；　looked　about　him　for　a　leaf；　or　something　of　that　
nature；　by　which　to　take　hold　of　it。　It　was　at　this　moment　that　his　
eyes；　and　mine　also；　fell　upon　the　scrap　of　parchment；　which　I　then　
supposed　to　be　paper。　It　was　lying　half　buried　in　the　sand；　a　corner　
sticking　up。　Near　the　spot　where　we　found　it；　I　observed　the　remnants　
of　the　hull　of　what　appeared　to　have　been　a　ship's　long　boat。　The　
wreck　seemed　to　have　been　there　for　a　very　great　while；　for　the　
resemblance　to　boat　timbers　could　scarcely　be　traced。

　　　　〃Well；　Jupiter　picked　up　the　parchment；　wrapped　the　beetle　in　it；　
and　gave　it　to　me。　Soon　afterwards　we　turned　to　go　home；　and　on　the　
way　met　Lieutenant　G…。　I　showed　him　the　insect；　and　he　begged　me　to　
let　him　take　it　to　the　fort。　Upon　my　consenting；　he　thrust　it　
forthwith　into　his　waistcoat　pocket；　without　the　parchment　in　which　
it　had　been　wrapped；　and　which　I　had　continued　to　hold　in　my　hand　
during　his　inspection。　Perhaps　he　dreaded　my　changing　my　mind；　and　
thought　it　best　to　make　sure　of　the　prize　at　once　…　you　know　how　
enthusiastic　he　is　on　all　subjects　connected　with　Natural　History。　At　
the　same　time；　without　being　conscious　of　it；　I　must　have　deposited　
the　parchment　in　my　own　pocket。

　　　　〃You　remember　that　when　I　went　to　the　table；　for　the　purpose　of　
making　a　sketch　of　the　beetle；　I　found　no　paper　where　it　was　usually　
kept。　I　looked　in　the　drawer；　and　found　none　there。　I　searched　my　
pockets；　hoping　to　find　an　old　letter；　when　my　hand　fell　upon　the　
parchment。　I　thus　detail　the　precise　mode　in　which　it　came　into　my　
possession；　for　the　circumstances　impressed　me　with　peculiar　force。

　　　　〃No　doubt　you　will　think　me　fanciful　…　but　I　had　already　
established　a　kind　of　connexion。　I　had　put　together　two　links　of　a　
great　chain。　There　was　a　boat　lying　upon　a　sea…coast；　and　not　far　
from　the　boat　was　a　parchment　…　not　a　paper　…　with　a　skull　depicted　
upon　it。　You　will；　of　course；　ask　'where　is　the　connexion？'　I　reply　
that　the　skull；　or　death's…head；　is　the　well…known　emblem　of　the　
pirate。　The　flag　of　the　death's　head　is　hoisted　in　all　engagements。

　　　　〃I　have　said　that　the　scrap　was　parchment；　and　not　paper。　
Parchment　is　durable　…　almost　imperishable。　Matters　of　little　moment　
are　rarely　consigned　to　parchment；　since；　for　the　mere　ordinary　
purposes　of　drawing　or　writing；　it　is　not　nearly　so　well　adapted　as　
paper。　This　reflection　suggested　some　meaning　…　some　relevancy　…　in　
the　death's…head。　I　did　not　fail　to　observe；　also；　the　form　of　the　
parchment。　Although　one　of　its　corners　had　been；　by　some　accident；　
destroyed；　it　could　be　seen　that　the　original　form　was　oblong。　It　was　
just　such　a　slip；　indeed；　as　might　have　been　chosen　for　a　memorandum　
…　for　a　record　of　something　to　be　long　remembered　and　carefully　
preserved。〃

　　　　〃But；〃　I　interposed；　〃you　say　that　the　skull　was　not　upon　the　
parchment　when　you　made　the　drawing　of　the　beetle。　How　then　do　you　
trace　any　connexion　between　the　boat　and　the　skull　…　since　this　
latter；　according　to　your　own　admission；　must　have　been　designed　（God　
only　knows　how　or　by　whom）　at　some　period　subsequent　to　your　
sketching　the　scarab鎢s？〃

