"On Monday, bargemen connected revenue service, saw empty boat floating down the Seine Sails were lying bottom boat The bargeman towed it under the barge office The next morning taken from thence, without the knowledge of any officers The rudder is now barge office " - Le Diligence - Thursday, June 26 §

Upon reading these various extracts, they seemed irrelevant, but perceive no mode brought to bear matter in hand I waited for some explanation from Dupin

" my present design," , "to dwell first and second extracts copied them chiefly to show you the extreme remissness police, who, as far as understand Prefect, troubled themselves, in any respect, with an examination naval officer alluded to Yet mere folly that first and second disappearance of Marie, no supposable connection admit the first elopement resulted in quarrel lovers, return home betrayed now prepared to view second elopement (if that an elopement has again taken place) as indicating renewal betrayer's advances, rather than result of new proposals by second individual - prepared to regard it as 'making up' old amour, rather than commencement of new one The chances are ten to one, that he who had once eloped with Marie, would again propose an elopement, rather than that she proposals of elopement made by one individual, them made to her by another And here let me call your attention fact, time elapsing first ascertained, second supposed elopement, is more general period cruises men-of-war Had the lover been interrupted first villany necessity of departure to sea, and had he seized the first moment return to renew the base designs not yet altogether accomplished - or not yet altogether accomplished by him ? Of all these things nothing

" say, however, that, second instance, no elopement as imagined Certainly not - but are we prepared that not the frustrated design ? Beyond St Eustache, and perhaps Beauvais, no recognized, no open, no honorable suitors of Marie Of none other any thing said Who, then, secret lover, of whom the relatives ( most ) know nothing, but whom Marie meets morning of Sunday, and so deeply in her confidence, that she hesitates not to remain until the shades evening descend, amid the solitary groves Barrire du Roule ? Who secret lover, I ask, of whom, , most relatives know nothing ? And what means the singular prophecy of Madame Rogt morning of Marie's departure ? -- ' that never see Marie again '

"But imagine Madame Rogt privy design of elopement, may we not suppose this design entertained girl ? Upon quitting home, she gave it understood that she was about to visit her aunt Rue des Drmes and St Eustache was requested for her at dark Now, at first glance, this fact strongly militates against my suggestion; - but reflect That she did meet some companion, and proceed across the river, reaching the Barrire du Roule at so late an hour as three o'clock afternoon, is known But in consenting so to accompany this individual, (_for whatever purpose -- to her mother known or unknown,_) she thought of her expressed intention when leaving home, and surprise and suspicion aroused bosom of her affianced suitor, St Eustache, when, calling for her, hour appointed, Rue des Drmes, find that she there, and when, moreover, upon returning pension alarming intelligence, become aware of her continued absence from home She thought things, She foreseen the chagrin of St Eustache, the suspicion of all have thought of returning to brave this suspicion; but the suspicion becomes point of trivial importance to her, suppose her not intending to return

" imagine her thinking thus - ' to meet certain person of elopement, or for certain other purposes known only to myself necessary that there be no chance of interruption - sufficient time given us to elude pursuit - give it understood that visit and spend the day with my aunt Rue des Drmes - I well tell St Eustache not until dark - , my absence from home longest possible period, without causing suspicion or anxiety, accounted for, and gain more time than in manner If I bid St Eustache call at dark, sure not before; but, if I wholly neglect to bid him call, for escape diminished, since expected that I return the earlier, and my absence will the sooner excite anxiety Now, were my design to return at all - if I had in contemplation merely stroll individual - it my policy to bid St Eustache call; for, calling, sure to ascertain that played him false - fact keep him for ever in ignorance, by leaving home without notifying him intention, by returning before dark, and by then stating that I to visit my aunt Rue des Drmes But, my design never to return - or not for some weeks - or not until certain concealments are effected - the gaining only point give myself any concern '

" observed, in your notes, most general opinion sad affair is, and was first, girl the victim of gang of blackguards Now, the popular opinion, under certain conditions, disregarded When arising of itself -- when manifesting itself in strictly spontaneous manner -- look upon it as analogous _intuition the idiosyncrasy individual man of genius In ninety-nine cases hundred abide by its decision But important that no palpable traces of _suggestion The opinion rigorously the public's own_; distinction is often exceedingly difficult to perceive and to maintain present instance, it appears 'public opinion' in respect to gang, superinduced collateral event detailed third extracts All Paris is excited discovered corpse of Marie, girl young, beautiful and notorious This corpse is found, bearing marks of violence, and floating river But now made known that, very period, or very period, supposed girl was assassinated, an outrage similar in nature endured deceased, although less in extent, was perpetuated, by gang of young ruffians, person of second young female wonderful one known atrocity should influence the popular judgment in regard other unknown ? This judgment awaited direction, known outrage seemed so opportunely to afford it ! Marie, too, was found river; and very river known outrage committed The connexion two events had palpable, true wonder failure populace to appreciate and to seize it But, , the one atrocity, known so committed, is, if any thing, evidence other, committed nearly coincident, was not so committed It miracle indeed, if, while gang of ruffians were perpetrating, at given locality, most unheard-of wrong, there another similar gang, in similar locality, same city, under the same circumstances, same means and appliances, engaged in wrong of precisely the same aspect, at precisely the same period ! Yet in what, marvellous train of coincidence, does the accidentally suggested opinion populace call upon us ?