The compliment my friend rebutted as best , 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 own views, interspersing them with long comments evidence; latter we yet in possession He discoursed much, and beyond doubt, learnedly; while I hazarded an occasional suggestion night wore drowsily away Dupin, sitting steadily accustomed arm-chair, embodiment of respectful attention He wore spectacles, during the whole interview; and an occasional signal glance beneath their green glasses, sufficed me that he slept not the less soundly, because silently, seven or eight leaden-footed hours which immediately preceded the departure Prefect

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

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

On Monday, ascertained girl Rue des Drmes; and day elapsed without tidings of her, tardy search was instituted at several points city, and its environs not, however until the fourth day period of disappearance that any thing satisfactory was ascertained respecting her day, (Wednesday, the twenty-fifth of June,) Monsieur Beauvais, {*8} who, with friend, making inquiries for Marie near the Barrire du Roule, shore Seine opposite the Rue Pave St Andre, was informed that corpse had just been towed ashore by some fishermen, who had found it floating river Upon seeing the body, Beauvais, after some hesitation, identified it perfumery-girl His friend recognized it more promptly

The face was suffused with dark blood, some issued mouth No foam was seen, as case merely drowned no discoloration cellular tissue throat were bruises and impressions of fingers The arms were bent over chest and were rigid The right hand was clenched; the left partially open left wrist were two circular excoriations, apparently the effect of ropes, or of rope in more than one volution part right wrist, also, was much chafed, back throughout its extent, but more especially shoulder-blades In bringing the body shore the fishermen had attached rope; but excoriations effected The flesh neck was much swollen There were no cuts apparent, or bruises which appeared the effect of blows piece of lace was found tied so tightly around the neck be hidden from sight; completely buried flesh, and was fasted by knot which lay just under the left ear This alone sufficed death The medical testimony spoke confidently virtuous character deceased She subjected, it said, to brutal violence The corpse was condition when found, that there no difficulty in its recognition by friends

The dress was much torn and otherwise disordered outer garment, slip, about foot wide, torn upward bottom hem waist, but not torn off wound three times around the waist, and secured by sort of hitch back The dress immediately beneath the frock was of fine muslin; and slip eighteen inches wide torn entirely out - torn very evenly and with great care found around her neck, fitting loosely, and secured with hard knot Over this muslin slip slip of lace, the strings of bonnet were attached; the bonnet being appended The knot the strings bonnet were fastened, was not lady's, but slip or sailor's knot

recognition corpse, not, as usual, taken Morgue, (this formality being superfluous,) but hastily interred not far front the spot at which brought ashore exertions of Beauvais, the matter was industriously hushed up, as far as possible; and had elapsed before any public emotion resulted weekly paper, {*9} however, took up the theme; the corpse was disinterred, and re-examination instituted; but nothing was elicited beyond already noted The clothes, however, were now submitted mother and friends deceased, and fully identified worn girl upon leaving home

Meantime, the excitement increased hourly Several individuals were arrested and discharged St Eustache fell especially under suspicion; and he failed, at first, an intelligible account whereabouts during the Sunday Marie left home Subsequently, however, he submitted to Monsieur G----, affidavits, accounting satisfactorily for every hour day As time passed and no discovery ensued, thousand contradictory rumors were circulated, and journalists busied themselves in suggestions , the one which attracted the most notice, idea that Marie Rogt still lived - corpse found Seine of some other unfortunate proper that I submit reader some passages which embody the suggestion alluded to These passages are literal translations from L'Etoile, {*10} paper conducted, in general, with much ability

"Mademoiselle Rogt left her mother's house on Sunday morning, June the twenty-second, 18--, ostensible purpose of going her aunt, or some other connexion, Rue des Drmes hour, nobody is proved seen her no trace or tidings of her at all . . There has no person, whatever, come forward, , who saw her at all, , after she left her mother's door . . Now, though no evidence that Marie Rogt was land living after nine o'clock on Sunday, June the twenty-second, proof that, up hour, she was alive On Wednesday noon, at twelve, female body was discovered afloat shore Barrire de Roule , even presume that Marie Rogt was thrown river within three hours after she left her mother's house, only three days time she left her home - three days to an hour But folly to suppose murder, if murder was committed on her body, consummated soon enough enabled her murderers to throw the body river before midnight Those guilty horrid crimes, choose darkness rather the light . . Thus we see that body found river of Marie Rogt, it could only water two and half days, or three outside All experience has shown that drowned bodies, or bodies thrown water immediately after death by violence, require from six to ten days for decomposition place to bring them top water Even where cannon is fired over corpse, and it rises before five or six days' immersion, it sinks again, if let alone Now, we ask, there cave to cause departure ordinary course of nature ? . body kept in its mangled state on shore until Tuesday night, some trace found on shore murderers doubtful point, also, whether the body so soon afloat, even were it thrown in after having been dead two days And, furthermore, exceedingly improbable that any villains who had committed such murder as is here supposed, throw the body in without weight to sink it, when such precaution so easily been taken "

The editor here proceeds to argue body must water "not three days merely, but, , five times three days," because decomposed that Beauvais had great difficulty in recognizing it This latter point, however, was fully disproved I continue the translation: