his daughter would come to want after his death； and you have before
you the conditions which determined my course。 My first thought
was to influence him to do the deed himself； but； recalling the
researches of M。 Charcot in these matters； I came to the conclusion
that such a course would be almost certain to lead to detection；
since a hypnotic subject can only be depended upon so long as the
conditions under which he acts are precisely those which have been
suggested to him。 Any unforeseen variations in these conditions
and he fails to act； exposes everything； and the whole carefully
planned structure falls to the ground。 When； therefore； the time
came which I had set for the deed； I found it possible to drug M。
Latour； abduct him from his home； and to keep him confined and
unconscious until I had killed Mr。 Darrow in a manner I will describe
in due course。 As soon as I had committed the murder and established
what I fondly believed would be a perfect alibi in my attendance at
the examination； I secretly conveyed the still unconscious M。 Latour
to his rooms and awaited his return to consciousness。 I then asked
him how he came in such a state and what he was doing in Dorchester。
He was； of course； ignorant of everything。 Little by little I
worked upon him till he came to believe himself guilty of John
Darrow's murder。
〃I had availed myself of his interest in the subject of cancer to
get him to the library。 It is one of my maxims never to take an
avoidable risk； for which reason I made Latour apply for the books
I wanted； as well as for the medical works he desired to peruse。
As he was ambidextrous； I suggested the use of the two names Weltz
and Rizzi； the former to be written with his right and the latter
with his left hand。 I was actuated in all this by two motives。
First； I was manufacturing evidence which might stand me in good
stead later； as well as minimising somewhat my own risk in getting
the information I needed； and； secondly； I was getting Latour into
a good atmosphere for my hypnotic influence。 Not a word of all
these matters did he relate to his daughter； whom he loves with a
devotion I have never seen equalled。 Indeed； it was this very
affection that made my plan feasible。 When I had convinced him he
was a murderer I showed him Mr。 Darrow's curious advertisement
offering a reward； should he be assassinated； to anyone bringing
about the conviction of his assailant。
〃'In a year；' I said to him； 'you will die of cancer； if your crime
be not previously discovered and punished。 Your daughter will then
be penniless。 How much better for you to permit me in a few months
to accuse you of the murder。 You then confess； I claim and secure
the reward and secretly divide with you； you are sentenced； but as
considerable time will transpire between this and the date set for
your execution； you in the meantime will die of cancer； leaving
Jeannette well provided for。'
〃I think my influence over him would have been sufficient to have
compelled him to all this； could he have reasoned out no benefit
accruing to himself or daughter by such a course； but with
circumstances thus in my favour my task was an easy one。 The
public knows all it need know of what occurred after this。 This
man； Maitland； was in the next room to Latour's； overheard our
conversation； and even phonographed our words and photographed our
positions。 It has always been a matter of pride with me to
gracefully acknowledge that three aces are not so good as a full
house； therefore I confess myself beaten； though not subdued。
〃I consider this the very best tribute I can pay to the genius of
the man who has undone me。 I take my punishment； however； into my
own hands。
〃In my haste to have done with all this and to start on my long and
chartless journey； I had well…nigh forgotten to tell just how I
killed Mr。 Darrow。 No hypodermic syringe had anything to do with
it。 The while plan came to me while reading that fatal page upon
which I left my telltale thumb…signature in my search for some
feasible plan of making away with my victim。 I need not go into
particulars； for I know perfectly well that this Maitland knows to
a nicety how the thing was done。 The Daboia Russellii； or Russell's
viper； is one of the best known and most deadly of Indian vipers。
I procured one of these reptiles at the cost of great delay and some
slight risk。 That is the whole story。 On the night of the murder
I took the viper in a box and went down to the water…front； near the
Darrow estate。 Here I cut a small pole from a clump of alders； made
a split in one end of it； and thrust it over the tail of the viper。
It pinched him severely and held him fast despite his angry struggles
to free himself and to attack anything within his reach。 All that
remained to be done was to thrust this through the window into the
darkened room and to bring the viper within reach of Mr。 Darrow。
This I did； being careful to crouch so as not to obstruct the light
of the window。 When I heard my victim's outcry I withdrew the pole；
