the works of edgar allan poe-1-第40章
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Hollander； and a Frenchman attempted to describe it； each one spoke
of it as that _of a foreigner_。 Each is sure that it was not the
voice of one of his own countrymen。 Each likens it … not to the voice
of an individual of any nation with whose language he is conversant …
but the converse。 The Frenchman supposes it the voice of a Spaniard；
and 'might have distinguished some words _had he been acquainted with
the Spanish。_' The Dutchman maintains it to have been that of a
Frenchman； but we find it stated that '_not understanding French this
witness was examined through an interpreter。_' The Englishman thinks
it the voice of a German； and '_does not understand German。_' The
Spaniard 'is sure' that it was that of an Englishman； but 'judges by
the intonation' altogether； '_as he has no knowledge of the
English。_' The Italian believes it the voice of a Russian； but '_has
never conversed with a native of Russia。_' A second Frenchman
differs； moreover； with the first； and is positive that the voice was
that of an Italian； but； _not being cognizant of that tongue_； is；
like the Spaniard； 'convinced by the intonation。' Now； how strangely
unusual must that voice have really been； about which such testimony
as this _could_ have been elicited！ … in whose _tones_； even；
denizens of the five great divisions of Europe could recognise
nothing familiar！ You will say that it might have been the voice of
an Asiatic … of an African。 Neither Asiatics nor Africans abound in
Paris； but； without denying the inference； I will now merely call
your attention to three points。 The voice is termed by one witness
'harsh rather than shrill。' It is represented by two others to have
been 'quick and _unequal。_' No words … no sounds resembling words …
were by any witness mentioned as distinguishable。
〃I know not；〃 continued Dupin； 〃what impression I may have made； so
far； upon your own understanding； but I do not hesitate to say that
legitimate deductions even from this portion of the testimony … the
portion respecting the gruff and shrill voices … are in themselves
sufficient to engender a suspicion which should give direction to all
farther progress in the investigation of the mystery。 I said
'legitimate deductions；' but my meaning is not thus fully expressed。
I designed to imply that the deductions are the _sole_ proper ones；
and that the suspicion arises _inevitably_ from them as the single
result。 What the suspicion is； however； I will not say just yet。 I
merely wish you to bear in mind that； with myself； it was
sufficiently forcible to give a definite form … a certain tendency …
to my inquiries in the chamber。
〃Let us now transport ourselves； in fancy； to this chamber。 What
shall we first seek here？ The means of egress employed by the
murderers。 It is not too much to say that neither of us believe in
pr鎡ernatural events。 Madame and Mademoiselle L'Espanaye were not
destroyed by spirits。 The doers of the deed were material； and
escaped materially。 Then how？ Fortunately； there is but one mode of
reasoning upon the point； and that mode _must_ lead us to a definite
decision。 … Let us examine； each by each； the possible means of
egress。 It is clear that the assassins were in the room where
Mademoiselle L'Espanaye was found； or at least in the room adjoining；
when the party ascended the stairs。 It is then only from these two
apartments that we have to seek issues。 The police have laid bare the
floors； the ceilings； and the masonry of the walls； in every
direction。 No _secret_ issues could have escaped their vigilance。
But； not trusting to _their_ eyes； I examined with my own。 There
were； then； no secret issues。 Both doors leading from the rooms into
the passage were securely locked； with the keys inside。 Let us turn
to the chimneys。 These； although of ordinary width for some eight or
ten feet above the hearths； will not admit； throughout their extent；
the body of a large cat。 The impossibility of egress； by means
already stated； being thus absolute； we are reduced to the windows。
Through those of the front room no one could have escaped without
notice from the crowd in the street。 The murderers _must_ have
passed； then； through those of the back room。 Now； brought to this
conclusion in so unequivocal a manner as we are； it is not our part；
as reasoners； to reject it on account of apparent impossibilities。 It
is only left for us to prove that these apparent 'impossibilities'
are； in reality； not such。
〃There are two windows in the chamber。 One of them is unobstructed by
furniture； and is wholly visible。 The lower portion of the other is
hidden from view by the head of the unwieldy bedstead which is thrust
close up against it。 The former was found securely fastened from
within。 It resisted the utmost force of those who endeavored to raise
it。 A large gimlet…hole had been pierced in its frame to the left；
and a very stout nail was found fitted therein； nearly to the head。
Upon examining the other window； a similar nail was seen similarly
fitted in it； and a vigorous attempt to raise this sash； failed also。
The police were now entirely satisfied that egress had not been in
these directions。 And； _therefore_； it was thought a matter of
supererogation to withdraw the nails and open the windows。
〃My own examination was somewhat more particular； and was so for the
reason I have just given … because here it was； I knew； that all
apparent impossibilities _must_ be proved to be not such in reality。
〃I proceeded to think thus … _？posteriori_。 The murderers did escape
from one of these windows。 This being so； they could not have
refastened the sashes from the inside； as they were found fastened； …
the consideration which put a stop； through its obviousness； to the
scrutiny of the police in this quarter。 Yet the sashes _were_
fastened。 They _must_； then； have the power of fastening themselves。
There was no escape from this conclusion。 I stepped to the
unobstructed casement； withdrew the nail with some difficulty and
attempted to raise the sash。 It resisted all my efforts； as I had
anticipated。 A concealed spring must； I now know； exist； and this
corroboration of my idea convinced me that my premises at least； were
correct； however mysterious still appeared the circumstances
attending the nails。 A careful search soon brought to light the
hidden spring。 I pressed it； and； satisfied with the discovery；
forbore to upraise the sash。
〃I now replaced the nail and regarded it attentively。 A person
passing out through this window might have reclosed it； and the
spring would have caught … but the nail could not have been replaced。
The conclusion was plain； and again narrowed in the field of my
investigations。 The assassins _must_ have escaped through the other
window。 Supposing； then； the springs upon each sash to be the same；
as was probable； there _must_ be found a difference between the
nails； or at least between the modes of their fixture。 Getting upon
the sacking of the bedstead； I looked over the head…board minutely at
the second casement。 Passing my hand down behind the board； I readily
discovered and pressed the spring； which was； as I had supposed；
identical in character with its neighbor。 I now looked at the nail。
It was as stout as the other； and apparently fitted in the same
manner … driven in nearly up to the head。
〃You will say that I was puzzled； but； if you think so； you must have
misunderstood the nature of the inductions。 To use a sporting phrase；
I had not been once 'at fault。' The scent had never for an instant
been lost。 There was no flaw in any link of the chain。 I had traced
the secret to its ultimate result； … and that result was _the nail。_
It had； I say； in every respect； the appearance of its fellow in the
other window； but this fact was an absolute nullity （conclusive us it
might seem to be） when compared with the consideration that here； at
this point； terminated the clew。 'There _must_ be something wrong；' I
said； 'about the nail。' I touched it； and the head； with about a
quarter of an inch of the shank； came off in m
