@ 3A《神祕及幻想故事集》Tales of Mystery and Imagination

Tales of Mystery and Imagination by Edgar Allan Poe

■ 簡介

想像一下，你正置身於湖畔的一座古舊宅邸之中。時間是夜裡，外面暴雨肆虐，狂風繞著灰色的石牆嘶吼。房子下面的一間陰森的地窖裡放著一口棺材，裡面躺著瑪德琳小姐的屍體。同你一起待在房間裡的是她的哥哥，正在用瘋狂的目光望著你。想像一下吧……你這是在鄂榭府上。

翻到另一頁，可以見到一隻黑貓被人勒住脖子吊在樹上。再翻一頁，你就會聽到一次美妙絕倫的假面舞會上響起的音樂聲，看見一千個人在唱歌、跳舞。你現在是在普洛斯佩羅親王的城堡中。城堡裡面燈火通明、生氣勃勃，人人縱情狂歡；但是在城牆外面，逡巡著那可怕的戴面具的紅死魔……

這些故事將會帶你進入一個陰暗的幻想世界，一個充滿了恐怖、夢幻與瘋狂的世界。

不要一個人讀它們！

埃德加·愛倫·坡（1809—1849）出生於美國波士頓。在短暫而鬱郁不得志的一生中，他曾供職於幾家報社，並發表了很多短篇小說和詩歌。也許最令他聲名遠播的是他的短篇小說創作。

■ The Fall of the House of Usher

It was a grey autumn day and the sky was full of large black clouds．All day I had ridden through flat and uninteresting countryside，but at last，as it began to grow dark，I saw the end of my journey．

There，in front of me，stood the House of Usher．And at once -I do not know why-a strange feeling of deep gloom came down on me and covered me like a blanket．I looked up at the old house with its high stone walls and narrow windows．I looked around at the thin dry grass and the old dying trees，and an icy hand seemed to take hold of my heart．I felt cold and sick，and could not think of one happy thought to chase away my gloom．

Why，I wondered，did the House of Usher make me feel so sad？I could find no answer．

There was a lake next to the house and I rode my horse up to the edge and stopped．Perhaps from here the house would not seem so sad，so full of gloom．I looked down into the mirror of dark，still water，and saw again the empty，eye-like windows of the house and the dying trees all around it．The feeling of gloom was stronger than ever．

It was in this house that I was going to spend the next few weeks．Its owner，Roderick Usher，had been a good friend of mine when I was a boy．I had not seen him for many years， but recently he had sent me a letter-a sad and terrible letter．He wrote that he was ill，ill in body and ill in mind；that he wanted and needed to see me．I was his only friend，the only person who could help him in his illness．

Although we had been good friends when we were young，I knew very little about him．He had never spoken much about himself，but I knew that he came from a very old family of which he was the last living man．I also knew that in the Usher family there had never been many children and so for hundreds of years the family name，together with the family home，had passed straight from father to son．

As I stood by the lake，my feeling of gloom grew and grew．I knew also that underneath my gloom lay fear，and fear does strange things to the mind．I began to imagine that the gloom was not in my mind，but was something real．It was like a mysterious cloud，which seemed to come straight from the dark lake and the dying trees and the old walls of the house．A heavy grey cloud，which carried with it disease and fear．

This was a dream，I told myself，and I looked more carefully at the building in front of me．It was，indeed，very old and I noticed that every stone had cracks and holes in it．But there was nothing really wrong with the building．No stones were missing．The only thing that I noticed was a very small crack which started at the top of the building and continued all the way down into the dark waters of the lake．

I went up to the front of the house．A servant took my horse and I stepped into the large hall．Another servant led me silently upstairs．On the walls there were many strange，dark pictures which made me feel nervous．I remembered these pictures from my earlier visits to the house when I was a child．But the feelings that the pictures gave me on this visit were new to me．

On the stairs we met the family doctor．He had a strange look on his face，a look that I did not like.I hurried on，and finally the servant opened a door and took me into the study．

The room was large and long，with high narrow windows，which let in only a little light Shadows lay in all the corners of the room and around the dark pieces of furniture．There were-many books and a few guitars，but there was no life，no happiness in the room．Deep gloom filled the air．

When Usher saw me，he got up and welcomed me warmly．I thought he was just being polite，but as I looked into his face，I could see that he was pleased to see me．We sat down，but he did not speak at first，and for a few moments I watched him in surprise and fear．He had changed so much since our last meeting！He had the same pale thin face，the same eyes，large and clear，and the same thin lips and soft hair．But now his skin was too white，his eyes too large and bright，and he seemed a different man．He frightened me．And his long wild hair looked like a ghostly cloud around his head．

I noticed that my friend was very nervous and that his feelings changed very quickly．Sometimes he talked a lot，then he suddenly became silent and did not say a word for many hours．At other times he found it difficult to think，and his voice was heavy and slow，like the voice of a man who had drunk too much．

He told me why he had wanted to see me，and how he hoped to feel better now that I was with him．He had，he explained，a strange illness which had been in his family for a long time．It was a nervous illness which made him feel everything much more strongly than other people．He could only eat food that was almost tasteless．He had to choose his clothes very carefully because most of them hurt his skin．He could not have flowers in his room because their smell was too strong for him．Light hurt his eyes，and most sounds hurt his ears except the soft sound of guitars．

Worst of all，he was a prisoner of his own fear．‘I shall die，’he used to say，‘because of this fear，I'm not afraid of danger．What frightens me is fear itself．At the moment I am fighting against fear，but sooner or later I won't be able to fight any more．’

During long conversations with Usher I learnt more about his strange illness．He was sure that it came from the House of Usher itself．He had not left the house for many years and he had become，he thought，as sad as the house itself．The gloom of its grey walls and its dark silent lake had become his own．

He also believed that much of his sadness was because his dear sister was seriously ill．He had one sister，Madeleine，the only other person in his family who was still living，but each day she seemed a little nearer to death．

‘Her death，’Usher said blackly，‘will leave me alone in the world，the last of all the Ushers．’

While he was speaking，Madeleine passed slowly through the back of the long room and，without noticing me，disappeared．As I looked at her，my eyes felt heavy with．sleep，and I had a strange feeling of fear．I looked across at Usher．He had covered his face with his hands，but I could see that he had become even paler，and that he was crying silently．

Lady Madeleine's illness was a mysterious one which no doctor could understand．Every day she became weaker and thinner，and sometimes went into a sleep which was more like death than sleep．For years she had fought bravely against her illness，but on the night of my arrival she went to bed and did not get up from it again．‘You will probably not see her again alive，’Usher said to me，shaking his head sadly．

During the next few days Usher and I never spoke about his sister．We spent a lot of time painting and reading together，and sometimes he played on his guitar．I tried very hard to help my friend，but I realized that his sadness was too deep．It was a black gloom that covered everything that belonged to his world；sometimes，indeed，he seemed close to the edge of madness．

He painted strange pictures，and sang mysterious songs with wild words．His ideas，too，were strange，and he had one idea thst seemed more important to him than all the others．He was quite sure that all things，plants，trees，even stones，were able to feel．

‘The House of Usher itself，’he told me，‘is like a living thing．When the walls were first built，life went into the stones themselves and year after year it has grown stronger．Even the air around the walls and above the lake has its own life，and belongs to the house．Don't you see，’he cried，‘how the stones and the air have shaped the lives of the Usher family？’

These ideas were too fantastic for me，and I could not answer him．

One evening I was reading quietly when my friend told me，in very few words，that the Lady Madeleine had died．He had decided，he said，to keep her body for a fortnight in one of the vaults under the house，before it went to its last resting-place．This was because his sister's illness had been a mysterious one，and her doctors wanted to learn more about it．He asked me to help him and I agreed．

Together we carried the body in its coffin down to the vaults under the house．The vault that he had chosen was a long way down，but was under the part of the house where I slept．It had once been a prison，and was small，dark，and airless，with a heavy metal door．

We put the coffin down and then gently lifted up the cover to look at the dead woman for the last time．As I looked down at her face，I realized how much Usher's sister looked like him．My friend then said a few quiet words and I learnt that he and his sister had been born on the same day．Each had known the other's mind without the need for words．

We could not look at her for long．Her strange illness had left her with a soft pink colour on her face，and that unchanging half－smile on her lips which is so terrible in death．We put back the cover of the coffin，fixed it down well，and after locking the heavy door of the vault，went back upstairs into the gloomy house．

After some days of deep unhappiness，I saw that my friend's illness of the mind was growing worse．He did not paint or read any more．He moved slowly from room to room，never knowing what to do．His face became paler，the light disappeared from his eyes，and his voice often shook with fear when he spoke．Sometimes I thought he was trying to tell me some terrible secret．At other times I thought he was going mad．He used to sit for hours，looking at nothing，listening to nothing-except the sounds in his own mind．I myself began to know real fear．I felt my friend's terror，his deep gloom，slowly taking hold of my own mind．

About seven or eight days after we had put Lady Madeleine's coffin in the vault，I went to bed but could not sleep．Hour after hour I lay there，fighting the fear and gloom that filled my mind．Outside，there was a storm which was growing wilder，and my room was full of shadows and the dark shapes of the gloomy furniture．I tried to calm myself，but I only became more frightened．

Suddenly，my body shook with a new terror．I sat up in bed and listened hard．Yes，I could hear some low sounds，coming not from the storm outside，but from somewhere inside the house．Quickly，I put on my clothes and started walking up and down the room，trying to shake off my terrible fear．

Then I heard a knock on my door and Usher came in．His face was as white as it had always been，and there was a kind of madness in his eyes．The look on his face frightened me terribly，but at the same time I was pleased not to be alone any more．

For some moments he looked around without saying a word．Then，suddenly，‘Have you not seen it？ No？Then wait．You must see it．’He hurried to the window and opened it．

The wind from the violent storm outside crashed into the room，nearly knocking us to the floor．It was，indeed，a wild，but strangely beautiful night．The wind seemed to be going in circles around the house，and huge，heavy black clouds chased each other，first this way，then that way．We could see no moon and no stars，but a pale ghostly light lay around the house．

‘You mustn't，no，you must not watch this，’I cried to Usher．I pushed him gently away from the window and to a seat．‘It's only a storm，and the cold night air will be dangerous to your health．Let's close the window and read together．Look，here's one of your favourite books．I will read to you，and you can listen，and so we will pass this terrible night together．’

The book which I had picked up was The Sad，Mad Life of Sir Launcelot Canning．It was not really one of US her's favourite books，but it was the only one that I had near me，so I started to read it．It was a wild，fantastic story，but I hoped that my reading would make Usher calmer and less afraid．He listened to me，indeed，but with a kind of mad seriousness that I found frightening．

I read for a while and reached the place in the book where Ethelred broke down the door of the old man's house．

Now Ethelred decided he could wait outside in the storm no longer．He lifted his heavy stick and beat against the wood-en door until he had made a hole．Then with his hands he pulled the door to pieces．The noise of the dry wood cracking and breaking could be heard all through the forest．

As I finished reading this sentence，I jumped in my seat and then sat very still．I thought that I had heard，from somewhere far away in the house，the same noise of cracking and breaking wood．But I could not hear it clearly，and the noise of the storm was much louder．I continued reading：

Ethelred entered the house but could not see the old man．Then the house disappeared and he saw a dragon，with fire coming out of its mouth．Ethelred lifted his heavy stick and brought it crashing down on the dragon's head．As the dragon fell dying to the ground，it gave a terrible cry-a long，hard，unnatural scream．

Here again I stopped suddenly．I was sure that I could hear a cry．It was low and far away，but it was a long screaming sound-just like the one described in the book．

Although I was feeling so nervous，I tried hard to hide my terror．I was not sure if Usher had heard the sounds that I had heard．In the last few minutes he had moved and was now sitting with his face towards the door．But I could see that his lips were shaking and his body was moving gently from side to side．I continued reading the story：

And now Ethelred，after he had killed the dragon，turned and saw in front of him a palace of gold with tall gates of shining silver in the walls．Bravely，Ethelred ran towards the palace，but the shining silver gates did not wait for his coming and fell to the ground at his feet with a great and terrible ringing sound．

As I read these words，I heard clearly the loud，heavy sound of metal falling．I jumped to my feet，but Usher sat in his seat and did not move．I ran towards him．He was looking straight in front of him and his face was like stone．As I placed my hand on his arm，his body began to shake．A sickly smile came over his lips，and he spoke in a low hurried voice．He did not seem to realize that I was there．I put my head close to his to catch his words．

‘Don't I hear it？-yes，I hear it，and I have heard it．For many minutes，many hours，many days I have heard it-but I was too frightened，too frightened to speak．We have put her alive into her coffin！Did I not tell you that I could hear even the softest sound？I tell you now that I heard her move in the coffin．I heard the sounds many days ago，but my terror was too great-I could not speak！And now tonight-when you read about Ethelred breaking the old man's door，about the cry of the dragon，and the falling of the gates-it was，in fact，the breaking of her coffin，the scream of metal as she broke open the vault，and the ringing crash as the metal door fell to the floor！Oh，where can I escape to？Is she hurrying towards me at this very minute？Is that her angry footstep that I can hear on the stairs？Can I hear the heavy and terrible beating of her heart？MADMAN！’

He jumped up and shouted，screaming out his words like a man dying in terror．‘MADMAN！I TELL YOU THAT AT THIS MINUTE SHE Is STANDING OUTSIDE THIS DOOR！’

AS he screamed these words，the heavy door was thrown open by the strong wind．There，outside the door，dressed in the white clothes of the dead，stood the tall figure of the Lady Madeleine of Usher．There was blood on her hands，her arms，her torn white clothes．Every part of her body showed the marks of her long fight to escape from the coffin．For a moment she stood there shaking，moving slowly from side to side．Then with a low cry she fell heavily onto her brother．And in the moment of her now final death，he fell with her to the floor-a dead man，killed by his own terror．

From that room，and from that house，I ran in horror．Out－side，the storm was still violent and as I ran past the lake，a sudden wild light shone around me．I turned to see where this strange light was coming from．It was the moon，a full，blood-red moon，shining through a narrow crack in the walls of the house．It was the crack which started at the roof of the building and went right down to the ground．As I watched，the crack grew larger，the wind grew wilder-now I could see the full circle of the blood－red moon，and the great walls of the house breaking and falling．There was a long shouting sound，like the voice of a thousand waters，and the deep dark lake closed over the broken pieces of the House of Usher．

