the darrow enigma(达罗之迷)-第44章
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misunderstanding； told him I was a pirate and a smuggler。 He asked me
where the treasure I had been talking about was hidden。 My reply； … I
remember the exact words in which I couched it； … made him mine
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completely。 I said： 'We buried it near Fez … Treasure？ I don't know
anything about any treasure。'
〃To all the many questions he then asked me I returned only
incoherent replies； but I was careful to be again raving about buried riches
upon the next visit。 In this way I kept him by me long enough to
influence him； and in less than a month he was completely subject to my
will。 I tested my power over him in divers ways。 Any delicacy I
wished I compelled him to bring me。 In this way I was enabled to regain
a portion of my lost strength。 When I concluded the time had come for
me to make good my escape； I caused him to come to my cell at midnight
and remove the bricks from the slit while I put on the disguise he had
brought me。 Once out of my stone tomb we carefully walled it up again
and then departed to find my imaginary hidden treasure。 We made our
way without trouble to Algiers； for my companion had money； and sailed
thence via Gibraltar for England。 During the trip my companion jumped
overboard and was drowned in the Bay of Biscay。 Thus I was completely
freed from Ceuta and its terrible pest…hole。
〃From England I sailed to New York； reaching America penniless and
in ill health。 Things not going to my liking in New York； I came to
Boston and took up my old callings of gambler and detective。 It was at
this time that I saw John Darrow's curious notice in the newspaper；
offering； in the event of his murder； a most liberal reward to anyone who
would bring the assassin to justice。
〃Mon Dieu！ How I needed money。 I would have bartered my soul
for a tithe of that amount。 It was the old； old story； only new in Eden。 Ah！
but how I loved her！ She must have money； money； always money！ That
was ever her cry。 When I could not supply it she sought it of others； and
this drove me mad。 If； I said to myself； I could only get this reward！
This was something really worth working for； and if I could but get it； she
should be mine only。 I at once set to work upon the problem。
〃It was not an easy thing to solve。 I might be able to hire a man to do
the deed for me； but he would hardly be willing to hang for it without
disclosing my part in the transaction。 It was at this time that I first met M。
Latour on Decatur Street。 He at once impressed me as being just the man
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I wanted； and I began to gradually subdue his will。 In this circumstances
greatly aided me。 When I found him he was in very poor health and
without any means of sustenance。 His daughter was able to earn a little；
but not nearly enough to keep the wolf from the door。 Add to this that he
had a cancer； which several physicians had assured him would prove fatal
within a year； that he was afflicted with an almost insane fear that his
daughter would come to want after his death； and you have before you the
conditions which determined my course。 My first thought was to
influence him to do the deed himself； but； recalling the researches of M。
Charcot in these matters； I came to the conclusion that such a course
would be almost certain to lead to detection； since a hypnotic subject can
only be depended upon so long as the conditions under which he acts are
precisely those which have been suggested to him。 Any unforeseen
variations in these conditions and he fails to act； exposes everything； and
the whole carefully planned structure falls to the ground。 When；
therefore； the time came which I had set for the deed； I found it possible to
drug M。 Latour； abduct him from his home； and to keep him confined and
unconscious until I had killed Mr。 Darrow in a manner I will describe in
due course。 As soon as I had committed the murder and established what
I fondly believed would be a perfect alibi in my attendance at the
examination； I secretly conveyed the still unconscious M。 Latour to his
rooms and awaited his return to consciousness。 I then asked him how he
came in such a state and what he was doing in Dorchester。 He was； of
course； ignorant of everything。 Little by little I worked upon him till he
came to believe himself guilty of John Darrow's murder。
〃I had availed myself of his interest in the subject of cancer to get him
to the library。 It is one of my maxims never to take an avoidable risk； for
which reason I made Latour apply for the books I wanted； as well as for
the medical works he desired to peruse。 As he was ambidextrous； I
suggested the use of the two names Weltz and Rizzi； the former to be
written with his right and the latter with his left hand。 I was actuated in
all this by two motives。 First； I was manufacturing evidence which might
stand me in good stead later； as well as minimising somewhat my own risk
in getting the information I needed； and； secondly； I was getting Latour
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into a good atmosphere for my hypnotic influence。 Not a word of all
these matters did he relate to his daughter； whom he loves with a devotion
I have never seen equalled。 Indeed； it was this very affection that made
my plan feasible。 When I had convinced him he was a murderer I
showed him Mr。 Darrow's curious advertisement offering a reward； should
he be assassinated； to anyone bringing about the conviction of his
assailant。
〃'In a year；' I said to him； 'you will die of cancer； if your crime be not
previously discovered and punished。 Your daughter will then be
penniless。 How much better for you to permit me in a few months to
accuse you of the murder。 You then confess； I claim and secure the
reward and secretly divide with you； you are sentenced； but as
considerable time will transpire between this and the date set for your
execution； you in the meantime will die of cancer； leaving Jeannette well
provided for。'
〃I think my influence over him would have been sufficient to have
compelled him to all this； could he have reasoned out no benefit accruing
to himself or daughter by such a course； but with circumstances thus in my
favour my task was an easy one。 The public knows all it need know of
what occurred after this。 This man； Maitland； was in the next room to
Latour's； overheard our conversation； and even phonographed our words
and photographed our positions。 It has always been a matter of pride
with me to gracefully acknowledge that three aces are not so good as a full
house； therefore I confess myself beaten； though not subdued。
〃I consider this the very best tribute I can pay to the genius of the man
who has undone me。 I take my punishment； however； into my own
hands。
〃In my haste to have done with all this and to start on my long and
chartless journey； I had well…nigh forgotten to tell just how I killed Mr。
Darrow。 No hypodermic syringe had anything to do with it。 The while
plan came to me while reading that fatal page upon which I left my telltale
thumb…signature in my search for some feasible plan of making away with
my victim。 I need not go into particulars； for I know perfectly well that
this Maitland knows to a nicety how the thing was done。 The Daboia
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Russellii； or Russell's viper； is one of the best known and most deadly of
Indian vipers。 I procured one of these reptiles at the cost of great delay and
some slight risk。 That is the whole story。 On the night of the murder I
took the viper in a box and went down to the water…front； near the Darrow
estate。 Here I cut a small pole from a clump of alders； made a split in
one end of it； and thrust it over the tail of the viper。 It pinched him
severely and held him fast despite his angry struggles to free himself and
to attack anything within his reach。 All that remained to be done was to
thrust this through the window into the darkened room and to bring the
viper within reach of Mr。 Darrow。 This I did； being careful to crouch so as
not to obstruct the light of the window。 When I heard my victim's outcry
I withdrew the pole； and with it； of course； the viper； and made good my
escape。 That the reptile bit Mr。 Darrow under the chin while his back
was toward the window was mere chance； though I regarded it as a very
lucky occurrence； since it seemed to render the suicide theory at first
inevitable。
〃I had had some fear lest the hissing of the viper might have been
heard； for which reason I hazarded the only question I asked at the
examination； and was completely reassured by its answer。 I should
perhaps state that my purpose in keeping in the background at this
examination was my desire to avoid attracting attention to my deformed
foot and my halting gait。 This latter I had taken pains to conceal at my
