the works of edgar allan poe-1-第31章

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from　a　neighboring　_Maison　de　Sant？_〃

〃In　some　respects；〃　he　replied；　〃your　idea　is　not　irrelevant。　But　the　
voices　of　madmen；　even　in　their　wildest　paroxysms；　are　never　found　to　
tally　with　that　peculiar　voice　heard　upon　the　stairs。　Madmen　are　of　
some　nation；　and　their　language；　however　incoherent　in　its　words；　has　
always　the　coherence　of　syllabification。　Besides；　the　hair　of　a　
madman　is　not　such　as　I　now　hold　in　my　hand。　I　disentangled　this　
little　tuft　from　the　rigidly　clutched　fingers　of　Madame　L'Espanaye。　
Tell　me　what　you　can　make　of　it。〃

〃Dupin！〃　I　said；　completely　unnerved；　〃this　hair　is　most　unusual　…　
this　is　no　_human_　hair。〃

〃I　have　not　asserted　that　it　is；〃　said　he；　〃but；　before　we　decide　
this　point；　I　wish　you　to　glance　at　the　little　sketch　I　have　here　
traced　upon　this　paper。　It　is　a　_fac…simile_　drawing　of　what　has　been　
described　in　one　portion　of　the　testimony　as　'dark　bruises；　and　deep　
indentations　of　finger　nails；'　upon　the　throat　of　Mademoiselle　
L'Espanaye；　and　in　another；　（by　Messrs。　Dumas　and　Etienne；）　as　a　
'series　of　livid　spots；　evidently　the　impression　of　fingers。'

〃You　will　perceive；〃　continued　my　friend；　spreading　out　the　paper　
upon　the　table　before　us；　〃that　this　drawing　gives　the　idea　of　a　firm　
and　fixed　hold。　There　is　no　_slipping_　apparent。　Each　finger　has　
retained　…　possibly　until　the　death　of　the　victim　…　the　fearful　grasp　
by　which　it　originally　imbedded　itself。　Attempt；　now；　to　place　all　
your　fingers；　at　the　same　time；　in　the　respective　impressions　as　you　
see　them。〃

I　made　the　attempt　in　vain。

〃We　are　possibly　not　giving　this　matter　a　fair　trial；〃　he　said。　〃The　
paper　is　spread　out　upon　a　plane　surface；　but　the　human　throat　is　
cylindrical。　Here　is　a　billet　of　wood；　the　circumference　of　which　is　
about　that　of　the　throat。　Wrap　the　drawing　around　it；　and　try　the　
experiment　again。〃

I　did　so；　but　the　difficulty　was　even　more　obvious　than　before。　
〃This；〃　I　said；　〃is　the　mark　of　no　human　hand。〃

〃Read　now；〃　replied　Dupin；　〃this　passage　from　Cuvier。〃

It　was　a　minute　anatomical　and　generally　descriptive　account　of　the　
large　fulvous　Ourang…Outang　of　the　East　Indian　Islands。　The　gigantic　
stature；　the　prodigious　strength　and　activity；　the　wild　ferocity；　and　
the　imitative　propensities　of　these　mammalia　are　sufficiently　well　
known　to　all。　I　understood　the　full　horrors　of　the　murder　at　once。

〃The　description　of　the　digits；〃　said　I；　as　I　made　an　end　of　reading；　
〃is　in　exact　accordance　with　this　drawing。　I　see　that　no　animal　but　
an　Ourang…Outang；　of　the　species　here　mentioned；　could　have　impressed　
the　indentations　as　you　have　traced　them。　This　tuft　of　tawny　hair；　
too；　is　identical　in　character　with　that　of　the　beast　of　Cuvier。　But　
I　cannot　possibly　comprehend　the　particulars　of　this　frightful　
mystery。　Besides；　there　were　_two_　voices　heard　in　contention；　and　
one　of　them　was　unquestionably　the　voice　of　a　Frenchman。〃

〃True；　and　you　will　remember　an　expression　attributed　almost　
unanimously；　by　the　evidence；　to　this　voice；　…　the　expression；　'_mon　
Dieu！_'　This；　under　the　circumstances；　has　been　justly　characterized　
by　one　of　the　witnesses　（Montani；　the　confectioner；）　as　an　expression　
of　remonstrance　or　expostulation。　Upon　these　two　words；　therefore；　I　
have　mainly　built　my　hopes　of　a　full　solution　of　the　riddle。　A　
Frenchman　was　cognizant　of　the　murder。　It　is　possible　…　indeed　it　is　
far　more　than　probable　…　that　he　was　innocent　of　all　participation　in　
the　bloody　transactions　which　took　place。　The　Ourang…Outang　may　have　
escaped　from　him。　He　may　have　traced　it　to　the　chamber；　but；　under　
the　agitating　circumstances　which　ensued；　he　could　never　have　
re…captured　it。　It　is　still　at　large。　I　will　not　pursue　these　guesses　
…　for　I　have　no　right　to　call　them　more　…　since　the　shades　of　
reflection　upon　which　they　are　based　are　scarcely　of　sufficient　depth　
to　be　appreciable　by　my　own　intellect；　and　since　I　could　not　pretend　
to　make　them　intelligible　to　the　understanding　of　another。　We　will　
call　them　guesses　then；　and　speak　of　them　as　such。　If　the　Frenchman　
in　question　is　indeed；　as　I　suppose；　innocent　of　this　atrocity；　this　
advertisement　which　I　left　last　night；　upon　our　return　home；　at　the　
office　of　'Le　Monde；'　（a　paper　devoted　to　the　shipping　interest；　and　
much　sought　by　sailors；）　will　bring　him　to　our　residence。〃

