the works of edgar allan poe-1-第43章
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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 know about this affair； … but I do not expect you to believe one
half I say … I would be a fool indeed if I did。 Still； I am innocent；
and I will make a clean breast if I die for it。〃
What he stated was； in substance； this。 He had lately made a voyage
to the Indian Archipelago。 A party； of which he formed one； landed at
Borneo； and passed into the interior on an excursion of pleasure。
Himself and a companion had captured the Ourang… Outang。 This
companion dying； the animal fell into his own exclusive possession。
After great trouble； occasioned by the intractable ferocity of his
captive during the home voyage； he at length succeeded in lodging it
safely at his own residence in Paris； where； not to attract toward
himself the unpleasant curiosity of his neighbors； he kept it
carefully secluded； until such time as it should recover from a wound
in the foot； received from a splinter on board ship。 His ultimate
design was to sell it。
Returning home from some sailors' frolic the night； or rather in the
morning of the murder； he found the beast occupying his own bed…room；
into which it had broken from a closet adjoining； where it had been；
as was thought； securely confined。 Razor in hand； and fully lathered；
it was sitting before a looking…glass； attempting the operation of
shaving； in which it had no doubt previously watched its master
through the key…hole of the closet。 Terrified at the sight of so
dangerous a weapon in the possession of an animal so ferocious； and
so well able to use it； the man； for some moments； was at a loss what
to do。 He had been accustomed； however； to quiet the creature； even
in its fiercest moods； by the use of a whip； and to this he now
resorted。 Upon sight of it； the Ourang…Outang sprang at once through
the door of the chamber； down the stairs； and thence； through a
window； unfortunately open； into the street。
The Frenchman followed in despair； the ape； razor still in hand；
occasionally stopping to look back and gesticulate at its pursuer；
until the latter had nearly come up with it。 It then again made off。
In this manner the chase continued for a long time。 The streets were
profoundly quiet； as it was nearly three o'clock in the morning。 In
passing down an alley in the rear of the Rue Morgue； the fugitive's
attention was arrested by a light gleaming from the open window of
Madame L'Espanaye's chamber； in the fourth story of her house。
Rushing to the building； it perceived the lightning rod； clambered up
with inconceivable agility； grasped the shutter； which was thrown
fully back against the wall； and； by its means； swung itself directly
upon the headboard of the bed。 The whole feat did not occupy a
minute。 The shutter was kicked open again by the Ourang…Outang as it
entered the room。
The sailor； in the meantime； was both rejoiced and perplexed。 He had
strong hopes of now recapturing the brute； as it could scarcely
escape from the trap into which it had ventured； except by the rod；
where it migh
