The Murders in the Rue Morgue by Edgar Allan Poe
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help acknowledging that he had spoken the truth . he continued:

" we had_been talking of horses, if I remember aright, just before leaving the rue C ---- . this_was the last subject we discussed . as_we crossed into_this street, a fruiterer, with a large basket upon his head, brushing quickly past us, thrust you upon a pile of paving stones collected at a spot where the causeway is undergoing repair . you stepped upon one_of_the loose fragments, slipped, slightly strained your ankle, appeared vexed or sulky, muttered a few words, turned to look at_the pile, and then proceeded in silence . i_was not particularly attentive to what you_did; but observation has become with me, of late, a species of necessity .

" you kept your eyes upon_the ground - glancing, with a petulant expression, at_the holes and ruts in_the pavement, ( so_that I_saw you were still thinking of_the stones,) until we reached the little alley called Lamartine, which_has been paved, by way of experiment, with_the overlapping and riveted blocks . here your countenance brightened up, and, perceiving your lips move, I_could_not doubt that you murmured the word 'stereotomy,' a term very affectedly applied to_this species of pavement . I_knew that you_could_not say to yourself 'stereotomy' without being brought to_think of atomies, and thus of_the theories of Epicurus; and since, when we discussed this subject not very long_ago, I mentioned to_you how singularly, yet with how little notice, the vague guesses of_that noble Greek had met with confirmation in_the late nebular cosmogony, I_felt that you_could_not avoid casting your eyes upward to_the great nebula in orion, and I certainly expected that you_would do_so . you_did look up; and i_was now assured that I had correctly followed your steps . but in_that bitter tirade upon Chantilly, which appeared in yesterday's '_Muse_,' the satirist, making some disgraceful allusions to_the cobbler s change of name upon assuming the buskin, quoted a Latin line about_which we_have often conversed .I mean the line

Perdidit antiquum litera sonum .

I had told you that_this was in reference to orion, formerly written Urion; and, from certain pungencies connected with_this explanation, i_was aware that you_could_not_have forgotten it . it_was clear, therefore, that you_would_not fail to combine the two ideas of orion and Chantilly . that you_did combine them I_saw by_the character of_the smile which passed over your lips . you thought of_the poor cobbler's immolation . so_far, you had_been stooping in your gait; but now I_saw you draw yourself up_to your full height . i_was then sure that you reflected upon_the diminutive figure of Chantilly . at_this point I interrupted your meditations to remark that as, in_fact, he_was a very little fellow - that Chantilly - he_would do better at_the _Thtre des Varits ."

not long after_this, we were looking over an evening edition of_the " gazette des Tribunaux," when_the following paragraphs arrested our attention .

" extraordinary MURDERS .- this_morning, about three o'clock, the inhabitants of_the Quartier St .Roch were aroused from sleep by a succession of terrific shrieks, issuing, apparently, from_the fourth story of a house in_the rue morgue, known to_be in_the sole occupancy of one Madame L'Espanaye, and her daughter Mademoiselle Camille L'Espanaye . after some delay, occasioned by a fruitless attempt to procure admission in_the usual manner, the gateway was broken in with a crowbar, and eight or ten of_the neighbors entered accompanied by two gendarmes . by_this_time the cries had ceased; but, as_the party rushed up the first flight of stairs, two or more rough voices in angry contention were distinguished and seemed to_proceed from_the upper part of_the house . as_the second landing was reached, these sounds, also, had ceased and everything remained perfectly quiet . the party spread themselves and hurried from room to room . upon arriving at a large back chamber in_the fourth story, ( the door of_which, being found locked, with_the key inside, was forced open,) a spectacle presented itself which struck every_one present not less with horror than with astonishment .