He　handed　me　a　paper；　and　I　read　thus：

CAUGHT　…　_In　the　Bois　de　Boulogne；　early　in　the　morning　of　the　…　
inst。；_　（the　morning　of　the　murder；）　_a　very　large；　tawny　
Ourang…Outang　of　the　Bornese　species。　The　owner；　（who　is　ascertained　
to　be　a　sailor；　belonging　to　a　Maltese　vessel；）　may　have　the　animal　
again；　upon　identifying　it　satisfactorily；　and　paying　a　few　charges　
arising　from　its　capture　and　keeping。　Call　at　No。　　；　Rue　；　
Faubourg　St。　Germain　…　au　troisi阭e。_

〃How　was　it　possible；〃　I　asked；　〃that　you　should　know　the　man　to　be　a　
sailor；　and　belonging　to　a　Maltese　vessel？〃

〃I　do　_not_　know　it；〃　said　Dupin。　〃I　am　not　_sure_　of　it。　Here；　
however；　is　a　small　piece　of　ribbon；　which　from　its　form；　and　from　
its　greasy　appearance；　has　evidently　been　used　in　tying　the　hair　in　
one　of　those　long　_queues_　of　which　sailors　are　so　fond。　Moreover；　
this　knot　is　one　which　few　besides　sailors　can　tie；　and　is　peculiar　
to　the　Maltese。　I　picked　the　ribbon　up　at　the　foot　of　the　
lightning…rod。　It　could　not　have　belonged　to　either　of　the　deceased。　
Now　if；　after　all；　I　am　wrong　in　my　induction　from　this　ribbon；　that　
the　Frenchman　was　a　sailor　belonging　to　a　Maltese　vessel；　still　I　can　
have　done　no　harm　in　saying　what　I　did　in　the　advertisement。　If　I　am　
in　error；　he　will　merely　suppose　that　I　have　been　misled　by　some　
circumstance　into　which　he　will　not　take　the　trouble　to　inquire。　But　
if　I　am　right；　a　great　point　is　gained。　Cognizant　although　innocent　
of　the　murder；　the　Frenchman　will　naturally　hesitate　about　replying　
to　the　advertisement　…　about　demanding　the　Ourang…Outang。　He　will　
reason　thus：　…　'I　am　innocent；　I　am　poor；　my　Ourang…Outang　is　of　
great　value　…　to　one　in　my　circumstances　a　fortune　of　itself　…　why　
should　I　lose　it　through　idle　apprehensions　of　danger？　Here　it　is；　
within　my　grasp。　It　was　found　in　the　Bois　de　Boulogne　…　at　a　vast　
distance　from　the　scene　of　that　butchery。　How　can　it　ever　be　
suspected　that　a　brute　beast　should　have　done　the　deed？　The　police　
are　at　fault　…　they　have　failed　to　procure　the　slightest　clew。　Should　
they　even　trace　the　animal；　it　would　be　impossible　to　prove　me　
cognizant　of　the　murder；　or　to　implicate　me　in　guilt　on　account　of　
that　cognizance。　Above　all；　_I　am　known。_　The　advertiser　designates　
me　as　the　possessor　of　the　beast。　I　am　not　sure　to　what　limit　his　
knowledge　may　extend。　Should　I　avoid　claiming　a　property　of　so　great　
value；　which　it　is　known　that　I　possess；　I　will　render　the　animal　at　
least；　liable　to　suspicion。　It　is　not　my　policy　to　attract　attention　
either　to　myself　or　to　the　beast。　I　will　answer　the　advertisement；　
get　the　Ourang…Outang；　and　keep　it　close　until　this　matter　has　blown　
over。'　〃

At　this　moment　we　heard　a　step　upon　the　stairs。

〃Be　ready；〃　said　Dupin；　〃with　your　pistols；　but　neither　use　them　nor　
show　them　until　at　a　signal　from　myself。〃

The　front　door　of　the　house　had　been　left　open；　and　the　visiter　had　
entered；　without　ringing；　and　advanced　several　steps　upon　the　
staircase。　Now；　however；　he　seemed　to　hesitate。　Presently　we　heard　
him　descending。　Dupin　was　moving　quickly　to　the　door；　when　we　again　
heard　him　coming　up。　He　did　not　turn　back　a　second　time；　but　stepped　
up　with　decision；　and　rapped　at　the　door　of　our　chamber。

