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so； to strive to render my jailer subservient to my will。 But how should I
keep him within ear…shot long enough to work upon him？ Clearly all
appeals to pity were useless。 I must excite his greed； nothing else would
reach him。 This was not an easy thing to do without a sou in my
possession； yet I did it。 When I heard his step I crawled to the opening in
the wall and mumbled in a crazy sort of a way about a hidden treasure。
At the word 'treasure' I saw him pause and listen； but I pretended not to be
aware of his presence and rambled on； in a loose； disjointed fashion； about
piracies committed by me and the great amount of booty I had secreted。
My plan worked perfectly。 The jailer came to the aperture in the wall and
called me to him。 Muttering incoherently； I obeyed。 He asked me what
offence brought me there； and I； with a good deal of intentional
misunderstanding； told him I was a pirate and a smuggler。 He asked me
where the treasure I had been talking about was hidden。 My reply； … I
remember the exact words in which I couched it； … made him mine
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completely。 I said： 'We buried it near Fez … Treasure？ I don't know
anything about any treasure。'
〃To all the many questions he then asked me I returned only
incoherent replies； but I was careful to be again raving about buried riches
upon the next visit。 In this way I kept him by me long enough to
influence him； and in less than a month he was completely subject to my
will。 I tested my power over him in divers ways。 Any delicacy I
wished I compelled him to bring me。 In this way I was enabled to regain
a portion of my lost strength。 When I concluded the time had come for
me to make good my escape； I caused him to come to my cell at midnight
and remove the bricks from the slit while I put on the disguise he had
brought me。 Once out of my stone tomb we carefully walled it up again
and then departed to find my imaginary hidden treasure。 We made our
way without trouble to Algiers； for my companion had money； and sailed
thence via Gibraltar for England。 During the trip my companion jumped
overboard and was drowned in the Bay of Biscay。 Thus I was completely
freed from Ceuta and its terrible pest…hole。
〃From England I sailed to New York； reaching America penniless and
in ill health。 Things not going to my liking in New York； I came to
Boston and took up my old callings of gambler and detective。 It was at
this time that I saw John Darrow's curious notice in the newspaper；
offering； in the event of his murder； a most liberal reward to anyone who
would bring the assassin to justice。
〃Mon Dieu！ How I needed money。 I would have bartered my soul
for a tithe of that amount。 It was the old； old story； only new in Eden。 Ah！
but how I loved her！ She must have money； money； always money！ That
was ever her cry。 When I could not supply it she sought it of others； and
this drove me mad。 If； I said to myself； I could only get this reward！
This was something really worth working for； and if I could but get it； she
should be mine only。 I at once set to work upon the problem。
〃It was not an easy thing to solve。 I might be able to hire a man to do
the deed for me； but he would hardly be willing to hang for it without
disclosing my part in the transaction。 It was at this time that I first met M。
Latour on Decatur Street。 He at once impressed me as being just the man
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I wanted； and I began to gradually subdue his will。 In this circumstances
greatly aided me。 When I found him he was in very poor health and
without any means of sustenance。 His daughter was able to earn a little；
but not nearly enough to keep the wolf from the door。 Add to this that he
had a cancer； which several physicians had assured him would prove fatal
within a year； that he was afflicted with an almost insane fear that 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
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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 daugh