■ 鄂榭府崩潰記

這是秋日裡灰濛濛的一天，空中積滿了大團大團的烏雲。整整一天，我騎著馬從平淡、乏味的鄉野間馳過；不過，到天色開始變得昏暝的時候，我終於望見了此行的目的地。

在我眼前，兀然立著鄂榭府。一看見它——不知何故——一種陰悒至極的怪異感覺便降臨在我身上，像一張毯子一樣罩住了我。我抬頭仰望這座有著高大的石牆和狹小的窗戶的古舊府第，又環顧四周稀疏的枯草和垂死的老樹，這時，彷彿有一隻冰冷的手抓住了我的心。我覺得奇寒徹骨，渾身乏力，怎麼也想不起一件樂事來驅散心頭的陰悒。

我真奇怪，為什麼鄂榭府會令我感覺如此之差？我百思不得其解。

緊挨著宅子有一個湖，我騎馬來到湖邊停住。也許從這個角度看上去，宅子就不顯得那樣黯淡、那樣陰悒了。我低頭朝幽暗、凝止的湖水望去，在倒影中再一次看見了房子上面空蕩的、眼睛似的窗戶，以及四周那些垂死的樹。陰悒的感覺愈發強烈起來。

我將在這座府邸裡盤桓幾個星期。府邸的主人羅德里克·鄂榭，是我孩提時代的一個好友，我已有好多年沒有見到他了；可是最近他給我來了一封信——一封透著悲哀與恐怖的信。他在信中說他患了病，身體和精神都不正常，還說他急切地要見我。我是他惟一的朋友，只有我能夠幫助他擺脫疾病的折磨。

雖說我們年少的時候是摯友，但我對他了解得非常少。他極少談及他自己，不過我知道他來自一個歷史特別悠久的世家，而他是這個世家最後一位活在人間的男性。我還知道，在鄂榭家族史上還從未有過子息繁盛的時候，於是，數百年來，家族的姓氏連同家族的宅第均是由父及於由子及孫一脈單傳。

我站在湖邊，心頭陰悒的感覺一刻強似一刻。我同樣清楚，這陰悒之情的下面暗伏著恐懼，而恐懼又以古怪的方式作用於我的頭腦。我開始猜測這陰悒並不在我頭腦中，而是某種真實的東西。它宛如一團神祕的雲氣，似乎是從幽暗的湖水、垂死的樹和宅子破舊的牆垣中間徑直升騰而起的。那是團沉重的鉛雲，飽含著疾病與恐怖。

我告訴自己這是個夢，又更加仔細地打量眼前的這棟建築。的確，它已經非常破舊了，我注意到每一塊石頭上都有裂隙和孔洞。但是建築本身又沒有真正的殘損，它一塊石頭也不缺。惟一引起我注意的是一道非常細小的裂縫，它從房子的頂部開始出現，然後一路向下延伸，直插入幽暗的湖水之中。

我來到宅子的正面。一個僕人牽走了我的坐騎，我跨進了大廳。另一個僕人默默地領著我上了樓。牆壁上掛著許多幅怪異、晦暗的畫，讓我十分緊張。我記得當年我還是個孩子、來這座府第裡做客時就見過這些畫，但是這次來訪，它們給我的感覺卻是前所未有的。

在樓梯上我遇見了家庭醫生，他臉上現出一副刁鑽古怪的神情，這神情我很不喜歡。我急忙走了上去；終於，僕人打開門，引我走進了書房。

房間又大又長，窗戶又高又窄，只能容許一點點天光射入，屋子的所有角落以及一件件深色的傢俱四周都是陰影。屋裡擺放著好多書籍和幾把吉他，但是毫無生氣，毫無快樂可言。空氣中滿是濃重的陰悒氛圍。

鄂榭一看見我，便起身熱情洋溢地表示歡迎。我起初還以為他這只不過是做出來的殷勤態度，可是待我朝他臉上望去，才知道他見到我是真心歡喜。我們坐了下來，但他一開始並未開口講話；有幾分鐘我就這樣看著他，心裡既吃驚又害怕。從我們上一次見面到現在，他已經發生了多麼大的變化呀！他的臉頰還是那樣蒼白、瘦削，眼睛還是那樣大而清澈，嘴脣還是那樣薄，頭髮還是那樣柔軟。但是現在，他的皮膚變得太慘白，眼睛變得太大太亮；他看上去已經完全是另一個人了。他把我嚇壞了。還有他那一頭亂糟糟的長髮，好似幽靈般的愁雲一樣繚繞在他腦袋上。

我發現我的朋友極度神經質，情緒變化無常。有時他長篇大論地講話，而後就會突然間變得沉默寡言，幾個小時一語不發。還有的時候他覺得想問題特別困難，於是他說話的聲音就變得粗重、遲緩，好像是一個飲酒過量的人發出來的。

他向我講述了他為何急於見到我，以及他如何希望現在有我相陪伴，他的情況會好轉些。他解釋道，他得的是一種怪病，這種病已經在他的家族中肆虐好久了。這種神經過敏症搞得他對一切事物都比其他人敏感得多。他只能吃那些幾乎完全寡淡無味的食物，只能萬分小心地挑選衣物，因為大多數面料都會傷害他的皮膚。他不能忍受屋裡擺放花卉，因為花卉的香氣對他來說太濃烈了。光線會刺傷他的眼睛，大部分聲音會刺傷他的耳朵——只有柔和的吉他彈奏聲他還能接受。

最糟糕的是，他成了自己的恐懼的囚徒。“我要死了，”他常常說，“死於這種恐懼。我並不害怕危險。令我喪膽的是恐懼本身。此刻我在同恐懼搏鬥，但遲早我會喪失這奮力搏鬥的能力。”

在與鄂榭的長談中，我對他的怪病有了更多的瞭解。他堅信這個病症來自鄂榭府本身。他已有多年未離開這座宅子了，於是他想，他已經變得跟宅子自身一樣悲哀了。它那灰色的石牆與暗黑、凝止的湖水間所蘊藏的陰悒業已化作他個人的愁苦心緒。

他還相信他身染怪病在很大程度上是由於他親愛的妹妹病得十分嚴重。他有一個妹妹，名叫瑪德琳，是他家族中另一位僅存於陽世間的成員，然而似乎每過一天，她就要朝著死神邁近一小步。

“她這一死，”鄂榭悶悶不樂地說道，“就將把我，鄂榭家族的末代孑遺，獨自撇在這世界上了。”

他正說著，瑪德琳從這長長的房間的遠端緩緩走了過去，她並沒有注意到我，便不見了影子。我盯著她，兩眼昏昏欲睡，然後心頭湧起一陣莫名其妙的惶恐。我再轉臉看鄂榭，只見他已用雙手掩面，不過我仍能看到他的臉色變得更加蒼白，而且他正在無聲地哭泣。

瑪德琳小姐的病症極為古怪，哪個醫生都瞧不出個名堂來。她一天比一天衰弱，一天比一天單薄，有時候一覺睡去，與其說是睡著了，還不如說是死掉了更形象。多年以來她同病魔進行了勇敢的鬥爭，誰知就在我到來的那天夜裡，她上了床，並且就此臥床不起。“你可能再也不會見到她活著了，”鄂榭悲哀地搖著頭，對我說。

此後的數日內鄂榭和我一直絕口不提他的妹妹。我們花了好多時間一起畫畫，一起讀書，有時他還操起吉他彈上一曲。我盡了極大的努力去幫助我的朋友，但是卻發現悲哀在他心中已如此根深蒂固。那黑魆魆的陰悒籠罩著屬於他的世界的每一樣東西；說實在的，有時候他似乎已接近了瘋狂的邊緣。

他畫了一些古怪的畫，唱了一些神祕的歌曲，歌詞中盡是些狂野的字眼兒。還有，他腦子裡的念頭也很古怪，其中有一個想法好像比其他想法對他來說更重要。他相當肯定地認為，萬事萬物，花草，樹木，甚至石頭，都是有感知能力的。

“鄂榭府本身，”他對我說道，“就好像是一個活物。當牆壁最初被壘起來的時候，生命便進入了這些石頭，此後年復一年，逐漸成長壯大。哪怕是圍繞著石牆、聚集在湖面上的空氣，也有它自己的生命，它是屬於這宅子的。你難道沒看見嗎，”他嚷道，“那石頭、那空氣是如何塑造了鄂榭家族的眾多生靈的？”

這些看法對我來說簡直太離奇了，我都不知該怎麼回答他才好。

一天傍晚，我正在安安靜靜地看書，我的朋友非常簡短地告訴我，瑪德琳小姐已經故去了。他說，他已經決定在宅子下面的一間地窖裡停屍兩個星期，然後再將其送往最後的長眠之地，理由是他妹妹的病很古怪，醫生們還想再研究研究。他請求我幫忙料理一下，我答應了。

我們兩個一起抬著盛了屍體的棺材，向下來到房子底部的地窖裡。他選定的那間地窖要向下走很長一段才到，但它的正上方恰巧是我的寢室那一帶。它從前曾經做過牢房，又小又黑，叫人透不過氣來，還裝著一扇沉重的鐵門。

我們把棺材放下，然後輕輕地掀開棺蓋，想最後看一眼死者。我低頭朝鄂榭的妹妹臉上望去，這才發現他們兄妹二人是多麼相像。然後我的朋友沉著地說了幾句話，我終於得知他們二人是同日出生的孿生兄妹，彼此間無須言語交流便能心意相通。

我們對死者不敢久看。她的怪病使得她臉上微微泛出一抹粉紅，嘴脣上掛著一絲若有若無、凝定不變的微笑；這笑容出現在死人臉上，可真叫人毛骨悚然。我們將棺蓋重新蓋上，仔細釘牢，又鎖好了地窖那沉甸甸的屋門，才爬上樓梯，回到陰悒的宅子裡。

無比沉痛的幾天過去，我發現我的朋友精神錯亂的病情有所加重。他不再畫畫，也不再讀書，只是在一個又一個房間裡徘徊，腳步遲緩，漫無目的。他的臉色更加蒼白了，光芒已從他眼中消失，一說起話來，他的聲音便常常因恐懼而發抖。有時候我想他是企圖向我透露什麼可怕的祕密，有時候我以為他要發瘋了。他往往一坐就是幾個小時，什麼也沒在看，什麼也沒在聽——聽的只是他自己頭腦裡的聲音。我自己開始體會到真正的恐懼了。我感到我的朋友的惶恐，他那致命的陰悒，正在慢慢攫住我的心。

我們把瑪德琳小姐的棺材抬到地窖以後，時間過了大約有七八天。這天晚上我上了床，卻無法入眠，就一個鐘頭一個鐘頭地躺在那兒，同自己滿腦子的恐懼和陰悒作著鬥爭。窗外風雨大作，並且愈發狂放不羈；我的臥室內則滿是影子以及陰森森的傢俱暗黑的輪廓。我儘量使自己平靜下來，誰知卻越來越心驚肉跳。

突然間，我的身體由於新的一波恐懼襲來而打起了寒戰。

我從床上坐起，努力地諦聽著周圍的響動。是的，我能聽見某種低沉的聲音，不是來自外面的暴風雨，而是從宅子內部的什麼地方發出來的。我迅速地穿上衣服，開始在房間裡來來回回地踱步，希望以此擺脫掉我那不可救藥的恐懼。

接著我聽見敲門聲，鄂榭走了進來。他的臉上一如既往地泛著慘白，眼裡有一種瘋狂的神色。他的這副尊容把我嚇得要死，但與此同時，我又慶幸不必一個人待著了。

他一語不發，四下裡看了一陣子，然後突然說道：“你難道沒有看到？沒有？那就等著吧。你準會看到的。”他急匆匆地走到窗前，把窗子打開。

一股勁風從外面大逞淫威的雷暴中吹出，轟地一聲撞進房間裡面，差點兒將我們掀翻在地。說老實話，這可真是一個狂暴而又美麗異常的夜啊。狂風似乎打著旋兒在宅子四周肆虐，一團團碩大的、沉重的烏雲相互追逐著，忽而這裡，忽而那裡。我們看不到月亮也看不到星星，只見一片鬼樣的慘白光輝浮動在宅子周圍。

“不，你不能，你不能看這個！”我朝鄂榭嚷道，並將他從窗子旁輕輕推開，推到椅子上坐下。“這只不過是一場暴風雨而已。再說，夜裡的冷空氣對你的身體是有害的。咱們把窗子關上，一道讀讀書吧，瞧，這書就是你最愛讀的一本。我來給你念，你光聽著就成；這樣我們就可以一道打發掉這恐怖的夜晚了。”

我隨手拾起的這本書是蘭斯洛特·坎寧爵士的《悲慘、瘋狂的一生》。它其實並不是鄂榭最愛讀的一本書，然而，它是我在手邊唯一能找到的書，於是我便開始唸了起來。書裡講的是一個瘋狂、離奇的故事，不過我希望我這麼一念會讓鄂榭平靜些，不再害怕。的確，他倒是在聽我念書，然而我發現他聽的時候帶著一股瘋狂的一本正經的勁頭，嚇死人了。

我念了一會兒，就到了書中描述艾特爾瑞德破門而入、硬闖老人住處的那一段。

現在艾特爾瑞德打定主意，他再也不能站在門外、淋著大雨等下去了。他舉起重重的大棒子朝木門砸去，最後砸出一個洞。然後他用雙手一拽，屋門即成碎片。幹木頭噼裡啪啦碎裂的聲音響遍了整個樹林。

我念完這個句子後，在座位上跳了一下，然後又穩穩地坐定了。我覺得自己聽見了這座府邸遠處呆個地方傳來一陣與那木頭噼裡啪啦的碎裂聲完全相同的聲音；但我聽得不是太真切，況且暴風雨的聲音要大得多。我繼續念道：

艾特爾瑞德進了那房子，卻不見老人的蹤影。然後，房子消失，他看見一條惡龍，口中噴吐著火舌。艾特爾瑞德舉起大棒子朝惡龍頭上砰地一聲砸去。惡龍倒在地上，垂死之際發出一聲哀嚎——這聲長嚎尖厲刺耳，慘絕人寰。

