The Murders in the Rue Morgue by Edgar Allan Poe
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the Murders in_the rue morgue

by Edgar Allan Poe

what song the Syrens sang, or what name Achilles assumed when he hid himself among women, although puzzling questions, are_not beyond _all conjecture .

--_Sir Thomas Browne .

the mental features discoursed of as_the analytical, are, in themselves, but little susceptible of analysis . we appreciate them only in their effects . we_know of_them, among other things, that_they_are always to_their possessor, when inordinately possessed, a source of_the liveliest enjoyment . as_the strong man exults in_his physical ability, delighting in_such exercises as call his muscles into action, so glories the analyst in_that moral activity which _disentangles . he derives pleasure from even the most trivial occupations bringing his talent into play . he_is fond of enigmas, of conundrums, of hieroglyphics; exhibiting in_his solutions of each a degree of acumen which appears to_the ordinary apprehension prternatural . his results, brought about by_the very soul and essence of method, have, in truth, the whole air of intuition .

the faculty of re- solution is possibly much invigorated by mathematical study, and especially by_that highest branch of it which, unjustly, and merely on account of_its retrograde operations, has_been called, as_if par excellence_, analysis . yet to calculate is_not in itself to analyse .a chess- player, for example, does the one without effort at_the other . it follows that_the game of chess, in its effects upon mental character, is greatly misunderstood . I_am not now writing a treatise, but simply prefacing a somewhat peculiar narrative by observations very_much at random; i_will, therefore, take occasion to assert that_the higher powers of_the reflective intellect are more decidedly and more usefully tasked by_the unostentatious game of draughts than by a the elaborate frivolity of chess . in_this latter, where the pieces have different and bizarre_ motions, with various and variable values, what_is only complex is mistaken (a not unusual error) for what_is profound . the attention_ is here called powerfully into play . if_it flag for an instant, an oversight is committed resulting in injury or defeat . the possible moves being not_only manifold but involute, the chances of_such oversights are multiplied; and in nine cases out of ten it_is_the more concentrative rather than_the more acute player who conquers . in draughts, on_the contrary, where the moves are unique and_have but little variation, the probabilities of inadvertence are diminished, and_the mere attention being left comparatively unemployed, what advantages are obtained by either party are obtained by superior _acumen . to_be less abstract - let_us suppose a game of draughts where the pieces are reduced to four kings, and where, of_course, no oversight is_to_be expected . it_is obvious that here the victory can_be decided ( the players being at all equal) only by some recherch_ movement, the result of some strong exertion of_the intellect . deprived of ordinary resources, the analyst throws himself into_the spirit of_his opponent, identifies himself therewith, and not unfrequently sees thus, at a glance, the sole methods ( sometime indeed absurdly simple ones) by_which he_may seduce into error or hurry into miscalculation .

whist has long been noted for its influence upon what_is termed the calculating power; and men of_the highest order of intellect have_been known to_take an apparently unaccountable delight in_it, while eschewing chess as frivolous . beyond doubt there_is nothing of a similar nature so greatly tasking the faculty of analysis . the best chess- player in Christendom may_be little more than_the best player of chess; but proficiency in whist implies capacity for success in all those more important undertakings where mind struggles with mind . when I_say proficiency, I mean that perfection in_the game which includes acomprehension of all the sources whence legitimate advantage may_be derived . these are not_only manifold but multiform, and lie frequently among recesses of thought altogether inaccessible to_the ordinary understanding . to observe attentively is to remember distinctly; and, so_far, the concentrative chess- player will do very_well at whist; while the rules of Hoyle ( themselves based upon_the mere mechanism of_the game) are sufficiently and generally comprehensible . thus to_have a retentive memory, and to_proceed by " the book," are points commonly regarded as_the sum total of good playing . but it_is in matters beyond the limits of mere rule that_the skill of_the analyst is evinced . he makes, in silence, a host of observations and inferences . so, perhaps, do his companions; and_the difference in_the extent of_the information obtained, lies not so_much in_the validity of_the inference as in_the quality of_the observation . the necessary knowledge is_that of what to observe . our player confines himself not at all; nor, because the game is_the object, does he reject deductions from things external to_the game . he examines the countenance of_his partner, comparing it carefully with_that of each of_his opponents . he considers the mode of assorting the cards in each hand; often counting trump by trump, and honor by honor, through_the glances bestowed by their holders upon each . he notes every variation of face as_the play progresses, gathering a fund of thought from_the differences in_the expression of certainty, of surprise, of triumph, or of chagrin . from_the manner of gathering up a trick he judges whether the person taking it can make another in_the suit . he recognises what_is played through feint, by_the air with_which it_is thrown upon_the table .a casual or inadvertent word; the accidental dropping or turning of a card, with_the accompanying anxiety or carelessness in regard to its concealment; the counting of_the tricks, with_the order of_their arrangement; embarrassment, hesitation, eagerness or trepidation - all afford, to_his apparently intuitive perception, indications of_the true state of affairs . the first two_or_three rounds having been played, he_is in full possession of_the contents of each hand, and thenceforward puts down his cards with as absolute a precision of purpose as if_the rest of_the party had turned outward the faces of_their own .

