the darrow enigma(达罗之迷)-第54节
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conditions which determined my course。 My first thought was to
influence him to do the deed himself； but； recalling the researches of M。
Charcot in these matters； I came to the conclusion that such a course
would be almost certain to lead to detection； since a hypnotic subject can
only be depended upon so long as the conditions under which he acts are
precisely those which have been suggested to him。 Any unforeseen
variations in these conditions and he fails to act； exposes everything； and
the whole carefully planned structure falls to the ground。 When；
therefore； the time came which I had set for the deed； I found it possible to
drug M。 Latour； abduct him from his home； and to keep him confined and
unconscious until I had killed Mr。 Darrow in a manner I will describe in
due course。 As soon as I had committed the murder and established what
I fondly believed would be a perfect alibi in my attendance at the
examination； I secretly conveyed the still unconscious M。 Latour to his
rooms and awaited his return to consciousness。 I then asked him how he
came in such a state and what he was doing in Dorchester。 He was； of
course； ignorant of everything。 Little by little I worked upon him till he
came to believe himself guilty of John Darrow's murder。
〃I had availed myself of his interest in the subject of cancer to get him
to the library。 It is one of my maxims never to take an avoidable risk； for
which reason I made Latour apply for the books I wanted； as well as for
the medical works he desired to peruse。 As he was ambidextrous； I
suggested the use of the two names Weltz and Rizzi； the former to be
written with his right and the latter with his left hand。 I was actuated in
all this by two motives。 First； I was manufacturing evidence which might
stand me in good stead later； as well as minimising somewhat my own risk
in getting the information I needed； and； secondly； I was getting Latour
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into a good atmosphere for my hypnotic influence。 Not a word of all
these matters did he relate to his daughter； whom he loves with a devotion
I have never seen equalled。 Indeed； it was this very affection that made
my plan feasible。 When I had convinced him he was a murderer I
showed him Mr。 Darrow's curious advertisement offering a reward； should
he be assassinated； to anyone bringing about the conviction of his
assailant。
〃'In a year；' I said to him； 'you will die of cancer； if your crime be not
previously discovered and punished。 Your daughter will then be
penniless。 How much better for you to permit me in a few months to
accuse you of the murder。 You then confess； I claim and secure the
reward and secretly divide with you； you are sentenced； but as
considerable time will transpire between this and the date set for your
execution； you in the meantime will die of cancer； leaving Jeannette well
provided for。'
〃I think my influence over him would have been sufficient to have
compelled him to all this； could he have reasoned out no benefit accruing
to himself or daughter by such a course； but with circumstances thus in my
favour my task was an easy one。 The public knows all it need know of
what occurred after this。 This man； Maitland； was in the next room to
Latour's； overheard our conversation； and even phonographed our words
and photographed our positions。 It has always been a matter of pride
with me to gracefully acknowledge that three aces are not so good as a full
house； therefore I confess myself beaten； though not subdued。
〃I consider this the very best tribute I can pay to the genius of the man
who has undone me。 I take my punishment； however； into my own
hands。
〃In my haste to have done with all this and to start on my long and
chartless journey； I had well…nigh forgotten to tell just how I killed Mr。
Darrow。 No hypodermic syringe had anything to do with it。 The while
plan came to me while reading that fatal page upon which I left my telltale
thumb…signature in my search for some feasible plan of making away with
my victim。 I need not go into particulars； for I know perfectly well that
this Maitland knows to a nicety how the thing was done。 The Daboia
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Russellii； or Russell's viper； is one of the best known and most deadly of
Indian vipers。 I procured one of these reptiles at the cost of great delay and
some slight risk。 That is the whole story。 On the night of the murder I
took the viper in a box and went down to the water…front； near the Darrow
estate。 Here I cut a small pole from a clump of alders； made a split in
one end of it； and thrust it over the tail of the viper。 It pinched him
severely and held him fast despite his angry struggles to free himself and
to attack anything within his reach。 All that remained to be done was to
thrust this through the window into the darkened room and to bring the
viper within reach of Mr。 Darrow。 This I did； being careful to crouch so as
not to obstruct the light of the window。 When I heard my victim's outcry
I withdrew the pole； and with it； of course； the viper； and made good my
escape。 That the reptile bit Mr。 Darrow under the chin while his back
was toward the window was mere chance； though I regarded it as a very
lucky occurrence； since it seemed to render the suicide theory at first
inevitable。
〃I had had some fear lest the hissing of the viper might have been
heard； for which reason I hazarded the only question I asked at the
examination； and was completely reassured by its answer。 I should
perhaps state that my purpose in keeping in the background at this
examination was my desire to avoid attracting attention to my deformed
foot and my halting gait。 This latter I had taken pains to conceal at my
entrance； but I knew that the first step I took in forgetfulness would expose
my halting habit。 I had no fear of either Osborne or Allen； but there was
something about this Maitland that bade me at once be on my guard； and；
as I have said before； I never take an avoidable risk。 For this reason I sat
at once in the darkest corner I could find and remained there throughout
the examination。 I thought it extremely unlikely； though possible； that an
attempt might be made to track the assassin with dogs； yet； since that is
precisely the first thing I myself would have done； I decided that the risk
was worth avoiding。 I accordingly set the boat adrift to indicate an
escape by water； and then waded along the beach for half a mile or so；
carrying the pole； boards； etc。； with me。 As I kept where the water was at
least six inches deep I knew no dog could follow my trail。 At the point
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where I left the water I sat down upon a rock and put on my stockings and
shoes； thoroughly saturating them at the same time with turpentine； and
pouring the remainder of the bottle upon the rock where I had sat。 As I
had known prisoners escaped from Libby Prison to pass in this way
undetected within twenty feet of bloodhounds upon their trail； I felt that
my tracks had been well covered； and made all possible haste to get ready
to attend the examination with the special detail。
〃And now I have finished。 Before this meets any other eye than mine
I shall be dead … beyond the punishment of this world and awaiting the
punishment of the next。 Lest some ma
