by Edgar Allan Poe

Nil sapientiae odiosius acumine nimio

Seneca

At Paris, just after dark one gusty evening autumn of 18-, enjoying the twofold luxury of meditation and meerschaum, in company with my friend C Auguste Dupin, little back library, or book-closet, au troisime, No 33, Rue Dunt, Faubourg St Germain hour we had maintained profound silence; while each, to any casual observer, seemed intently and exclusively occupied curling eddies of smoke that oppressed the atmosphere chamber , however, mentally discussing certain topics which had formed matter for conversation at an earlier period evening; I mean the affair Rue Morgue, mystery attending the murder of Marie Rogt I looked upon it, therefore, as something of coincidence, door apartment was thrown open and admitted our old acquaintance, Monsieur G--, the Prefect Parisian police

We gave him hearty welcome; for nearly half entertaining as contemptible man, and we seen him for several years We sitting dark, and Dupin now arose of lighting lamp, but sat down again, without , upon G 's saying that he had called to consult us, or rather to opinion friend, about some official business which had occasioned great deal of trouble

" any point requiring reflection," observed Dupin, as he forebore to enkindle the wick, " examine it to better purpose dark "

" another of your odd notions," said the Prefect, who had fashion of calling every thing

"odd" that was beyond his comprehension, and thus lived amid an absolute legion of "oddities "

"Very true," said Dupin, as he supplied his visiter with pipe, and rolled towards him comfortable chair

"And the difficulty now ? " I asked "Nothing more assassination way, ? "

"Oh no; nothing nature The fact is, the business is very simple indeed, and I make that manage it sufficiently well ourselves; but then Dupin would like to hear the details of it, because so excessively odd "

"Simple and odd," said Dupin

"Why, yes; and not exactly that, either The fact is, all been puzzled because the affair is so simple, and yet baffles us altogether "

"Perhaps very simplicity thing which puts you at fault," said my friend

"What nonsense talk ! " replied the Prefect, laughing heartily

"Perhaps the mystery is little too plain," said Dupin

"Oh, good heavens ! who ever heard an idea ? "

"A little too self-evident "

"Ha ! ha ! ha - ha ! ha ! ha ! - ho ! ho ! ho ! " roared our visiter, profoundly amused, "oh, Dupin, the death of me yet ! "

"And what, after all, matter on hand ? " I asked

"Why, tell you," replied the Prefect, as long, steady and contemplative puff, and settled himself chair " tell you in few words; but, before I begin, let me caution you an affair demanding the greatest secrecy, most probably lose the position I now hold, were it known that I confided it to "

"Proceed," said I

"Or not," said Dupin

"Well, then; received personal information, from very high quarter, that certain document last importance, purloined royal apartments The individual who purloined known; this beyond doubt; seen it known, also, still remains possession "

"How known ? " asked Dupin

" clearly inferred," replied the Prefect, " nature document, and non-appearance of certain results which would at once arise from its passing robber's possession; , employing it as design end to employ it "

"Be little more explicit,"

"Well, venture as paper gives its holder certain power in certain quarter where such power is immensely valuable " The Prefect was fond cant of diplomacy

"Still quite understand," said Dupin

"No ? Well; the disclosure document to third person, who shall be nameless, would bring the honor of personage of most exalted station; and this fact gives the holder document an ascendancy over the illustrious personage whose honor and peace are so jeopardized "

"But this ascendancy," I interposed, "would depend robber's knowledge loser's knowledge robber dare -"

"The thief," said G , " Minister D--, who dares all things, those unbecoming becoming man The method theft was not less ingenious than bold The document - letter, frank - received personage robbed while alone royal boudoir During its perusal she was suddenly interrupted entrance other exalted personage from whom especially her wish to conceal it After hurried and vain endeavor to thrust it in drawer, she was forced it, open as , upon table The address, however, was uppermost, and, the contents thus unexposed, the letter escaped notice juncture enters the Minister D-- His lynx eye immediately perceives

the paper, recognises the handwriting address, observes the confusion personage addressed, and fathoms her secret After some business transactions, hurried through ordinary manner, he produces letter somewhat similar one , opens it, pretends to read it, and then places it in close juxtaposition other Again he converses, for some fifteen minutes, public affairs , in taking leave, he takes also table the letter he had no claim Its rightful owner saw, but, , dared not call attention act, presence third personage who stood at her elbow The minister decamped; leaving his own letter - one of no importance - table "

"Here, then," said Dupin , " precisely what you demand to ascendancy complete - the robber's knowledge loser's knowledge robber "

"Yes," replied the Prefect; " power thus attained has, for some months past, been wielded, for political purposes, to very dangerous extent The personage robbed is more thoroughly convinced, every day, necessity of reclaiming her letter But this, , openly In fine, driven to despair, she has committed the matter "

"Than whom," said Dupin, amid perfect whirlwind of smoke, "no more sagacious agent could, I suppose, be desired, or even imagined "

"You flatter me," replied the Prefect; "but possible that some such opinion may entertained "

" clear," said I, " observe, letter is still in possession minister; since it possession, and not any employment letter, which bestows the power employment the power departs "

"True," said G ; "and conviction I proceeded My first care was thorough search minister's hotel; and here my chief embarrassment lay necessity of searching without his knowledge Beyond all things, warned danger which would result from giving him reason to suspect our design "

"But," said I, " quite au fait investigations The Parisian police this thing often before "

"O yes; and reason despair The habits minister , too, great advantage frequently absent from home all night His servants are by no means numerous They sleep at distance from their master's apartment, and, being chiefly Neapolitans, are readily made drunk keys, , open any chamber or cabinet in Paris For three months night passed, during the greater part I engaged, personally, in ransacking the D-- Hotel My honor is interested, and, to mention great secret, the reward is enormous So abandon the search until I had become fully satisfied thief is more astute man than myself I fancy that investigated every nook and corner premises possible paper concealed "

"But not possible," I suggested, "that although the letter in possession minister, as it unquestionably is, concealed it elsewhere than upon his own premises ? "

" barely possible," said Dupin "The present peculiar condition of affairs at court, and especially intrigues D-- is known involved, would render the instant availability document - its susceptibility of being produced at moment's notice - point of nearly equal importance with its possession "

"Its susceptibility of being produced ? " said I

" , of being destroyed," said Dupin

"True," I observed; "the paper is clearly then premises As for its being person minister, consider that as "

"Entirely," said the Prefect "He twice waylaid, by footpads, person rigorously searched under my own inspection "

"You spared yourself this trouble," said Dupin "D--, I presume, altogether fool, and, , anticipated these waylayings, as matter "

"Not altogether fool," said G , "but then he's poet, which I take remove from fool "