The Murders in the Rue Morgue by Edgar Allan Poe

The Murders in the Rue Morgue by Edgar Allan Poe
Section [1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6]

'_not understanding French

'_does

'judges

, '_as

believes

'_has

conversed

Frenchman differs, moreover

;

tongue_,

, 'convinced by_the

! -

tones_,

, denizens of_the

five

divisions

recognise

African

Asiatics

Africans

Paris;

denying

points

others

words -

sounds resembling words - were

distinguishable

" I_know not ," continued Dupin, " what impression I_may_have made , so_far , upon your own understanding; but I_do_not hesitate to_say that legitimate deductions even from_this portion of_the testimony - the portion respecting the gruff and shrill voices - are themselves sufficient engender suspicion which should give direction all farther progress in_the investigation of_the mystery I_said ' legitimate deductions;' but meaning is_not thus fully expressed I designed imply that_the deductions are the sole proper ones, and_that the suspicion arises inevitably from_them as_the single result what the , however , i_will_not say just yet I merely wish you bear mind that , with myself , it_was sufficiently forcible to_give definite form - certain tendency - inquiries in_the chamber

" let_us now transport ourselves , fancy , to_this chamber what shall first seek here ? the means egress employed by_the murderers it_is_not too_much to_say that neither believe prternatural events Madame and Mademoiselle L'Espanaye were_not destroyed spirits the doers of_the deed were material , and escaped materially then how ? Fortunately, there_is but one mode reasoning upon_the point , and_that mode must lead definite decision - let_us examine , each each , the possible means egress it_is clear that_the assassins were in_the room where Mademoiselle L'Espanaye was found , at_least in_the room adjoining, when_the party ascended the stairs it_is then only from_these two apartments that we_have seek issues the police have laid bare the floors, the ceilings , and_the masonry of_the walls, every direction secret issues could_have escaped their vigilance but , not trusting to_their eyes , I examined with own there were , then , secret issues both doors leading from_the rooms into_the passage were securely locked, with_the keys inside let_us turn to_the chimneys these , although ordinary width for some eight ten feet above the hearths, will not admit , throughout their extent , the body large cat the impossibility egress , by_means already stated , being thus absolute , we_are reduced to_the windows through those of_the front room one could_have escaped without notice from_the crowd in_the street the murderers must_have passed , then , through those of_the back room now , brought to_this conclusion unequivocal manner as_we_are , it_is_not our part , reasoners, reject account apparent impossibilities it_is only left for_us to_prove that_these 'impossibilities' are , reality , not such

" there_are two windows in_the chamber one_of_them unobstructed furniture , and_is wholly visible the lower portion of_the other hidden from view by_the head of_the unwieldy bedstead which_is thrust against the former was found securely fastened from within resisted the utmost force of_those who endeavored raise large gimlet - hole had_been pierced its frame to_the left , and very stout nail was found fitted therein , nearly to_the head upon examining the other window , similar nail was seen similarly fitted in_it ; and vigorous attempt raise this sash , failed also the police were now entirely satisfied that egress had_not_been in_these directions and , therefore_, it_was thought matter supererogation withdraw the nails and open the windows

" own examination was somewhat more particular , and was for_the reason I_have just given - because here it_was , I_knew , that all apparent impossibilities must_be proved to_be not such reality

"I proceeded to_think thus - posteriori the murderers did escape from one_of_these windows this being , they_could_not have refastened the sashes from_the inside , as_they were found ; - the consideration which put stop , through_its obviousness, to_the scrutiny of_the police in_this quarter yet the sashes were_ they must_, then , have the power fastening themselves there_was escape from_this conclusion I stepped to_the unobstructed casement , withdrew the nail with some difficulty and attempted raise the sash resisted all efforts, I had anticipated concealed spring must , I now know , exist ; and this corroboration of_my idea convinced that premises at_least , were correct , however mysterious still appeared the circumstances attending the nails careful soon brought light the hidden spring I pressed , and , satisfied with_the discovery , forbore upraise the sash

"I now replaced the nail and regarded attentively person passing out through_this window might_have reclosed , and_the spring would_have caught - but the nail could_not have_been the conclusion was plain , and again narrowed in_the field of_my investigations the assassins must_have escaped through_the other window Supposing, then , the springs upon each sash to_be the same , was probable , there_must_be found difference between_the nails, at_least modes of_their fixture Getting upon_the sacking of_the bedstead , I looked over the head - board minutely at_the second casement Passing hand down behind the board , I readily discovered and pressed the spring , which_was , I had supposed , identical character with its neighbor I now looked at_the nail it_was stout as_the other , and apparently fitted in_the same manner - driven nearly up_to_the head

