ÓÑÇéÌáʾ£ºÈç¹û±¾ÍøÒ³´ò¿ªÌ«Âý»òÏÔʾ²»ÍêÕû£¬Çë³¢ÊÔÊó±êÓÒ¼ü¡°Ë¢Ð¡±±¾ÍøÒ³£¡ÔĶÁ¹ý³Ì·¢ÏÖÈκδíÎóÇë¸æËßÎÒÃÇ£¬Ð»Ð»£¡£¡ ±¨¸æ´íÎó
¾ÅÉ«Êé¼® ·µ»Ø±¾ÊéĿ¼ ÎÒµÄÊé¼Ü ÎÒµÄÊéÇ© TXTÈ«±¾ÏÂÔØ ½øÈëÊé°É ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©

stories by english authors in france(Â÷¨Ó¢¹ú×÷¼ÒµÄ¹ÊÊÂ)-µÚ21ÕÂ

°´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£¡




¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Without¡¡¡¡¡¡stopping¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡draw¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡breath£»¡¡¡¡¡¡without¡¡¡¡¡¡wiping¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡cold¡¡¡¡¡¡sweat¡¡

from¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡face£»¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡rose¡¡¡¡¡¡instantly¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡knees¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡watch¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡bedtop¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡

literally¡¡spellbound¡¡by¡¡it¡£¡¡If¡¡I¡¡had¡¡heard¡¡footsteps¡¡behind¡¡me£»¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡

have¡¡turned¡¡round£»¡¡if¡¡a¡¡means¡¡of¡¡escape¡¡had¡¡been¡¡miraculously¡¡provided¡¡

for¡¡me£»¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡have¡¡moved¡¡to¡¡take¡¡advantage¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¡The¡¡whole¡¡life¡¡in¡¡

me¡¡was£»¡¡at¡¡that¡¡moment£»¡¡concentrated¡¡in¡¡my¡¡eyes¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡descendedthe¡¡whole¡¡canopy£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡fringe¡¡round¡¡it£»¡¡came¡¡down¡¡

downclose¡¡down£»¡¡so¡¡close¡¡that¡¡there¡¡was¡¡not¡¡room¡¡now¡¡to¡¡squeeze¡¡my¡¡

finger¡¡between¡¡the¡¡bedtop¡¡and¡¡the¡¡bed¡£¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡at¡¡the¡¡sides£»¡¡and¡¡discovered¡¡

that¡¡what¡¡had¡¡appeared¡¡to¡¡me¡¡from¡¡beneath¡¡to¡¡be¡¡the¡¡ordinary¡¡light¡¡canopy¡¡

of¡¡a¡¡four¡­post¡¡bed¡¡was¡¡in¡¡reality¡¡a¡¡thick£»¡¡broad¡¡mattress£»¡¡the¡¡substance¡¡of¡¡

which¡¡was¡¡concealed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡valance¡¡and¡¡its¡¡fringe¡£¡¡I¡¡looked¡¡up¡¡and¡¡saw¡¡

the¡¡¡¡¡¡four¡¡¡¡¡¡posts¡¡¡¡¡¡rising¡¡¡¡¡¡hideously¡¡¡¡¡¡bare¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡middle¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡bedtop¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡

huge¡¡wooden¡¡screw¡¡that¡¡had¡¡evidently¡¡worked¡¡it¡¡down¡¡through¡¡a¡¡hole¡¡in¡¡

the¡¡¡¡¡¡ceiling£»¡¡¡¡¡¡just¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡ordinary¡¡¡¡¡¡presses¡¡¡¡¡¡are¡¡¡¡¡¡worked¡¡¡¡¡¡down¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡substance¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡69¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡70¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡STORIES¡¡



selected¡¡for¡¡compression¡£¡¡The¡¡frightful¡¡apparatus¡¡moved¡¡without¡¡making¡¡

the¡¡faintest¡¡noise¡£¡¡There¡¡had¡¡been¡¡no¡¡creaking¡¡as¡¡it¡¡came¡¡down£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡

now¡¡not¡¡the¡¡faintest¡¡sound¡¡from¡¡the¡¡room¡¡above¡£¡¡Amid¡¡a¡¡dead¡¡and¡¡awful¡¡

silence¡¡I¡¡beheld¡¡before¡¡mein¡¡the¡¡nineteenth¡¡century£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡the¡¡civilized¡¡

capital¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡Francesuch¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡machine¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡secret¡¡¡¡¡¡murder¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡suffocation¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡

might¡¡have¡¡existed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡worst¡¡days¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Inquisition£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡lonely¡¡inns¡¡

among¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡Harz¡¡¡¡¡¡Mountains£»¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡mysterious¡¡¡¡¡¡tribunals¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡Westphalia£¡¡¡

