the works of edgar allan poe-1-第49章
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floating corpse； that this corpse cannot be that of Marie。 The
reduction of this interval to its smallest possible dimension；
becomes thus； at once； an object with the reasoner。 In the rash
pursuit of this object； he rushes into mere assumption at the outset。
'It is folly to suppose；' he says； 'that the murder； if murder was
committed on her body； could have been consummated soon enough to
have enabled her murderers to throw the body into the river before
midnight。' We demand at once； and very naturally； why？ Why is it
folly to suppose that the murder was committed _within five minutes_
after the girl's quitting her mother's house？ Why is it folly to
suppose that the murder was committed at any given period of the day？
There have been assassinations at all hours。 But； had the murder
taken place at any moment between nine o'clock in the morning of
Sunday； and a quarter before midnight； there would still have been
time enough ''to throw the body into the river before midnight。' This
assumption； then； amounts precisely to this … that the murder was not
committed on Sunday at all … and； if we allow L'Etoile to assume
this； we may permit it any liberties whatever。 The paragraph
beginning 'It is folly to suppose that the murder； etc。；' however it
appears as printed in L'Etoile； may be imagined to have existed
actually thus in the brain of its inditer … 'It is folly to suppose
that the murder； if murder was committed on the body； could have been
committed soon enough to have enabled her murderers to throw the body
into the river before midnight； it is folly； we say； to suppose all
this； and to suppose at the same time； （as we are resolved to
suppose；） that the body was not thrown in until after midnight' a
sentence sufficiently inconsequential in itself； but not so utterly
preposterous as the one printed。
〃Were it my purpose；〃 continued Dupin； 〃merely to _make out a case_
against this passage of L'Etoile's argument； I might safely leave it
where it is。 It is not； however； with L'Etoile that we have to do；
but with the truth。 The sentence in question has but one meaning； as
it stands； and this meaning I have fairly stated： but it is material
that we go behind the mere words； for an idea which these words have
obviously intended； and failed to convey。 It was the design of the
journalist to say that； at whatever period of the day or night of
Sunday this murder was committed； it was improbable that the
assassins would have ventured to bear the corpse to the river before
midnight。 And herein lies； really； the assumption of which I
complain。 It is assumed that the murder was committed at such a
position； and under such circumstances； that the bearing it to the
river became necessary。 Now； the assassination might have taken place
upon the river's brink； or on the river itself； and； thus； the
throwing the corpse in the water might have been resorted to； at any
period of the day or night； as the most obvious and most immediate
mode of disposal。 You will understand that I suggest nothing here as
probable； or as c鰅ncident with my own opinion。 My design； so far；
has no reference to the facts of the case。 I wish merely to caution
you against the whole tone of L'Etoile's suggestion； by calling your
attention to its ex parte character at the outset。
〃Having prescribed thus a limit to suit its own preconceived notions；
having assumed that； if this were the body of Marie； it could have
been in the water but a very brief time； the journal goes on to say：
'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 sufficient decomposition to take place to bring them to
the top of the water。 Even when a cannon is fired over a corpse； and
it rises before at least five or six days' immersion； it sinks again
if let alone。'
〃These assertions have been tacitly received by every paper in Paris；
with the exception of Le Moniteur。 ｛*15｝ This latter print endeavors
to combat that portion of the paragraph which has reference to
'drowned bodies' only； by citing some five or six instances in which
the bodies of individuals known to be drowned were found floating
after the lapse of less time than is insisted upon by L'Etoile。 But
there is something excessively unphilosophical in the attempt on the
part of Le Moniteur； to rebut the general assertion of L'Etoile； by a
citation of particular instances militating against that assertion。
Had it been possible to adduce fifty instead of five examples of
bodies found floating at the end of two or three days； these fifty
examples could still have been properly regarded only as exceptions
to L'Etoile's rule； until such time as the rule itself should be
confuted。 Admitting the rule； （and this Le Moniteur does not deny；
insisting merely upon its exceptions；） the argument of L'Etoile is
suffered to remain in full force； for this argument does not pretend
to involve more than a question of the probability of the body having
risen to the surface in less than three days； and this probability
will be in favor of L'Etoile's position until the instances so
childishly adduced shall be sufficient in number to establish an
antagonistical rule。
〃You will see at once that all argument upon this head should be
urged； if at all； against the rule itself； and for this end we must
examine the rationale of the rule。 Now the human body； in general； is
neither much lighter nor much heavier than the water of the Seine；
that is to say； the specific gravity of the human body； in its
natural condition； is about equal to the bulk of fresh water which it
displaces。 The bodies of fat and fleshy persons； with small bones；
and of women generally； are lighter than those of the lean and
large…boned； and of men； and the specific gravity of the water of a
river is somewhat influenced by the presence of the tide from sea。
But； leaving this tide out of question； it may be said that very few
human bodies will sink at all； even in fresh water； of their own
accord。 Almost any one； falling into a river； will be enabled to
float； if he suffer the specific gravity of the water fairly to be
adduced in comparison with his own … that is to say； if he suffer his
whole person to be immersed； with as little exception as possible。
The proper position for one who cannot swim； is the upright position
of the walker on land； with the head thrown fully back； and immersed；
the mouth and nostrils alone remaining above the surface。 Thus
circumstanced； we shall find that we float without difficulty and
without exertion。 It is evident； however； that the gravities of the
body； and of the bulk of water displaced； are very nicely balanced；
and that a trifle will cause either to preponderate。 An arm； for
instance； uplifted from the water； and thus deprived of its support；
is an additional weight sufficient to immerse the whole head； while
the accidental aid of the smallest piece of timber will enable us to
elevate the head so as to look about。 Now； in the struggles of one
unused to swimming； the arms are invariably thrown upwards； while an
attempt is made to keep the head in its usual perpendicular position。
The result is the immersion of the mouth and nostrils； and the
inception； during efforts to breathe while beneath the surface； of
water into the lungs。 Much is also received into the stomach； and the
whole body becomes heavier by the difference between the weight of
the air originally distending these cavities； and that of the fluid
which now fills them。 This difference is sufficient to cause the body
to sink； as a general rule； but is insufficient in the cases of
individuals with small bones and an abnormal quantity of flaccid or
fatty matter。 Such individuals float even after drowning。
〃The corpse； being。 supposed at the bottom of the river； will there
remain until； by some means； its specific gravity again becomes less
than that of the bulk of water which it displaces。 This effect is
brought about by decomposition； or otherwise。 The result of
decomp
