" scarcely tell you," said Dupin, as he finished the perusal notes, " far more intricate case than that Rue Morgue; it differs in one important respect an ordinary, although an atrocious instance of crime nothing peculiarly outr observe that, reason, the mystery considered easy, when, reason, it considered difficult, of solution Thus; at first, thought unnecessary to offer reward The myrmidons of G--- were able at once to comprehend how and why such an atrocity committed picture imaginations mode - many modes - and motive - many motives; and because not impossible that either numerous modes and motives the actual one, taken it for granted that must But the case these variable fancies were entertained, very plausibility which each assumed, understood as indicative rather difficulties than facilities attend elucidation before observed by prominences above the plane ordinary, that reason feels her way, if at all, in her search true, and proper question in cases such , 'what has occurred ? ' as 'what has occurred that has never occurred before ? ' investigations house of Madame L'Espanaye, {*14} the agents of G---- were discouraged and confounded very unusualness which, to properly regulated intellect, afforded the surest omen of success; while this same intellect plunged in despair ordinary character of all that met the eye case perfumery-girl, and yet told of nothing but easy triumph functionaries Prefecture

" case of Madame L'Espanaye and her daughter , even beginning investigation, that murder committed The idea of suicide was excluded at once Here, too, freed, commencement, from all supposition of self- murder The body found Barrire du Roule, was found under such circumstances leave us no room for embarrassment important point But suggested corpse discovered, that Marie Rogt conviction of whose assassin, or assassins, the reward is offered, and respecting whom, solely, our agreement arranged Prefect We both know this gentleman well do to trust him too far If, dating our inquiries body found, and thence tracing murderer, we yet discover this body that of some other individual than Marie; or, if starting living Marie, her, yet find her unassassinated -- in either case we lose our labor; since Monsieur G---- to deal own purpose, therefore, of justice, indispensable first step the determination identity corpse Marie Rogt missing

" public the arguments of L'Etoile weight; and journal itself is convinced importance would appear manner it commences one essays - 'Several morning papers day,' it says, 'speak _conclusive article in Monday's Etoile ' , this article appears conclusive of little beyond the zeal inditer bear in mind that, in general, object newspapers rather to create sensation -- point - than to further the cause of truth The latter end is only pursued when it seems coincident former The print which merely falls in with ordinary opinion (however well founded this opinion ) earns for itself no credit mob The mass people regard as profound only him who suggests pungent contradictions general idea In ratiocination, not in literature, epigram the most immediately most universally appreciated In both, lowest order of merit

"What I mean is, the mingled epigram and melodrame idea, that Marie Rogt still lives, rather than any true plausibility idea, suggested it to L'Etoile, and secured it favorable reception public examine the heads journal's argument; endeavoring to avoid the incoherence originally set forth

"The first aim writer is to show, brevity interval between Marie's disappearance finding floating corpse, corpse that of Marie The reduction interval to its smallest possible dimension, becomes thus, at once, an object reasoner rash pursuit object, he rushes into mere assumption outset ' folly to suppose,' , ' murder, if murder was committed on her body, consummated soon enough enabled her murderers to throw the body river before midnight ' We demand at once, and very naturally, why ? Why folly to suppose murder was committed within five minutes_ girl's quitting her mother's house ? Why folly to suppose murder was committed at any given period day ? been assassinations at all hours But, had the murder taken place at any moment between nine o'clock morning of Sunday, and quarter before midnight, there would still time enough 'to throw the body river before midnight ' This assumption, then, amounts precisely - murder was not committed on Sunday at all - and, allow L'Etoile to assume this, permit it any liberties whatever The paragraph beginning ' folly to suppose murder, etc ,' however it appears as printed in L'Etoile, imagined existed actually thus brain inditer - ' folly to suppose murder, if murder was committed body, committed soon enough enabled her murderers to throw the body river before midnight; folly, we say, to suppose all this, and to suppose same time, ( resolved to suppose,) body was not thrown in until after midnight' -- sentence sufficiently inconsequential in itself, but not so utterly preposterous one printed

"Were it my purpose," continued Dupin, "merely out case_ against this passage of L'Etoile's argument, safely leave it where , however, with L'Etoile that , but truth The sentence has but one meaning, as it stands; and this meaning fairly stated: but material that we go behind the mere words, for an idea which these words have obviously intended, and failed to convey It design journalist that, at whatever period day or night of Sunday this murder was committed, improbable assassins ventured to bear the corpse river before midnight And herein lies, really, the assumption I complain assumed murder was committed at such position, and under such circumstances, bearing it river became necessary Now, the assassination taken place river's brink, or river itself; and, thus, the throwing the corpse water resorted to, at any period day or night, most obvious and most immediate mode of disposal understand that nothing here as probable, or as cincident with my own opinion My design, , has no reference facts case merely to caution you against the whole tone of L'Etoile's suggestion, by calling your attention to its ex parte character outset

"Having prescribed thus limit to suit its own preconceived notions; having assumed that, were the body of Marie, it water but very brief time; the journal goes on :

'All experience has shown that drowned bodies, or bodies thrown water immediately after death by violence, require from six to ten days for sufficient decomposition place to bring them top water Even when cannon is fired over corpse, and it rises before five or six days' immersion, it sinks again if let alone '