按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
however convincing it might be to my own mind。 Nor did there seem
any evidence forthcoming from Grosshesslohe。 Sophie's body had
been found in the afternoon lying as if asleep in one of the by…
paths of the wood。 No marks of a struggle； no traces of the
murderer。 Her affianced lover； who was at Augsburg； on hearing of
her fate； hurried to Grosshesslohe； but could throw no light on the
murder； could give no hint as to a possible motive for the deed。
But this entire absence of evidence； or even ground of suspicion；
only made MY case the stronger。 It was the motiveless malignity of
the deed which fastened it on Bourgonef； or rather； it was the
absence of any known motive elsewhere which assured me that I had
detected the motive in him。
Should I communicate my conviction to the police？ It was possible
that I might impress them with at least sufficient suspicion to
warrant his examinationand in that case the truth might be
elicited； for among the many barbarities and iniquities of the
criminal procedure in Continental States which often press heavily
on the innocent； there is this compensating advantage； that the
pressure on the guilty is tenfold heavier。 If the innocent are
often unjustly punishedimprisoned and maltreated before their
innocence can be establishedthe guilty seldom escape。 In England
we give the criminal not only every chance of escape； but many
advantages。 The love of fair…play is carried to excess。 It seems
at times as if the whole arrangements of our procedure were
established with a view to giving a criminal not only the benefit
of every doubt； but of every loophole through which he can slip。
Instead of this； the Continental procedure goes on the principle of
closing up every loophole； and of inventing endless traps into
which the accused may fall。 We warn the accused not to say
anything that may be prejudicial to him。 They entangle him in
contradictions and confessions which disclose his guilt。
Knowing this； I thought it very likely that； however artful
Bourgonef might be； a severe examination might extort from him
sufficient confirmation of my suspicion to warrant further
procedure。 But knowing also that THIS resort was open to me when
all others had failed； I resolved to wait and watch。
IX
FINALE
Two days passed； and nothing occurred。 My watching seemed
hopeless； and I resolved to try the effect of a disguised
interrogatory。 It might help to confirm my already settled
conviction； if it did not elicit any new evidence。
Seated in Bourgonef's room； in the old place； each with a cigar；
and chatting as of old on public affairs； I gradually approached
the subject of the recent murder。
〃Is it not strange；〃 I said； 〃that both these crimes should have
happened while we were casually staying in both places？〃
〃Perhaps we are the criminals；〃 he replied； laughing。 I shivered
slightly at this audacity。 He laughed as he spoke； but there was a
hard； metallic； and almost defiant tone in his voice which
exasperated me。
〃Perhaps we are；〃 I answered； quietly。 He looked full at me； but I
was prepared； and my face told nothing。 I added； as in
explanation； 〃The crime being apparently contagious； we may have
brought the infection from Nuremberg。〃
〃Do you believe in that hypothesis of imitation？〃
〃I don't know what to believe。 Do you believe in there being only
one murderer？ It seems such a preposterous idea。 We must suppose
him； at any rate； to be a maniac。〃
〃Not necessarily。 Indeed there seems to have been too much artful
contrivance in both affairs； not only in the selection of the
victims； but in the execution of the schemes。 Cunning as maniacs
often are they are still maniacs； and betray themselves。〃
〃If not a maniac；〃 said I； hoping to pique him； 〃he must be a man
of stupendous and pitiable vanity；perhaps one of your constant…
minded friends； whom you refuse to call bloodthirsty。〃
〃Constant…minded； perhaps； but why pitiably vain？〃
〃Why？ Because only a diseased atrocity of imagination； stimulating
a nature essentially base and weak in its desire to make itself
conspicuous； would or could suggest such things。 The silly youth
who 'fired the Ephesian dome；' the vain idiot who set fire to York
Minster； the miserable Frenchmen who have committed murder and
suicide with a view of making their exit striking from a world in