" you_will say that i_was puzzled ; but , if_you_think , you_must_have misunderstood the nature of_the inductions use sporting phrase , I had_not_been once ' fault ' the scent had never for instant been lost there_was flaw any link of_the chain I had traced the secret its ultimate result , - and_that result was_the nail had , I_say , every respect , the appearance of_its fellow in_the other window ; but this fact was absolute nullity ( conclusive might seem_to_be ) when compared with_the consideration that here , at_this point , terminated the clew ' there_must_be something wrong ,' I_said , ' about_the nail ' I touched ; and_the head , with about quarter inch of_the shank , came off fingers the rest of_the shank was in_the gimlet - hole where had_been broken off the $fracture$ was old one ( for its edges were incrusted with rust ), and had apparently been accomplished by_the blow hammer , which had partially imbedded, in_the top of_the bottom sash , the head portion of_the nail I now carefully replaced this head portion in_the indentation whence I had taken , and_the resemblance perfect nail was complete - the fissure was invisible Pressing the spring , I gently raised the sash for few inches; the head went with , remaining firm its bed I closed the window , and_the of_the whole nail was again perfect

" the riddle , so_far , was now unriddled the assassin had escaped through_the window which looked upon_the bed Dropping of_its own accord upon his exit ( perhaps purposely closed ), had become fastened by_the spring ; and was_the retention of_this spring which had_been mistaken by_the police for_that of_the nail , - farther inquiry being thus considered unnecessary

" the next question is_that of_the mode descent upon_this point I had_been satisfied walk with_you around the building about five feet and half from_the casement in_question there runs lightning - rod from_this rod would_have_been impossible for any_one reach the window itself, to_say nothing entering I observed , however , that_the shutters of_the fourth story were of_the peculiar kind called Parisian carpenters ferrades - kind rarely employed at_the present day , but frequently seen upon very old mansions Lyons and Bourdeaux they_are in_the form ordinary door , (a single , not folding door ) except that_the lower half latticed worked open trellis - thus affording excellent hold for_the hands in_the present instance these shutters are fully three feet and half broad when saw them from_the rear of_the house , they were both about half open - that_is_to_say , they stood off right angles wall it_is probable that_the police , as_well myself , examined the back of_the tenement ; but , if_so , looking at_these ferrades in_the line of_their breadth ( they_must_have done ), they_did_not perceive this great breadth itself, , all events, failed to_take into due consideration in_fact , having once satisfied themselves that egress could_have_been made in_this quarter , they_would naturally bestow here very cursory examination it_was clear to_me , however , that_the shutter belonging to_the window at_the head of_the bed , would , swung fully back to_the wall , reach within two feet of_the lightning - rod it_was also evident that , exertion very unusual degree activity and courage , entrance into_the window , from_the rod , might_have_been thus effected - reaching to_the distance two feet and half ( now suppose the shutter open its whole extent ) robber taken firm grasp upon_the trellis - work Letting , then , his hold rod , placing his feet securely against the wall , and springing boldly from_it , he_might_have swung the shutter as_to , and , if_we imagine the window open at_the_time , might even have swung himself into_the room

" i_wish you bear especially mind that I_have spoken very_ unusual degree activity requisite success hazardous and difficult feat it_is design show you , first , that_the thing might possibly have_been accomplished : - but , secondly and _chiefly_, i_wish impress upon your understanding the very extraordinary - the almost prternatural character of_that agility which could_have

" you_will say , no_doubt , using the language of_the law , that ' to_make out case ,' i_should rather undervalue , than insist upon full estimation of_the activity required in_this_matter this_may_be the practice law , but it_is_not the usage reason ultimate object only the truth immediate purpose lead you to_place juxta- position , that very unusual of_which I_have just spoken with_that very peculiar shrill ( harsh ) and unequal_ voice , about whose nationality two persons could_be found agree , and whose utterance syllabification detected "

at_these words vague and half - formed conception of_the meaning Dupin flitted over mind I seemed to_be upon_the verge comprehension without power comprehend - men , times, find themselves brink remembrance without being able , in_the end , remember friend went with_his discourse

" you_will_see ," he_said , " that I_have shifted the question from_the mode egress to_that ingress it_was design convey the idea that both were effected in_the same manner , at_the same point let_us now revert to_the interior of_the room let_us survey the appearances here the drawers of_the bureau , it_is said , had_been rifled , although many articles apparel still remained within them the conclusion here_is absurd it_is mere guess - very silly one - and more how are to_know that_the articles found in_the drawers were_not all these drawers had originally contained ? Madame L'Espanaye and her daughter lived exceedingly retired life - saw company - seldom went out - had little use for numerous changes habiliment those found were at_least good quality any likely to_be possessed by_these ladies thief had taken any , why did not take_the best - why did not take all ? word , why did abandon four thousand francs gold encumber himself with bundle linen ? the gold was abandoned nearly the whole sum mentioned Monsieur Mignaud, the banker , was discovered , bags, upon_the floor i_wish you , therefore , discard from your thoughts the blundering idea motive_, engendered in_the brains of_the police by_that portion of_the evidence which speaks money delivered at_the door of_the house Coincidences ten times remarkable as_this ( the delivery of_the money , and murder committed within three days upon_the party receiving ), happen all every hour of_our lives, without attracting even momentary notice Coincidences, general , are great stumbling-blocks in_the way of_that class thinkers who have_been educated to_know nothing of_the theory probabilities - that theory to_which_the most glorious objects human research are indebted for_the most in_the present instance , had the

Section [1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6]