and with it； of course； the viper； and made good my escape。 That
the reptile bit Mr。 Darrow under the chin while his back was toward
the window was mere chance； though I regarded it as a very lucky
occurrence； since it seemed to render the suicide theory at first
inevitable。
〃I had had some fear lest the hissing of the viper might have been
heard； for which reason I hazarded the only question I asked at the
examination； and was completely reassured by its answer。 I should
perhaps state that my purpose in keeping in the background at this
examination was my desire to avoid attracting attention to my
deformed foot and my halting gait。 This latter I had taken pains to
conceal at my entrance； but I knew that the first step I took in
forgetfulness would expose my halting habit。 I had no fear of either
Osborne or Allen； but there was something about this Maitland that
bade me at once be on my guard； and； as I have said before； I never
take an avoidable risk。 For this reason I sat at once in the darkest
corner I could find and remained there throughout the examination。 I
thought it extremely unlikely； though possible； that an attempt might
be made to track the assassin with dogs； yet； since that is precisely
the first thing I myself would have done； I decided that the risk was
worth avoiding。 I accordingly set the boat adrift to indicate an
escape by water； and then waded along the beach for half a mile or
so； carrying the pole； boards； etc。； with me。 As I kept where the
water was at least six inches deep I knew no dog could follow my
trail。 At the point where I left the water I sat down upon a rock
and put on my stockings and shoes； thoroughly saturating them at the
same time with turpentine； and pouring the remainder of the bottle
upon the rock where I had sat。 As I had known prisoners escaped
from Libby Prison to pass in this way undetected within twenty feet
of bloodhounds upon their trail； I felt that my tracks had been well
covered； and made all possible haste to get ready to attend the
examination with the special detail。
〃And now I have finished。 Before this meets any other eye than mine
I shall be dead … beyond the punishment of this world and awaiting
the punishment of the next。 Lest some may fancy I do not believe
this； … thinking that if I did I could not so have acted； … let me
say there is no moral restraining power in fear。 Fear is essentially
selfish； and selfishness is at the bottom of all crimes； my own among
the rest。 I leave behind me none who will mourn me； and have but one
satisfaction； viz。： the knowledge that I shall be regarded as an
artist in crime。 I take this occasion to bid the public an adieu
not altogether； I confess； unmixed with regrets。 I am now on that
eminence called 'Life'； in a few minutes I shall have jumped off into
the darkness； and then … all is mystery。〃
When I had finished reading this article we all remained silent for
a long time。 Gwen was the first to speak； and then only to say
slowly； as if thinking aloud： 〃 And so it is all over。〃
CHAPTER IV
It often happens that two souls who love are； like the parts of
a Mexican gemel…ring； the more difficult to intertwine the better
they fit each other。
You may be assured that； after reading M。 Godin's confession； we
looked forward to seeing Maitland with a good deal of interest。 We
knew this new turn of affairs would cause him to call at once； so
we all strove to possess our souls in patience while we awaited his
coming。 In less than half an hour he was with us。 〃The news of your
success has preceded you；〃 said Gwen as soon as he was seated。 〃I
wish to he the first to offer you my congratulations。 You have done
for me what none other could have done and I owe you a debt of
gratitude I can never repay。 The thought that I was unable to carry
out my father's wishes； … that I could do nothing to free his name
from the reproaches which had been cast upon it； was crushing my
heart like a leaden weight。 You have removed this burden； and；
believe me； words fail to express the gratitude I feel。 I shall
beg of you to permit me to pay you the sum my father mentioned and
to … to … 〃 She hesitated and Maitland did not permit her to
finish her sentence。
〃You must pardon me； Miss Darrow；〃 he replied； 〃but I can accept no
further payment for the little I have done。 It has been a pleasure
to do it and the knowledge that you are now released from the
disagreeable possibilities of your father's will is more than
sufficient remuneration。 If you still feel that you owe me anything；
perhaps you will be willing to grant me a favour。〃
〃There is nothing；〃 she said earnestly； 〃within my power to grant
for which you shall ask in vain。〃
〃Let me beg of you then；〃 he replied； 〃never again to seek to repay
me for any services you may fancy I have rendered。 There is nothing
you could bestow upon me which I would accept。〃 She gave him a
quick； searching glance and I noticed a look of pain upon her face；
but Maitland gave it no heed； for； indeed； he seemed to have much
ado either to know what