The Mystery of Marie Roget by Edgar Allan Poe
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the mystery of Marie Roget .{*1}

a sequel to " the Murders in_the rue morgue ."

by Edgar Allan Poe

Es giebt eine Reihe idealischer Begebenheiten, die der Wirklichkeit parallel lauft .Selten fallen sie zusammen .Menschen und zufalle modifieiren gewohulich die idealische Begebenheit, so dass sie unvollkommen erscheint, und ihre Folgen gleichfalls unvollkommen sind . so bei der reformation; statt des Protestantismus kam das Lutherthum hervor .

there_are ideal series of events which run parallel with_the real ones . they rarely coincide . men and circumstances generally modify the ideal train of events, so_that it seems imperfect, and its consequences are equally imperfect . thus with_the reformation; instead of Protestantism came Lutheranism .

- Novalis .{*2} moral Ansichten .

there_are few persons, even among_the calmest thinkers, who_have_not occasionally been startled into a vague yet thrilling half- credence in_the supernatural, by coincidences of so seemingly marvellous a character that, as mere coincidences, the intellect has_been unable to receive them . such sentiments - for_the half-credences of_which I speak have never the full force of thought - such sentiments are seldom thoroughly stifled unless by reference to_the doctrine of chance, or, as_it_is technically termed, the Calculus of Probabilities . now this Calculus is, in its essence, purely mathematical; and thus we_have the anomaly of_the most rigidly exact in science applied to_the shadow and spirituality of_the most intangible in speculation .

the extraordinary details which I_am now called upon to_make public, will_be found to_form, as regards sequence of_time, the primary branch of a series of scarcely intelligible coincidences, whose secondary or concluding branch will_be recognized by all readers in_the late murder of Mary Cecila Rogers, at New_York .

when, in an article entitled " the Murders in_the rue morgue," I endeavored, about a year ago, to depict some very remarkable features in_the mental character of_my friend, the Chevalier C .Auguste Dupin, it did_not occur to_me that i_should ever resume the subject . this depicting of character constituted my design; and this design was thoroughly fulfilled in_the wild train of circumstances brought to instance Dupin's idiosyncrasy . I_might_have adduced other examples, but i_should_have proven no more . late events, however, in their surprising development, have startled me into some farther details, which will carry with_them the air of extorted confession .Hearing what I_have lately heard, it would_be indeed strange should I remain silent in regard to what I both heard and saw so long_ago .

upon_the winding up of_the tragedy involved in_the deaths of Madame L'Espanaye and her daughter, the Chevalier dismissed the affair at once from_his attention, and relapsed into his old habits of moody reverie . prone, at all times, to abstraction, I readily fell in with_his humor; and, continuing to occupy our chambers in_the Faubourg saint Germain, we gave the future to_the winds, and slumbered tranquilly in_the present, weaving the dull world around us into dreams .

but these dreams were_not altogether uninterrupted . it may readily be supposed that_the part played by my friend, in_the drama at_the rue morgue, had_not failed of_its impression upon_the fancies of_the Parisian police . with its emissaries, the name of Dupin had grown into a household word . the simple character of_those inductions by_which he had disentangled the mystery never having been explained even to_the prefect, or to any_other individual than myself, of_course_it_is not surprising that_the affair was regarded as little less_than miraculous, or that_the Chevalier's analytical abilities acquired for him the credit of intuition . his frankness would_have led him to disabuse every inquirer of_such prejudice; but his indolent humor forbade all farther agitation of a topic whose interest to himself had long ceased . it thus happened that he_found himself the cynosure of_the policial eyes; and_the cases were_not few in_which attempt was_made to engage his services at_the prefecture . one_of_the_most remarkable instances was_that of_the murder of a young girl named Marie Rogt .

this event occurred about two years after_the atrocity in_the rue morgue .Marie, whose Christian and family name will at once arrest attention from their resemblance to_those of_the unfortunate " cigar- girl," was_the only daughter of_the widow Estelle Rogt . the father had died during the child's infancy, and from_the period of_his death, until within eighteen months before_the assassination which forms the subject of_our narrative, the mother and daughter had dwelt together in_the rue pave saint Andre; {*3} Madame there keeping a pension, assisted by Marie .Affairs went on thus until the latter had attained her twenty- second year, when her great beauty attracted the notice of a perfumer, who occupied one_of_the shops in_the basement of_the Palais royal, and whose custom lay chiefly among_the desperate adventurers infesting that neighborhood .Monsieur Le Blanc {*4} was not unaware of_the advantages to_be derived from_the attendance of_the fair Marie in_his perfumery; and_his liberal proposals were accepted eagerly by_the girl, although with somewhat more of hesitation by Madame .