　　　　〃Ah；　hereupon　turns　the　whole　mystery；　although　the　secret；　at　
this　point；　I　had　comparatively　little　difficulty　in　solving。　My　
steps　were　sure；　and　could　afford　but　a　single　result。　I　reasoned；　
for　example；　thus：　When　I　drew　the　scarab鎢s；　there　was　no　skull　
apparent　upon　the　parchment。　When　I　had　completed　the　drawing　I　gave　
it　to　you；　and　observed　you　narrowly　until　you　returned　it。　You；　
therefore；　did　not　design　the　skull；　and　no　one　else　was　present　to　
do　it。　Then　it　was　not　done　by　human　agency。　And　nevertheless　it　was　
done。　〃At　this　stage　of　my　reflections　I　endeavored　to　remember；　and　
did　remember；　with　entire　distinctness；　every　incident　which　occurred　
about　the　period　in　question。　The　weather　was　chilly　（oh　rare　and　
happy　accident！）；　and　a　fire　was　blazing　upon　the　hearth。　I　was　
heated　with　exercise　and　sat　near　the　table。　You；　however；　had　drawn　
a　chair　close　to　the　chimney。　Just　as　I　placed　the　parchment　in　your　
hand；　and　as　you　were　in　the　act　of　in。　inspecting　it；　Wolf；　the　
Newfoundland；　entered；　and　leaped　upon　your　shoulders。　With　your　left　
hand　you　caressed　him　and　kept　him　off；　while　your　right；　holding　the　
parchment；　was　permitted　to　fall　listlessly　between　your　knees；　and　
in　close　proximity　to　the　fire。　At　one　moment　I　thought　the　blaze　had　
caught　it；　and　was　about　to　caution　you；　but；　before　I　could　speak；　
you　had　withdrawn　it；　and　were　engaged　in　its　examination。　When　I　
considered　all　these　particulars；　I　doubted　not　for　a　moment　that　
heat　had　been　the　agent　in　bringing　to　light；　upon　the　parchment；　the　
skull　which　I　saw　designed　upon　it。　You　are　well　aware　that　chemical　
preparations　exist；　and　have　existed　time　out　of　mind；　by　means　of　
which　it　is　possible　to　write　upon　either　paper　or　vellum；　so　that　
the　characters　shall　become　visible　only　when　subjected　to　the　action　
of　fire。　Zaffre；　digested　in　aqua　regia；　and　diluted　with　four　times　
its　weight　of　water；　is　sometimes　employed；　a　green　tint　results。　The　
regulus　of　cobalt；　dissolved　in　spirit　of　nitre；　gives　a　red。　These　
colors　disappear　at　longer　or　shorter　intervals　after　the　material　
written　upon　cools；　but　again　become　apparent　upon　the　
re…application　of　heat。

　　　　〃I　now　scrutinized　the　death's…head　with　care。　Its　outer　edges　…　
the　edges　of　the　drawing　nearest　the　edge　of　the　vellum　…　were　far　
more　distinct　than　the　others。　It　was　clear　that　the　action　of　the　
caloric　had　been　imperfect　or　unequal。　I　immediately　kindled　a　fire；　
and　subjected　every　portion　of　the　parchment　to　a　glowing　heat。　At　
first；　the　only　effect　was　the　strengthening　of　the　faint　lines　in　
the　skull；　but；　upon　persevering　in　the　experiment；　there　became　
visible；　at　the　corner　of　the　slip；　diagonally　opposite　to　the　spot　
in　which　the　death's…head　was　delineated；　the　figure　of　what　I　at　
first　supposed　to　be　a　goat。　A　closer　scrutiny；　however；　satisfied　me　
that　it　was　intended　for　a　kid。〃

　　　　〃Ha！　ha！〃　said　I；　〃to　be　sure　I　have　no　right　to　laugh　at　you　…　a　
million　and　a　half　of　money　is　too　serious　a　matter　for　mirth　…　but　
you　are　not　about　to　establish　a　third　link　in　your　chain　…　you　will　
not　find　any　especial　connexion　between　your　pirates　and　a　goat　…　
pirates；　you　know；　have　nothing　to　do　with　goats；　they　appertain　to　
the　farming　interest。〃

　　　　〃But　I　have　just　said　that　the　figure　was　not　that　of　a　goat。〃

　　　　〃Well；　a　kid　then　…　pretty　much　the　same　thing。〃

　　　　〃Pretty　much；　but　not　altogether；〃　said　Legrand。　〃You　may　have　
heard　of　one　Captain　Kidd。　I　at　once　looked　upon　the　figure　of　the　
animal　as　a　kind　of　punning　or　hieroglyphical　signature。　I　say　
signature；　because　its　position　upon　the　vellum　suggested　this　idea。　
The　death's…head　at　the　corner　diagonally　opposite；　had；　in　the　same　
manner；　the　air　of　a　stamp；　or　seal。　But　I　was　sorely　put　out　by　the　
absence　of　all　else　…　of　the　body　to　my　imagined　instrument　…　of　the　
text　for　my　context。〃

　　　　〃I　presume　you　expected　to　find　a　letter　between　the　stamp　and　
the　signature。〃

　　　　〃Something　of　that　kind。　The　fact　is；　I　felt　irresistibly　
impressed　with　a　presentiment　of　some　vas