到這裡我再一次戛然而止。我敢肯定我聽見了一聲嚎叫。叫聲很低，離得很遠，但那的確是一聲長長的尖叫——就像書中寫到的那聲哀嚎一樣。

雖然我感到極度緊張，但我還是盡力掩飾住自己的驚恐。我拿不準鄂榭是否聽到了我聽到的那些聲音。在過去的幾分鐘裡，他已經有所動作，現在正面對房門坐著。但我仍能看見他的嘴脣在發抖，他的身體左一下右一下地微微搖擺著。我接著念那個故事：

殺掉惡龍以後，現在艾特爾瑞德轉過身來，看見他面前立著一座金子的宮殿，宮牆上嵌著一扇扇光閃閃的銀質大門。艾特爾瑞德勇敢地向宮殿跑去，但還沒等他跑近，那些閃光的銀質大門便倒在他腳邊的地上，發出巨大的、可怖的、鐘磬齊鳴般的轟響。

我念到這些詞句時，清晰地聽見金屬器物倒地的沉重的巨響。我一躍而起，但鄂榭坐在座位上一動不動。我朝他奔過去。他正直勾勾地瞪視著前方，臉龐好像石頭一樣。我把一隻手放在他胳膊上，這時他的身體開始發抖，一絲慘淡的笑容出現在他的嘴脣上。然後他開口了，聲音又低又急，似乎沒有意識到我的存在。我低頭湊近他的腦袋，去捕捉那些詞句。

“我沒聽見？——不，我聽見了，我早就聽見了。我聽見好幾分鐘，好幾個鐘頭，好幾天了——但是我太害怕了，害怕得不敢說出來。我們把她活著裝進了棺材！我難道沒有告訴過你，哪怕最輕微的聲音我也聽得見？現在我告訴你，我聽見她在棺材裡動彈的聲音，那是好幾天以前的事，可是我太害怕了——我不敢說！到了今天晚上——當你念到艾特爾瑞德打破老人的家門，唸到惡龍一聲哀嚎，唸到大門紛紛倒地的時候——實際上，那是她打破了棺材，是她打開地窖時鐵門發出的尖叫聲，是那鐵門倒在地上發出的鐘鳴般轟的一響！噢，我能逃到哪兒去？這一刻她是不是正在急匆匆地趕來找我？我聽見在樓梯上響起的是不是她那憤怒的腳步聲？我能否聽見她那沉重的、可怕的心跳聲？瘋子！”

他跳起身叫嚷著，像一個在恐懼中奄奄一息的人那樣尖聲喊出來：“瘋子！我告訴你，這一刻她就站在這扇門外！”

正當他尖叫著這幾句話的時候，沉重的屋門被一陣強風吹開了。在門外，立著鄂榭府的瑪德琳小姐的高大身軀，她身穿雪白的屍衣，滿手、滿胳膊以及撕破的白色屍衣上都是血汙。她渾身上下處處都顯露出她為了逃出棺材而長時間苦苦掙扎的痕跡。她在那裡站了片刻，顫抖著，身體慢慢地左搖右晃，然後低嚎一聲，重重地摔倒在她哥哥身上。就在她現在終於一命嗚呼的一剎那，他同她一起摔倒在地——一個死人，一個死於自己的恐懼的人。

我驚恐萬狀，馬上逃出那間屋子，逃出那座宅邸。外面，風暴依舊猖獗；我跑過湖水，一道怪異的光芒突然照射到我身上。我回過頭，看那古怪的光是從哪兒來的。是月亮，一輪血紅的滿月，正透過宅子牆壁上一道狹窄的裂縫閃耀著光輝。那道裂縫便是自建築頂部開始、向下一直延伸到地面的那一道。待我望去，那道裂縫變得更寬，風也颳得更大了——現在我可以看到整個血紅的滿月。宅邸高大的石牆正在碎裂、倒塌；一陣長長的呼號聲傳來，宛如千股洪流齊瀉；然後，那幽深、晦暗的湖水便吞沒了鄂榭府的一切殘磚碎瓦。

■ The Black Cat

I know you will not believe this story．Only a madman could hope that you would believe it-and I am not mad．But as I am going to die tomorrow，I would like to tell my story to the world today．Perhaps some day，somebody more calm and less excitale than me，will be able to explain it．

I have always loved animals．I loved them deeply，from the very first days of my life．When I was young，we always had many animals in our house，and so I used to spend most of my days playing with them and taking care of them．As the years passed，I grew into a quiet，gentle man，and my love for animals grew too．I found that they were more friendly，more honest than most men Animals were always my best friends．

I got married when I was quite young．Luckily，my wife loved animals too，and she used to buy me many animals as presents．In fact，our house was always full of animals-we had birds，fish，a dog，chickens，and a cat．

This cat，whom we called Pluto，was a large black cat．He was a beautiful animal，and he was also very clever．I loved Pluto more than I loved all my other animals．I wanted to do everything for him myself，so I never let my wife take care of him．I used to play with him and give him his food，and he followed me everywhere I went．

For several years Pluto and I were the best of friends，but during this time my life slowly changed．I became a heavy drinker，and my need for alcohol soon grew into a terrible disease．I was often angry and violent．I began to shout at my wife，and I even started to hit her．My animals，too，felt the change in me．I stopped taking care of them and sometimes I was even cruel to them．But I was never cruel to Pluto．As time passed，my disease grew worse，and soon even Pluto was not safe from my violence．

One night I arrived home late．I was very，very drunk．When Pluto saw me，he tried to run away from me，and this made me angry．I caught him by his neck and shook him．He，in his fright，bit me on the hand．At once，a wild，terrible anger filled me，and I could feel nothing except burning hate．Slowly I took a knife from my pocket，opened it，and then carefully cut out one of Pluto's eyes from its socket．I shake today as I write these words down．Every time I remember that day，I still feel sadness and pain．

When I woke up the next morning，I felt ashamed of what I had done．But this feeling was not strong enough to make me change my life．I continued to drink because it was too difficult for me to stop．Soon，I had forgotten what I had done．

As the months passed，Pluto got better．His empty eye socket still looked terrible，but at least he wasn't in pain any more．Not surprisingly，he used to run away from me when he saw me，frightened that I would hurt him again．At first I was sad to see him run away-an animal which had once so loved me．Then I began to feel a little angry．There is something strange about the human heart．We humans seem to like hurt－ing ourselves．Haven't we all，a hundred times，done something stupid or evil just because we know that we should not do it？It was because of this，this need to hurt myself，that I did this next evil thing…

One morning I woke，found a rope and calmly tied it round Pluto's neck．Then I hung the poor animal from a tree and left it there to die．I cried as I did this terrible thing．My face was wet with tears and my heart was black and heavy．But I killed it．I killed it because I knew it had loved me，because it hadn't hurt me，even because I knew that I was doing something terrible and wrong．

That same night we had a fire in our house．I was woken from my sleep by loud shouts of ‘Fire！’When I opened my eyes，I found that the fire had already reached the bedroom．My wife and I ran out of the house as fast as we could．Luckily we escaped death，but the house and almost everything in it was destroyed．

The next day I went back into the house and saw several people standing in a group，looking at a wall．It was the only wall of the house that was still standing after the fire．It was one of my bedroom walls，the one where the head of my bed had rested．As I came nearer to the wall I heard someone say，‘How strange！’and another person，‘That's impossible！’And then I saw it-a huge cat．Not a real cat，but the shape of a cat outlined in the white bedroom wall．It was as clear as a picture．I could even see a rope around the animal's neck．

I stood there in horror，too frightened to move．Then，slowly，I thought back to the night before．I had left the cat hanging from a tree，in the garden at the back of my house．When a neighbour had first noticed the fire，many people had run into the garden．One of them had probably cut the cat from the tree and thrown it through my open window，in order to wake me up．The cat's body had hit my bedroom wall and left its shape there，because the plaster on that wall was new and still soft．

Although I thought that this was a very reasonable explanation，the strange shape on the wall still worried me．I thought about the cat day and night．I began to feel sorry that I had killed it．I started walking around the streets at night looking at all the cats，to see if I could find another one like Pluto．

One night，I was drinking in my favourite bar when I suddenly noticed a large，black cat．I went up to it and touched it．It was very large-as large as Pluto had been．It also looked very like Pluto．Except for one thing．Pluto had been black all over，but this cat had a white mark on its front．

I touched the cat and he immediately lay down against my leg and seemed very friendly towards me．This，I decided，was the cat that I wanted．I offered the barman some money to buy the cat from him，but he said that the cat didn't belong to him．In fact，he had no idea where it had come from．

So I took the cat home．My wife liked it immediately，and it stayed with us from that day．But soon-I do not know why-the cat started to make me angry，and，as time passed，I began to hate it．I did not hurt it in any way，but I always tried to keep as far away from it as possible．

I knew one reason why I hated this cat so much．Oh the morning after I had brought it home，I saw that，like Pluto，it had lost one of its eyes．My wife，who was the kind，gentle per－son that I had once been，only loved the cat more because of this．But the cat didn't like my wife．It loved me alone．

Every time I sat down，it used to jump onto my knees．When I went out of a room，it used to run out in front of me and get between my feet，or climb up my legs．At these times，I wanted to kill it．But I didn't，because I was too afraid-afraid of the cat，and even more afraid of the white mark on its chest．

I have already mentioned this mark．At first，there was nothing strange about it．It was just a white mark．But slowly this mark grew and changed until it had the clear shape of a terrible，a horrible thing-I find it difficult，here in my prison，to write the word．It was the shape of the GALLOWS！Yes，those horrible wooden posts from which they hang men by a rope around the neck！

As each day passed，my fear grew and grew．I，a man，a strong man，had become afraid of a cat！Why was I so fright－ened，so worried by a stupid animal？Day and night，I could get no rest．I had the most terrible dreams，and my mind turned to dark，evil thoughts．I hated everything，everybody-and life itself．

One day my wife and I needed to get something from the cellar underneath the house．The cat followed us down the steps and threw itself in front of me．I almost fell on my face and，mad with anger，I took hold of an axe and tried to kill the animal．But my wife caught my arm to stop me，and then anger exploded in my mind．I turned and drove the axe deep into her head．She fell dead on the floor，without a sound．

After this horrible murder，I calmly made plans to hide the body．I knew I couldn't take it out of the house，either by day or night，because the neighbours would see me．So I had to think of other ways… I could cut the body up into very small pieces and then burn them in a fire．I could hide the body under the floor．Or I could put the body in a box and then ask someone to carry the box away… Finally，I thought of a better idea．I decided to hide the body behind the walls of the cellar．

I knew immediately which wall to choose．There was a wall in the cellar round the bottom of an old chimney，which was no longer used．This wall had bricks in the front and back but was empty in the middle．I started work at once． I took out some of the bricks from the front wall and carefully put the body against the back wall．Then I put back the bricks and covered them with plaster．I made sure that the plaster did not look new，and soon the wall looked just the same as all the other walls．When I had finished my work，I looked at the plaster．‘I've never done a better piece of work！’I said to myself happily．

I then looked around for the cat，to kill it．It had brought too much unhappiness into my life，and so it，too，must now die．I looked for it everywhere，but it had disappeared．I was free at last！That night I had a deep，peaceful sleep-I，who had just killed my wife，slept well！

Three days passed and still the cat did not appear．I was now a happy man，happier than I had been for a long time．I wasn't worried by what I had done．People had asked a few questions and the police had visited my house，but they had found nothing．

On the fourth day the police visited again and began to search the house．They looked into all the rooms and then went down into the cellar．I went with them，feeling calm and safe．I watched them as they looked everywhere．They seemed quite happy that there was nothing there and they got ready to leave．I was very happy．I was sure that I was safe，but I wanted to say something，just a word or two，to show how unworried I was．

‘Gentlemen，’I said，‘I'm pleased that you've found nothing here，and that you are now leaving this house…But let me show you something，gentlemen．Do you see how well built this house is？These walls，you will notice，are very strong．’As I said these words，I knocked on the wall with a stick-the wall where i had hidden my wife！

At that moment we heard a sound．It was a strange sound，unlike anything I had ever heard before．The sound was soft at first，almost like a baby crying．Then it grew louder and louder and turned into one long，endless scream．It was like a cry rising from Hell．

The policemen looked at me，then at one another．They ran to the wall and started pulling out the bricks as fast as they could．In minutes the wall was down and there，for all to see，was the body of my dead wife．On top of her head，with a red，open mouth and one burning eye，sat the black cat-the animal which had made me a murderer，and which would now send me to my death．

I had put the horrible thing into the wall，alive，with my wife！

■ 黑貓

我知道你們是不會相信這個故事的。只有瘋子才會指望讓你們相信——而我並沒有發瘋。可是考慮到明天我就要死了，我還是想在今天把我的故事講給這個世界。也許有一天，有一個比我更鎮靜、更不易激動的人，將能夠解釋這一切。

我這人一向喜愛動物，從我生命最初的歲月起、便深深地眷戀它們。我小的時候，我們家裡總是養著一大堆動物，於是我常常把大部分時間都花在陪它們玩、照料它們上面。隨著光陰流逝，我成長為一個安靜、文雅的男人，同時，我對動物的喜愛也有增無減。我發現它們比大多數人更友好，更誠實。動物們一直是我最好的朋友。

我在相當年輕的時候就結了婚。還好，我妻子也熱愛動物，她常常買回好些個寵物送給我作禮物。事實上，我們家裡總是充滿了動物——我們養了好多鳥，好多魚，一隻狗，幾隻雞，還有一隻貓。

這隻貓被我們稱作普路託，它是隻大個兒的黑貓，長得非常漂亮，而且十分聰明。比起我的其他寵物來，我對普路託更是寵愛有加。我情願親自為它做一切事情，所以從不讓我妻子照料它。我經常陪它玩，餵它食吃；我走到哪兒，它也跟到哪兒。

普路託和我就這樣做了好幾年最親密的朋友，可是在此期間，我的生活慢慢地發生了一些變化。我成了一個嚴重酗酒的傢伙，我的嗜酒如命很快發展成可怕的頑症。我經常發脾氣，態度很粗暴。我開始對我妻子大喊大叫，甚至開始動手打她。我的動物們也感覺到了我的變化。我不再精心照料它們，有時候甚至虐待它們。但我從不對普路託施暴。天長日久，我的病情逐漸加重了，很快地，就連普路託也難以倖免於我的暴虐凶殘了。