the anticipations of_the shopkeeper were realized, and_his rooms soon became notorious through_the charms of_the sprightly grisette . she had_been in_his employ about a year, when her admirers were thrown info confusion by her sudden disappearance from_the shop .Monsieur Le Blanc was unable to account for her absence, and Madame Rogt was distracted with anxiety and terror . the public papers immediately took up the theme, and_the police were upon_the point of making serious investigations, when, one fine morning, after_the lapse of a week, Marie, in good health, but with a somewhat saddened air, made her re- appearance at her usual counter in_the perfumery . all inquiry, except that of a private character, was of_course immediately hushed .Monsieur Le Blanc professed total ignorance, as before .Marie, with Madame, replied to all questions, that_the last week had_been spent at_the house of a relation in_the country . thus the affair died away, and was generally forgotten; for_the girl, ostensibly to relieve herself from_the impertinence of curiosity, soon bade a final adieu to_the perfumer, and sought the shelter of her mother's residence in_the rue pave saint Andre .

it_was about five months after_this return home, that her friends were alarmed by her sudden disappearance for_the second time . three days elapsed, and nothing was heard of her . on_the fourth her corpse was found floating in_the seine, * near the shore which_is opposite the Quartier of_the rue saint Andree, and at a point not very far distant from_the secluded neighborhood of_the Barrire du Roule .{*6}

the atrocity of_this murder, ( for it_was at once evident that murder had_been committed,) the youth and beauty of_the victim, and, above all, her previous notoriety, conspired to_produce intense excitement in_the minds of_the sensitive Parisians . I_can call to mind no similar occurrence producing so general and so intense an effect . for several weeks, in_the discussion of this_one absorbing theme, even the momentous political topics of_the day were forgotten . the prefect made unusual exertions; and_the powers of_the whole Parisian police were, of_course, tasked to_the utmost extent .

upon_the first discovery of_the corpse, it_was not supposed that_the murderer would_be_able to elude, for more than a very brief period, the inquisition which_was immediately set on foot . it_was not until the expiration of a week that_it_was deemed necessary to offer a reward; and even then this reward was limited to a thousand francs . in_the mean time the investigation proceeded with vigor, if_not always with judgment, and numerous individuals were examined to no purpose; while, owing to_the continual absence of all clue to_the mystery, the popular excitement greatly increased . at_the end of_the tenth day it_was thought advisable to double the sum originally proposed; and, at_length, the second week having elapsed without leading to any discoveries, and_the prejudice which always exists in Paris against the police having given vent to itself in several serious meutes, the prefect took it upon himself to offer the sum of twenty thousand francs " for_the conviction of_the assassin," or, if more than one should prove to_have_been implicated, " for_the conviction of any_one_of_the assassins ." in_the proclamation setting forth this reward, a full pardon was promised to any accomplice who_should come forward in evidence against his fellow; and to_the whole was appended, wherever it appeared, the private placard of a committee of citizens, offering ten thousand francs, in_addition_to_the amount proposed by_the prefecture . the entire reward thus stood at no less_than thirty thousand francs, which will_be regarded as an extraordinary sum when we consider the humble condition of_the girl, and_the great frequency, in large cities, of_such atrocities as_the one described .

no one doubted now that_the mystery of_this murder would_be immediately brought to light . but although, in one_or_two instances, arrests were made which promised elucidation, yet nothing was elicited which could implicate the parties suspected; and_they were discharged forthwith . strange as it may appear, the third week from_the discovery of_the body had passed, and passed without any light being thrown upon_the_subject, before even a rumor of_the events which had so agitated the public mind, reached the ears of Dupin and myself . engaged in researches which absorbed our whole attention, it had_been nearly a month since either of us had gone abroad, or received avisiter, or more than glanced at_the leading political articles in one_of_the daily papers . the first intelligence of_the murder was brought us by G ----, in person . he_called upon us early in_the afternoon of_the thirteenth of July, 18--, and remained with_us until late in_the night . he had_been piqued by_the failure of all his endeavors to ferret out the assassins . his reputation - so he_said with a peculiarly Parisian air - was at stake . even his honor was concerned . the eyes of_the public were upon him; and there_was really no sacrifice which he_would_not_be willing to_make for_the development of_the mystery . he concluded a somewhat droll speech with a compliment upon what he_was pleased to term the tact of Dupin, and made him a direct, and certainly a liberal proposition, the precise nature of_which I_do_not feel myself at liberty to disclose, but which_has no bearing upon_the proper subject of_my narrative .

