the works of edgar allan poe-1-第57章
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about the vicinity of the Barri鑢e du Roule at or about the period of
this tragedy。 But the gang which has drawn upon itself the pointed
animadversion； although the somewhat tardy and very suspicious
evidence of Madame Deluc； is the only gang which is represented by
that honest and scrupulous old lady as having eaten her cakes and
swallowed her brandy； without putting themselves to the trouble of
making her payment。 Et hinc ill？ir？
〃But what is the precise evidence of Madame Deluc？ 'A gang of
miscreants made their appearance； behaved boisterously； ate and drank
without making payment； followed in the route of the young man and
girl； returned to the inn about dusk； and recrossed the river as if
in great haste。'
〃Now this 'great haste' very possibly seemed greater haste in the
eyes of Madame Deluc； since she dwelt lingeringly and lamentingly
upon her violated cakes and ale … cakes and ale for which she might
still have entertained a faint hope of compensation。 Why； otherwise；
since it was about dusk； should she make a point of the haste？ It is
no cause for wonder； surely； that even a gang of blackguards should
make haste to get home； when a wide river is to be crossed in small
boats； when storm impends； and when night approaches。
〃I say approaches； for the night had not yet arrived。 It was only
about dusk that the indecent haste of these 'miscreants' offended the
sober eyes of Madame Deluc。 But we are told that it was upon this
very evening that Madame Deluc； as well as her eldest son； 'heard the
screams of a female in the vicinity of the inn。' And in what words
does Madame Deluc designate the period of the evening at which these
screams were heard？ 'It was soon after dark；' she says。 But 'soon
after dark；' is； at least； dark； and'about dusk' is as certainly
daylight。 Thus it is abundantly clear that the gang quitted the
Barri鑢e du Roule prior to the screams overheard （？） by Madame Deluc。
And although； in all the many reports of the evidence； the relative
expressions in question are distinctly and invariably employed just
as I have employed them in this conversation with yourself； no notice
whatever of the gross discrepancy has； as yet； been taken by any of
the public journals； or by any of the Myrmidons of police。
〃I shall add but one to the arguments against a gang； but this one
has； to my own understanding at least； a weight altogether
irresistible。 Under the circumstances of large reward offered； and
full pardon to any King's evidence； it is not to be imagined； for a
moment； that some member of a gang of low ruffians； or of any body of
men； would not long ago have betrayed his accomplices。 Each one of a
gang so placed； is not so much greedy of reward； or anxious for
escape； as fearful of betrayal。 He betrays eagerly and early that he
may not himself be betrayed。 That the secret has not been divulged；
is the very best of proof that it is； in fact； a secret。 The horrors
of this dark deed are known only to one； or two； living human beings；
and to God。
〃Let us sum up now the meagre yet certain fruits of our long
analysis。 We have attained the idea either of a fatal accident under
the roof of Madame Deluc； or of a murder perpetrated； in the thicket
at the Barri鑢e du Roule； by a lover； or at least by an intimate and
secret associate of the deceased。 This associate is of swarthy
complexion。 This complexion； the 'hitch' in the bandage； and the
'sailor's knot；' with which the bonnet…ribbon is tied； point to a
seaman。 His companionship with the deceased； a gay； but not an abject
young girl； designates him as above the grade of the common sailor。
Here the well written and urgent communications to the journals are
much in the way of corroboration。 The circumstance of the first
elopement； as mentioned by Le Mercurie； tends to blend the idea of
this seaman with that of the 'naval officer' who is first known to
have led the unfortunate into crime。
〃And here； most fitly； comes the consideration of the continued
absence of him of the dark complexion。 Let me pause to observe that
the complexion of this man is dark and swarthy； it was no common
swarthiness which constituted the sole point of remembrance； both as
regards Valence and Madame Deluc。 But why is this man absent？ Was he
murdered by the gang？ If so； why are there only traces of the
assassinated girl？ The scene of the two outrages will naturally be
supposed identical。 And where is his corpse？ The assassins would most
probably have disposed of both in the same way。 But it may be said
that this man lives； and is deterred from making himself known；
through dread of being charged with the murder。 This consideration
might be supposed to operate upon him now … at this late period …
since it has been given in evidence that he was seen with Marie … but
it would have had no force at the period of the deed。 The first
impulse of an innocent man would have been to announce the outrage；
and to aid in identifying the ruffians。 This policy would have
suggested。 He had been seen with the girl。 He had crossed the river
with her in an open ferry…boat。 The denouncing of the assassins would
have appeared； even to an idiot； the surest and sole means of
relieving himself from suspicion。 We cannot suppose him； on the night
of the fatal Sunday； both innocent himself and incognizant of an
outrage committed。 Yet only under such circumstances is it possible
to imagine that he would have failed； if alive； in the denouncement
of the assassins。
〃And what means are ours； of attaining the truth？ We shall find these
means multiplying and gathering distinctness as we proceed。 Let us
sift to the bottom this affair of the first elopement。 Let us know
the full history of 'the officer；' with his present circumstances；
and his whereabouts at the precise period of the murder。 Let us
carefully compare with each other the various communications sent to
the evening paper； in which the object was to inculpate a gang。 This
done； let us compare these communications； both as regards style and
MS。； with those sent to the morning paper； at a previous period； and
insisting so vehemently upon the guilt of Mennais。 And； all this
done； let us again compare these various communications with the
known MSS。 of the officer。 Let us endeavor to ascertain； by repeated
questionings of Madame Deluc and her boys； as well as of the omnibus
driver； Valence； something more of the personal appearance and
bearing of the 'man of dark complexion。' Queries； skilfully directed；
will not fail to elicit； from some of these parties； information on
this particular point （or upon others） … information which the
parties themselves may not even be aware of possessing。 And let us
now trace the boatpicked up by the bargeman on the morning of Monday
the twenty…third of June； and which was removed from the
barge…office； without the cognizance of the officer in attendance；
and without the rudder； at some period prior to the discovery of the
corpse。 With a proper caution and perseverance we shall infallibly
trace this boat； for not only can the bargeman who picked it up
identify it； but the rudder is at hand。 The rudder of a sail…boat
would not have been abandoned； without inquiry； by one altogether at
ease in heart。 And here let me pause to insinuate a question。 There
was no advertisement of the picking up of this boat。 It was silently
taken to the barge…office； and as silently removed。 But its owner or
employer … how happened he； at so early a period as Tuesday morning；
to be informed； without the agency of advertisement； of the locality
of the boat taken up on Monday； unless we imagine some connexion with
the navy … some personal permanent connexion leading to cognizance of
its minute in interests … its petty local news？
〃In speaking of the lonely assassin dragging his burden to the shore；
I have already suggested the probability of his availing himself of a
boat。 Now we are to understand that Marie Rog阾 was precipitated from
a boat。 This would naturally have been the case。 The corpse could not
have been trusted t