" the apartment was in_the wildest disorder - the furniture broken and thrown about in all directions . there_was only_one bedstead; and from_this the bed had_been removed, and thrown into_the middle of_the floor . on a chair lay a razor, besmeared with blood . on_the hearth were two_or_three long and thick tresses of grey human hair, also dabbled in blood, and seeming to_have_been pulled out by_the roots . upon_the floor were found four Napoleons, an ear- ring of topaz, three large silver spoons, three smaller of mtal d'Alger_, and two bags, containing nearly four thousand francs in gold . the drawers of a_bureau_, which stood in one corner were open, and had_been, apparently, rifled, although many articles still remained in_them .a small iron safe was discovered under the bed ( not under the bedstead) . it_was open, with_the key still in_the door . it had no contents beyond a few old letters, and other papers of little consequence .

" of Madame L'Espanaye no traces were here seen; but an unusual quantity of soot being observed in_the fire- place, a search was_made in_the chimney, and ( horrible to relate ! ) the corpse of_the daughter, head downward, was dragged therefrom; it having been thus forced up the narrow aperture for a considerable distance . the body was quite warm . upon examining it, many excoriations were perceived, no_doubt occasioned by_the violence with_which it had_been thrust up and disengaged . upon_the face were many severe scratches, and, upon_the throat, dark bruises, and deep indentations of finger nails, as if_the deceased had_been throttled to death .

" after a thorough investigation of every portion of_the house, without farther discovery, the party made its way into a small paved yard in_the rear of_the building, where lay the corpse of_the old lady, with her throat so entirely cut that, upon an attempt to raise her, the head fell off . the body, as_well as_the head, was fearfully mutilated - the former so_much so as scarcely to retain any semblance of humanity .

" to_this horrible mystery there_is not as_yet, we believe, the slightest clew ."

the next_day's paper had these additional particulars .

"_The tragedy in_the rue morgue . many individuals have_been examined in_relation to_this most extraordinary and frightful affair .[ the word 'affaire' has_not_yet, in France, that levity of import which it conveys with_us,] " but nothing whatever has transpired to throw light upon it . we_give below all the material testimony elicited .

"_Pauline Dubourg_, laundress, deposes that she has known both the deceased for three years, having washed for_them during that period . the old lady and her daughter seemed on good terms - very affectionate towards each_other . they were excellent pay . could_not speak in regard to_their mode or means of living .Believed that Madame L . told fortunes for aliving . was reputed to_have money put by . never met any persons in_the house when she called for_the clothes or took them home . was sure that_they had no servant in employ . there appeared to_be no furniture in any part of_the building except in_the fourth story .

"_Pierre Moreau_, tobacconist, deposes that he has_been in_the habit of selling small quantities of tobacco and snuff to Madame L'Espanaye for nearly four years . was born in_the neighborhood, and has always resided there . the deceased and her daughter had occupied the house in_which_the corpses were found, for more than six years . it_was formerly occupied by ajeweller, who under- let the upper rooms to various persons . the house was_the property of Madame L . she became dissatisfied with_the abuse of_the premises by her tenant, and moved into them herself, refusing to let any portion . the old lady was childish . witness had seen the daughter some five or six times during the six years . the two lived an exceedingly retired life - were reputed to_have money . had heard it said among_the neighbors that Madame L . told fortunes - did_not believe it . had never seen any person enter the door except the old lady and her daughter, a porter once_or_twice, and a physician some eight or ten times .

" many_other persons, neighbors, gave evidence to_the same effect . no one was spoken of as frequenting the house . it_was not known whether there were any living connexions of Madame L . and her daughter . the shutters of_the front windows were seldom opened . those in_the rear were always closed, with_the exception of_the large back room, fourth story . the house was a good house - not very old .

"_Isidore Muset_, gendarme_, deposes that he_was called to_the house about three o'clock in_the morning, and found some twenty or thirty persons at_the gateway, endeavoring to gain admittance .Forced it open, at_length, with a bayonet - not with a crowbar . had but little difficulty in getting it open, on account of_its being a double or folding gate, and bolted neither at bottom not top . the shrieks were continued until the gate was forced - and then suddenly ceased . they seemed to_be screams of some person ( or persons) in great agony - were loud and drawn out, not short and quick . witness led the way up stairs . upon reaching the first landing, heard two voices in loud and angry contention - the one a gruff voice, the other much shriller - a very strange voice . could distinguish some words of_the former, which_was that of aFrenchman . was positive that_it_was not a woman's voice . could distinguish the words '_sacr_' and '_diable .' the shrill voice was_that of a foreigner . could_not_be sure whether it was_the voice of a man or of a woman . could_not make out what_was said, but believed the language to_be Spanish . the state of_the room and of_the bodies was described by_this witness as_we described them yesterday .

