"True," said Dupin, after long and thoughtful whiff from

his meerschaum, "although guilty of certain doggrel myself "

"Suppose you detail," said I, "the particulars of your search "

"Why the fact is, we took our time, and we searched every where long experience affairs the entire building, room by room; devoting the nights of whole week to each We examined, first, the furniture of each apartment We opened every possible drawer; and I presume that, to properly trained police agent, such thing as secret drawer is impossible Any man is dolt who permits 'secret' drawer to escape him in search kind The thing is so plain certain amount of bulk - of space - accounted for in every cabinet Then accurate rules The fiftieth part of line escape us cabinets we took the chairs The cushions we probed fine long needles seen me employ tables we removed the tops "

"Why so ? "

"Sometimes the top of table, or other similarly arranged piece of furniture, is removed person wishing to conceal an article; then the leg is excavated, the article deposited cavity, top replaced The bottoms and tops of bedposts are employed same way "

"But the cavity be detected by sounding ? " I asked

"By no means, if, article is deposited, sufficient wadding of cotton be placed around it Besides, case, we were obliged without noise "

"But removed - taken to pieces all articles of furniture it possible deposit manner you mention letter compressed into thin spiral roll, not differing much in shape or bulk from large knitting-needle, and form it inserted rung of chair, for example take to pieces all the chairs ? "

"Certainly not; but better - we examined the rungs of every chair hotel, and, indeed the jointings of every description of furniture, aid of most powerful microscope Had there been any traces of recent disturbance we

have failed to detect it instantly single grain of gimlet-dust, for example, as obvious as an apple Any disorder glueing - any unusual gaping joints - sufficed to insure detection "

"I presume you looked mirrors, boards plates, and you probed the beds bed-clothes, curtains and carpets "

"That ; and when we had absolutely completed every particle furniture , then we examined the house itself We divided its entire surface into compartments, which we numbered, none missed; then we scrutinized each individual square inch premises, including the two houses immediately adjoining, microscope, as before "

"The two houses adjoining ! " I exclaimed; " had great deal of trouble "

"We had; but the reward offered is prodigious ! "

"You include the grounds houses ? "

"All the grounds are paved with brick They comparatively little trouble We examined the moss bricks, and found it undisturbed "

"You looked among D--'s papers, , and books library ? "

"Certainly; we opened every package and parcel; we opened every book, but we turned over every leaf in each volume, not contenting ourselves with mere shake, according fashion of police officers We also measured the thickness of every book-cover, most accurate admeasurement, and applied to each the most jealous scrutiny microscope Had any bindings been recently meddled with, it utterly impossible fact escaped observation Some five or six volumes, just hands binder, we carefully probed, longitudinally, needles "

"You explored the floors beneath the carpets ? "

"Beyond doubt We removed every carpet, and examined the boards microscope "

" paper walls ? "

"Yes "

"You looked cellars ? "

" "

"Then," , " making miscalculation, letter premises, suppose "

" right there," said the Prefect "And now, Dupin, what would you advise me ? "

" thorough re-search premises "

" absolutely needless," replied G-- " not more sure that I breathe than letter Hotel "

" no better advice ," said Dupin " , , an accurate description letter ? "

"Oh yes ! " - And here the Prefect, producing memorandum-book proceeded to read aloud minute account internal, and especially external appearance missing document Soon after finishing the perusal description, his departure, more entirely depressed in spirits than I had ever known the good gentleman before In about month afterwards he paid us another visit, and found us occupied very nearly as before pipe and chair and entered into some ordinary conversation , -

"Well, but G--, what purloined letter ? I presume at last made up your mind no such thing as overreaching the Minister ? "

"Confound him, say I - yes; the re-examination, however, as Dupin suggested - but all labor lost, as it "

" reward offered, did you say ? " asked Dupin

"Why, very great deal - very liberal reward - I don't like , precisely; but say, that I wouldn't mind giving my individual check for fifty thousand francs to obtain me that letter The fact is, becoming of more and more importance every day; reward lately doubled were trebled, however, do no more than "

"Why, yes," said Dupin, drawlingly, whiffs meerschaum, "I really - think, G--, exerted yourself - utmost - do little more, , eh ? "

"How ? - in what way ? '

"Why - puff, puff - - puff, puff - employ counsel matter, eh ? - puff, puff, puff remember the story they tell of Abernethy ? "

"No; hang Abernethy ! "

" ! hang him and welcome But, once upon time, certain rich miser conceived the design of spunging Abernethy for medical opinion Getting up, purpose, an ordinary conversation in private company, he insinuated his case physician, of an imaginary individual

" ' suppose,' said the miser, 'that his symptoms are such and such; now, doctor, what would directed him ? '

" 'Take ! ' said Abernethy, 'why, take advice, ' "

"But," said the Prefect, little discomposed, " perfectly willing advice, and really give fifty thousand francs to aid me matter "

" case," replied Dupin, opening drawer, and producing check-book, " fill me up check amount mentioned have signed it, hand you the letter "

astounded The Prefect appeared absolutely thunder-stricken For some minutes he remained speechless and motionless, looking incredulously at my friend with open mouth, and eyes that seemed starting from their sockets; then, apparently recovering himself in some measure, he seized pen, and after several pauses and vacant stares, finally filled up and signed check for fifty thousand francs, and handed it across the table to Dupin The latter examined it carefully and deposited it pocket-book; then, unlocking an escritoire, took thence letter and gave it Prefect This functionary grasped it in perfect agony of joy, opened it with trembling hand, cast rapid glance at its contents, and then, scrambling and struggling door, rushed unceremoniously room and house, without having uttered syllable since Dupin had requested him up the check

When he had gone, my friend entered into some explanations

"The Parisian police," , "are exceedingly able in their way persevering, ingenious, cunning, and thoroughly versed knowledge which their duties seem chiefly to demand Thus, when G-- detailed his made of searching the premises Hotel D--, entire confidence having made satisfactory investigation - as his labors extended "

" as his labors extended ? " said I

"Yes," said Dupin "The measures adopted only the best kind, but carried out to absolute perfection Had the letter been deposited range search, these fellows would, beyond question, have found it "

I merely laughed - but quite serious in all that