the works of edgar allan poe-2-第2部分

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inspection。〃

〃You　might　have　spared　yourself　this　trouble；〃　said　Dupin。　〃D；　I
presume；　is　not　altogether　a　fool；　and；　if　not；　must　have　anticipated
these　waylayings；　as　a　matter　of　course。〃

〃Not　altogether　a　fool；〃　said　G。；　〃but　then　he's　a　poet；　which　I　take
to　be　only　one　remove　from　a　fool。〃

〃True；〃　said　Dupin；　after　a　long　and　thoughtful　whiff　from

his　meerschaum；　〃although　I　have　been　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。　I
have　had　long　experience　in　these　affairs。　I　took　the　entire
building；　room　by　room；　devoting　the　nights　of　a　whole　week　to　each。
We　examined；　first；　the　furniture　of　each　apartment。　We　opened　every
possible　drawer；　and　I　presume　you　know　that；　to　a　properly　trained
police　agent；　such　a　thing　as　a　secret　drawer　is　impossible。　Any　man
is　a　dolt　who　permits　a　'secret'　drawer　to　escape　him　in　a　search　of
this　kind。　The　thing　is　so　plain。　There　is　a　certain　amount　of　bulk　…
of　space　…　to　be　accounted　for　in　every　cabinet。　Then　we　have
accurate　rules。　The　fiftieth　part　of　a　line　could　not　escape　us。
After　the　cabinets　we　took　the　chairs。　The　cushions　we　probed　with
the　fine　long　needles　you　have　seen　me　employ。　From　the　tables　we
removed　the　tops。〃

〃Why　so？〃

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

〃But　could　not　the　cavity　be　detected　by　sounding？〃　I　asked。

〃By　no　means；　if；　when　the　article　is　deposited；　a　sufficient　wadding
of　cotton　be　placed　around　it。　Besides；　in　our　case；　we　were　obliged
to　proceed　without　noise。〃

〃But　you　could　not　have　removed　…　you　could　not　have　taken　to　pieces
all　articles　of　furniture　in　which　it　would　have　been　possible　to
make　a　deposit　in　the　manner　you　mention。　A　letter　may　be　compressed
into　a　thin　spiral　roll；　not　differing　much　in　shape　or　bulk　from　a
large　knitting…needle；　and　in　this　form　it　might　be　inserted　into　the
rung　of　a　chair；　for　example。　You　did　not　take　to　pieces　all　the
chairs？〃

〃Certainly　not；　but　we　did　better　…　we　examined　the　rungs　of　every
chair　in　the　hotel；　and；　indeed　the　jointings　of　every　description　of
furniture；　by　the　aid　of　a　most　powerful　microscope。　Had　there　been
any　traces　of　recent　disturbance　we　should　not

have　failed　to　detect　it　instantly。　A　single　grain　of　gimlet…dust；
for　example；　would　have　been　as　obvious　as　an　apple。　Any　disorder　in
the　glueing　…　any　unusual　gaping　in　the　joints　…　would　have　sufficed
to　insure　detection。〃

〃I　presume　you　looked　to　the　mirrors；　between　the　boards　and　the
plates；　and　you　probed　the　beds　and　the　bed…clothes；　as　well　as　the
curtains　and　carpets。〃

〃That　of　course；　and　when　we　had　absolutely　completed　every　particle
of　the　furniture　in　this　way；　then　we　examined　the　house　itself。　We
divided　its　entire　surface　into　compartments；　which　we　numbered；　so
that　none　might　be　missed；　then　we　scrutinized　each　individual　square
inch　throughout　the　premises；　including　the　two　houses　immediately
adjoining；　with　the　microscope；　as　before。〃

〃The　two　houses　adjoining！〃　I　exclaimed；　〃you　must　have　had　a　great
deal　of　trouble。〃

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

〃You　include　the　grounds　about　the　houses？〃

〃All　the　grounds　are　paved　with　brick。　They　gave　us　comparatively
little　trouble。　We　examined　the　moss　between　the　bricks；　and　found　it
undisturbed。〃

〃You　looked　among　D's　papers；　of　course；　and　into　the　books　of　the
library？〃

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

〃You　explored　the　floors　beneath　the　carpets？〃

〃Beyond　doubt。　We　removed　every　carpet；　and　examined　the　boards　with
the　microscope。〃

〃And　the　paper　on　the　walls？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃You　looked　into　the　cellars？〃

〃We　did。〃

〃Then；〃　I　said；　〃you　have　been　making　a　miscalculation；　and　the
letter　is　not　upon　the　premises；　as　you　suppose。〃

〃I　fear　you　are　right　there；〃　said　the　Prefect。　〃And　now；　Dupin；　what
would　you　advise　me　to　do？〃

〃To　make　a　thorough　re…search　of　the　premises。〃

〃That　is　absolutely　needless；〃　replied　G。　〃I　am　not　more　sure　that
I　breathe　than　I　am　that　the　letter　is　not　at　the　Hotel。〃

〃I　have　no　better　advice　to　give　you；〃　said　Dupin。　〃You　have；　of
course；　an　accurate　description　of　the　letter？〃

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

〃Well；　but　G；　what　of　the　purloined　letter？　I　presume　you　have　at
last　made　up　your　mind　that　there　is　no　such　thing　as　overreaching
the　Minister？〃