the analytical power should_not_be confounded with ample ingenuity; for while the analyst is necessarily ingenious, the ingenious man is often remarkably incapable of analysis . the constructive or combining power, by_which ingenuity is usually manifested, and to_which_the phrenologists (I believe erroneously) have assigned a separate organ, supposing it a primitive faculty, has_been so frequently seen in those whose intellect bordered otherwise upon idiocy, as to_have attracted general observation among writers on morals . between ingenuity and_the analytic ability there exists a difference far greater, indeed, than that between_the fancy and_the imagination, but of a character very strictly analogous . it_will_be found, in_fact, that_the ingenious are always fanciful, and_the truly imaginative never otherwise than analytic .

the narrative which follows will appear to_the reader somewhat in_the light of a commentary upon_the propositions just advanced .

Residing in Paris during the spring and part of_the summer of 18--, I there became acquainted with aMonsieur C .Auguste Dupin . this young gentleman was of an excellent - indeed of an illustrious family, but, by a variety of untoward events, had_been reduced to such poverty that_the energy of_his character succumbed beneath it, and he ceased to bestir himself in_the_world, or to care for_the retrieval of_his fortunes . by courtesy of_his creditors, there still remained in_his possession a small remnant of_his patrimony; and, upon_the income arising from_this, he managed, by_means of a rigorous economy, to procure the necessaries of life, without troubling himself about its superfluities .Books, indeed, were his sole luxuries, and in Paris these are easily obtained .

our first meeting was at an obscure library in_the rue Montmartre, where the accident of_our both being in search of_the same very rare and very remarkable volume, brought us into closer communion . we saw each_other again and again . i_was deeply interested in_the little family history which he detailed to_me with all that candor which aFrenchman indulges whenever mere self is his theme . i_was astonished, too, at_the vast extent of_his reading; and, above all, I_felt my soul enkindled within me by_the wild fervor, and_the vivid freshness of_his imagination .Seeking in Paris the objects I then sought, I_felt that_the societyof such a man would_be to_me a treasure beyond price; and this feeling I frankly confided to him . it_was at_length arranged that we_should live together during my stay in_the city; and as my worldly circumstances were somewhat less embarrassed than his own, i_was permitted to_be at_the expense of renting, and furnishing in a style which suited the rather fantastic gloom of_our common temper, a time- eaten and grotesque mansion, long deserted through superstitions into which we_did_not inquire, and tottering to its fall in a retired and desolate portion of_the Faubourg St .Germain .

had the routine of_our life at_this place been known to_the world, we should_have_been regarded as madmen - although, perhaps, as madmen of a harmless nature . our seclusion was perfect . we admitted no visitors . indeed the locality of_our retirement had_been carefully kept a secret from my own former associates; and it had_been many years since Dupin had ceased to_know or be known in Paris . we existed within ourselves alone .

it_was a freak of fancy in my friend ( for what else shall I call it ? ) to_be enamored of_the night for her own sake; and into_this _bizarrerie_, as into all his others, I quietly fell; giving myself up to_his wild whims with a perfect abandon . the sable divinity would_not herself dwell with_us always; but we_could counterfeit her presence . at_the first dawn of_the morning we closed all the messy shutters of_our old building; lighting a couple of tapers which, strongly perfumed, threw out only the ghastliest and feeblest of rays . by_the aid of_these we then busied our souls in dreams - reading, writing, or conversing, until warned by_the clock of_the advent of_the true darkness . then we sallied forth into_the streets arm in arm, continuing the topics of_the day, or roaming far and wide until a late hour, seeking, amid the wild lights and shadows of_the populous city, that infinity of mental excitement which quiet observation can afford .