the compliment my friend rebutted as best he_could, but the proposition he accepted at once, although its advantages were altogether provisional . this point being settled, the prefect broke forth at once into explanations of_his own views, interspersing them with long comments upon_the evidence; of_which latter we were_not yet in possession . he discoursed much, and beyond doubt, learnedly; while I hazarded an occasional suggestion as_the night wore drowsily away .Dupin, sitting steadily in_his accustomed arm- chair, was_the embodiment of respectful attention . he wore spectacles, during the whole interview; and an occasional signal glance beneath their green glasses, sufficed to_convince me that he slept not the less soundly, because silently, throughout_the seven or eight leaden- footed hours which immediately preceded the departure of_the prefect .

in_the morning, I procured, at_the prefecture, a full report of all the evidence elicited, and, at_the various newspaper offices, a copy of every paper in_which, from first to last, had_been published any decisive information in regard to_this sad affair .Freed from all that was positively disproved, this mass of information stood thus:

Marie Rogt left the residence of her mother, in_the rue pave St .Andre, about nine o'clock in_the morning of Sunday June the twenty- second, 18-- . in going out, she gave notice to aMonsieur Jacques St .Eustache, {*7} and to him only, of her intent intention to_spend the day with an aunt who resided in_the rue des Drmes . the rue des Drmes is a short and narrow but populous thoroughfare, not far from_the banks of_the river, and at a distance of some two miles, in_the most direct course possible, from_the pension of Madame Rogt .St .Eustache was_the accepted suitor of Marie, and lodged, as_well as took his meals, at_the pension . he_was to have_gone for_his betrothed at dusk, and to_have escorted her home . in_the afternoon, however, it came on to rain heavily; and, supposing that she_would remain all night at her aunt's, ( as she had done under similar circumstances before,) he_did_not think it necessary to_keep his promise . as night drew on, Madame Rogt ( who was an infirm old lady, seventy years_of_age,) was heard to express a fear " that she should never see Marie again;" but this observation attracted little attention at_the_time .

on Monday, it_was ascertained that_the girl had_not_been to_the rue des Drmes; and when_the day elapsed without tidings of her, a tardy search was instituted at several points in_the city, and its environs . it_was not, however until the fourth day from_the period of disappearance that any thing satisfactory was ascertained respecting her . on_this day, ( Wednesday, the twenty-fifth of June,) aMonsieur Beauvais, {*8} who, with a friend, had_been making inquiries for Marie near the Barrire du Roule, on_the shore of_the seine which_is opposite the rue pave St .Andre, was informed that a corpse had just been towed ashore by some fishermen, who had found it floating in_the river . upon seeing the body, Beauvais, after some hesitation, identified it as_that of_the perfumery- girl . his friend recognized it more promptly .

the face was suffused with dark blood, some of_which issued from_the mouth . no foam was seen, as in_the case of_the merely drowned . there_was no discoloration in_the cellular tissue . about_the throat were bruises and impressions of fingers . the arms were bent over on_the chest and were rigid . the right hand was clenched; the left partially open . on_the left wrist were two circular excoriations, apparently the effect of ropes, or of a rope in more than one volution .a part of_the right wrist, also, was much chafed, as_well as_the back throughout its extent, but more especially at_the shoulder-blades . in bringing the body to_the shore the fishermen had attached to_it a rope; but none_of_the excoriations had_been effected by_this . the flesh of_the neck was much swollen . there were no cuts apparent, or bruises which appeared the effect of blows .a piece of lace was found tied so tightly around the neck as to_be hidden from sight; it_was completely buried in_the flesh, and was fasted by a knot which lay just under the left ear . this alone would_have sufficed to_produce death . the medical testimony spoke confidently of_the virtuous character

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