the works of edgar allan poe-1-第52章
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great difference between them； and reaches at once the conclusion
that she； in her walks； would be equally liable to recognition with
himself in his。 This could only be the case were her walks of the
same unvarying； methodical character； and within the same species of
limited region as are his own。 He passes to and fro； at regular
intervals； within a confined periphery； abounding in individuals who
are led to observation of his person through interest in the kindred
nature of his occupation with their own。 But the walks of Marie may；
in general； be supposed discursive。 In this particular instance； it
will be understood as most probable； that she proceeded upon a route
of more than average diversity from her accustomed ones。 The parallel
which we imagine to have existed in the mind of Le Commerciel would
only be sustained in the event of the two individuals' traversing the
whole city。 In this case； granting the personal acquaintances to be
equal； the chances would be also equal that an equal number of
personal rencounters would be made。 For my own part； I should hold it
not only as possible； but as very far more than probable； that Marie
might have proceeded； at any given period； by any one of the many
routes between her own residence and that of her aunt； without
meeting a single individual whom she knew； or by whom she was known。
In viewing this question in its full and proper light； we must hold
steadily in mind the great disproportion between the personal
acquaintances of even the most noted individual in Paris； and the
entire population of Paris itself。
〃But whatever force there may still appear to be in the suggestion of
Le Commerciel； will be much diminished when we take into
consideration the hour at which the girl went abroad。 'It was when
the streets were full of people；' says Le Commerciel； 'that she went
out。' But not so。 It was at nine o'clock in the morning。 Now at nine
o'clock of every morning in the week； _with the exception of Sunday_；
the streets of the city are； it is true； thronged with people。 At
nine on Sunday； the populace are chiefly within doors _preparing for
church_。 No observing person can have failed to notice the peculiarly
deserted air of the town； from about eight until ten on the morning
of every Sabbath。 Between ten and eleven the streets are thronged；
but not at so early a period as that designated。
〃There is another point at which there seems a deficiency of
observation on the part of Le Commerciel。 'A piece；' it says； 'of one
of the unfortunate girl's petticoats； two feet long； and one foot
wide； was torn out and tied under her chin； and around the back of
her head； probably to prevent screams。 This was done； by fellows who
had no pocket…handkerchiefs。' Whether this idea is； or is not well
founded； we will endeavor to see hereafter； but by 'fellows who have
no pocket…handkerchiefs' the editor intends the lowest class of
ruffians。 These； however； are the very description of people who will
always be found to have handkerchiefs even when destitute of shirts。
You must have had occasion to observe how absolutely indispensable；
of late years； to the thorough blackguard； has become the
pocket…handkerchief。〃
〃And what are we to think；〃 I asked； 〃of the article in Le Soleil？〃
〃That it is a vast pity its inditer was not born a parrot … in which
case he would have been the most illustrious parrot of his race。 He
has merely repeated the individual items of the already published
opinion； collecting them； with a laudable industry； from this paper
and from that。 'The things had all evidently been there；' he says；'at
least； three or four weeks； and there can be _no doubt_ that the spot
of this appalling outrage has been discovered。' The facts here
re…stated by Le Soleil； are very far indeed from removing my own
doubts upon this subject； and we will examine them more particularly
hereafter in connexion with another division of the theme。
〃At present we must occupy ourselves with other investigations You
cannot fail to have remarked the extreme laxity of the examination of
the corpse。 To be sure； the question of identity was readily
determined； or should have been； but there were other points to be
ascertained。 Had the body been in any respect despoiled？ Had the
deceased any articles of jewelry about her person upon leaving home？
if so； had she any when found？ These are important questions utterly
untouched by the evidence； and there are others of equal moment；
which have met with no attention。 We must endeavor to satisfy
ourselves by personal inquiry。 The case of St。 Eustache must be
re…examined。 I have no suspicion of this person； but let us proceed
methodically。 We will ascertain beyond a doubt the validity of the
affidavits in regard to his whereabouts on the Sunday。 Affidavits of
this character are readily made matter of mystification。 Should there
be nothing wrong here； however； we will dismiss St。 Eustache from our
investigations。 His suicide； however corroborative of suspicion； were
there found to be deceit in the affidavits； is； without such deceit；
in no respect an unaccountable circumstance； or one which need cause
us to deflect from the line of ordinary analysis。
〃In that which I now propose； we will discard the interior points of
this tragedy； and concentrate our attention upon its outskirts。 Not
the least usual error； in investigations such as this； is the
limiting of inquiry to the immediate； with total disregard of the
collateral or circumstantial events。 It is the mal…practice of the
courts to confine evidence and discussion to the bounds of apparent
relevancy。 Yet experience has shown； and a true philosophy will
always show； that a vast； perhaps the larger portion of truth； arises
from the seemingly irrelevant。 It is through the spirit of this
principle； if not precisely through its letter； that modern science
has resolved to calculate upon the unforeseen。 But perhaps you do not
comprehend me。 The history of human knowledge has so uninterruptedly
shown that to collateral； or incidental； or accidental events we are
indebted for the most numerous and most valuable discoveries； that it
has at length become necessary； in any prospective view of
improvement； to make not only large； but the largest allowances for
inventions that shall arise by chance； and quite out of the range of
ordinary expectation。 It is no longer philosophical to base； upon
what has been； a vision of what is to be。 Accident is admitted as a
portion of the substructure。 We make chance a matter of absolute
calculation。 We subject the unlooked for and unimagined； to the
mathematical _formulae_ of the schools。
〃I repeat that it is no more than fact； that the larger portion of
all truth has sprung from the collateral； and it is but in accordance
with the spirit of the principle involved in this fact； that I would
divert inquiry； in the present case； from the trodden and hitherto
unfruitful ground of the event itself； to the contemporary
circumstances which surround it。 While you ascertain the validity of
the affidavits； I will examine the newspapers more generally than you
have as yet done。 So far； we have only reconnoitred the field of
investigation； but it will be strange indeed if a comprehensive
survey； such as I propose； of the public prints； will not afford us
some minute points which shall establish a direction for inquiry。〃
In pursuance of Dupin's suggestion； I made scrupulous examination of
the affair of the affidavits。 The result was a firm conviction of
their validity； and of the consequent innocence of St。 Eustache。 In
the mean time my friend occupied himself； with what seemed to me a
minuteness altogether objectless； in a scrutiny of the various
newspaper files。 At the end of a week he placed before me the
following extracts：
〃About three years and a half ago； a disturbance very similar to the
present； was caused by the disappearance of this same Marie Rog阾；
from the parfumerie of Monsieur Le Blanc； in the Palais Royal。 At the
end of a week； however； she re…appeared
