The Murders in the Rue Morgue by Edgar Allan Poe

The Murders in the Rue Morgue by Edgar Allan Poe
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acknowledging that

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

" you kept your eyes upon_the ground - glancing, with petulant expression , at_the holes and ruts in_the pavement , ( so_that I_saw you were still thinking of_the stones,) until reached the little alley called Lamartine, which_has been paved , way experiment , with_the overlapping and riveted blocks here your countenance brightened , and , perceiving your lips move , I_could_not doubt that you murmured the word 'stereotomy,' term very affectedly applied to_this species pavement I_knew that you_could_not say yourself 'stereotomy' without being brought to_think atomies, and thus of_the theories Epicurus; and since , when 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 orion , and I certainly expected that you_would do_so you_did look ; and i_was now assured that I had correctly followed your steps but in_that bitter tirade upon Chantilly, which appeared yesterday 's '_Muse_,' the satirist , making some disgraceful allusions to_the cobbler s change name upon assuming the buskin , quoted Latin line about_which we_have often conversed I mean the line

Perdidit antiquum litera sonum

I had told you that_this was reference orion , formerly written Urion; and , from certain pungencies connected with_this explanation , i_was aware that you_could_not_have forgotten it_was clear , therefore , that you_would_not fail combine the two ideas 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 your gait; but now I_saw you draw yourself up_to your full height i_was then sure that you reflected upon_the diminutive Chantilly at_this point I interrupted your meditations remark that , in_fact , he_was very little fellow - that Chantilly - he_would better at_the _Thtre des Varits "

not long after_this , were looking over 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 succession terrific shrieks, issuing, apparently, from_the fourth story house in_the rue morgue , known to_be in_the sole occupancy one Madame L'Espanaye, and her daughter Mademoiselle Camille L'Espanaye after some delay , occasioned fruitless attempt procure admission in_the usual manner , the gateway was broken with crowbar , and eight ten of_the neighbors entered accompanied two gendarmes by_this_time the cries had ceased ; but , as_the party rushed the first flight stairs, two more rough voices 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 room upon arriving large back chamber in_the fourth story , ( the door of_which , being found locked, with_the key inside , was forced open ,) 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 all directions there_was only_one bedstead ; and from_this the bed had_been removed , and thrown into_the middle of_the floor chair lay razor , besmeared with blood on_the hearth were two_or_three long and thick tresses grey human hair , also dabbled blood , and seeming to_have_been pulled out by_the roots upon_the floor were found four Napoleons, ear - ring topaz , three large silver spoons, three smaller mtal d'Alger_, and two bags, containing nearly four thousand francs gold the drawers _bureau_, which stood one corner were open , and had_been , apparently, rifled , although many articles still remained in_them small iron safe was discovered under the bed ( not under the bedstead ) it_was open , with_the key still in_the door had contents beyond few old letters, and other papers little consequence

" Madame L'Espanaye traces were here seen ; but unusual quantity soot being observed in_the fire - place , was_made in_the chimney , and ( horrible relate ! ) the corpse of_the daughter , head downward , was dragged therefrom ; having been thus forced the narrow aperture for considerable distance the body was quite warm upon examining , many excoriations were perceived , no_doubt occasioned by_the violence with_which had_been thrust and disengaged upon_the face were many severe scratches, and , throat , dark bruises, and deep indentations finger nails, if_the deceased throttled death

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

" to_this horrible mystery there_is not as_yet , 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 , France, that levity import which conveys with_us ,] " but nothing whatever has transpired throw light upon 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 good terms - very affectionate towards each_other they were excellent pay could_not speak regard to_their mode means living Believed that Madame L told fortunes for living was reputed to_have money put never met any persons in_the house when she called for_the clothes took them home was sure that_they had servant employ there appeared to_be furniture any part of_the building except in_the fourth story

"_Pierre Moreau_, tobacconist, deposes that has_been in_the habit selling small quantities tobacco and snuff 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 jeweller, who under - let the upper rooms various persons the house was_the property Madame L she became dissatisfied with_the abuse of_the premises her tenant , and moved into them herself , refusing let any portion the old lady was childish witness had seen the daughter some five six times during the six years the two lived exceedingly retired life - were reputed to_have money had heard said among_the neighbors that Madame L told fortunes - did_not believe had never seen any person enter the door except the old lady and her daughter , porter once_or_twice , and physician some eight ten times

" many_other persons, neighbors, gave evidence to_the same effect one was spoken frequenting the house it_was not known whether there were any living connexions 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 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 thirty persons at_the gateway , endeavoring gain admittance Forced open , at_length , with bayonet - not with crowbar had but little difficulty getting open , account of_its being double folding gate , and bolted neither bottom not top the shrieks were continued until the gate was forced - and then suddenly ceased they seemed to_be screams some person ( persons) great agony - were loud and drawn out , not short and quick witness led the way stairs upon reaching the first landing, heard two voices loud and angry contention - the one gruff voice , the other much shriller - very strange voice could distinguish some words of_the former , which_was that Frenchman was positive that_it_was not woman 's voice could the words '_sacr_' and '_diable ' the shrill voice was_that foreigner could_not_be sure whether was_the voice man woman 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 them yesterday

"_Henri Duval_, neighbor , and trade silver - smith , deposes that he_was one_of_the party who first entered the house Corroborates the testimony must general as_soon_as they forced 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 Italian was certain it_was not French could_not_be sure that_it_was man 's voice might_have_been woman 's was not acquainted with_the Italian language distinguish the words, but was convinced by_the intonation that_the speaker was Italian knew Madame L and her daughter had conversed with both frequently was sure shrill voice was not that either of_the deceased

"-- Odenheimer, restaurateur this witness volunteered his testimony not speaking French , was examined through interpreter native 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 every respect but one was sure that_the shrill voice was_that man - Frenchman could_not distinguish the words uttered they were loud and quick - unequal - spoken apparently fear as_well anger the voice was harsh - not so_much shrill harsh call shrill voice the gruff voice said repeatedly '_sacr_,' '_diable_,' and once '_mon Dieu '

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

"_Adolphe Le Bon_, clerk Mignaud et Fils, deposes that on_the day in_question , about noon , accompanied Madame L'Espanaye her residence with_the 4000 francs, put 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 then bowed and departed did_not see any person in_the street at_the_time it_is bye- street - very lonely

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

"Four of_the above - named witnesses, being recalled , deposed that_the door of_the chamber which_was found the body Mademoiselle L was locked on_the inside when_the party reached every thing was perfectly silent - groans noises any kind upon forcing the door person was seen the windows, both of_the back and front room , were down and firmly fastened from within 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 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 forth these were carefully removed and searched there_was not inch any portion of_the house which_was not Sweeps were sent and down the chimneys the house was four story one , with garrets (_mansardes ) trap - door on_the roof was nailed

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