which their appearance had been contemptible； would all sink into
insignificance beside the towering infamy of baseness whichfor
the mere love of producing an effect on the minds of men； and thus
drawing their attention upon him； which otherwise would never have
marked him at allcould scheme and execute crimes so horrible and
inexcusable。 In common charity to human nature； let us suppose the
wretch is mad； because otherwise his miserable vanity would be too
loathsome。〃 I spoke with warmth and bitterness； which increased as
I perceived him wincing under the degradation of my contempt。
〃If his motive WERE vanity；〃 he said； 〃no doubt it would be
horrible； but may it not have been revenge？〃
〃Revenge！〃 I exclaimed； 〃what！ on innocent women？〃
〃You assume their innocence。〃
〃Good God！ do you know anything to the contrary？〃
〃Not I。 But as we are conjecturing； I may as well conjecture it to
have been the desire to produce a startling effect。〃
〃How do you justify your conjecture？〃
〃Simply enough。 We have to suppose a motive； let us say it was
revenge； and see whether that will furnish a clue。〃
〃But it can't。 The two victims were wholly unconnected with each
other by any intermediate acquaintances； consequently there can
have been no common wrong or common enmity in existence to furnish
food for vengeance。〃
〃That may be so； it may also be that the avenger made them
vicarious victims。〃
〃How so？〃
〃It is human nature。 Did you ever observe a thwarted child
striking in its anger the unoffending nurse； destroying its toys to
discharge its wrath？ Did you ever see a schoolboy； unable to wreak
his anger on the bigger boy who has just struck him； turn against
the nearest smaller boy and beat him？ Did you ever know a
schoolmaster； angered by one of the boy's parents； vent his pent…up
spleen upon the unoffending class？ Did you ever see a subaltern
punished because an officer had been reprimanded？ These are
familiar examples of vicarious vengeance。 When the soul is stung
to fury； it must solace itself by the discharge of that furyit
must relieve its pain by the sight of pain in others。 We are so
constituted。 We need sympathy above all things。 In joy we cannot
bear to see others in distress； in distress we see the joy of
others with dismal envy which sharpens our pain。 That is human
nature。〃
〃And；〃 I exclaimed； carried away by my indignation； 〃you suppose
that the sight of these two happy girls； beaming with the quiet joy
of brides； was torture to some miserable wretch who had lost his
bride。〃
I had gone too far。 His eyes looked into mine。 I read in his that
he divined the whole drift of my suspicionthe allusion made to
himself。 There often passes into a look more than words can
venture to express。 In that look he read that he was discovered；
and I read that he had recognized it。 With perfect calmness； but
with a metallic ring in his voice which was like the clash of
swords； he said：
〃I did not say that I supposed this； but as we were on the wide
field of conjectureutterly without evidence one way or the other；
having no clue either to the man or his motivesI drew from the
general principles of human nature a conclusion which was just as
plausibleor absurd if you likeas the conclusion that the motive
must have been vanity。〃
〃As you say； we are utterly without evidence； and conjecture drifts
aimlessly from one thing to another。 After all； the most plausible
explanation is that of a contagion of imitation。〃
I said this in order to cover my previous imprudence。 He was not
deceivedthough for a few moments I fancied he wasbut replied：
〃I am not persuaded of that either。 The whole thing is a mystery；
and I shall stay here some time in the hope of seeing it cleared
up。 Meanwhile； for a subject of conjecture； let me show you
something on which your ingenuity may profitably be employed。〃
He rose and passed into his bedroom。 I heard him unlocking and
rummaging the drawers； and was silently reproaching myself for my
want of caution in having spoken as I had done； though it was now
beyond all doubt that he was the murderer； and that his motive had
been rightly guessed； but with this self…reproach there was mingled
a self…gratulation at the way I had got out of the difficulty； as I
fancied。
He returned； and as he sat down I noticed that the lower part of
his surtout was open。 He always wore a long frogged and braided
coat reaching to