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confession in full。
〃I am beaten at a game in which I did my own shuffling。 I never
believe in trying to bluff a full hand。 Had I had but ordinary detectives
with whom to deal； I make bold to say I should have come off rich and
triumphant。 'I had no means of knowing that I was to play with a chemist
who would use against me the latest scientific implements of criminal
warfare。 It is； therefore； to the extraordinary means used for my
detection that I impute my defeat； rather than to any bungling of my own。
This is a grim consolation； but it is still a consolation； for I have always
prided myself upon being an artist in my line。 As I propose to put myself
beyond the reach of further cross…examination； I take this opportunity to
make a last statement of such things as I care to have known。 After this
is finished I shall sup on acetate of lead and bid good…night to the
expectant public。
〃Lest some may marvel how I came by this poison； and even lay
suspicions upon my jailers； let me explain that there is a small piece of
lead water…pipe crossing the west angle of my room。 This being Sunday；
I was permitted to have beans and brown bread for breakfast。 I asked for
a little vinegar for my beans； and a small cruet was brought to me。 I had
no difficulty in secreting a considerable quantity of the vinegar in order
that I might； when occasion served； apply it to the lead pipe。 This I have
done； and have now by me enough acetate of lead to kill a dozen men。
This form of death will not be particularly pleasant； I am aware； but I
prefer it to its only alternative。 So much for that。
〃I was horn in Marseilles； and my right name is Jean Fouchet。 My
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father intended me for the priesthood； and gave me a good college
education in Paris。 His hopes； however； were destined to disappointment。
In college I formed the habit of gambling； and a year after my graduation
found me at Monte Carlo。 While there I quarrelled with a gambling
accomplice and ended by killing him。 This made my stay in France
dangerous for me； and I took the first opportunity which presented itself to
embark for America。
〃Familiarity with criminals had made me familiar with crime； and I
added the occupation of detective to my profession of gambling。 These
two avocations had now become my sole means of support； and I plied my
trades in New York； Boston； and Philadelphia for several years； during
which time I became a naturalised citizen of the United States。
〃When the Cuban rebellion broke out I could not restrain my longing
for adventure； and joined a filibustering expedition sailing from New York。
I did this from no love I bore the Cuban cause； but merely for the
excitement it promised。 While handling a heavy shot during my first
engagement I accidentally dropped it upon my left foot； crushing that
member so badly that it has never regained its shape。 This deformity has
rendered it impossible for me to conceal my identity。 Three months after
this accident I was taken prisoner by the Spanish and shipped to Spain as a
political malefactor。 A farce of a trial was granted to me； not to see
whether or not I was guilty； but simply to determine between the dungeon
and the garrote。 It would have been far better for me had I been
sentenced to the latter instead of the former。
〃As a political offender I was doomed to imprisonment at Ceuta； an
old Moorish seaport town in Morocco； opposite Gibraltar and upon the
side of the ancient mountain Abyla。 This mountain forms one of the
'Pillars of Hercules；' the Rock of Gibraltar being the other。 It is almost
impregnable； and is used by Spain as Siberia is used by Russia； only it is
far； far more horrible。 The town was built by the Moors in 945； and
nowhere else on earth are there to be found an equal number of devices for
the torture of human beings。 If anyone thinks the horrors of the
Inquisition are no longer perpetrated let him get sent to Ceuta： I have good
cause to believe that the Inquisition itself is far from dead in Spain。 Alas
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The Darrow Enigma
for the person who is sent to Ceuta！ The town is small； and； to guard
against possible attack； the Moors constructed a chain of fortresses around
it。 It is in the black cellars of these disintegrating fortresses that the
dungeons are located。 They are in tiers to the depth of fifty or sixty feet；
and are hewn out of the solid rock。 They are reached through narrow
openings in the stone floors of the fortresses； and when one of these
horrible holes is opened the foul odor of filth and decomposition is utterly
overpowering。 Some of these dungeons contain as many as thirty or
forty men。 I was placed in a cell reserved for solitary confinement。 I
have never been a man who regarded life seriously； or feared to risk it
upon sufficient occasion； but my heart froze within me when the horror of
my situation was revealed to me。 A stone box perhaps eight feet square …
as I lay upon the floor I could touch its opposite sides with my hands and
feet … had been prepared for my entrance by cutting a slit in one of its
walls just large enough for the passage of my body。 Through this narrow
opening I was dropped into the total darkness within。 A blacksmith
followed and welded my fetters； for locks and keys are never used。 A
chain having a heavy weight pendant from it was riveted to my ankle； and
an iron band was similarly fastened to my waist。 This band was fastened
by a chain to an iron ring deeply sunk in the solid rock。 When these
horrible preparations were completed th