Still£»¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡looked¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡it£»¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡could¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡move£»¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡could¡¡¡¡¡¡hardly¡¡¡¡¡¡breathe£»¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡

began¡¡to¡¡recover¡¡the¡¡power¡¡of¡¡thinking£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡I¡¡discovered¡¡the¡¡

murderous¡¡conspiracy¡¡framed¡¡against¡¡me¡¡in¡¡all¡¡its¡¡horror¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡My¡¡cup¡¡of¡¡coffee¡¡had¡¡been¡¡drugged£»¡¡and¡¡drugged¡¡too¡¡strongly¡£¡¡I¡¡had¡¡

been¡¡saved¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡being¡¡smothered¡¡by¡¡¡¡having¡¡taken¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡overdose¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡some¡¡

narcotic¡£¡¡How¡¡I¡¡had¡¡chafed¡¡and¡¡fretted¡¡at¡¡the¡¡fever¡­fit¡¡which¡¡had¡¡preserved¡¡

my¡¡life¡¡by¡¡keeping¡¡me¡¡awake£¡¡¡How¡¡recklessly¡¡I¡¡had¡¡confided¡¡myself¡¡to¡¡

the¡¡two¡¡wretches¡¡who¡¡had¡¡led¡¡me¡¡into¡¡this¡¡room£»¡¡determined£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡sake¡¡

of¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡winnings£»¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡kill¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡sleep¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡surest¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡most¡¡¡¡¡¡horrible¡¡

contrivance¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡secretly¡¡¡¡accomplishing¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡destruction£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡How¡¡¡¡¡¡many¡¡¡¡¡¡men£»¡¡

winners¡¡like¡¡me£»¡¡had¡¡slept£»¡¡as¡¡I¡¡had¡¡proposed¡¡to¡¡sleep£»¡¡in¡¡that¡¡bed£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡

never¡¡been¡¡seen¡¡or¡¡heard¡¡of¡¡more£¡¡¡I¡¡shuddered¡¡at¡¡the¡¡bare¡¡idea¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But£»¡¡¡¡¡¡ere¡¡¡¡¡¡long£»¡¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡¡¡¡¡thought¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡again¡¡¡¡¡¡suspended¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡sight¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

murderous¡¡canopy¡¡moving¡¡once¡¡more¡£¡¡After¡¡it¡¡had¡¡remained¡¡on¡¡the¡¡bed¡¡

as¡¡nearly¡¡as¡¡I¡¡could¡¡guessabout¡¡ten¡¡minutes£»¡¡it¡¡began¡¡to¡¡move¡¡up¡¡again¡£¡¡

The¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡villains¡¡¡¡¡¡who¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡worked¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡above¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡evidently¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡believed¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡their¡¡

purpose¡¡was¡¡now¡¡accomplished¡£¡¡Slowly¡¡and¡¡silently£»¡¡as¡¡it¡¡had¡¡descended£»¡¡

that¡¡¡¡¡¡horrible¡¡¡¡¡¡bedtop¡¡¡¡¡¡rose¡¡¡¡¡¡towards¡¡¡¡¡¡its¡¡¡¡¡¡former¡¡¡¡¡¡place¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡When¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡reached¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

upper¡¡extremities¡¡of¡¡the¡¡four¡¡posts£»¡¡it¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡ceiling£»¡¡too¡£¡¡Neither¡¡hole¡¡

nor¡¡screw¡¡could¡¡be¡¡seen£»¡¡the¡¡bed¡¡became¡¡in¡¡appearance¡¡an¡¡ordinary¡¡bed¡¡

againthe¡¡canopy¡¡an¡¡ordinary¡¡canopyeven¡¡to¡¡the¡¡most¡¡suspicious¡¡eyes¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Now£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡first¡¡time£»¡¡I¡¡was¡¡able¡¡to¡¡moveto¡¡rise¡¡from¡¡my¡¡kneesto¡¡

dress¡¡myself¡¡in¡¡my¡¡upper¡¡clothingand¡¡to¡¡consider¡¡of¡¡how¡¡I¡¡should¡¡escape¡£¡¡

If¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡betrayed¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡smallest¡¡¡¡¡¡noise¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡attempt¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡suffocate¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡

failed£»¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡certain¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡murdered¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Had¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡made¡¡¡¡¡¡any¡¡¡¡¡¡noise¡¡¡¡¡¡already£¿¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡

listened¡¡intently£»¡¡looking¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡door¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡No£¡¡¡no¡¡footsteps¡¡in¡¡the¡¡passage¡¡outsideno¡¡sound¡¡of¡¡a¡¡tread£»¡¡light¡¡or¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡70¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡71¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡STORIES¡¡



heavy£»¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡room¡¡¡¡aboveabsolute¡¡¡¡¡¡silence¡¡¡¡¡¡everywhere¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Besides¡¡¡¡¡¡locking¡¡

and¡¡bolting¡¡my¡¡door£»¡¡I¡¡had¡¡moved¡¡an¡¡old¡¡wooden¡¡chest¡¡against¡¡it£»¡¡which¡¡I¡¡

had¡¡¡¡¡¡found¡¡¡¡¡¡under¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡bed¡£¡¡¡¡To¡¡¡¡¡¡remove¡¡¡¡¡¡this¡¡¡¡¡¡chest¡¡¡¡¡¡£¨my¡¡¡¡¡¡blood¡¡¡¡¡¡ran¡¡¡¡¡¡cold¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡

thought¡¡of¡¡what¡¡its¡¡contents¡¡might¡¡be£¡£©¡¡without¡¡making¡¡some¡¡disturbance¡¡

was¡¡¡¡¡¡impossible£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and£»¡¡¡¡¡¡moreover£»¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡think¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡escaping¡¡¡¡¡¡through¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡house£»¡¡

now¡¡barred¡¡up¡¡for¡¡the¡¡night£»¡¡was¡¡sheer¡¡insanity¡£¡¡Only¡¡one¡¡chance¡¡was¡¡left¡¡

methe¡¡window¡£¡¡I¡¡stole¡¡to¡¡it¡¡on¡¡tiptoe¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡My¡¡bedroom¡¡was¡¡on¡¡the¡¡first¡¡floor£»¡¡above¡¡an¡¡entresol£»¡¡and¡¡looked¡¡into¡¡

a¡¡back¡¡street¡£¡¡I¡¡raised¡¡my¡¡hand¡¡to¡¡open¡¡the¡¡window£»¡¡knowing¡¡that¡¡on¡¡that¡¡

action¡¡¡¡¡¡hung£»¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡merest¡¡¡¡¡¡hairbreadth£»¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡chance¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡safety¡£¡¡They¡¡¡¡¡¡keep¡¡

vigilant¡¡watch¡¡in¡¡a¡¡house¡¡of¡¡murder¡£¡¡If¡¡any¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡frame¡¡cracked£»¡¡if¡¡the¡¡

hinge¡¡creaked£»¡¡I¡¡was¡¡a¡¡lost¡¡man£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡must¡¡have¡¡occupied¡¡me¡¡at¡¡least¡¡¡¡¡¡five¡¡

minutes£»¡¡reckoning¡¡by¡¡timefive¡¡/hours/£»¡¡reckoning¡¡by¡¡suspenseto¡¡open¡¡

that¡¡¡¡¡¡window¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡succeeded¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡doing¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡silentlyin¡¡¡¡¡¡doing¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

dexterity¡¡of¡¡a¡¡house¡­breakerand¡¡then¡¡looked¡¡down¡¡into¡¡the¡¡street¡£¡¡To¡¡leap¡¡