"_Henri Duval_, a neighbor, and by trade a silver- smith, deposes that he_was one_of_the party who first entered the house .Corroborates the testimony of must in general . as_soon_as they forced an entrance, they reclosed the door, to_keep out the crowd, which collected very fast, notwithstanding the lateness of_the hour . the shrill voice, this witness thinks, was_that of an Italian . was certain it_was not French . could_not_be sure that_it_was a man's voice . it might_have_been a woman's . was not acquainted with_the Italian language . could_not distinguish the words, but was convinced by_the intonation that_the speaker was an Italian . knew Madame L . and her daughter . had conversed with both frequently . was sure that_the shrill voice was not that of either of_the deceased .

"-- Odenheimer, restaurateur . this witness volunteered his testimony . not speaking French, was examined through an interpreter . is a native of Amsterdam . was passing the house at_the_time of_the shrieks . they lasted for several minutes - probably ten . they were long and loud - very awful and distressing . was one of_those who entered the building .Corroborated the previous evidence in every respect but one . was sure that_the shrill voice was_that of a man - of aFrenchman . could_not distinguish the words uttered . they were loud and quick - unequal - spoken apparently in fear as_well as in anger . the voice was harsh - not so_much shrill as harsh . could_not call it a shrill voice . the gruff voice said repeatedly '_sacr_,' '_diable_,' and once '_mon Dieu .'

"_Jules Mignaud_, banker, of_the firm of Mignaud et Fils, rue Deloraine . is_the elder Mignaud .Madame L'Espanaye had some property . had opened an account with_his banking house in_the spring of_the year - (eight years previously) . made frequent deposits in small sums . had checked for nothing until the third day before her death, when she took out in person the sum of 4000 francs . this sum was paid in gold, and a clerk went home with_the money .

"_Adolphe Le Bon_, clerk to Mignaud et Fils, deposes that on_the day in_question, about noon, he accompanied Madame L'Espanaye to her residence with_the 4000 francs, put up in two bags . upon_the door being opened, Mademoiselle L . appeared and took from_his hands one_of_the bags, while the old lady relieved him of_the other . he then bowed and departed . did_not see any person in_the street at_the_time . it_is abye- street - very lonely .

"_William Bird_, tailor deposes that he_was one_of_the party who entered the house . is an Englishman . has lived in Paris two years . was one_of_the first to ascend the stairs . heard the voices in contention . the gruff voice was_that of aFrenchman . could make out several words, but cannot now remember all . heard distinctly '_sacr_' and '_mon Dieu .' there_was a sound at_the moment as_if of several persons struggling - ascraping and scuffling sound . the shrill voice was very loud - louder than_the gruff one . is sure that_it_was not the voice of an Englishman . appeared to_be that of a German . might_have_been a woman's voice . does_not understand German .

"Four of_the above- named witnesses, being recalled, deposed that_the door of_the chamber in which_was found the body of Mademoiselle L . was locked on_the inside when_the party reached it . every thing was perfectly silent - no groans or noises of any kind . upon forcing the door no person was seen . the windows, both of_the back and front room, were down and firmly fastened from within .a door between_the two rooms was closed, but not locked . the door leading from_the front room into_the passage was locked, with_the key on_the inside .a small room in_the front of_the house, on_the fourth story, at_the head of_the passage was open, the door being ajar . this room was crowded with old beds, boxes, and so forth . these were carefully removed and searched . there_was not an inch of any portion of_the house which_was not carefully searched .Sweeps were sent up and down the chimneys . the house was afour story one, with garrets (_mansardes .) a trap- door on_the roof was nailed


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