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！
violator； we can conceive； and thus only conceive； the struggle of so
violent and so obstinate a nature as to have left the 'traces'
apparent。
〃And again。 I have already mentioned the suspicion to be excited by
the fact that the articles in question were suffered to remain at all
in the thicket where discovered。 It seems almost impossible that
these evidences of guilt should have been accidentally left where
found。 There was sufficient presence of mind （it is supposed） to
remove the corpse； and yet a more positive evidence than the corpse
itself （whose features might have been quickly obliterated by decay；）
is allowed to lie conspicuously in the scene of the outrage … I
allude to the handkerchief with the name of the deceased。 If this was
accident； it was not the accident of a gang。 We can imagine it only
the accident of an individual。 Let us see。 An individual has
committed the murder。 He is alone with the ghost of the departed。 He
is appalled by what lies motionless before him。 The fury of his
passion is over； and there is abundant room in his heart for the
natural awe of the deed。 His is none of that confidence which the
presence of numbers inevitably inspires。 He is alone with the dead。
He trembles and is bewildered。 Yet there is a necessity for disposing
of the corpse。 He bears it to the river； but leaves behind him the
other evidences of guilt； for it is difficult； if not impossible to
carry all the burthen at once； and it will be easy to return for what
is left。 But in his toilsome journey to the water his fears redouble
within him。 The sounds of life encompass his path。 A dozen times he
hears or fancies the step of an observer。 Even the very lights from
the city bewilder him。 Yet； in time and by long and frequent pauses
of deep agony； he reaches the river's brink； and disposes of his
ghastly charge … perhaps through the medium of a boat。 But now what
treasure does the world hold … what threat of vengeance could it hold
out … which would have power to urge the return of that lonely
murderer over that toilsome and perilous path； to the thicket and its
blood chilling recollections？ He returns not； let the consequences be
what they may。 He could not return if he would。 His sole thought is
immediate escape。 He turns his back forever upon those dreadful
shrubberies and flees as from the wrath to come。
〃But how with a gang？ Their number would have inspired them with
confidence； if； indeed confidence is ever wanting in the breast of
the arrant blackguard； and of arrant blackguards alone are the
supposed gangs ever constituted。 Their number； I say； would have
prevented the bewildering and unreasoning terror which I have
imagined to paralyze the single man。 Could we suppose an oversight in
one； or two； or three； this oversight would have been remedied by a
fourth。 They would have left nothing behind them； for their number
would have enabled them to carry all at once。 There would have been
no need of return。
〃Consider now the circumstance that in the outer garment of the
corpse when found； 'a slip； about a foot wide had been torn upward
from the bottom hem to the waist wound three times round the waist；
and secured by a sort of hitch in the back。' This was done with the
obvious design of affording a handle by which to carry the body。 But
would any number of men hare dreamed of resorting to such an
expedient？ To three or four； the limbs of the corpse would have
afforded not only a sufficient； but the best possible hold。 The
device is that of a single individual； and this brings us to the fact
that 'between the thicket and the river； the rails of the fences were
found taken down； and the ground bore evident traces of some heavy
burden having been dragged along it！' But would a number of men have
put themselves to the superfluous trouble of taking down a fence； for
the purpose of dragging through it a corpse which they might have
lifted over any fence in an instant？ Would a number of men have so
dragged a corpse at all as to have left evident traces of the
dragging？
〃And here we must refer to an observation of Le Commerciel； an
observation upon which I have already； in some measure； commented。 'A
piece；' says this journal； 'of one of the unfortunate girl's
petticoats 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。'
〃I have before suggested that a genuine blackguard is never without a
pocket…handkerchief。 But it is not to this fact that I now especially
advert。 That it was not through want of a handkerchief for the
purpose imagined by Le Commerciel； that this bandage was employed； is
rendered apparent by the handkerchief left in the thicket； and that
the object was not 'to prevent screams' appears； also； from the
bandage having been employed in preference to what would so much
better have answered the purpose。 But the language of the evidence
speaks of the strip in question as 'found around the neck； fitting
loosely； and secured with a hard knot。' These words are sufficiently
vague； but differ materially from those of Le Commerciel。 The slip
was eighteen inches wide； and therefore； although of muslin； would
form a strong band when folded or rumpled longitudinally。 And thus
rumpled it was discovered。 My inference is this。 The solitary
murderer； having borne the corpse； for some distance； （whether from
the thicket or elsewhere） by means of the bandage hitched around its
middle； found the weight； in this mode of procedure； too much for his
strength。 He resolved to drag the burthen … the evidence goes to show
that it wasdragged。 With this object in view； it became necessary to
attach something like a rope to one of the extremities。 It could be
best attached about the neck； where the head would prevent its
slipping off。 And； now； the murderer bethought him； unquestionably；
of the bandage about the loins。 He would have used this； but for its
volution about the corpse； the hitch which embarrassed it； and the
reflection that it had not been 'torn off' from the garment。 It was
easier to tear a new slip from the petticoat。 He tore it； made it
fast about the neck； and so dragged his victim to the brink of the
river。 That this 'bandage；' only attainable with trouble and delay；
and but imperfectly answering its purpose … that this bandage was
employed at all； demonstrates that the necessity for its employment
sprang from circumstances arising at a period when the handkerchief
was no longer attainable that is to say； arising； as we have
imagined； after quitting the thicket； （if the thicket it was）； and on
the road between the thicket and the river。
〃But the evidence； you will say； of Madame Deluc； （！） points
especially to the presence of a gang； in the vicinity of the thicket；
at or about the epoch of the murder。 This I grant。 I doubt if there
were not a dozen gangs； such as described by Madame Deluc； in and
about the vicinity of the Barri鑢e du Roule at or about the period of
this tragedy。 But the gang which has drawn upon itself the pointed
animadversion； although the somewhat tardy and very suspicious
evidence of Madame Deluc； is the only gang which is represented by
that honest and scrupulous old lady as having eaten her cakes and
swallowed her brandy； without putting themselves to the trouble of
making her payment。 Et hinc ill？ir？
〃But what is the precise evidence of Madame Deluc？ 'A gang of
miscreants made their appearance； behaved boisterously； ate and drank
without making payment； followed in the route of the young man and
girl； returned to the inn about dusk； and recrossed the river as if
in great haste。'
〃Now this 'great haste' very possibly seemed greater haste in the
eyes of Madame Deluc； since she dwelt lingeringly and lamentingly
upon her violated cakes and ale … cakes and ale for which she might
still have entertained a faint hope of compensation。 Why； otherwise；
since it was about dusk； should she make a point of the haste？ It is
no cause for wonder； surely； that even a gang of blackguards should
make haste to get home； when a wide river is to be crossed in small
boats； when storm impends； and when night approaches。
〃I say approaches； for the night had not yet arrived。 It was only
about dusk that the indecent haste of these 'miscreants' offended the
sober eyes of Madame Deluc。 But we are told that it was upon this
very evening that Madame Deluc； as well as her eldest son； 'heard the
screams of a female in the vicinity of the inn。' And in what words
does Madame Deluc designate the period of the evening at which these
screams were heard？ 'It was soon after dark；' she says。 But 'soon
after dark；' is； at least； dark； and'about dusk' is as certainly
daylight。 Thus it is abundantly clear that the gang quitted the
Barri鑢e du Roule prior to the screams overheard （？） by Madame Deluc。
And although； in all the many reports of the evidence； the relative
expressions in question are distinctly and invariably employed just
as I have employed them in this con