the works of edgar allan poe-1-第41章
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said； 'about the nail。' I touched it； and the head； with about a
quarter of an inch of the shank； came off in my fingers。 The rest of
the shank was in the gimlet…hole where it had been broken off。 The
fracture was an old one （for its edges were incrusted with rust）； and
had apparently been accomplished by the blow of a hammer； which had
partially imbedded； in the top of the bottom sash； the head portion
of the nail。 I now carefully replaced this head portion in the
indentation whence I had taken it； and the resemblance to a perfect
nail was complete … the fissure was invisible。 Pressing the spring； I
gently raised the sash for a few inches； the head went up with it；
remaining firm in its bed。 I closed the window； and the semblance of
the whole nail was again perfect。
〃The riddle； so far； was now unriddled。 The assassin had escaped
through the window which looked upon the bed。 Dropping of its own
accord upon his exit （or perhaps purposely closed）； it had become
fastened by the spring； and it was the retention of this spring which
had been mistaken by the police for that of the nail； … farther
inquiry being thus considered unnecessary。
〃The next question is that of the mode of descent。 Upon this point I
had been satisfied in my walk with you around the building。 About
five feet and a half from the casement in question there runs a
lightning…rod。 From this rod it would have been impossible for any
one to reach the window itself； to say nothing of entering it。 I
observed； however； that the shutters of the fourth story were of the
peculiar kind called by Parisian carpenters _ferrades_ … a kind
rarely employed at the present day； but frequently seen upon very old
mansions at Lyons and Bourdeaux。 They are in the form of an ordinary
door； （a single； not a folding door） except that the lower half is
latticed or worked in open trellis … thus affording an excellent hold
for the hands。 In the present instance these shutters are fully three
feet and a half broad。 When we saw them from the rear of the house；
they were both about half open … that is to say； they stood off at
right angles from the wall。 It is probable that the police； as well
as myself； examined the back of the tenement； but； if so； in looking
at these _ferrades_ in the line of their breadth （as they must have
done）； they did not perceive this great breadth itself； or； at all
events； failed to take it into due consideration。 In fact； having
once satisfied themselves that no egress could have been made in this
quarter； they would naturally bestow here a very cursory examination。
It was clear to me； however； that the shutter belonging to the window
at the head of the bed； would； if swung fully back to the wall； reach
to within two feet of the lightning…rod。 It was also evident that； by
exertion of a very unusual degree of activity and courage； an
entrance into the window； from the rod； might have been thus
effected。 … By reaching to the distance of two feet and a half （we
now suppose the shutter open to its whole extent） a robber might have
taken a firm grasp upon the trellis…work。 Letting go； then； his hold
upon the rod； placing his feet securely against the wall； and
springing boldly from it； he might have swung the shutter so as to
close it； and； if we imagine the window open at the time； might even
have swung himself into the room。
〃I wish you to bear especially in mind that I have spoken of a _very_
unusual degree of activity as requisite to success in so hazardous
and so difficult a feat。 It is my design to show you； first； that the
thing might possibly have been accomplished： … but； secondly and
_chiefly_； I wish to impress upon your understanding the _very
extraordinary_ … the almost pr鎡ernatural character of that agility
which could have accomplished it。
〃You will say； no doubt； using the language of the law； that 'to make
out my case；' I should rather undervalue； than insist upon a full
estimation of the activity required in this matter。 This may be the
practice in law； but it is not the usage of reason。 My ultimate
object is only the truth。 My immediate purpose is to lead you to
place in juxta…position； that _very unusual_ activity of which I have
just spoken with that _very peculiar_ shrill （or harsh） and _unequal_
voice； about whose nationality no two persons could be found to
agree； and in whose utterance no syllabification could be detected。〃
At these words a vague and half…formed conception of the meaning of
Dupin flitted over my mind。 I seemed to be upon the verge of
comprehension without power to comprehend … men； at times； find
themselves upon the brink of remembrance without being able； in the
end； to remember。 My friend went on with his discourse。
〃You will see；〃 he said； 〃that I have shifted the question from the
mode of egress to that of ingress。 It was my design to convey the
idea that both were effected in the same manner； at the same point。
Let us now revert to the interior of the room。 Let us survey the
appearances here。 The drawers of the bureau； it is said； had been
rifled； although many articles of apparel still remained within them。
The conclusion here is absurd。 It is a mere guess … a very silly one
… and no more。 How are we to know that the articles found in the
drawers were not all these drawers had originally contained？ Madame
L'Espanaye and her daughter lived an exceedingly retired life … saw
no company … seldom went out … had little use for numerous changes of
habiliment。 Those found were at least of as good quality as any
likely to be possessed by these ladies。 If a thief had taken any； why
did he not take the best … why did he not take all？ In a word； why
did he abandon four thousand francs in gold to encumber himself with
a bundle of linen？ The gold _was _abandoned。 Nearly the whole sum
mentioned by Monsieur Mignaud； the banker； was discovered； in bags；
upon the floor。 I wish you； therefore； to discard from your thoughts
the blundering idea of _motive_； engendered in the brains of the
police by that portion of the evidence which speaks of money
delivered at the door of the house。 Coincidences ten times as
remarkable as this （the delivery of the money； and murder committed
within three days upon the party receiving it）； happen to all of us
every hour of our lives； without attracting even momentary notice。
Coincidences； in general； are great stumbling…blocks in the way of
that class of thinkers who have been educated to know nothing of the
theory of probabilities … that theory to which the most glorious
objects of human research are indebted for the most glorious of
illustration。 In the present instance； had the gold been gone； the
fact of its delivery three days before would have formed something
more than a coincidence。 It would have been corroborative of this
idea of motive。 But； under the real circumstances of the case； if we
are to suppose gold the motive of this outrage； we must also imagine
the perpetrator so vacillating an idiot as to have abandoned his gold
and his motive together。
〃Keeping now steadily in mind the points to which I have drawn your
attention … that peculiar voice； that unusual agility； and that
startling absence of motive in a murder so singularly atrocious as
this … let us glance at the butchery itself。 Here is a woman
strangled to death by manual strength； and thrust up a chimney； head
downward。 Ordinary assassins employ no such modes of murder as this。
Least of all； do they thus dispose of the murdered。 In the manner of
thrusting the corpse up the chimney； you will admit that there was
something _excessively outr開 … something altogether irreconcilable
with our common notions of human action； even when we suppose the
actors the most depraved of men。 Think； too； how great must have been
that strength which could have thrust the body _up_ such an aperture
so forcibly that the united vigor of several persons was found barely
sufficient to drag it _down！_
〃Turn； now； to other indications of the employment of a vigor most
marvellous。 On the hearth were thick tresses … very thi