at such times I_could_not help remarking and admiring ( although from_his rich ideality I had_been prepared to expect it) a peculiar analytic ability in Dupin . he_seemed, too, to_take an eager delight in its exercise - if_not exactly in its display - and did_not hesitate to confess the pleasure thus derived . he boastedto me, with a low chuckling laugh, that most men, in respect to himself, wore windows in their bosoms, and was wont to_follow up such assertions by direct and very startling proofs of_his intimate knowledge of_my own . his manner at_these moments was frigid and abstract; his eyes were vacant in expression; while his voice, usually a rich tenor, rose into a treble which would_have sounded petulantly but for_the deliberateness and entire distinctness of_the enunciation .Observing him in_these moods, I often dwelt meditatively upon_the old philosophy of_the Bi- part soul, and amused myself with_the fancy of a double Dupin - the creative and_the resolvent .

let it not be supposed, from what I_have just said, that I_am detailing any mystery, or penning any romance . what I_have described in_the Frenchman, was merely the result of an excited, or perhaps of a diseased intelligence . but of_the character of_his remarks at_the periods in_question an example will best convey the idea .

we were strolling one night down a long dirty street in_the vicinity of_the Palais royal . being both, apparently, occupied with thought, neither of us had spoken a syllable for fifteen minutes at_least . all at once Dupin broke forth with_these words:

" he_is a very little fellow, that's true, and would do better for_the _Thtre des Varits ."

" there can_be no_doubt of_that," I replied unwittingly, and not at first observing ( so_much had I been absorbed in reflection) the extraordinary manner in_which_the speaker had chimed in with my meditations . in an instant afterward I recollected myself, and my astonishment was profound .

"Dupin," said I, gravely, " this_is beyond my comprehension . I_do_not hesitate to_say that I_am amazed, and can scarcely credit my senses . how was_it possible you_should know i_was thinking of ----- ? " here I paused, to ascertain beyond a doubt whether he really knew of whom i_thought .

-- " of Chantilly," said he, " why do_you pause ? you were remarking to yourself that his diminutive figure unfitted him for tragedy ."

this_was precisely what had formed the subject of_my reflections .Chantilly was a quondam cobbler of_the rue St .Denis, who, becoming stage- mad, had attempted the rle of Xerxes, in Crbillon's tragedy so called, and been notoriously Pasquinaded for_his pains .

" tell me, for heaven's sake," I exclaimed, " the method - if method there_is - by_which you_have_been enabled to fathom my soul in_this_matter ." in_fact i_was even more startled than I would_have_been willing to express .

" it was_the fruiterer," replied my friend, " who brought you to_the conclusion that_the mender of soles was not of sufficient height for Xerxes et ID genus omne ."

" the fruiterer ! - you astonish me - I_know no fruiterer whomsoever ."

" the man who ran up against you as_we entered the street - it may have_been fifteen minutes ago ."

I now remembered that, in_fact, a fruiterer, carrying upon his head a large basket of apples, had nearly thrown me down, by accident, as_we passed from_the rue C ---- into_the thoroughfare where we stood; but what this had to_do with Chantilly I_could_not possibly understand .

there_was not a particle of charltanerie about Dupin ." i_will explain," he_said, " and_that you_may comprehend all clearly, we_will first retrace the course of your meditations, from_the moment in_which I spoke to_you until that of_the rencontre with_the fruiterer in_question . the larger links of_the chain run thus - Chantilly, orion, Dr .Nichols, Epicurus, Stereotomy, the street stones, the fruiterer ."

there_are few persons who_have_not, at some period of_their lives, amused themselves in retracing the steps by_which particular conclusions of_their own minds have_been attained . the occupation is often full of interest and he who attempts it for_the first time is astonished by_the apparently illimitable distance and incoherence between_the starting- point and_the goal . what, then, must_have been my amazement when I heard the Frenchman speak what he had just spoken, and when I_could_not help acknowledging

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