the works of edgar allan poe-1-第47章
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outside。 All experience has shown that drowned bodies； or bodies
thrown into the water immediately after death by violence； require
from six to ten days for decomposition to take place to bring them to
the top of the water。 Even where a cannon is fired over a corpse； and
it rises before at least five or six days' immersion； it sinks again；
if let alone。 Now； we ask； what was there in this cave to cause a
departure from the ordinary course of nature？ 。 。 。 If the body had
been kept in its mangled state on shore until Tuesday night； some
trace would be found on shore of the murderers。 It is a doubtful
point； also； whether the body would be so soon afloat； even were it
thrown in after having been dead two days。 And； furthermore； it is
exceedingly improbable that any villains who had committed such a
murder as is here supposed； would have throw the body in without
weight to sink it； when such a precaution could have so easily been
taken。〃
The editor here proceeds to argue that the body must have been in the
water 〃not three days merely； but； at least； five times three days；〃
because it was so far decomposed that Beauvais had great difficulty
in recognizing it。 This latter point； however； was fully disproved。 I
continue the translation：
〃What； then； are the facts on which M。 Beauvais says that he has no
doubt the body was that of Marie Rog阾？ He ripped up the gown sleeve；
and says he found marks which satisfied him of the identity。 The
public generally supposed those marks to have consisted of some
description of scars。 He rubbed the arm and found hair upon it …
something as indefinite； we think； as can readily be imagined … as
little conclusive as finding an arm in the sleeve。 M。 Beauvais did
not return that night； but sent word to Madame Rog阾； at seven
o'clock； on Wednesday evening； that an investigation was still in
progress respecting her daughter。 If we allow that Madame Rog阾； from
her age and grief； could not go over； （which is allowing a great
deal；） there certainly must have been some one who would have thought
it worth while to go over and attend the investigation； if they
thought the body was that of Marie。 Nobody went over。 There was
nothing said or heard about the matter in the Rue Pav閑 St。 Andr閑；
that reached even the occupants of the same building。 M。 St。
Eustache； the lover and intended husband of Marie； who boarded in her
mother's house； deposes that he did not hear of the discovery of the
body of his intended until the next morning； when M。 Beauvais came
into his chamber and told him of it。 For an item of news like this；
it strikes us it was very coolly received。〃
In this way the journal endeavored to create the impression of an
apathy on the part of the relatives of Marie； inconsistent with the
supposition that these relatives believed the corpse to be hers。 Its
insinuations amount to this： … that Marie； with the connivance of her
friends； had absented herself from the city for reasons involving a
charge against her chastity； and that these friends； upon the
discovery of a corpse in the Seine； somewhat resembling that of the
girl； had availed themselves of the opportunity to impress press the
public with the belief of her death。 But L'Etoile was again
over…hasty。 It was distinctly proved that no apathy； such as was
imagined； existed； that the old lady was exceedingly feeble； and so
agitated as to be unable to attend to any duty； that St。 Eustache； so
far from receiving the news coolly； was distracted with grief； and
bore himself so frantically； that M。 Beauvais prevailed upon a friend
and relative to take charge of him； and prevent his attending the
examination at the disinterment。 Moreover； although it was stated by
L'Etoile； that the corpse was re…interred at the public expense …
that an advantageous offer of private sculpture was absolutely
declined by the family … and that no member of the family attended
the ceremonial： … although； I say； all this was asserted by L'Etoile
in furtherance of the impression it designed to convey … yet all this
was satisfactorily disproved。 In a subsequent number of the paper； an
attempt was made to throw suspicion upon Beauvais himself。 The editor
says：
〃Now； then； a change comes over the matter。 We are told that on one
occasion； while a Madame B was at Madame Rog阾's house； M。
Beauvais； who was going out； told her that a gendarme was expected
there； and she； Madame B。； must not say anything to the gendarme
until he returned； but let the matter be for him。 。 。 。 In the
present posture of affairs； M。 Beauvais appears to have the whole
matter looked up in his head。 A single step cannot be taken without
M。 Beauvais； for； go which way you will； you run against him。 。 。 。
For some reason； he determined that nobody shall have any thing to do
with the proceedings but himself； and he has elbowed the male
relatives out of the way； according to their representations； in a
very singular manner。 He seems to have been very much averse to
permitting the relatives to see the body。〃
By the following fact； some color was given to the suspicion thus
thrown upon Beauvais。 A visiter at his office； a few days prior to
the girl's disappearance； and during the absence of its occupant； had
observed a rose in the key…hole of the door； and the name 〃Marie〃
inscribed upon a slate which hung near at hand。
The general impression； so far as we were enabled to glean it from
the newspapers； seemed to be； that Marie had been the victim of a
gang of desperadoes … that by these she had been borne across the
river； maltreated and murdered。 Le Commerciel； ｛*11｝ however； a print
of extensive influence； was earnest in combating this popular idea。 I
quote a passage or two from its columns：
〃We are persuaded that pursuit has hitherto been on a false scent； so
far as it has been directed to the Barri鑢e du Roule。 It is
impossible that a person so well known to thousands as this young
woman was； should have passed three blocks without some one having
seen her； and any one who saw her would have remembered it； for she
interested all who knew her。 It was when the streets were full of
people； when she went out。 。 。 。 It is impossible that she could have
gone to the Barri鑢e du Roule； or to the Rue des Dr鬽es； without
being recognized by a dozen persons； yet no one has come forward who
saw her outside of her mother's door； and there is no evidence；
except the testimony concerning her expressed intentions； that she
did go out at all。 Her gown was torn； bound round her； and tied； and
by that the body was carried as a bundle。 If the murder had been
committed at the Barri鑢e du Roule； there would have been no
necessity for any such arrangement。 The fact that the body was found
floating near the Barri鑢e； is no proof as to where it was thrown
into the water。 。 。 。 。 A piece of one of the unfortunate girl's
petticoats； two feet long and one foot wide； was torn out and tied
under her chin around the back of her head； probably to prevent
screams。 This was done by fellows who had no pocket…handkerchief。〃
A day or two before the Prefect called upon us； however； some
important information reached the police； which seemed to overthrow；
at least； the chief portion of Le Commerciel's argument。 Two small
boys； sons of a Madame Deluc； while roaming among the woods near the
Barri鑢e du Roule； chanced to penetrate a close thicket； within which
were three or four large stones； forming a kind of seat； with a back
and footstool。 On the upper stone lay a white petticoat； on the
second a silk scarf。 A parasol； gloves； and a pocket…handkerchief
were also here found。 The handkerchief bore the name 〃Marie Rog阾。〃
Fragments of dress were discovered on the brambles around。 The earth
was trampled； the bushes were broken； and there was every evidence of
a struggle。 Between the thicket and the river； the fences were found
taken down； and the ground bore evidence of some heavy burthen having
been dragged along it。
A weekly paper； Le Soleil；｛*12｝ had the following comments upon this
discovery commen