一天夜裡，我很晚才回到家中，我已經喝得酩酊大醉了。普路託一看見我，就想尋路逃開，這可讓我心頭火起。我一把抓住它的脖子，搖晃它。它嚇壞了，就在我手上咬了一口。頓時，一股瘋狂、駭人的怒火充盈了我的胸膛，除了燃燒著的仇恨我什麼也感覺不到了。我慢慢地從口袋裡掏出一把刀子，打開它，然後很仔細地把普路託的一隻眼睛從眼眶裡剜了出來。今天，當我寫下這些詞句時，我不禁渾身瑟瑟發抖。我每一次記起那一天，都依然感到悲傷和痛苦。

第二天早晨醒來時，我為我前夜的所作所為感到羞恥。但這種感情還不夠強烈，不足以讓我改過自新。我繼續濫飲起來，因為想讓我停下來真是太困難了。不久，我就將我做下的事情忘了個精光。

幾個月過去了，普路託的傷勢有所好轉。它那空蕩蕩的眼窩看上去仍舊很可怕，但它起碼不再覺得疼了。不出所料，它一見到我便趕緊跑開，惟恐我會再次傷害它。開始的時候，我看見它跑開還覺得很難過——這隻動物從前是多麼喜歡我呀。然後，我開始覺得有一點生氣了。人類的心腸可真有點古怪，我們好像很喜歡傷害自己。難道我們不都曾明知故犯，昧著良心無數次幹下這樣那樣的蠢事或者惡事嗎？正是由於這個，由於這種自我傷害的需求，我緊接著又做下了這樁喪盡天良的事……

一天早晨，我醒來後找到了一根繩子，平靜地把它套在了普路託的脖子上。然後我將那可憐的畜生吊在一棵樹上，任憑它那樣死去。我一邊做這件可怕的事情一邊哭泣，眼淚打溼了我的臉頰，我的心又陰鬱又沉痛。但是我吊死了它。我吊死它是因為我知道它曾經愛過我，是因為它不曾傷害過我，甚至是因為我知道我在做著一件可怕的錯事。

當天夜裡我們家的房子失火了。我從睡夢中驚醒，聽見有人高喊：“著火了！”我睜開眼，發現大火早已燒到了臥室，便和我妻子一起飛也似地逃出了房子。我們僥倖死裡逃生，可是房子以及房子裡的幾乎全部家當都燒了個精光。

第二天，我回到房子裡去，見幾個人聚成一堆，正盯著一堵牆看。這是大火過後整棟房子惟一一堵仍舊立著的牆壁，是我臥室的四壁中的一面，平時我的床頭就靠在上面。我向那面牆走近些，聽見有人說：“真不可思議！”又聽見另一個人說：“那是不可能的！”然後我也看見了——一隻大貓。不是真貓，而是一隻貓的形狀，印在臥室雪白的牆上，像幅畫一樣清晰。我甚至可以看到那畜生脖子上拴著的繩子。

我魂飛魄散地站在那兒，嚇得一動不敢動。然後，慢慢地，我回想起前一天夜裡發生的事。我把貓吊在樹上，是在我家後面的園子裡。有一個鄰居首先發現起火，很多人便跑進了那個園子。很可能是他們中間的某個人割斷繩子，從樹上解下那隻貓，並將它順著敞開的窗戶扔進來，希望以此叫醒我。貓的屍體撞到我臥室的牆上，在上面印下了自己的輪廓，因為那面牆上的灰泥是新抹的，還軟和著呢。

儘管我覺得這個解釋很是入情入理，但牆上那古怪的形狀仍然令我心煩意亂。日日夜夜，我總想起那隻貓。我有些後悔自己害死了它，並開始在深夜跑到街上轉悠，注意觀察所有的貓，看是否能找到一隻與普路託相像的。

一天夜裡，我正在我最喜歡的酒吧裡喝酒，突然，我注意到一隻大個兒的黑貓，便朝它走過去，撫摸它。它大極了——和普路託過去一樣大，而且看上去也很像普路託。不相像的只有一處。普路託是通體烏黑的，但這隻貓前胸有一塊白斑。

我撫摸著那貓，它立即挨著我的腿躺倒，似乎對我非常友善的樣子。我當即斷定，這就是我夢寐以求的那隻貓。我向酒吧老闆提出付他一些錢買下這隻貓，但他說這隻貓並不屬於他，實際上，他根本不知道它是從什麼地方跑來的。

於是我把貓帶回了家。我妻子一下子就喜歡上了它，打那天起，它便和我們待在一起。可是沒多久——我不知是何緣故——這隻貓開始惹我生氣了，而且，時間一長，我便開始對它深惡痛絕。我並沒怎麼折磨它，不過我總是儘量避開它，巴不得離得越遠越好。

我知道有一個原因，可以解釋我為何如此厭惡這隻貓。就在我把它帶回家的第二天早上，我看到，像普路託一樣，它也丟掉了一隻眼睛。我的妻子像過去的我一樣是個善良、溫柔的人，她因為貓的這次不幸反而更加憐愛它了。但這隻貓並不喜歡我妻子，它只依戀我一個人。

每次我一坐下，它就要跳到我膝蓋上；我一走出房間，它就竄出來跑到我前面，走在我兩腳中間，或是爬到我的腿上。每逢這種時刻，我就想殺了它。但我沒有下手，因為我太害怕了——害怕這隻貓，尤其害怕它胸前的那塊白斑。

這個斑塊我在前面提到過。一開始，它並沒有什麼奇怪之處，不過是塊白斑而已。但是慢慢地，這個斑塊在長大、變形，最終清晰地顯露出一樣可怕的、恐怖的東西的形狀——在這牢房之中，我很難寫下那個字眼。那是個絞刑架的形狀！是的，正是他們用絞索套住脖子將人吊死在上面的那種恐怖的木頭架子！

隨著每一個日子過去，我的恐懼感一增再增。我，一個男人，一個強健的男子漢，竟然到了害怕一隻貓的地步！我為什麼要這樣心驚膽寒，這樣被一隻愚蠢的畜生搞得六神無主？白天黑夜，我都不得安寧。我總做些最可怕的噩夢，腦子裡盡是些陰暗、邪惡的念頭。我憎恨一切事，憎恨所有人——也憎恨生活本身。

有一天，我和我妻子需要到房子下面的地窖裡去取點東西，那隻貓也跟著我們下了臺階，並且一個箭步躥到了我前頭，害得我差點兒摔了個嘴啃泥。我氣得發瘋，抄起一柄斧頭就想劈死這畜生，可是，我妻子拽住我的胳膊，要阻止我。這時，怒火在我心中爆發，我轉過身，將斧頭深深劈進了她的腦袋。她一聲沒哼，登時倒在地上斷了氣。

幹完了這樁恐怖的殺人勾當，我鎮定自若地謀劃起匿屍滅跡的事來。我知道，無論白天還是黑夜，我都不能把屍首運出這房子，因為那樣做會讓鄰居瞧見。所以我只好想些別的法子……我可以把屍體切成極小的碎塊，扔到火裡燒掉。我可以把屍體藏在地板下面。我還可以把屍體裝到箱子裡，再請人將箱子搬走……最後，我想出了一個更好的主意。我決定將屍體藏在地窖牆壁的背後。

我馬上就知道應該選擇哪一面牆了。地窖裡有一面牆是圍著一個廢棄不用的舊煙囪底座砌起來的，它的正面和背面都壘著磚頭，但中間部分卻是空的。我馬上動手開幹。我從正面牆上拆下一些磚塊，小心翼翼地將屍體貼著後面的牆放好，然後把磚塊砌回去，再用灰泥將磚牆抹平。我把灰泥抹得使它看上去不像是新的，過不多久這面牆就和其他幾面看著一模一樣了。我忙活完，望著牆上的灰泥，高興地自言自語道：“我還從沒幹過這麼漂亮的活計呢！”

然後我四下裡找那隻貓，要殺了它。它給我的生活帶來了太多的不幸，所以，現在它也必須去見閻王爺。我找遍了每一個角落，但是它已無影無蹤了。我終於自由了！當天夜裡，我太太平平地酣睡了一場——我，一個剛剛殺害了自己愛妻的傢伙，居然睡了個好覺！

三天過去了，那隻貓仍然沒有出現。我現在快樂極了，是很久以來最快樂的時候。我對自己犯下的罪行並不擔心。人們來問了幾個問題，警察也到我家來過了，但他們什麼也沒有發現。

第四天，警察又來了，並且開始進行搜查。他們查看了每一個房間，然後下臺階來到地窖裡面。我陪著他們，心裡感到非常平靜和安全，一直冷眼旁觀他們檢查每一個角落。他們沒有找到任何東西，似乎相當高興，並且準備離開了。我滿心歡喜。我確信自己是安全的，但又想說點什麼，哪怕是一兩句話，就為了表示一下我是多麼滿不在乎、清白無辜。

“先生們，”我開口道，“你們在這裡沒有找到任何東西，現在又要離開這幢房子了，我很高興……不過我要給你們看樣東西，先生們。你們看見沒有，這房子建得有多麼好？你們會注意到，這幾堵牆結實極了。”我一面說著這話，一面用根棍子敲打著牆壁——正是我藏匿妻子屍體的那面牆！

就在那一刻，我們聽見了一個聲音。這聲音很古怪，同我以前聽到過的聲音都大不一樣。它開始時很輕，幾乎像是一個嬰兒的哭聲；然後就升得越來越高，轉而成為一聲沒完沒了的長嘯，彷彿從地獄中響起的哀號。

警察們一齊望著我，又彼此看了看。他們奔到牆邊，開始拼命將磚塊飛快地向外扒。幾分鐘不到，磚牆扒倒了；那裡赫然便是我那亡妻的屍首。在她的頭頂上蹲著那隻黑貓，張開血盆大口，一隻獨眼裡燃燒著鬼火——這畜生誘使我犯下了殺人罪，現在又要送我去見閻王了。

我把這可怕的東西，同我妻子一起，活活砌到牆裡去了！

■ The Masque of the Red Death

The Red Death had been in the country for many，many years．No disease had ever been so deadly．People called it the Red Death because it left blood，red horrible blood，on the body and face of each person it visited．And no one，if visited，was ever left alive．Once a person was touched by the Red Death，he immediately felt pains，and soon afterwards started to bleed from every part of his body．in thirty minutes he was dead．After that no one，not even his family，went near the blood-covered body．

Everybody was afraid of the Red Death-everybody except the fearless Prince Prospero．He refused to be troubled by it．Although half the people of his country had already died from this terrible disease，he continued to enjoy life to the full．One day he decided to invite a thousand of his strong and brave friends to stay with him in one of his castles，far out in the countryside．There the Red Death would not be able to touch them．

It was a huge and extraordinary castle，built to Prince Prospero's own plan．It had strong high walls and great gates of heavy metal．Now when the Prince and his friends arrived at the castle gates they went inside，locked the gates carefully and threw away the keys．In that way no one would be able to enter or escape．They were all there together，far away from the Red Death．Now they could forget the world outside and think only of themselves．They had everything they needed to amuse themselves，because the Prince had forgotten nothing．He had brought in food and wine，actors，musicians，and dancers．All of this，and life itself，was inside the castle．Outside lay the Red Death．

Towards the end of the fifth or sixth month，while the Red Death was at its most deadly outside，the Prince gave a wonderful masked ball for his friends．It was a wild and wonderful ball，but first let me tell you about the rooms in which he gave the ball．There were seven rooms in all．In most castles，of course，the rooms for great parties or dances join each other end to end．In this way，when the doors at the end of each room are opened，the seven rooms become one huge room，and you can see from the first room right through to the last one．In Prospero's castle，it was different．Each room turned suddenly round a corner into the next，so if you were standing in one room it was impossible to see into the other rooms．

In the middle of each wall，on the right and left，there was a tall，narrow window opening onto the closed passage which ran along beside all seven rooms．Each window was made of different coloured glass，and the colour of the glass was the same as the colour of the room that it opened onto．The first room，for example，was blue，and so its windows were also a deep blue．The second room was purple，and so the windows，too，were purple．The third was green，with green windows，the fourth orange，the fifth white，and the sixth violet．The seventh room was black．Its walls were black，its thick，heavy carpet was also black．But its windows were red-a deep blood－red．

There were no candles in any of the rooms．The only light came from fires，in hanging metal baskets，which were in the passages outside the rooms．Each fire was opposite a window，and so the light from the fire shone through the coloured glass and filled each room with strange and fantastic shadows．But in the black room the firelight that shone through the blood-red window changed the room into something too horrible to describe．In that strange light，faces became wild and frightening，and few people were brave enough to enter the room at all．

In this room，against the farthest wall，stood a huge black clock Every hour it chimed loud and deep and clear，filling the castle with its long，gloomy sound．And while the clock chimed，the musicians stopped playing and even the wildest dancers stood still，in silence and fear，listening to the passing of another hour hour…But when the chiming stopped，people looked at each other and laughed，trying hard to pretend that they had not been frightened．Happiness came into the castle again，until the clock chimed the passing of the next hour，and the same fear returned．

Prince Prospero's ball，although given in these strange rooms，was wild and happy．The Prince had planned every-thing-the colours，the paintings on the walls，even the cloaks and masks worn by each one of his friends．He had chosen all the clothes with the greatest of care，putting together the beautiful and the ugly，the strange and the fantastic，the surprising and the frightening．

Each man and woman was dressed like a terrible dream．And in and out of the rooms these dreams walked and danced，their clothes changing colour each time they entered a different room．But no one was brave enough now to enter the black room．As the night passed and the fires burned brighter，the colours and shapes in this room became more horrible than ever．The black carpet and walls seemed full of gloom，and the deep chimes of the black clock sounded even more frightening．

But the other six rooms were full of life and pleasure．People were dancing and singing，talking and laughing，and the wild noise of a thousand happy men and women rang through the castle．Then came the hour of midnight，and once again dancers and musicians became still and silent，as the clock slowly rang the twelve long chimes of midnight．And because the twelve chimes took a long time to ring，each person had more time to think，and feel uncomfortable．They also had time，before the last chime had sounded，to notice a masked figure who had not been there before．The first person who saw the stranger told the next person，who told another，and in a few minutes a cry of fear and horror rose up from the crowd．

