the works of edgar allan poe-1-第44章
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strong hopes of now recapturing the brute； as it could scarcely
escape from the trap into which it had ventured； except by the rod；
where it might be intercepted as it came down。 On the other hand；
there was much cause for anxiety as to what it might do in the house。
This latter reflection urged the man still to follow the fugitive。 A
lightning rod is ascended without difficulty； especially by a sailor；
but； when he had arrived as high as the window； which lay far to his
left； his career was stopped； the most that he could accomplish was
to reach over so as to obtain a glimpse of the interior of the room。
At this glimpse he nearly fell from his hold through excess of
horror。 Now it was that those hideous shrieks arose upon the night；
which had startled from slumber the inmates of the Rue Morgue。 Madame
L'Espanaye and her daughter； habited in their night clothes； had
apparently been occupied in arranging some papers in the iron chest
already mentioned； which had been wheeled into the middle of the
room。 It was open； and its contents lay beside it on the floor。 The
victims must have been sitting with their backs toward the window；
and； from the time elapsing between the ingress of the beast and the
screams； it seems probable that it was not immediately perceived。 The
flapping…to of the shutter would naturally have been attributed to
the wind。
As the sailor looked in； the gigantic animal had seized Madame
L'Espanaye by the hair； （which was loose； as she had been combing
it；） and was flourishing the razor about her face； in imitation of
the motions of a barber。 The daughter lay prostrate and motionless；
she had swooned。 The screams and struggles of the old lady （during
which the hair was torn from her head） had the effect of changing the
probably pacific purposes of the Ourang…Outang into those of wrath。
With one determined sweep of its muscular arm it nearly severed her
head from her body。 The sight of blood inflamed its anger into
phrenzy。 Gnashing its teeth； and flashing fire from its eyes； it flew
upon the body of the girl； and imbedded its fearful talons in her
throat； retaining its grasp until she expired。 Its wandering and wild
glances fell at this moment upon the head of the bed； over which the
face of its master； rigid with horror； was just discernible。 The fury
of the beast； who no doubt bore still in mind the dreaded whip； was
instantly converted into fear。 Conscious of having deserved
punishment； it seemed desirous of concealing its bloody deeds； and
skipped about the chamber in an agony of nervous agitation； throwing
down and breaking the furniture as it moved； and dragging the bed
from the bedstead。 In conclusion； it seized first the corpse of the
daughter； and thrust it up the chimney； as it was found； then that of
the old lady； which it immediately hurled through the window
headlong。
As the ape approached the casement with its mutilated burden； the
sailor shrank aghast to the rod； and； rather gliding than clambering
down it； hurried at once home … dreading the consequences of the
butchery； and gladly abandoning； in his terror； all solicitude about
the fate of the Ourang…Outang。 The words heard by the party upon the
staircase were the Frenchman's exclamations of horror and affright；
commingled with the fiendish jabberings of the brute。
I have scarcely anything to add。 The Ourang…Outang must have escaped
from the chamber； by the rod； just before the break of the door。 It
must have closed the window as it passed through it。 It was
subsequently caught by the owner himself； who obtained for it a very
large sum at the _Jardin des Plantes。_ Le Don was instantly released；
upon our narration of the circumstances （with some comments from
Dupin） at the bureau of the Prefect of Police。 This functionary；
however well disposed to my friend； could not altogether conceal his
chagrin at the turn which affairs had taken； and was fain to indulge
in a sarcasm or two； about the propriety of every person minding his
own business。
〃Let him talk；〃 said Dupin；； who had not thought it necessary to
reply。 〃Let him discourse； it will ease his conscience； I am
satisfied with having defeated him in his own castle。 Nevertheless；
that he failed in the solution of this mystery； is by no means that
matter for wonder which he supposes it； for； in truth； our friend the
Prefect is somewhat too cunning to be profound。 In his wisdom is no
_stamen。_ It is all head and no body； like the pictures of the
Goddess Laverna； or； at best； all head and shoulders； like a
codfish。 But he is a good creature after all。 I like him especially
for one master stroke of cant； by which he has attained his
reputation for ingenuity。 I mean the way he has '_de nier ce qui est；
et d'expliquer ce qui n'est pas。_' 〃 *
* Rousseau … Nouvelle Heloise。
~~~ End of Text ~~~
THE MYSTERY OF MARIE ROGET。｛*1｝
A SEQUEL TO 〃THE MURDERS IN THE RUE MORGUE。〃
Es giebt eine Reihe idealischer Begebenheiten； die der Wirklichkeit
parallel lauft。 Selten fallen sie zusammen。 Menschen und zufalle
modifieiren gewohulich die idealische Begebenheit； so dass sie
unvollkommen erscheint； und ihre Folgen gleichfalls unvollkommen
sind。 So bei der Reformation； statt des Protestantismus kam das
Lutherthum hervor。
There are ideal series of events which run parallel with the real
ones。 They rarely coincide。 Men and circumstances generally modify
the ideal train of events； so that it seems imperfect； and its
consequences are equally imperfect。 Thus with the Reformation；
instead of Protestantism came Lutheranism。
… Novalis。 ｛*2｝ Moral Ansichten。
THERE are few persons； even among the calmest thinkers； who have not
occasionally been startled into a vague yet thrilling half…credence
in the supernatural； by coincidences of so seemingly marvellous a
character that； as mere coincidences； the intellect has been unable
to receive them。 Such sentiments … for the half…credences of which I
speak have never the full force of thought … such sentiments are
seldom thoroughly stifled unless by reference to the doctrine of
chance； or； as it is technically termed； the Calculus of
Probabilities。 Now this Calculus is； in its essence； purely
mathematical； and thus we have the anomaly of the most rigidly exact
in science applied to the shadow and spirituality of the most
intangible in speculation。
The extraordinary details which I am now called upon to make public；
will be found to form； as regards sequence of time； the primary
branch of a series of scarcely intelligible coincidences； whose
secondary or concluding branch will be recognized by all readers in
the late murder of Mary Cecila Rogers； at New York。
When； in an article entitled 〃The Murders in the Rue Morgue；〃 I
endeavored； about a year ago； to depict some very remarkable features
in the mental character of my friend； the Chevalier C。 Auguste Dupin；
it did not occur to me that I should ever resume the subject。 This
depicting of character constituted my design； and this design was
thoroughly fulfilled in the wild train of circumstances brought to
instance Dupin's idiosyncrasy。 I might have adduced other examples；
but I should have proven no more。 Late events； however； in their
surprising development； have startled me into some farther details；
which will carry with them the air of extorted confession。 Hearing
what I have lately heard； it would be indeed strange should I remain
silent in regard to what I both heard and saw so long ago。
Upon the winding up of the tragedy involved in the deaths of Madame
L'Espanaye and her daughter； the Chevalier dismissed the affair at
once from his attention； and relapsed into his old habits of moody
reverie。 Prone； at all times； to abstraction； I readily fell in with
his humor； and； continuing to occupy our chambers in the Faubourg
Saint Germain； we gave the Future to the winds； and slumbered
tranquilly in the Present； weaving the dull world around us into
dreams。
But these dreams were not altogether uninterrupt
