the darrow enigma-µÚ48ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
myself¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡were¡¡in¡¡those¡¡days¡¡but¡¡few¡¡people¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not
mesmerise£»¡¡provided¡¡sufficient¡¡opportunity¡¡were¡¡allowed¡¡me¡¡for
hypnotic¡¡suggestion¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡determined¡¡to¡¡see¡¡if¡¡any¡¡of¡¡this¡¡old¡¡power
still¡¡remained¡¡with¡¡me£»¡¡and£»¡¡if¡¡so£»¡¡to¡¡strive¡¡to¡¡render¡¡my¡¡jailer
subservient¡¡to¡¡my¡¡will¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡how¡¡should¡¡I¡¡keep¡¡him¡¡within¡¡ear¡shot
long¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡work¡¡upon¡¡him£¿¡¡¡¡Clearly¡¡all¡¡appeals¡¡to¡¡pity¡¡were
useless¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡must¡¡excite¡¡his¡¡greed£»¡¡nothing¡¡else¡¡would¡¡reach¡¡him¡£
This¡¡was¡¡not¡¡an¡¡easy¡¡thing¡¡to¡¡do¡¡without¡¡a¡¡sou¡¡in¡¡my¡¡possession£»
yet¡¡I¡¡did¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡When¡¡I¡¡heard¡¡his¡¡step¡¡I¡¡crawled¡¡to¡¡the¡¡opening¡¡in
the¡¡wall¡¡and¡¡mumbled¡¡in¡¡a¡¡crazy¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡a¡¡way¡¡about¡¡a¡¡hidden
treasure¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡the¡¡word¡¡'treasure'¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡him¡¡pause¡¡and¡¡listen£»¡¡but
I¡¡pretended¡¡not¡¡to¡¡be¡¡aware¡¡of¡¡his¡¡presence¡¡and¡¡rambled¡¡on£»¡¡in¡¡a
loose£»¡¡disjointed¡¡fashion£»¡¡about¡¡piracies¡¡committed¡¡by¡¡me¡¡and¡¡the
great¡¡amount¡¡of¡¡booty¡¡I¡¡had¡¡secreted¡£¡¡¡¡My¡¡plan¡¡worked¡¡perfectly¡£
The¡¡jailer¡¡came¡¡to¡¡the¡¡aperture¡¡in¡¡the¡¡wall¡¡and¡¡called¡¡me¡¡to¡¡him¡£
Muttering¡¡incoherently£»¡¡I¡¡obeyed¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡asked¡¡me¡¡what¡¡offence¡¡brought
me¡¡there£»¡¡and¡¡I£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡good¡¡deal¡¡of¡¡intentional¡¡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
completely¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡said£º¡¡'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¡¡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¡¡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
particular