Now you will remember that everyone at the ball was wearing strange cloaks and masks，which belonged more to the world of dreams and wild imagination than to everyday life．So why，you may ask，this horror，and this fear？But even in the cruellest heart there are some fears too terrible to laugh at The tall thin figure of the stranger was dressed from head to foot in the white clothes of the dead．And the mask over the face was frighteningly real-it was the face of a dead man．Worse still，the face and the body were covered with red，horrible blood！Here，in the middle of all that dancing and happiness was a living picture of the Red Death！

When Prince Prospero saw the masked stranger，his face became white with fear．Then his fear turned to anger and he shouted out，‘Who is that？Who is mad enough to play games with us，and with death，in this way？Take hold of him，and pull off his mask．I want to see the face of the man who，tomorrow，will hang from the castle roof．’

The Prince was in the blue room as he said these words．They rang loudly and clearly through the seven rooms．Many of the Prince's friends started to run towards the masked figure，but they were all too frightened to touch him．With slow and silent steps，the stranger walked slowly towards the Prince，passing very near to him．Then he continued walking，and went from the blue room into the purple one，from the purple into the green，and then into the orange room，the white room and then the violet room．No one tried to stop him．

Then Prince Prospero，mad with anger，hurried through the six rooms，with a sword in his hand．As the masked figure entered the black room，the Prince was close behind him，hold-ing his sword up high．At that moment the stranger turned suddenly to look at the Prince． There was a loud cry-and the sword fell upon the black carpet，followed by the dead body of the fearless Prince Prospero． At once a crowd of people ran into the black room and took hold of the masked stranger．He was standing very still，in the shadow of the black clock．Angrily， they pulled away the clothes and the mask，but then they backed away in horror，because inside the clothes and mask they found-nothing．

And now each person in the castle understood that the Red Death was there， among them． It had come like a thief in the night．And one by one they fell down dead．And the black clock stopped ringing with the death of the last person．And the fires also died away．And the only things left in the castle were Darkness and the Red Death．

■ 紅死魔假面舞會

紅死病已在國內肆虐很多、很多個年頭了，還不曾有過哪種疾病是如此致命的。人們稱之為紅死病，是因為它每降臨到一個人頭上，那人的面部和身體就會出血，就會流出恐怖的、殷紅的鮮血；還有，罹病之人無一得以倖存人世。一旦某個人遭到了紅死魔的觸摸，他就會立即感到疼痛，此後不久身體各處開始出血，三十分鐘之內準會喪命。然後，所有人，哪怕是他的家人，都不敢靠近那鮮血淋漓的屍體。

人人懼怕紅死病——只有無畏的普洛斯佩羅親王是個例外。他拒絕為此所困擾。儘管在他的國家裡已有半數民眾被這可怕的疾病奪去了生命，他仍然繼續充分地享受生活。一天，他決定邀請一千位健壯、勇敢的朋友同他一道去他遠在鄉間的一座城堡居住。在那裡，紅死魔對他們將無計可施。

這座城堡規模宏大，非同凡響，是按照普洛斯佩羅親王親自設計的藍圖建造的，它有著巍然高聳的堅固城牆以及沉甸甸的金屬大門。現在，親王和他的朋友們來到城堡的大門前；他們進入城堡，仔細地鎖好大門，然後將鑰匙扔掉。這樣一來，就沒有一個人能夠進入或是逃走了；他們都在一起，遠遠地避開紅死魔，並且得以忘掉外面的世界，僅僅關注他們自己。供自己取樂用的東西他們樣樣都有，因為親王什麼都沒忘了帶。他帶來了食物、美酒、演員、樂師和舞者。所有這一切，再加上生命本身，均處於城堡內部；城堡外面則是紅死病的天下。

到了第五或第六個月的末尾，外面正是紅死病最為猖獗的時候，親王卻舉辦了一個盛大的假面舞會招待他的朋友們。舞會開得熱烈奔放、精彩絕倫，不過首先讓我來向諸位介紹一下舉辦舞會的場地。總共有七間屋子。當然，在大多數城堡裡，舉行大型宴會或舞會的房間都是彼此銜接、首尾相連的。按照這種佈局，每一間屋子兩端的門一開，七間屋子就會變成一個大房間，你可以從第一間屋子徑直望見最後一間。然而在普洛斯佩羅的城堡裡，情形就有所不同了，每一個房間要繞過一個拐角才突然轉而成為下一個房間。這樣，如果你站在其中一個房間裡，你是不可能望見其他幾個房間的。

在每間屋子左右兩面牆的中部，各開著一扇又高又窄的窗戶，窗外是一個封閉的走廊，它在全部七個房間旁邊經過。每扇窗戶都鑲著不同顏色的玻璃，而玻璃的顏色又同窗戶所處的房間的色調相一致。比如，第一個房間是藍色的，所以它的兩扇窗戶都是深藍色的；第二個房間是紫色的，它的窗戶也就是紫色的；第三個房間是綠色的，安著綠窗戶；第四個為橙黃色；第五個為白色；第六個為紫羅蘭色。第七個房間是黑色的，四壁塗成黑色，又厚又重的地毯也是黑色的；然而這間屋子的窗戶卻是紅色的——一種深濃的血紅。

哪間屋子裡都是不點蠟燭的。唯有的光亮來自屋子外面走廊裡掛著的金屬吊籃中燃著的火焰。每一團火焰正對著一扇窗戶，於是火光透過彩色玻璃映射進來，使每一間屋子都佈滿古怪、奇異的影子。可是，那間黑色屋子在透過血紅色窗戶投射進來的火光映照下卻變得難以形容地恐怖瘮人。在那怪異的光芒中，一張張面孔顯得又瘋狂又可怖；根本就沒有幾個人膽大得敢走進那間屋子。

在這間屋子裡，靠著最遠處那面牆立著一座黑色的大鐘，每到整點便以洪亮、深沉、清晰的聲音報時，讓那悠長、陰森的轟鳴響徹整個城堡。每當大鐘報時，樂師們便停止演奏音樂，就連最狂熱的舞者也要呆呆地站定，一聲不吭、滿心恐懼地諦聽著又一個鐘頭的流逝……但是一旦報時結束，人們便彼此相視大笑，盡力裝出一副根本沒有受到驚嚇的樣子。歡樂再一次降臨到城堡之中，直到大鐘宣佈下一個鐘頭逝去的時候，相同的恐懼才會回到他們心裡。

普洛斯佩羅親王的舞會盡管是在這樣幾間希奇佔怪的屋子中舉行的，卻開得甚為無法無天、恣情縱欲。親王籌劃了一切——房間的色彩，牆上掛的圖畫，甚至供每一位朋友穿戴的斗篷和麵具都準備好了。他盡最大努力精心挑選了所有的衣裝，集美與醜、荒誕不經與異想天開、別出心裁與怵目驚心於一體襄此盛舉。

男男女女們裝扮得好似一個個噩夢，這些噩夢在一間間屋子中進進出出，走動著，跳著舞，每走進一間色調不同的屋子，身上的衣服就變換一次顏色。但現在沒有一個人膽敢走進那間黑色的屋子了。夜一點點過去，火焰燃燒得更亮了，映得這間屋子裡的色彩與怪影比以往更為恐怖。黑黢黢的地毯和四壁看上去極為陰森，那黑色大鐘深沉的報時聲聽起來更加令人毛骨悚然。

不過另外六間屋子裡面則是生機盎然，一片笑語歡聲。人們唱啊跳啊，說啊笑啊，一千名快樂的男男女女縱情狂歡的嘈雜聲在城堡中迴盪著。然後午夜的時刻到來了，跳舞者與樂師們再一次變得安安靜靜、一語不發，聽著大鐘緩緩地發出午夜的十二聲悠長的轟鳴。由於這十二下報時的鐘聲用了很久才打完，每一個人便有了更多的時間陷入沉思，感到不安。他們同樣有時間在最後一下報時鐘聲鳴響之前注意到一個先前並不在場的戴面具的形象。第一個看到這陌生人的人告訴了第二個人，第二個又告訴了第三個，就這樣，幾分鐘不到，人群中響起了一陣驚恐萬狀的叫聲。

現在諸位會記起，參加舞會的每一個人都是穿戴著千奇百怪的斗篷和麵具的，而這些裝束在日常生活中並不常見，它們更多地屬於一個夢幻與狂想的世界。那麼，諸位會問了，又何必驚慌、何必害怕呢？話雖這麼說，但即便是在最殘忍無情的人心裡，也埋藏著可怕得難以一笑置之的恐懼。那個身量又高又瘦的陌生人從頭到腳穿著死人穿的白色壽袍，臉上戴的面具令人生畏地逼真——那是一張死人的臉。更糟糕的是，他的臉上和身體上佈滿了猩紅、駭人的鮮血！眼下，在歌舞昇平和歡聲笑語中間竟然出了個紅死魔的活生生的化身！

普洛斯佩羅親王一看見那戴面具的不速之客，便嚇得臉色慘白。接著，他的驚恐又變成了憤怒；他嚷道：“那是什麼人？什麼人竟然如此喪心病狂，拿死亡跟我們開這種玩笑？把他抓起來，撕掉他的面具。我要看看這傢伙的臉，明天再把他吊死在城堡的頂上。”

親王說這番話的時候正站在藍色的房間裡，聲音洪亮而清晰地響徹七個房間。親王的好多朋友抬腿向那戴面具之人奔去，但他們都怕得厲害，不敢動他。那陌生人一言不發，邁著不慌不忙的步子朝親王緩緩走去，緊挨著走過他身旁之後，又繼續踱著步子從藍色房間進了紫色房間，從紫色房間進了綠色房間，然後依次進了橙黃色房間、白色房間和紫羅蘭色房間。沒有人敢於阻止他。

這時，普洛斯佩羅親王氣得發瘋，急忙手執一柄寶劍穿過六個房間趕來。當那戴面具之人走進黑色房間時，親王趕到他身後，將寶劍高高舉起。就在這一刻，那陌生人突然轉過身來，緊盯著親王。只聽得一聲慘叫——那柄寶劍掉落在黑色的地毯上，緊接著倒下來的是無畏的普洛斯佩羅親王的屍體。

一群人立即衝進黑色房間，抓住了那個戴面具的不速之客。他正一動不動地站在黑色大鐘的陰影裡。人們憤怒地扯掉了袍子和麵具，但是他們接著又恐懼地退了回去，因為他們在袍子和麵具下面沒有找到任何東西。

至此，城堡裡的每一個人都明白了，紅死魔已經到來，就在他們中間；他像個盜賊一樣於深夜溜了進來。於是，人們一個接一個地倒地身亡，當最後一個人死掉時，那座黑色大鐘也停止了鳴響。火焰也歸於寂滅。城堡中只餘下黑暗和紅死魔，此外別無一物。

■ William Wilson

william Wilson is not my name．But I shall use it in this story because my real name is too well known， too hated in every corner of the world． My evil crimes have made sure of that．And as the day of my death comes nearer，I feel the need to write， to explain to you how my life of crime began.

Most men become evil slowly．They start with little crimes and then move on to bigger ones．But I am different．I moved into real crime with just one big step．Has any man lived a life as evil as mine？ But now， the shadow of death fills me with fear；day and night I have the most terrible dreams．Perhaps someone， somewhere， will feel sorry for me．Listen to my story… I was a wild and excitable child．My parents worried about me and often tried to punish me， but they never succeeded in changing me．I refused to obey them and I never followed any orders that they gave me．I wanted to be free so I listened only to myself．The first school that I can remember was a large and very old house in a small， quiet English village．As I write，I can sill feel the coolness of the shadowy gardens near the house． I can smell the sweetness of the flowers and hear the deep sound of the church bells as they rang every hour. These feelings give me some moments of happiness as I sit here in black misery， waiting for death．In fact，it is here，in this school，that my story really begins… The school building was large and dd．The big gardens were closed in by a high wall，with broken glass at the top，just like a prison．We only went out three times a week．On Saturday afternoons we took a walk in some fields near the school，under the watchful eye of one of our teachers．On Sundays we went out twice，morning and evening，to go to the village church．

I was not bored or unhappy during my life at school．Children can amuse themselves very easily，and in my imagination，I lived an exciting life，full of mystery and interest．But in the real world，the days were always the same-we woke up and went to bed，we walked in the fields and played in the play-ground…The playground was，indeed，a very special place．It was a place where friends were made and lost，a place always full of trouble and excitement．

I was the kind of boy who liked to give orders，not to take them．I always wanted to win every game，every fight，and to be first in everything．All the other boys，even those a bit older than myself，were happy to follow and obey me．All，that is，except one．His name was the same as mine，so I shall call him William William，too．We were not from the same family，but we both had the same name．This was not surprising because my name was not an unusual one．

This William Wilson refused to obey me．He argued with me， both in class and in the playground，and tried to stop the other boys from following me．Actually，I think I was the only boy who realized what he was doing．He did everything very cleverly and silently， and in this way nobody really noticed it．But I-I noticed what he did，and I was frightened by it．I was afraid that Wilson was stronger than I was．I became worried and angry when I saw the other boys follow him instead of me．But Wilson was always cool and calm．Nothing ever troubled him．He seemed to want one thing only-to see me fright-ened and unhappy．But at the same time I sometimes noticed that he showed a friendliness towards me-which was most unwelcome to me．It is difficult for me to describe my feelings towards Wilson．I didn't hate him，but neither did I like him．I think that，more than anything，I felt afraid of him．At the same time I wanted to know more about him．I wanted to find something that frightened or worried him．But I could find nothing．There was nothing strange in the way he looked or walked．Nothing，that is，except for one thing-his voice．His voice was strange．When he spoke，he could never speak loudly．In fact， he never spoke above a whisper．

Wilson was quick to find the one thing that I really did not like．It was my name．Although I come from an old and famous family，my name is a very everyday one．It could belong to any unimportant workman．I had always hated my name， but now I hated it even more because both of us had the same name．I heard it twice as often．And there was something that worried me even more deeply．We seemed to look alike as well．We were as tall as one another，we were both thin，and even our faces were alike．Because our names were the same，I knew that the older boys thought that we were brothers， but nobody seemed to notice that we looked alike．But Wilson noticed it and he also saw that I was angry about it．Nothing ever escaped him．He always knew my deepest feelings．After a while he started to dress like me，and even to walk like me．Luckily，he could not speak like me when I spoke loudly，but when I spoke in a whisper，his whisper was just like mine．All these things troubled me deeply．I could see that Wilson enjoyed making me angry，and he used to laugh at me secretly．Strangely， the other boys never noticed how he made fun of me，and copied me in every way．I was the only one who noticed it.

