"Yes," said I, "I remember his merriment well I really thought fallen into convulsions "

"The material world," continued Dupin, "abounds with very strict analogies immaterial; and thus some color of truth given rhetorical dogma, that metaphor, or simile, made to strengthen an argument, embellish description The principle vis inerti, for example, identical in physics and metaphysics more true former, that large body is with more difficulty set in motion than smaller one, its subsequent momentum is commensurate difficulty, than , latter, that intellects vaster capacity, while more forcible, more constant, and more eventful in their movements than those of inferior grade, are yet the less readily moved, and more embarrassed and full of hesitation first few steps progress Again: ever noticed which street signs, over the shop- doors, are the most attractive of attention ? "

" never given the matter thought,"

" game of puzzles," he resumed, " played upon map One party playing requires another given word - the name of town, river, state or empire - any word, in short, motley and perplexed surface chart novice game generally seeks to embarrass his opponents by giving them the most minutely lettered names; but the adept selects such words as stretch, in large characters, from one end chart other These, like the over-largely lettered signs and placards street, escape observation by dint of being excessively obvious; and here the physical oversight is precisely analogous moral inapprehension the intellect suffers unnoticed those considerations which are too obtrusively and too palpably self-evident But point, it appears, somewhat above or beneath the understanding Prefect He never once thought it probable, or possible, Minister had deposited the letter immediately beneath the nose whole world, by way of best preventing any portion world from perceiving it

"But the more I reflected daring, dashing, and discriminating ingenuity of D--; fact document must always at hand, if he intended to use it to good purpose; and decisive evidence, obtained Prefect, not hidden limits dignitary's ordinary search - the more satisfied I became that, to conceal this letter, the Minister had resorted comprehensive and sagacious expedient of not attempting to conceal it at all

"Full ideas, I prepared myself with pair of green spectacles, and called one fine morning, quite by accident, Ministerial hotel D-- at home, yawning, lounging, and dawdling, as usual, and pretending last extremity of ennui , perhaps, the most really energetic human being now alive - but only when nobody sees him

" even , I complained weak eyes, and lamented the necessity spectacles, under cover I cautiously and thoroughly surveyed the whole apartment, while seemingly intent only conversation host

"I paid especial attention to large writing-table near which he sat, and lay confusedly, some miscellaneous letters and other papers, with musical instruments and few books Here, however, after long and very deliberate scrutiny, nothing to excite particular suspicion

" my eyes, in going the circuit room, fell upon trumpery fillagree card-rack of pasteboard, that hung dangling by dirty blue ribbon, from little brass knob just beneath the middle mantel-piece rack, which had three or four compartments, were five or six visiting cards and solitary letter This last was much soiled and crumpled torn nearly in two, across the middle - design, first instance, to tear it entirely up as worthless, altered, or stayed, second It had large black seal, bearing the D-- cipher very conspicuously, and was addressed, in diminutive female hand, to D--, the minister, himself thrust carelessly, and even, as it seemed, contemptuously, into uppermost divisions rack

"No sooner had I glanced letter, than I concluded it that in search , , to all appearance, radically different one the Prefect had read us so minute description Here the seal was large and black, D-- cipher; there small and red, ducal arms S-- family Here, the address, Minister, diminutive and feminine; there the superscription, to certain royal personage, was markedly bold and decided; the size alone formed point of correspondence But, then, the radicalness differences, excessive; the dirt; the soiled and torn condition paper, so inconsistent true methodical habits of D--, and so suggestive of design to delude the beholder into an idea worthlessness document; these things, together hyper-obtrusive situation document, full view of every visiter, and thus exactly in accordance conclusions I had previously arrived; these things, , were strongly corroborative of suspicion, in one who came intention to suspect

"I protracted my visit as long as possible, and, while I maintained most animated discussion Minister upon topic which well had never failed to interest and excite him, I kept my attention really riveted letter examination, I committed to memory its external appearance and arrangement rack; and also fell, , upon discovery which set at rest whatever trivial doubt entertained In scrutinizing the edges paper, I observed them more chafed than seemed necessary They presented the broken appearance manifested when stiff paper, having been once folded and pressed with folder, is refolded in reversed direction, same creases or edges which had formed the original fold This discovery was sufficient clear letter turned, as glove, inside out, re-directed, and re-sealed I bade the Minister good morning, and took my departure at once, leaving gold snuff-box table

"The next morning I called snuff-box, when we resumed, quite eagerly, the conversation preceding day While thus engaged, however, loud report, of pistol, was heard immediately beneath the windows hotel, and was succeeded by series of fearful screams, shoutings of terrified mob D-- rushed to casement, threw it open, and looked out meantime, I stepped card-rack took the letter, put it in my pocket, and replaced it by fac-simile, ( as regards externals,) which I had carefully prepared at my lodgings - imitating the D-- cipher, very readily, of seal formed of bread

"The disturbance street occasioned frantic behavior of man with musket He had fired it among crowd of women and children It proved, however, without ball, fellow was suffered his way as lunatic or drunkard When he had gone, D-- came window, whither I had followed him immediately upon securing the object in view Soon afterwards I bade him farewell The pretended lunatic was man in my own pay "

"But what purpose had you," I asked, "in replacing the letter by fac-simile ? Would it not better, first visit, seized it openly, and departed ? "

"D--," replied Dupin, "is desperate man, and man of nerve His hotel, too, without attendants devoted interests Had the wild attempt you suggest, never have left the Ministerial presence alive The good people of Paris heard of me no more But I had an object apart considerations my political prepossessions , I act as partisan lady concerned For eighteen months the Minister has had her power She has now him in hers - since, being unaware letter possession, proceed exactions as Thus will he inevitably commit himself, at once, political destruction His downfall, too, more precipitate than awkward all facilis descensus Averni; but in all kinds of climbing, as Catalani said of singing, far more easy up than down present instance no sympathy - no pity - for him who descends He monstrum horrendum, an unprincipled man of genius I confess, however, that like the precise character thoughts, when, being defied by her whom the Prefect terms 'a certain personage' reduced to opening the letter which I left for him card-rack "

"How ? did you put any thing particular ? "

"Why - it seem altogether right to leave the interior blank - been insulting D--, at Vienna once, did me an evil turn, which him, quite good-humoredly, that remember So, as feel some curiosity in regard identity person who had outwitted him, it pity not him clue well acquainted with my MS , and I just copied middle blank sheet the words -

" '-- -- Un dessein si funeste, S'il n'est digne d'Atre, est digne de Thyeste

found in Crebillon's 'Atre ' "