the works of edgar allan poe-1-第38章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
in gold； and a clerk went home with the money。
〃_Adolphe Le Bon_； clerk to Mignaud et Fils； deposes that on the day
in question； about noon； he accompanied Madame L'Espanaye to her
residence with the 4000 francs； put up in two bags。 Upon the door
being opened； Mademoiselle L。 appeared and took from his hands one of
the bags； while the old lady relieved him of the other。 He then bowed
and departed。 Did not see any person in the street at the time。 It is
a bye…street … very lonely。
〃_William Bird_； tailor deposes that he was one of the party who
entered the house。 Is an Englishman。 Has lived in Paris two years。
Was one of the first to ascend the stairs。 Heard the voices in
contention。 The gruff voice was that of a Frenchman。 Could make out
several words； but cannot now remember all。 Heard distinctly
'_sacr開' and '_mon Dieu。_' There was a sound at the moment as if of
several persons struggling … a scraping and scuffling sound。 The
shrill voice was very loud … louder than the gruff one。 Is sure that
it was not the voice of an Englishman。 Appeared to be that of a
German。 Might have been a woman's voice。 Does not understand German。
〃Four of the above…named witnesses； being recalled； deposed that the
door of the chamber in which was found the body of Mademoiselle L。
was locked on the inside when the party reached it。 Every thing was
perfectly silent … no groans or noises of any kind。 Upon forcing the
door no person was seen。 The windows； both of the back and front
room； were down and firmly fastened from within。 A door between the
two rooms was closed； but not locked。 The door leading from the front
room into the passage was locked； with the key on the inside。 A small
room in the front of the house； on the fourth story； at the head of
the passage was open； the door being ajar。 This room was crowded with
old beds； boxes； and so forth。 These were carefully removed and
searched。 There was not an inch of any portion of the house which was
not carefully searched。 Sweeps were sent up and down the chimneys。
The house was a four story one； with garrets （_mansardes。_） A
trap…door on the roof was nailed down very securely … did not appear
to have been opened for years。 The time elapsing between the hearing
of the voices in contention and the breaking open of the room door；
was variously stated by the witnesses。 Some made it as short as three
minutes … some as long as five。 The door was opened with difficulty。
〃_Alfonzo Garcio_； undertaker； deposes that he resides in the Rue
Morgue。 Is a native of Spain。 Was one of the party who entered the
house。 Did not proceed up stairs。 Is nervous； and was apprehensive of
the consequences of agitation。 Heard the voices in contention。 The
gruff voice was that of a Frenchman。 Could not distinguish what was
said。 The shrill voice was that of an Englishman … is sure of this。
Does not understand the English language； but judges by the
intonation。
〃_Alberto Montani_； confectioner； deposes that he was among the first
to ascend the stairs。 Heard the voices in question。 The gruff voice
was that of a Frenchman。 Distinguished several words。 The speaker
appeared to be expostulating。 Could not make out the words of the
shrill voice。 Spoke quick and unevenly。 Thinks it the voice of a
Russian。 Corroborates the general testimony。 Is an Italian。 Never
conversed with a native of Russia。
〃Several witnesses； recalled； here testified that the chimneys of all
the rooms on the fourth story were too narrow to admit the passage of
a human being。 By 'sweeps' were meant cylindrical sweeping brushes；
such as are employed by those who clean chimneys。 These brushes were
passed up and down every flue in the house。 There is no back passage
by which any one could have descended while the party proceeded up
stairs。 The body of Mademoiselle L'Espanaye was so firmly wedged in
the chimney that it could not be got down until four or five of the
party united their strength。
〃_Paul Dumas_； physician； deposes that he was called to view the
bodies about day…break。 They were both then lying on the sacking of
the bedstead in the chamber where Mademoiselle L。 was found。 The
corpse of the young lady was much bruised and excoriated。 The fact
that it had been thrust up the chimney would sufficiently account for
these appearances。 The throat was greatly chafed。 There were several
deep scratches just below the chin； together with a series of livid
spots which were evidently the impression of fingers。 The face was
fearfully discolored； and the eye…balls protruded。 The tongue had
been partially bitten through。 A large bruise was discovered upon the
pit of the stomach； produced； apparently； by the pressure of a knee。
In the opinion of M。 Dumas； Mademoiselle L'Espanaye had been
throttled to death by some person or persons unknown。 The corpse of
the mother was horribly mutilated。 All the bones of the right leg and
arm were more or less shattered。 The left _tibia_ much splintered； as
well as all the ribs of the left side。 Whole body dreadfully bruised
and discolored。 It was not possible to say how the injuries had been
inflicted。 A heavy club of wood； or a broad bar of iron … a chair …
any large； heavy； and obtuse weapon would have produced such results；
if wielded by the hands of a very powerful man。 No woman could have
inflicted the blows with any weapon。 The head of the deceased； when
seen by witness； was entirely separated from the body； and was also
greatly shattered。 The throat had evidently been cut with some very
sharp instrument … probably with a razor。
〃_Alexandre Etienne_； surgeon； was called with M。 Dumas to view the
bodies。 Corroborated the testimony； and the opinions of M。 Dumas。
〃Nothing farther of importance was elicited； although several other
persons were examined。 A murder so mysterious； and so perplexing in
all its particulars； was never before committed in Paris … if indeed
a murder has been committed at all。 The police are entirely at fault
… an unusual occurrence in affairs of this nature。 There is not；
however； the shadow of a clew apparent。〃
The evening edition of the paper stated that the greatest excitement
still continued in the Quartier St。 Roch … that the premises in
question had been carefully re…searched； and fresh examinations of
witnesses instituted； but all to no purpose。 A postscript； however；
mentioned that Adolphe Le Bon had been arrested and imprisoned …
although nothing appeared to criminate him； beyond the facts already
detailed。
Dupin seemed singularly interested in the progress of this affair
at least so I judged from his manner； for he made no comments。 It was
only after the announcement that Le Bon had been imprisoned； that he
asked me my opinion respecting the murders。
I could merely agree with all Paris in considering them an insoluble
mystery。 I saw no means by which it would be possible to trace the
murderer。
〃We must not judge of the means；〃 said Dupin； 〃by this shell of an
examination。 The Parisian police； so much extolled for _acumen_； are
cunning； but no more。 There is no method in their proceedings； beyond
the method of the moment。 They make a vast parade of measures； but；
not unfrequently； these are so ill adapted to the objects proposed；
as to put us in mind of Monsieur Jourdain's calling for his
_robe…de…chambre … pour mieux entendre la musique。_ The results
attained by them are not unfrequently surprising； but； for the most
part； are brought about by simple diligence and activity。 When these
qualities are unavailing； their schemes fail。 Vidocq； for example；
was a good guesser and a persevering man。 But； without educated
thought； he erred continually by the very intensity of his
investigations。 He impaired his vision by holding the object too
close。 He might see； perhaps； one or two points with unusual
clearness； but in so doing he； necessarily； lost sight of the matter
as a whole。 Thus there is such a thing as being too profound。 Truth
is not always in a well。 In fact； as regards the more important
knowledge； I do believe that she is invariably superficia