Very often he used to give me advice，telling me quietly what I should do or what I should say．I hated him even more when he did this．Today，of course， I realize that his advice was always very good and sensible．What a pity that I never followed it！

As time went by，I became more and more angry with him．Why should he，or anyone， give me advice？My feelings towards him changed and I actually began to hate him．He noticed this and tried not to come near me so much．

One day，towards the end of my fifth year at school we had a violent argument．While we were arguing， he showed his feelings more openly than usual，and a very strange idea came into my mind．I thought-how can I describe it？-I thought just for a second or two that I had known him before，a long，long time ago，when we were very young children．It was，as I say，a strange and very stupid idea，and I forgot it as quickly as I could.

But that night，when every one was asleep，I got out of bed．Then I walked through the dark building，with a small lantern in my hands，until I reached Wilson's room．I left the lantern outside and went near to his bed．Yes，he was a sleep．I returned to get my lantern and went back to his bed．I had planned to do something cruel to him while he slept．But as I looked at the sleeping boy，my heart beat faster and I was filled with fear．Was this really what William Wilson looked like？ Did he look just the same when he was awake？I knew that he was as tall as I was．I knew，too，that he walked like me and talked like me，and copied me in every way that he could．But was it possible that the person in that bed looked so like me in every way？I began to shake with fear，and my body turned ice-cold．Surely he couldn't look like this！Was I really looking at a boy who was not just a copy of me，but…

I was more frightened than I had ever been in my life．I went silently out of his room，left the school building and never returned there again． After several lazy months at home，I was sent to Eton，one of the most famous English bys' schools．There，I soon forgot William Wilson and the strange fears I had felt．If I thought about them at all， I used to laugh at myself． My life at Eton lasted for three wild and evil years．I learnt to be clever and secret，and was interested only in new ways of amusing myself．I chose the worst kind of students for my friends，and spent all my time in evil enjoyment．One night，when I was in my third year，I invited some students to a party in my rooms．We drank and played cards all through the night．As well as the wine， we had other， perhaps more dangerous，Pleasures．As the first morning light started to appear，I suggested a new evil amusement． Then I noticed that somebody was opening my door and I heard a servant's voice， ‘There's somebody outside who wants to speak to you，sir．He seems to be in a hurry．’

I walked， with difficulty， to the hall， as I was feeling very drunk with the wine．It was still too dark to see clearly，but I could just see the shape of a young man．He was as tall as I was， and was wearing the same clothes as myself． I could not see his face．

He came up to me and whispered the words‘William Wilson！’ in my ear．I knew the voice at once．It was impossible to mistake it．Those two words were enough to fill me with fear．Before I could look into his face， he had disappeared． The meeting only lasted a few seconds， but for some weeks I could not forget it．I thought of it all the time．Who and what was this william Wilson？ Where did he come from？ What did he want from me？My questions stayed unanswered， but I did discover one thing．I learnt that William Wilson had left my last school on the same day that I myself had run away from it． Soon I forgot about him again，and not long afterwards I went up to Oxford University．My parents were not sensible people and they always gave me a lot of money．I was able to live a fashionable， expensive life， and to choose as my friends the sons of the richest families of England．There was nothing at all to stop me now．I spent my money wildly， and passed my days and nights in dangerous and exciting pleasures． At Oxford I spent a lot of my time gambling．I became，in fact，a most clever and successful gambler-no better than a thief．I played cards in order to win money from the other students and become even richer．Of course， I was careful to play only with students who were bad at playing cards．In this way I could be sure of winning every time．My friends were not clever enough to see what I was doing．

In my second year at University I met a new student called Glendinning．He came from an old English family and was one of the richest students in the university．I soon realized that he was very unintelligent and because of this he was，of course，a very suitable person for me to gamble with！I started to play cards with him often，and for some time I made sure that he always won.

At last I decided that the time was right and I made my plans carefully．I met Glendinning at the rooms of a friend of mine，a Mr．Preston（who had no idea of my secret plan）．Eight or ten other friends were also invited．In this way Glendinning had no idea that I planned to gamble with him that evening．In fact，at the party，it was he who first suggested playing cards.

We played for many long hours．In the end，by my careful plan，I was playing alone against Glendinning，while the others watched our game．Glendinning had drunk a lot of wine during the evening and his hands were beginning to shake a little-from fear or from the wine，I wasn't sure．He had already lost a large amount of money．Then he did what I had hoped for．He took another long drink of wine and said， ‘Let's double the stakes.’Beginners always think they can win back what they have lost in this way.

At first I pretended to refuse．Then he became angry，so，naturally，I had to agree．My plan was working excellently．We continued playing，and in less than an hour my winnings were four times as big．Glendinning's face was now as white as a sheet．Everyone around the table started talking， and to my surprise I heard the words，‘That's the end of Glendinning．He's just lost everything he had！’

I had heard that Glendinning was very rich indeed-rich enough to lose a lot of money and not to worry about it．Now，I understood from the whispers around the table，that this was not true．I had，in fact，won everything he owned，and so destroyed him．Nobody spoke．Glendinning had covered his face with his hands and everyone clearly felt very sorry for him．Even I began to feel a little worried，and wondered what I should do.

As we stood in silence，the doors suddenly opened and a strong wind filled the room．It blew out all the candles in the room and we were left in darkness．But in the few seconds before the candles went out，we noticed that a man had entered the room．He was about as tall as I was，and his face and body were hidden by a long cloak．As we stood in the darkness，we could feel him standing in the room．

Then he began to speak．He spoke in a whisper，and his voice filled me with fear．‘Gentlemen，’he said.‘I am here because I have something important to tell you．I am afraid that you do not really know the man who has just won so much money from Glendinning．Let me tell you how to learn more about him．Please look very carefully inside his left sleeve and at the several little packets inside the large pockets of his jacket．’Immediately after these words he left the room，as silently as he had entered it.

That moment was one of the worst moments of my life．I had no time to do anything．My friends fell on me angrily，lit the candles again，and searched my clothes．They found the single cards hidden carefully inside my left sleeve，and in my pockets they discovered the packets of special cards which helped me to win every game I played．

My friends stood around me in a circle and looked at me in silence．Mr．Preston then picked up a cloak from the floor．‘Mr．Wilson，’he said．‘Here is your cloak． You will，I hope，leave my room，and then leave Oxford immediately．’

I wanted to hit him，but something stopped me．It was the cloak that Preston was holding in his hands．Although it looked like my cloak，I knew that it wasn't，because my own cloak was already over my left arm．It was a very unusual and expensive cloak，which a shop had made specially for me．How was it possible that there was now another cloak just like it？

I thought back to the moment when the stranger had come into the room．Yes，he had been wearing a cloak too… Full of fear，I quickly took the cloak from Mr．Preston and left the room．The next morning I left Oxford and escaped to Europe．I was now known to be a cheat at cards and every door in England would be closed against me．

But bad luck travelled with me．In fact I soon realized that my troubles at Oxford had been only the beginning… Soon after I arrived in Paris，I met William Wilson again．There，too，he destroyed my evil hopes．Everywhere I went， year after year，he appeared like a ghost and came between me and my plans．In Rome he stopped me from getting what I wanted．In Vienna，too-in Berlin，and even in Moscow！Wasn't there anywhere where I could be left alone？I went from city to city，trying to escape from him．But I couldn't feel free．I couldn't be alone．He followed me everywhere． Again and again I used to ask myself these questions．‘Who is he？Where does he come from？What does he want from me？’But I could find no answer．I thought deeply about all the times when I had seen him．In every city，I realized，Wilson had done the same thing．He had not stopped my plans all the time，but only when they were evil and dangerous，either to others or to myself．I understood all this，but still I was very angry．Why couldn't Wilson leave me alone？ Why couldn't he let me live in the way I wanted to？

I realized another thing too．Every time Wilson appeared，he had never let me see his face．I had always noticed his clothes．It was difficult not to notice them because they were always the same as mine．But he kept his face hidden from me．Why did he do this？Did he really think that I was so stupid？Did he think I hadn't realized who he was？The man who followed me everywhere and destroyed my plans again and again was the same William Wilson of my schooldays！But let me continue with my story．

Until now I had felt afraid of Wilson and had obeyed him．The mystery of his sudden arrivals， his cleverness， his deep understanding of me-all these things filled me with fear．I always obeyed him，although I hated myself for doing it．But recently I had become a very heavy drinker．Wine made me feel brave and strong，able to fight anybody who tried to stop me．At the same time I began to think that Wilson was becoming weaker．Was this really happening or was it just a dream？ I cannot tell，but I do know that my own feelings were becoming more and more violent．I began to feel a burning hope-soon I would break free from this terrible enemy and never take his orders again．

One evening，in 18-，I was in Rome and was invited to a big party in the palace of Duke Di Broglio．The Duke was old and boring，but his wife was young and beautiful，and not very sensible．I had evil plans for her．She and I had agreed to meet，during the party， in a quiet room where we could be alone．

As I walked from room to room looking for her in the crowds，I suddenly felt a hand touch my arm．Then I heard a whisper in my ears．Angrily I turned round and saw a man．He was wearing the same clothes as I was，but his face was covered with a black mask．I caught him by his arm．‘Stop！’I shouted．‘I have had enough trouble from you！This is the last time you'll follow me anywhere！Come with me now into the next room．If you don't，I shall kill you right now，here where you stand！’ I took him into a small room nearby and pushed him violently to the floor．He got to his feet shakily， and stood up against the wall．I then closed the door and ordered him to fight．For a second he did not move．Then he silently took out his swood．

It was a short fight．I was wild and excited and felt stronger than I had ever felt before．After only a few seconds I pushed him against the wall and plunged my sword into his body again and again．

At that moment somebody tried to open the door．I ran to check that the door was locked and then ran back towards my enemy． How can I describe what I saw at that moment？During those few seconds when I had turned to the door，the room had become strangely different．There was now a large mirror at the end of the room．I was sure that it had not been there before．As I stepped up to the mirror，I saw myself，walking forward shakily，my face white and covered with blood．

Or so I thought．But I was wrong．It was my enemy，Wilson，who stood before me in his last moments of life．His mask and cloak lay on the floor．His face was now uncovered．And I saw，in terror，that his face was my own！

Then Wilson spoke，but no longer in a whisper，and I thought I heard my own voice speaking as he said： ‘You have won，and I have lost．But from this moment you，too，are dead-dead to the world，to Heaven，and to hope！You lived in me-and，in my death，look in my face，which is your own，and see how you have murdered yourself．’

■ 威廉·威爾遜

威廉·威爾遜並不是我的名字，但我將在這個故事中使用它，因為我的真名實姓早已在世界上每一個角落廣為人知、深受憎惡了。我所犯下的邪惡罪行確保了這一點。由於我的死期正一天天臨近，我覺得有必要訴諸筆墨，向諸位解釋一下我的犯罪生涯是如何開始的。

人們走向墮落大都是一步步地來，開始時犯些小過錯，接下來罪行便愈犯愈大。但我的情形完全不同。我只消邁上一大步便墮入了真正的罪惡深淵。曾經有人像我一樣經歷過如此邪惡的一生嗎？可是現在，死亡的陰影使我的內心充滿了恐懼，我沒日沒夜地做最可怕的噩夢。也許在某個地方有某個人會為我感到難過。請聽我的故事……

我小時候是個野性十足、容易激動的孩子，我父母很為我操心，總想懲罰我，但他們從未成功地令我有所改變。我拒不服從他們，從不照著他們給我的指令去做。我一心想自由自在地生活，於是幹什麼都是我行我素。

我記得我上的第一所學校是位於英格蘭一座僻靜的小村莊中的一棟非常古舊的大房子。我現在一邊寫，一邊還能感覺到房子旁邊那幽暗的花園裡的絲絲涼意，還能嗅到花朵的芬芳，聽到每當整點時便敲響的深沉的教堂鐘聲。

當我無比悽慘地在這裡坐以待斃的時候，這些感覺給了我片刻的歡悅。事實上，我的故事就是從這裡、從這所學校真正開始的……

學校的校舍規模宏大，年代久遠。大大的花園被一道高牆緊緊圍住，牆頭還插著碎玻璃片，活像一座監獄。我們一個星期只能出去三次。到了星期六下午，我們要在一位老師的密切監視下去學校附近的田野裡散一圈步。星期天我們能出去兩次，早一次晚一次，都是去村裡的教堂。

我的讀書生涯並未令我感到厭煩和不快，孩子們總是能夠很輕易地找到自我娛樂的法子。在我的想像中，我過著一種激動人心的生活，生活中充滿了神祕和有趣的事情；但是在真實的世界中，一個個日子總是千篇一律——我們醒來，睡去，去田野裡散步，在操場上玩耍……說實在的，操場可真是一個非常特別的地方。這是個交到朋友、失去朋友的地方，是個總是充滿了麻煩和騷動的地方。

我是那種喜歡對別人發號施令、而不喜歡聽人家指揮的男孩，總是想贏得每一場遊戲、每一場爭鬥，想在任何一件事上當老大。所有其他男孩，甚至那些比我稍微大一點的，都樂於追隨我，服從我。所有人都如此，只是有一個人除外。他的名字和我的一模一樣，所以我將同樣把他也稱為威廉·威爾遜。我們倆並不是來自同一個家庭，但都叫同一個名字。這沒什麼可奇怪的，因為我的名字又不是那麼不常見。

這個威廉·威爾遜拒絕服從我。他跟我爭執不下，從課堂裡吵到操場上，還試圖阻止其他男孩追隨我。實際上，我想我是唯一一個意識到他在這樣做的男孩。他將每一件事都做得非常巧妙、不動聲色，這樣，就不會有人真正注意到了。然而我——我注意到了他的所作所為，並且因此害怕起來。我真怕威爾遜比我更強大。每當我看見其他男孩撇下我去追隨他，我就變得心急如焚，怒不可遏。但威爾遜總是那樣冷靜、鎮定。什麼都不曾讓他為難。他似乎只需要一件事——看我受驚嚇和悶悶不樂。但與此同時，我注意到，他有時向我作出了友好的表示——這可是最讓我不能接受的。