〃Come　in；〃　said　Dupin；　in　a　cheerful　and　hearty　tone。

A　man　entered。　He　was　a　sailor；　evidently；　…　a　tall；　stout；　and　
muscular…looking　person；　with　a　certain　dare…devil　expression　of　
countenance；　not　altogether　unprepossessing。　His　face；　greatly　
sunburnt；　was　more　than　half　hidden　by　whisker　and　_mustachio。_　He　
had　with　him　a　huge　oaken　cudgel；　but　appeared　to　be　otherwise　
unarmed。　He　bowed　awkwardly；　and　bade　us　〃good　evening；〃　in　French　
accents；　which；　although　somewhat　Neufchatelish；　were　still　
sufficiently　indicative　of　a　Parisian　origin。

〃Sit　down；　my　freind；〃　said　Dupin。　〃I　suppose　you　have　called　about　
the　Ourang…Outang。　Upon　my　word；　I　almost　envy　you　the　possession　of　
him；　a　remarkably　fine；　and　no　doubt　a　very　valuable　animal。　How　old　
do　you　suppose　him　to　be？〃

The　sailor　drew　a　long　breath；　with　the　air　of　a　man　relieved　of　some　
intolerable　burden；　and　then　replied；　in　an　assured　tone：

〃I　have　no　way　of　telling　…　but　he　can't　be　more　than　four　or　five　
years　old。　Have　you　got　him　here？〃

〃Oh　no；　we　had　no　conveniences　for　keeping　him　here。　He　is　at　a　
livery　stable　in　the　Rue　Dubourg；　just　by。　You　can　get　him　in　the　
morning。　Of　course　you　are　prepared　to　identify　the　property？〃

〃To　be　sure　I　am；　sir。〃

〃I　shall　be　sorry　to　part　with　him；〃　said　Dupin。

〃I　don't　mean　that　you　should　be　at　all　this　trouble　for　nothing；　
sir；〃　said　the　man。　〃Couldn't　expect　it。　Am　very　willing　to　pay　a　
reward　for　the　finding　of　the　animal　…　that　is　to　say；　any　thing　in　
reason。〃

〃Well；〃　replied　my　friend；　〃that　is　all　very　fair；　to　be　sure。　Let　me　
think！　…　what　should　I　have？　Oh！　I　will　tell　you。　My　reward　shall　be　
this。　You　shall　give　me　all　the　information　in　your　power　about　these　
murders　in　the　Rue　Morgue。〃

Dupin　said　the　last　words　in　a　very　low　tone；　and　very　quietly。　Just　
as　quietly；　too；　he　walked　toward　the　door；　locked　it　and　put　the　key　
in　his　pocket。　He　then　drew　a　pistol　from　his　bosom　and　placed　it；　
without　the　least　flurry；　upon　the　table。

The　sailor's　face　flushed　up　as　if　he　were　struggling　with　
suffocation。　He　started　to　his　feet　and　grasped　his　cudgel；　but　the　
next　moment　he　fell　back　into　his　seat；　trembling　violently；　and　with　
the　countenance　of　death　itself。　He　spoke　not　a　word。　I　pitied　him　
from　the　bottom　of　my　heart。

〃My　friend；〃　said　Dupin；　in　a　kind　tone；　〃you　are　alarming　yourself　
unnecessarily　…　you　are　indeed。　We　mean　you　no　harm　whatever。　I　
pledge　you　the　honor　of　a　gentleman；　and　of　a　Frenchman；　that　we　
intend　you　no　injury。　I　perfectly　well　know　that　you　are　innocent　of　
the　atrocities　in　the　Rue　Morgue。　It　will　not　do；　however；　to　deny　
that　you　are　in　some　measure　implicated　in　them。　From　what　I　have　
already　said；　you　must　know　that　I　have　had　means　of　information　
about　this　matter　…　means　of　which　you　could　never　have　dreamed。　Now　
the　thing　stands　thus。　You　have　done　nothing　which　you　could　have　
avoided　…　nothing；　certainly；　which　renders　you　culpable。　You　were　
not　even　guilty　of　robbery；　when　you　might　have　robbed　with　impunity。　
You　have　nothing　to　conceal。　You　have　no　reason　for　concealment。　On　
the　other　hand；　you　are　bound　by　every　principle　of　honor　to　confess　
all　you　know。　An　innocent　man　is　now　imprisoned；　charged　with　that　
crime　of　which　you　can　point　out　the　perpetrator。〃

The　sailor　had　recovered　his　presence　of　mind；　in　a　great　measure；　
while　Dupin　uttered　these　words；　but　his　original　boldness　of　bearing　
was　all　gone。

〃So　help　me　God；〃　said　he；　after　a　brief　pause；　〃I　will　tell　you　all　
I　kn