〃Confound　him；　say　I　…　yes；　I　made　the　re…examination；　however；　as
Dupin　suggested　…　but　it　was　all　labor　lost；　as　I　knew　it　would　be。〃

〃How　much　was　the　reward　offered；　did　you　say？〃　asked　Dupin。

〃Why；　a　very　great　deal　…　a　very　liberal　reward　…　I　don't　like　to　say
how　much；　precisely；　but　one　thing　I　will　say；　that　I　wouldn't　mind
giving　my　individual　check　for　fifty　thousand　francs　to　any　one　who
could　obtain　me　that　letter。　The　fact　is；　it　is　becoming　of　more　and
more　importance　every　day；　and　the　reward　has　been　lately　doubled。　If
it　were　trebled；　however；　I　could　do　no　more　than　I　have　done。〃

〃Why；　yes；〃　said　Dupin；　drawlingly；　between　the　whiffs　of　his
meerschaum；　〃I　really　…　think；　G；　you　have　not　exerted　yourself　…
to　the　utmost　in　this　matter。　You　might　…　do　a　little　more；　I　think；
eh？〃

〃How？　…　in　what　way？'

〃Why　…　puff；　puff　…　you　might　…　puff；　puff　…　employ　counsel　in　the
matter；　eh？　…　puff；　puff；　puff。　Do　you　remember　the　story　they　tell
of　Abernethy？〃

〃No；　hang　Abernethy！〃

〃To　be　sure！　hang　him　and　welcome。　But；　once　upon　a　time；　a　certain
rich　miser　conceived　the　design　of　spunging　upon　this　Abernethy　for　a
medical　opinion。　Getting　up；　for　this　purpose；　an　ordinary
conversation　in　a　private　company；　he　insinuated　his　case　to　the
physician；　as　that　of　an　imaginary　individual。

〃　'We　will　suppose；'　said　the　miser；　'that　his　symptoms　are　such　and
such；　now；　doctor；　what　would　you　have　directed　him　to　take？'

〃　'Take！'　said　Abernethy；　'why；　take　advice；　to　be　sure。'　〃

〃But；〃　said　the　Prefect；　a　little　discomposed；　〃I　am　perfectly
willing　to　take　advice；　and　to　pay　for　it。　I　would　really　give　fifty
thousand　francs　to　any　one　who　would　aid　me　in　the　matter。〃

〃In　that　case；〃　replied　Dupin；　opening　a　drawer；　and　producing　a
check…book；　〃you　may　as　well　fill　me　up　a　check　for　the　amount
mentioned。　When　you　have　signed　it；　I　will　hand　you　the　letter。〃

I　was　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　a　pen；　and　after　several　pauses　and　vacant
stares；　finally　filled　up　and　signed　a　check　for　fifty　thousand
francs；　and　handed　it　across　the　table　to　Dupin。　The　latter　examined
it　carefully　and　deposited　it　in　his　pocket…book；　then；　unlocking　an
escritoire；　took　thence　a　letter　and　gave　it　to　the　Prefect。　This
functionary　grasped　it　in　a　perfect　agony　of　joy；　opened　it　with　a
trembling　hand；　cast　a　rapid　glance　at　its　contents；　and　then；
scrambling　and　struggling　to　the　door；　rushed　at　length
unceremoniously　from　the　room　and　from　the　house；　without　having
uttered　a　syllable　since　Dupin　had　requested　him　to　fill　up　the
check。

When　he　had　gone；　my　friend　entered　into　some　explanations。

〃The　Parisian　police；〃　he　said；　〃are　exceedingly　able　in　their　way。
They　are　persevering；　ingenious；　cunning；　and　thoroughly　versed　in
the　knowledge　which　their　duties　seem　chiefly　to　demand。　Thus；　when
G　detailed　to　us　his　made　of　searching　the　premises　at　the　Hotel
D；　I　felt　entire　confidence　in　his　having　made　a　satisfactory
investigation　…　so　far　as　his　labors　extended。〃

〃So　far　as　his　labors　extended？〃　said　I。

〃Yes；〃　said　Dupin。　〃The　measures　adopted　were　not　only　the　best　of
their　kind；　but　carried　out　to　absolute　perfection。　Had　the　letter
been　deposited　within　the　range　of　their　search；　these　fellows　would；
beyond　a　question；　have　found　it。〃

I　merely　laughed　…　but　he　seemed　quite　serious　in　all　that　he　said。

〃The　measures；　then；〃　he　continued；　〃　were　good　in　their　kind；　and
well　executed；　their　defect　lay　in　their　being　inapplicable　to　the
case；　and　to　the　man。　A　certain　set　of　highly　ingenious　resources
are；　with　the　Prefect；　a　sort　of　Procrustean　bed；　to　which　he
forcibly　adapts　his　designs。　But　he　perpetually　errs　by　being　too
deep　or　too　shallow；　for　the　matter　in　hand；　and　many　a　schoolboy　is
a　better　reasoner　than　he。　I　knew　one　about　eight　years　of　age；　whose
success　at　guessing　in　the　game　of　'even　and　odd'　attracted　universal
admiration。　This　game　is　simple；　and　is　played　with　marbles。　One
player　holds　in　his　hand　a　number　of　these　toys；　and　demands　of
another　whether　that　number　is　even　or　odd。　If　the　guess　is　right；
the　guesser　wins　one