我很難形容我對威爾遜的感情。我不恨他，但也不喜歡他。我想，最主要的感情是，我害怕他；同時我又想對他有更多的瞭解，以便從中找出一些令他提心吊膽和焦躁不安的東西。但我一無所獲。他的模樣或走路的樣子都沒有什麼古怪之處，但是稱得上特別的有一樣——就是他的聲音。他的聲音很古怪。他開口的時候，從來不能高聲講話。事實上，他的說話聲比耳語也強不了多少。

威爾遜機敏地發現有一件東西是我真正不喜歡的。那就是我的名宇。儘管我出身於聲名顯赫的古老世家，但我的名字卻是個大路貨，它可以歸任何一個微不足道的勞動者所有。我一向憎惡我這名字，但現在對它的深惡痛絕又加深了一層，因為我們兩個用的都是這同一個名字，我現在聽到它的次數成了先前的兩倍。還有一件事情更是令我深為煩惱。我們兩個看上去非常相像，個頭一般高，都很瘦，甚至面容都很相像。我知道因為我們兩個的名字一樣，大一些的男孩子們都以為我們是兄弟，但好像還沒有人注意到我們長相類似。然而，威爾遜注意到了這一點，還看出我對此非常生氣。什麼也逃不過他的眼睛。他總能洞悉我心底隱藏得最深的情感。

過了一陣子，他開始在穿著打扮、甚至走路的步態上模仿我。還好，我高聲講話的時候他模仿不了我，但是，一旦我悄聲低語，他的悄聲低語就同我的惟妙惟肖。

所有這一切都深深困擾著我。我看得出威爾遜為惹我生氣而樂不可支，而且常常在背地裡笑話我。奇怪的是，其他男孩竟然從未覺察到他是如何拿我開玩笑，如何千方百計地模仿我。注意到這一點的只有我一個人。

他非常頻繁地向我提出忠告，輕聲指點我應當怎樣做事，怎樣講話。他這麼做的時候我就更加厭惡他。當然了，時至今日，我認識到這些忠告往往是大有益處、入情入理的。多麼可惜啊，我竟然從未照著去做過！

時光流逝，我對他的怒氣也與日俱增。憑什麼要讓他，或者隨便什麼人，來向我提出告誡？我對他的感情改變了，實際上我已開始憎恨他。他注意到這一點，便儘量不與我過分接近。

我入學校讀書將近五個年頭的時候，有一天，在我們之間爆發了一場激烈的爭吵。在吵架過程中，他比往常更為公開地表達了自己的思想感情，這時，一個非常奇怪的念頭出現在我的頭腦之中。我想——叫我怎麼說呢？——也就那麼一兩秒鐘吧，我想，我是早就認識他的，在很久很久以前、當我們還都是小孩子的時候就認識他了。正如我所說，這是個非常愚蠢的古怪想法，於是我儘可能快地把它忘掉了。

但是當天晚上，每個人都入睡之後，我下了床，然後手持一盞小提燈，穿過黑洞洞的大樓，找到威爾遜的房間。我把提燈留在門外，自己走到他的床邊。是的，他已經睡著了。我轉身拿到提燈，再走回到他床邊。我已經盤算好了在他熟睡時狠狠地整他一下子。但是，我一看見那男孩的睡態，心跳便加快了，而且充滿了恐懼。威廉·威爾遜真地就是這個樣子嗎？他醒著時看上去也是這同一副模樣嗎？我知道他和我一般高。我還知道他像我一樣走路，像我一樣說話，盡其所能千方百計地模仿我。但是要說床上睡著的那人怎麼看都與我酷似，這怎麼可能呢？我開始因恐懼而瑟瑟發抖，渾身上下變得冰冷冰冷的。他絕對不可能是這個樣子！難道我真地是在眼睜睜看著一個男孩，他並不是我的一個什麼複製品，而是……

我害怕極了，這輩子都沒這麼害怕過。我悄沒聲息地溜出他的房間，離開了學校大樓，從此再沒回去過。

在家裡遊手好閒地待了幾個月後，我被送進了伊頓公學，英國最負盛名的男校之一。到了那裡，我不久便將威廉·威爾遜和我曾感受到的恐懼忘掉了。

假如我真要想起他們來，我便總是嘲笑我自己。

我在伊頓公學過了三年狂放不羈、頻頻作惡的生活。我學會了行事機敏、隱祕，僅僅對種種尋歡作樂的新辦法感興趣。我選擇那種最差勁的學生做朋友，把時間全部花在腐化墮落的享樂上面。在我念第三個學年的一天晚上，我邀請一些學生到我的房間裡來聚會，我們通宵喝酒、打牌。除了葡萄酒，我們還另有一些也許更危險的樂趣。當第一道晨光現出時，我建議大家幹一件新的壞事作為消遣。這時，我發現有人在開我的房門，又聽見一個僕人的聲音：“外面有個人要同您講話，先生。他好像急匆匆的。”

因為飲酒過量，我已經醉得不成樣子，費了很大力氣才走到客廳裡。天氣仍然很暗，什麼也看不大清楚，我只能辨出一個年輕人的輪廓來。他和我一般高矮，穿的衣服也同我的一模一樣。我看不清他的面孔。

他向我走來，對著我的耳朵低語道：“威廉·威爾遜！”我立即聽出了這個聲音。那是不可能弄錯的。單是這兩個詞就足以讓我滿心驚懼。還沒等我仔細看看他的臉，他已消失得無影無蹤了。

這次會面僅僅持續了幾秒鐘，但此後的幾個星期都讓我無法忘記。我時時刻刻想著這事。這個威廉·威爾遜是誰，是什麼？他從哪裡來？他想從我這兒得到什麼？我的這些問題一直得不到解答，不過有一件事我搞清楚了。我得知，就在我逃離上一次就讀的那所學校的同一天，威廉·威爾遜也離開了學校。

很快，我再一次忘掉了他；此後不久，我又進了牛津大學。我父母很不明智，他們給了我大量的錢，於是我得以過著入時、奢侈的生活，與英國最富有的家族的子弟交朋友。現在絲毫沒有任何東西來阻止我了。我大肆揮霍錢財，日日夜夜都在冒險的、激動人心的享樂中度過。

在牛津，我將大量時間花在賭博上面。事實上，我已成為一個最為狡猾、成功的賭棍——比一個賊也強不到哪兒去。我跟其他學生玩紙牌，就是為了從他們那裡贏錢，讓自己變得更為富有。當然了，我很小心，總是找那些牌技不佳的學生玩，這樣一來，就能確保每一次都大獲全勝。我的朋友們不夠聰明，看不出我搞的把戲。

上大學二年級的時候，我結識了一個名叫格蘭丁寧的新生，他出身於一個古老的英格蘭世家，是學校裡最有錢的學生之一。我很快發現，此人智力極端低下，正因為如此，他理所當然是我的一個非常合適的賭博對象！我開始經常性地同他一起玩紙牌，而且一段時間裡總是讓他贏。

終於，我認為時機成熟了，便仔細地制定了計劃。我在一位朋友家裡碰見了格蘭丁尼，這位朋友是普雷斯頓先生（他對我的祕密計劃一無所知）。還有八個或十個朋友也應邀來做客，這樣一來，格蘭丁尼就不會想到那天晚上我是早有預謀地要同他賭博了。其實，在那天的聚會中還是他首先提議玩紙牌的呢。

我們拖拖拉拉地玩了好幾個鐘頭，到了最後，在我的精心安排下，牌桌上只剩下我和格蘭丁尼單打獨鬥了，其他人則在一旁觀戰。這一晚上格蘭丁尼喝了不少酒，他的手都微微發抖了——是因為害怕還是因為醉酒，我拿不準。他已經輸掉了一大筆錢。然後，正如我所期望的那樣，他又足足地灌了一大口酒，說道：“咱們把賭注加倍吧。”大凡新手，總是以為他們這麼幹就能把輸掉的錢贏回來。

一開始我假意推三阻四。然後他發起火來，於是，很自然，我只好答應了。我的計劃正在得以順利實施。我們接著玩下去，不到一個鐘頭，我贏的錢數就翻了兩番。格蘭丁尼的臉色這時變得像紙一樣慘白，圍在桌邊的所有人都開始議論紛紛。我聽到的一番話令我大為吃驚：“格蘭丁尼完蛋了。他已經輸掉了全部財產！”

我原來聽說格蘭丁尼其實非常富有——足夠讓他輸掉一大筆錢而又用不著為此著急上火。現在，我從牌桌旁人們的竊竊私語中得知，事實並非如此。實際上，我把他贏了個傾家蕩產，並且就此毀了他。

沒有人說話。格蘭丁尼用雙手捂著臉，大家顯然都為他感到難過。連我都覺得有點不安，不知該怎樣做才好。

我們正默默無語地站著，突然，房門打開了，一股強風吹進了屋子，將屋子中所有的蠟燭都吹滅了，我們便陷入一片黑暗之中。但就在蠟燭熄滅之前幾秒鐘，我們注意到一個人已經進了這間屋子。他大概同我一般高矮，臉和身體都被一領長斗篷遮住了。當我們置身於黑暗之中時，我們能夠感覺到他就站在屋子裡。

然後他開口講話了。他的說話聲宛如耳語，這聲音令我頓時充滿了恐懼。“先生們，”他說道，“我到這兒來是因為有重要的事情要告訴諸位。我恐怕你們並不真正瞭解剛剛從格蘭丁尼手中贏了這樣一大筆錢的那個人。我來告訴你們怎樣進一步摸清他的底細。請十分仔細地查看他左邊衣袖的裡側，還有他上衣大口袋裡面的那幾個小包。”他說完這番話，便立即離開了這間屋子，像他進來時一樣悄無聲息。

那一刻是我一生中經歷過的最糟糕的時刻之一。我沒機會做任何動作了。我的朋友們憤怒地向我撲來，重新點起蠟燭，檢查了我的衣眼。他們發現我的左衣袖裡面小心地藏著些單張的紙牌，又在我的衣袋裡找到幾包特殊的紙牌，這些牌幫助我在玩的每一盤牌戲中取勝。

我的朋友們圍著我站成一圈，一言不發地望著我。然後普雷斯頓先生從地板上拾起一件斗篷。“威爾遜先生，”他說，“這是你的斗篷。我希望你離開我的房間，然後馬上離開牛津。”

我想揍他，但什麼東西阻止了我。是普雷斯頓手裡拿著的那件斗篷。儘管它看上去像是我的斗篷，但我知道它不是，因為我自己的斗篷早就在我的左胳膊上搭著了。那是件與眾不同、非常昂貴的斗篷，是一家商店為我特製的。現在，另有一件斗篷同它極為相像，這怎麼可能呢？

我回想起陌生人闖進屋子的那一刻。是的，他也披著一件斗篷……我滿心恐懼，迅速從普雷斯頓先生手中接過斗篷，離開了這間屋子。第二天早晨，我離開了牛津，逃到歐洲大陸上去。我現在因為玩牌作弊而臭名昭著，英格蘭的每一扇門都將對我關閉了。

但是壞運氣一直伴隨著我。其實，我不久就認識到，我在牛津惹的麻煩僅僅是個開始……我到了巴黎之後不久，便又遇到了威廉·威爾遜。他在那裡繼續摧毀著我作惡的希望。年復一年，無論我走到哪兒，他都要像個鬼魂一樣現身，在我和我的計劃之間橫插一槓子。在羅馬，他阻止我去得到我想要的東西；在維也納，我同樣難遂心願；在柏林，甚至在莫斯科，也是如此！難道就沒有一個讓我不受干擾的地方嗎？我一座城市一座城市地漫遊，試圖躲開他，但一直不能獲得自由的感覺，不能一個人獨處。他跟著我到每一個地方。

我總是一遍又一遍地問自己這些問題：“他是誰？他從哪裡來？他想從我這兒得到什麼？”但我找不出任何答案。我深入反省每一次見到他的情形，意識到，威爾遜在每一座城市所做的都是同一件事情。他並不是總在阻止我實施自己的計劃，而僅僅當那些計劃是邪惡的和危險的（無論對其他人還是對我自己）之時，才不讓它們得逞。這些我都明白，但我還是非常憤怒。為什麼威爾遜就不能不干涉我呢？為什麼他就不能讓我按照自己的意願生活呢？

我還意識到另外一件事。威爾遜每次出現的時候，從來都不讓我看見他的臉。我過去一直留意他的穿著。我很難不去留意這一點，因為他總是穿著和我一樣的衣服。然而他把自己的面孔向我掩藏起來了。他為什麼要這樣做？難道他真地以為我是如此愚蠢嗎？難道他覺得我沒有認出他是誰嗎？那個跟著我到每一個地方、一遍又一遍地摧毀我的計劃的人，就是我學生時代那同一個威廉·威爾遜！可是，讓我接著講我的故事。

到了此時，我已經對威爾遜誠惶誠恐、惟命是從了。他那神祕的突然現身，他的聰明才智，他對我深入透徹的理解——所有這一切令我心中充滿了恐懼。我總是服從他，儘管這樣做讓我痛恨自己。但是，近來我成了一個非常嚴重的酗酒者。酒讓我覺得自己勇敢而強大，能夠跟任何一個試圖阻止我的人打架。與此同時，我又開始覺得威爾遜在變得越來越弱小。此事是真地發生了，還是僅僅是一個夢而已？我分辨不清楚，但分明知道我自己的感情變得越來越狂暴了。我開始感覺到心中燃起了希望——不久我就會從這個可怕的對頭手中掙脫出來，獲得自由，從此再也不用聽他的指揮了。

18××年某一天的晚上，我正在羅馬，應邀參加了在迪·布羅里奧公爵府上舉行的盛大晚會。公爵年事已高，甚是乏味，但他的妻子卻年輕貌美，而且不怎麼太聰明。我設了個毒計來擺佈她。我和她已經說好在晚會期間跑到一個背靜的房間裡去幽會，在那裡我們可以不受打擾。