the¡¡¡¡¡¡distance¡¡¡¡¡¡beneath¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡would¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡almost¡¡¡¡¡¡certain¡¡¡¡¡¡destruction£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Next£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡

looked¡¡¡¡¡¡round¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡sides¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡house¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Down¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡left¡¡¡¡¡¡side¡¡¡¡¡¡ran¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡thick¡¡

water¡­pipeit¡¡passed¡¡close¡¡by¡¡the¡¡outer¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡window¡£¡¡The¡¡moment¡¡I¡¡

saw¡¡the¡¡pipe¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡I¡¡was¡¡saved¡£¡¡My¡¡breath¡¡came¡¡and¡¡went¡¡freely¡¡for¡¡the¡¡

first¡¡time¡¡since¡¡I¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡the¡¡canopy¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bed¡¡moving¡¡down¡¡upon¡¡me£¡¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡To¡¡some¡¡men¡¡the¡¡means¡¡of¡¡escape¡¡which¡¡I¡¡had¡¡discovered¡¡might¡¡have¡¡

seemed¡¡¡¡¡¡difficult¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡dangerous¡¡¡¡¡¡enoughto¡¡¡¡/me/¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡prospect¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡slipping¡¡

down¡¡the¡¡pipe¡¡into¡¡the¡¡street¡¡did¡¡not¡¡suggest¡¡even¡¡a¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡peril¡£¡¡I¡¡had¡¡

always¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡accustomed£»¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡practice¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡gymnastics£»¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡keep¡¡¡¡¡¡up¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡

school¡­boy¡¡powers¡¡as¡¡a¡¡daring¡¡and¡¡expert¡¡climber£»¡¡and¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡my¡¡head£»¡¡

hands£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡feet¡¡¡¡¡¡would¡¡¡¡¡¡serve¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡faithfully¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡any¡¡¡¡¡¡hazards¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡ascent¡¡¡¡¡¡or¡¡

descent¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡already¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡got¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡leg¡¡¡¡¡¡over¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡window¡­sill£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡when¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡

remembered¡¡the¡¡handkerchief¡¡filled¡¡with¡¡money¡¡under¡¡my¡¡pillow¡£¡¡I¡¡could¡¡

well¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡afforded¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡leave¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡behind¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡me£»¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡revengefully¡¡

determined¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡miscreants¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡gambling¡­house¡¡¡¡¡¡should¡¡¡¡¡¡miss¡¡¡¡¡¡their¡¡

plunder¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡well¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡their¡¡¡¡¡¡victim¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡So¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡went¡¡¡¡¡¡back¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡bed¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡tied¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

heavy¡¡handkerchief¡¡at¡¡my¡¡back¡¡by¡¡my¡¡cravat¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Just¡¡as¡¡I¡¡had¡¡made¡¡it¡¡tight¡¡and¡¡fixed¡¡it¡¡in¡¡a¡¡comfortable¡¡place£»¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡

I¡¡heard¡¡a¡¡sound¡¡of¡¡breathing¡¡outside¡¡the¡¡door¡£¡¡The¡¡chill¡¡feeling¡¡of¡¡horror¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡71¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡72¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡STORIES¡¡



ran¡¡through¡¡me¡¡again¡¡as¡¡I¡¡listened¡£¡¡No£¡¡¡dead¡¡silence¡¡still¡¡in¡¡the¡¡passageI¡¡

had¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡only¡¡¡¡¡¡heard¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡night¡¡¡¡¡¡air¡¡¡¡blowing¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡softly¡¡¡¡¡¡into¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡room¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡next¡¡

moment¡¡I¡¡was¡¡on¡¡the¡¡window¡­sill£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡next¡¡I¡¡had¡¡a¡¡firm¡¡grip¡¡on¡¡the¡¡

water¡­pipe¡¡with¡¡my¡¡hands¡¡and¡¡knees¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡slid¡¡down¡¡into¡¡the¡¡street¡¡easily¡¡and¡¡quietly£»¡¡as¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡I¡¡should£»¡¡and¡¡

immediately¡¡¡¡¡¡set¡¡¡¡¡¡off¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡top¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡speed¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡branch¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨prefecture¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡

