Ì«×ÓүС˵Íø > Ó¢Óïµç×ÓÊé > the darrow enigma >

µÚ43½Ú

the darrow enigma-µÚ43½Ú

С˵£º the darrow enigma ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ4000×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡



stone¡¡tomb¡¡we¡¡carefully¡¡walled¡¡it¡¡up¡¡again¡¡and¡¡then¡¡departed¡¡to¡¡find
my¡¡imaginary¡¡hidden¡¡treasure¡£¡¡¡¡We¡¡made¡¡our¡¡way¡¡without¡¡trouble¡¡to
Algiers£»¡¡for¡¡my¡¡companion¡¡had¡¡money£»¡¡and¡¡sailed¡¡thence¡¡via¡¡Gibraltar
for¡¡England¡£¡¡¡¡During¡¡the¡¡trip¡¡my¡¡companion¡¡jumped¡¡overboard¡¡and¡¡was
drowned¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Bay¡¡of¡¡Biscay¡£¡¡¡¡Thus¡¡I¡¡was¡¡completely¡¡freed¡¡from¡¡Ceuta
and¡¡its¡¡terrible¡¡pest¡­hole¡£

¡¨From¡¡England¡¡I¡¡sailed¡¡to¡¡New¡¡York£»¡¡reaching¡¡America¡¡penniless¡¡and
in¡¡ill¡¡health¡£¡¡¡¡Things¡¡not¡¡going¡¡to¡¡my¡¡liking¡¡in¡¡New¡¡York£»¡¡I¡¡came
to¡¡Boston¡¡and¡¡took¡¡up¡¡my¡¡old¡¡callings¡¡of¡¡gambler¡¡and¡¡detective¡£¡¡¡¡It
was¡¡at¡¡this¡¡time¡¡that¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡John¡¡Darrow's¡¡curious¡¡notice¡¡in¡¡the
newspaper£»¡¡offering£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡event¡¡of¡¡his¡¡murder£»¡¡a¡¡most¡¡liberal
reward¡¡to¡¡anyone¡¡who¡¡would¡¡bring¡¡the¡¡assassin¡¡to¡¡justice¡£

¡¨Mon¡¡Dieu£¡¡¡¡¡How¡¡I¡¡needed¡¡money¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡would¡¡have¡¡bartered¡¡my¡¡soul¡¡for
a¡¡tithe¡¡of¡¡that¡¡amount¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡the¡¡old£»¡¡old¡¡story£»¡¡only¡¡new¡¡in¡¡Eden¡£
Ah£¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡how¡¡I¡¡loved¡¡her£¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡must¡¡have¡¡money£»¡¡money£»¡¡always¡¡money£¡
That¡¡was¡¡ever¡¡her¡¡cry¡£¡¡¡¡When¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡supply¡¡it¡¡she¡¡sought¡¡it¡¡of
others£»¡¡and¡¡this¡¡drove¡¡me¡¡mad¡£¡¡¡¡If£»¡¡I¡¡said¡¡to¡¡myself£»¡¡I¡¡could¡¡only
get¡¡this¡¡reward£¡¡¡¡¡This¡¡was¡¡something¡¡really¡¡worth¡¡working¡¡for£»¡¡and¡¡if
I¡¡could¡¡but¡¡get¡¡it£»¡¡she¡¡should¡¡be¡¡mine¡¡only¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡at¡¡once¡¡set¡¡to¡¡work
upon¡¡the¡¡problem¡£

¡¨It¡¡was¡¡not¡¡an¡¡easy¡¡thing¡¡to¡¡solve¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡might¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡hire¡¡a¡¡man
to¡¡do¡¡the¡¡deed¡¡for¡¡me£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡would¡¡hardly¡¡be¡¡willing¡¡to¡¡hang¡¡for
it¡¡without¡¡disclosing¡¡my¡¡part¡¡in¡¡the¡¡transaction¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡at¡¡this
time¡¡that¡¡I¡¡first¡¡met¡¡M¡£¡¡Latour¡¡on¡¡Decatur¡¡Street¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡at¡¡once
impressed¡¡me¡¡as¡¡being¡¡just¡¡the¡¡man¡¡I¡¡wanted£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡began¡¡to¡¡gradually
subdue¡¡his¡¡will¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡this¡¡circumstances¡¡greatly¡¡aided¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡When¡¡I
found¡¡him¡¡he¡¡was¡¡in¡¡very¡¡poor¡¡health¡¡and¡¡without¡¡any¡¡means¡¡of
sustenance¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡daughter¡¡was¡¡able¡¡to¡¡earn¡¡a¡¡little£»¡¡but¡¡not¡¡nearly
enough¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡the¡¡wolf¡¡from¡¡the¡¡door¡£¡¡¡¡Add¡¡to¡¡this¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡a
cancer£»¡¡which¡¡several¡¡physicians¡¡had¡¡assured¡¡him¡¡would¡¡prove¡¡fatal
within¡¡a¡¡year£»¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡afflicted¡¡with¡¡an¡¡almost¡¡insane¡¡fear¡¡that
his¡¡daughter¡¡would¡¡come¡¡to¡¡want¡¡after¡¡his¡¡death£»¡¡and¡¡you¡¡have¡¡before
you¡¡the¡¡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¡¡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¡¡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¡¡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¡¡ot

·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨0£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