正當我一個房間一個房間地在人群中找她的時候，我突然感覺到有一隻手碰了碰我的胳膊，然後聽見耳畔一陣低語。我氣沖沖地轉過身，看見了一個男人。他身穿和我的一模一樣的衣服，但是臉上戴著一副黑麵具。我一把抓住他的胳膊。“行了！”我嚷道。“我已經被你折騰得夠嗆了！這是你最後一次到處跟蹤我！現在，馬上跟我到隔壁房間去。你要是不去的話，我現在就殺了你，讓你當場喪命！”

我把他拽到旁邊的一間小屋裡，粗暴地將他推倒在地。他顫抖著爬起來，靠牆站著。然後我關上屋門，向他發出挑戰。有一剎那，他沒有動彈，然後才默默地拔出了佩劍。

決鬥持續了沒多久。我狂躁不堪，興奮異常，覺得自己前所未有地力大過人。剛鬥了幾秒鐘，我便將他逼到牆邊，一次又一次地將手中的劍刺進他的身體。

這時，有人想打開房門。我奔過去檢查一下，見門鎖得好好的，便又朝我的對手跑回來。我該如何描述那一刻我所見到的情景呢？就在我跑過去檢查門鎖的幾秒鐘之內，這房間已經非常奇異地變得大為不同了。現在，房間的盡頭立起了一面大鏡子，我敢保證它先前並不是在那兒的。我朝鏡子走去，看見了我自己，渾身戰慄著向前走，面孔煞白，還沾滿了鮮血。

要麼就是我以為如此。但我錯了。那是我的死對頭威爾遜，在他生命的最後時刻站在了我面前。他的面具和斗篷扔在地板上。他的臉上現在沒遮任何東西。於是我萬分驚恐地發現，他的臉就是我自己的臉！

然後威爾遜開口說話了，但不再用那種耳語的聲音；他一面說，我一面覺得聽到的是我自己的聲音：

“你贏了，我輸了。但是從這一刻起，你也死了——對世界，對天堂，對希望，都是死了的！你活在我之中——那麼，我這一死，看看我的臉吧，這也是你自己的臉，看看你是怎樣殺害了你自己的。”

■ The Tell-Tale Heart

It is true that I had been-and I am -very nervous，but do you really think that I am mad ? I could see and hear more clearly7-not less,because of the disease． My hearing，more than anything，was excellent． I could hear all things，things in this world and things in heaven． I heard many things，things in this world and things in heaven. I heard many things in hell，too． So how can I be mad ? See how clearly and calmly I can tell my story．

I cannot explain how the idea first came into my head． But once I had thought of the idea，I could not forget it． I had no reason to do it. I was not angry． I loved the old man.H e had never hurt me in any way. I didn't want his gold． I think it was his eye! Yes! He had a pale，blue eye，the eye of a vulture． Whenever I looked at it,my blo0od became cold; and so,very slowly，I decided to kill the old man and escape from the eye for ever．

You are thinking,I know，that I am mad. But madmen are not clever． And see how cleverly I prepared my plan! Every day that week I was so kind to the old man ! And every night of that week，at about midnight，I opened his door very，very quietly． First I put my dark lantern through the opening of the door． The lantern was closed，and so no light came out of it,none at all. Then slowly，very slowly，I put my head inside the opening． I took sixty long minutes just to put my head inside． Would a madman have worked so carefully? And when my head was inside the room，I opened the lantern carefully and a thin ray of light fell onto the vulture eye． But the eye was always closed，so I could not do the work．You see，I did not hate the man; it was only the eye that I hated．

On the eighth night I started opening the door even more carefully．I was feeling calm and strong．There I was，opening his door，and he did not even know that I was there! I almost laughed at the idea． And perhaps，at that moment，he heard me，because he suddenly moved in his bed But I did not move away． I knew that he could not see the opening of the door，so I continued pushing it open，slowly and quietly．

When my head was in the room，I tried to open the lantern but my thumb slipped and I made a noise．Immediately，the man sat up in bed and shouted，‘Who's there?’

I said nothing．For an hour I just stood there，without moving，and he sat in his bed，listening．Then he made a soft noise，a noise which I recognized． It was the noise of terror，the terror of death．I knew the sound because I had made it myself，many times，in the deep of the night，when all the world was asleep I felt sorry for the old man，but I laughed silently．I knew that he had been awake since the first noise，and his fear had grown and grown．Death had entered his room，and now the shadow of deatn lay all around him． He could neither see me nor hear me，but he could feel my head inside his room．

I opened the lantern a little and a thin ray of light feel on his eye．It was open，and as I looked at it，I became angry．I could see it clearly，a horrible，pale blue eye that turned my blood cold． I could see nothing of the man's face or body，just his eye．

And then I heard a sound．Hadn't I told you that my hearing was excellent? I knew the sound．It was the beating of the old man's heart．It grew louder and quicker．Yes，louder and louder with every minute．The old man's terror must have been very great． And now a new terror came to me-a neighbour might hear the noise of this beating heart! The old man's time had come!

I opened the lantern fully and ran into the room．He shouted once-but only once because I pulled him to the floor and pulled the heavy bed over him． For many minutes the heart continued to beat，but then it stopped．The old man was dead．I put my hand on his heart and held it there for many minutes．There was no life in him at all．Now his eye would not trouble me again．

Perhaps you are still thinking that I am mad．You will not，when I tell you of way I hid the body．First，I cut it into pieces． I cut off the head and the arms and the legs． I then took up three boards from the wooden floor，and hid the body underneath．Finally，I replaced the wooden boards with great care．Now no human eye-not even his- would see anything wrong．There was nothing to see-not even any blood．A bowl had caught it all-ha! ha!

When I finished，it was four o'clock and it was still dark．There was a knock at the front door．Calmly，because I knew I had nothing to fear，I opened the door．Three policemen came in．They had come because a neighbour had reported a loud shout coming from the house．

I welcomed the policemen and asked them to come in． I explained that it was I who had shouted，in a dream．The old man，I said，was away in the country．I took them round the house and asked them to search it well．Then I took them to the old man's room and showed them all his things．I brought chairs into the room and invited them to sit down and rest a while Calmly，I put my own chair on the place where I had hidden his body．

The policemen seemed happy．They could see from the way I spoke that all was well．They continued talking，but I began to get tired．My head ached，and there was a ringing noise in my ears．I wanted the men to go away，but they continued to talk．The ringing became louder and clearer．And then I realized that the noise was not in my ears．

I became very pale，and starting talking more loudly．But the noise became louder too． What could do? It was a low，soft sound，like the sound made by a watch when it is covered in cotton．I spoke more loudly．The noise became louder too．Why，oh why，didn't the men go away? I walked up and down the room． I became angry，I argued，I threw the chair onto the floor．But the noise continued to grow louder，louder than every noise I made．And the men went on talking and smiling．Was it possible that they hadn't heard the terrible noise? No! no! They heard! They knew! They were only pretending that they hadn't heard the noise! I was sure of this-I still am and I hated their smiling faces．I felt that I must scream or die! And now，again，the noise was louder，louder，louder!

Stop! 'I shouted．'Stop pretending that you cannot hear it! Yes，I did it! Pull up the floorboards here! here，here!-it is the beating of his horrible heart!'

■ 洩密的心

的確，我過去——現在也是——極端神經過敏，但是，你們真地覺得我發瘋了嗎？因為得了這病，我看東西和聽東西都比以往更清楚了——而不是相反。尤其我的聽覺，簡直好極了。我什麼都聽得見，無論是這世界上的聲音還是天堂的聲音。好多地獄裡的聲音我也聽得見。那麼，我怎麼會是發了瘋呢？瞧，我講述自己的故事的時候是多麼有條理，多麼鎮靜啊。

我難以解釋清楚那個念頭起初是如何出現在我腦際的，但我一旦有了那個念頭，便不能將其忘記了。我幹那件事毫無道理。我並不憤怒，我喜歡那個老頭，他從來就沒什麼地方冒犯過我。我也不貪圖他的金銀財寶。我想，起因是他的眼睛！是的！他長了一隻發白的藍眼睛，一隻鷹眼。無論我何時見了那隻眼睛，我渾身的血液就要變得冰冷；於是，漸漸地，我打定了主意要殺掉那老頭，從此永遠擺脫那隻眼睛。

我知道，諸位在想，我準是發了瘋。然而瘋子可沒這麼機靈。瞧啊，我準備我的計劃時幹得有多聰明！那個禮拜的每一天我待那老頭有多好！那個禮拜的每天夜裡，大概是午夜時分，我都要非常非常輕地打開他的房門。首先，我把我那熄了火的提燈伸進門開處。提燈已經關滅了，於是沒有任何光亮發出，一絲兒也沒有。然後，慢慢地，極慢地，我把頭伸進門開處我花了長長的六十分鐘，就為了伸進一個腦袋。一個瘋子做事情有這麼小心翼翼嗎？我把腦袋伸到了屋子裡面之後，便小心地擰開提燈，讓一道微弱的光線落在那隻鷹眼上。但是那隻眼睛總是合著，所以我沒法下手。你們看見了，我並不恨那人；我恨的僅僅是那隻眼睛。

第八天夜裡，我去開房門時更為小心謹慎。我感覺很平靜，很強壯。我在這兒開著他的房門，可他甚至根本不知道我的存在！我差點兒因為這個念頭笑出聲來。不過，說不定他這時候聽見了我的動靜，因為他忽然在床上動了一下。但我並未走開。我知道他看不見開著的門縫，於是繼續慢慢地、悄悄地把門推開。

我把腦袋伸進屋子，想把提燈擰開，但大拇指滑了一卜，弄出了一點聲響。床上那人立即坐起身，喝問道：“是誰？”

我沒有吱聲。有一個鐘頭的工夫，我就在那兒站著，一動不動；而他則坐在床上，側耳傾聽。然後他輕輕地發出了一個聲音。我聽出了這聲音的含義，這是一種恐懼的聲音，恐懼死亡的聲音。我之所以能夠理解這種聲音，是因為我自己也曾發出過好多次，當夜深人靜、萬籟俱寂的時候。我為那老頭感到難過，但又不禁暗笑。我知道，自打第一個動靜響起，他就已經醒了，他內心的恐懼已經越升越高。死神已經進了他的屋子，現在，死亡的陰影已在他四周佈滿。他既看不見我也聽不見我，但他能感覺到我的腦袋已伸進了他的屋子。

我把提燈稍稍擰亮一點，一道微弱的光線照在他的那隻眼睛上。它是睜開的。我一看見它，便心頭火起。我能夠清晰地看見它，一隻可怖的淡藍色眼睛，能讓我的血液變得冰冷。那人的臉龐或是身體我都看不見了，能看見的只有這隻眼睛。

然後我聽到一聲響動。我不是對你們說過我的聽覺極為靈敏嗎？我知道這聲音是什麼。是老頭的心跳聲。他的心越跳越快，聲音越來越大。沒錯，每分鐘都愈發大起來了。那老頭一定是處於極度的恐懼之中。而現在，一種新的恐懼降臨到了我身上——哪個鄰居會聽見這種怦怦的心跳聲！老頭的時辰到啦！

我將提燈徹底擰亮，衝進屋子。他尖叫了一聲——但只叫了那麼一聲，因為我把他拖到了地板上，又拽過沉甸甸的床壓在他身上。那顆心接著又跳了好幾分鐘，但然後就停住了。老頭死了。我把手按在他胸口，就那樣放了好幾分鐘。他已經徹底沒氣兒了，現在，他的眼睛再也不會困擾我了。

也許你們仍然在想我是瘋了。要是我告訴你們我用了多麼聰明的辦法藏匿屍體，你們就不會這樣想了。首先，我把屍體切成幾塊。我把腦袋、胳膊和雙腿都割了下來。然後，我從木質地板上揭起三塊板子來，把屍體藏在下面。最後，我加倍小心地將木板重新放好。現在，沒有哪隻人的眼睛——哪怕是他的眼睛——會看出有什麼破綻了。沒什麼能看出來的——連一絲血跡都沒有。一隻碗就把血全盛下了——哈！哈！

我幹完這一切，已是凌晨4點鐘，天還黑著。前門傳來一陣敲門聲。我知道自己沒什麼好怕的，便鎮靜地打開了門。進來了三個警察，他們到這裡來是因為一個鄰居報警，說是聽見這所房子裡傳出了一聲尖叫。

我向警察們表示歡迎，請他們進屋來。我解釋說，那聲尖叫是我在夢中喊出來的，又說，那個老頭出門到鄉下去了。我領著他們在房子裡轉了一遍，要他們好好地搜查一番。然後我又把他們帶到老頭的屋子，給他們看老頭的全部家當。我搬了幾把椅子進來，請他們坐下休息片刻，又鎮定自若地把我自己的椅子放在我藏匿老頭屍體的地方。

警察們似乎很滿意，他們可以從我的言談舉止中看出一切都很正常。他們繼續說著話，可我卻有點不耐煩了。我頭直疼，耳中嗡嗡作響。我想讓這幾個人走開，可他們沒完沒了地聊著天。嗡嗡的轟鳴聲變得更響亮、更清楚了。這時，我意識到這聲音不是響在我的耳朵裡。

我臉色煞白，開始提高了嗓門說話。但那聲音也愈來愈大了。我能怎麼辦？那是一種低沉、柔和的聲音，像是用棉花捂住了手表發出的聲響。我把嗓門提得更高。那聲音也隨之變大了。為什麼，噢為什麼那幾個人還不走呢？我在屋子裡踱來踱去。我生起氣來，爭辯著，把椅子往地板上摔。但那聲音一刻不停地越升越高，蓋過了我製造出的種種噪聲。那幾個人繼續說著、笑著。他們可能沒聽見那可怕的聲音嗎？不！不！他們聽見了！他們全知道了！他們只是裝作沒聽見那聲音！我敢肯定這一點——現在仍然肯定。還有，我討厭他們那副微笑的面孔。我覺得自己必須尖叫了，否則就會死去！現在，又來了，那聲音越來越大，越來越大，越來越大！

“得了！”我嚷道。“別再裝作你們聽不見了！不錯，是我乾的！把這兒的地板揭起來吧！這兒！這兒，這兒！——是他那顆可惡的心在跳！”