Police£»¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡knew¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡situated¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡immediate¡¡¡¡¡¡neighbourhood¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡¡

¡¨subprefect£»¡¨¡¡and¡¡several¡¡picked¡¡men¡¡among¡¡his¡¡subordinates£»¡¡happened¡¡to¡¡

be¡¡up£»¡¡maturing£»¡¡I¡¡believe£»¡¡some¡¡scheme¡¡for¡¡discovering¡¡the¡¡perpetrator¡¡of¡¡

a¡¡¡¡¡¡mysterious¡¡¡¡¡¡murder¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡¡¡¡¡Paris¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡talking¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡just¡¡¡¡¡¡then¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡When¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡

began¡¡my¡¡story£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡breathless¡¡hurry¡¡and¡¡in¡¡very¡¡bad¡¡French£»¡¡I¡¡could¡¡see¡¡

that¡¡the¡¡subprefect¡¡suspected¡¡me¡¡of¡¡being¡¡a¡¡drunken¡¡Englishman¡¡who¡¡had¡¡

robbed¡¡somebody£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡soon¡¡altered¡¡his¡¡opinion¡¡as¡¡I¡¡went¡¡on£»¡¡and¡¡before¡¡

I¡¡had¡¡anything¡¡like¡¡concluded£»¡¡he¡¡shoved¡¡all¡¡the¡¡papers¡¡before¡¡him¡¡into¡¡a¡¡

drawer£»¡¡put¡¡on¡¡his¡¡hat£»¡¡supplied¡¡me¡¡with¡¡another¡¡£¨for¡¡I¡¡was¡¡bareheaded£©£»¡¡

ordered¡¡a¡¡file¡¡of¡¡soldiers£»¡¡desired¡¡his¡¡expert¡¡followers¡¡to¡¡get¡¡ready¡¡all¡¡sorts¡¡

of¡¡tools¡¡for¡¡breaking¡¡open¡¡doors¡¡and¡¡ripping¡¡up¡¡brick¡¡flooring£»¡¡and¡¡took¡¡

my¡¡¡¡¡¡arm£»¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡most¡¡¡¡¡¡friendly¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡familiar¡¡¡¡¡¡manner¡¡¡¡¡¡possible£»¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡lead¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡

with¡¡him¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡house¡£¡¡I¡¡will¡¡venture¡¡to¡¡say¡¡that¡¡when¡¡the¡¡subprefect¡¡

was¡¡a¡¡little¡¡boy£»¡¡and¡¡was¡¡taken¡¡for¡¡the¡¡first¡¡time¡¡to¡¡the¡¡play£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡not¡¡half¡¡

as¡¡¡¡¡¡much¡¡¡¡¡¡pleased¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡now¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡job¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡prospect¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

gambling¡­¡¡house£¡¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Away¡¡we¡¡went¡¡through¡¡the¡¡streets£»¡¡the¡¡subprefect¡¡cross¡­examining¡¡and¡¡

congratulating¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡same¡¡¡¡¡¡breath¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡¡¡¡¡marched¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡head¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡our¡¡

formidable¡¡posse¡¡comitatus¡£¡¡Sentinels¡¡were¡¡placed¡¡at¡¡the¡¡back¡¡and¡¡front¡¡of¡¡

the¡¡house¡¡the¡¡moment¡¡we¡¡got¡¡to¡¡it£»¡¡a¡¡tremendous¡¡battery¡¡of¡¡knocks¡¡was
·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨0£©
δÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
ÎÂÜ°Ìáʾ£º ο´Ð¡ËµµÄͬʱ·¢±íÆÀÂÛ£¬Ëµ³ö×Ô¼ºµÄ¿´·¨ºÍÆäËüС»ï°éÃÇ·ÖÏíÒ²²»´íŶ£¡·¢±íÊéÆÀ»¹¿ÉÒÔ»ñµÃ»ý·ÖºÍ¾­Ñé½±Àø£¬ÈÏÕæдԭ´´ÊéÆÀ ±»²ÉÄÉΪ¾«ÆÀ¿ÉÒÔ»ñµÃ´óÁ¿½ð±Ò¡¢»ý·ÖºÍ¾­Ñé½±ÀøŶ£¡