The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-03-18

a mere shake, according to the fashion 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 ?"
eyes"
"You looked into the cellars p
"We did
"Then," | said, ''you have been making
a miscalculation, and the letter is not upon
the premises, as you suppose"
"I fear you are right, said the project
"And now, Dupin, what would you advise
me to do p
.'To make thorough research of the
premises
1'ghat is absolutely needless" replied
C "[ am not more sure that L
breathe than [ am that the letter is at the
hotel"
stI have no better advice to give you,
said Dupis. "You have, of course, an
accurate description of the letter 2"
"Oh yes.l" And here the project, pro-
ducing a. memorandum book, proceeded to
read aloud a minute account of the inter-
nal, and especially of the external appear
ance of the missing document. Soon after
finishing the perusal of this description,
he took his departure, more entirely de-
pressed in spirits than l had ever known
tAe good gentleman before.
CHAPTER II.
| In about month afterwards he paid
me another visit, and found us occupied
very nearly as before. He took pipe
and a chair and entered into some ordi-
nary conversation. at length said
s;Well, but c., what of the pnr-
Joined letter? l presume you have at
last made up your mind that there is no
such thing as overreaching the minister :?
"Confoand him, say I-yes; made the
re-examination, however, as Dupin sug-
gested-but it was all labor lost, as knew
it would be"
Chow much was the reward offered, did
you say ?" asked Dupin.
"Why, very great deal-a very liberal
reward-I don't ike to say how much,
precisely; but one thing 1 will say, that |
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 imPor-
tance every day; and the reward has been
lately doubled. If it were trebled, how
ever, could do nc more than l have
done.
"Why, yes" said Dupiu, drawlingly,
between the whiffs of his meerschaum, 81
really-think, G., you have not ex-
erted yourself-to the utmost in this mat
ter. You might-do a little more, 1
think, eh p
Chow Pin what way ?"
"Why-puf, puff-you might-puft,
pufF-employ counsel in the matter, eh
puff, puff, puff Do you remember the
story they tell of Abernethy?"
NO; hang Abernethy ?"
ITO be sure hang him and welcome.
But once upon time, certain rich mlser
conceived the design of spunging upon this
Abernethy for medical opinion. Get
ting up, for this purpose, an ordinary con-
versation in private company, he insin-
- L.. 900 - tba nh bx-o;oian nc that of
an imaginary individual.
"sWe will suppose said the miser,
'that his symptoms are such and such; now,
doctor, what would you have directed him
to take.
aoTaker said Abernethy, why, take
advise, to be sure
"But, said the prefect, little discom-
posed, Il am perfectly willing to take ad-
vice, and to pay for it. would really
give fifty thousand francs to any one who
would aid me in the matter.
'sIn that case" replied Dupin, opening a
drawer, and producing check book, ''you
may as well fill me up a check for the
amount mentioned. When you have signed
it, | will hand you the letter"
was astonished. The Prefect appeared
absolutely thunderstricken. For some
minutes he remained speechless and mo-
tionless, looking incredulously at my friend
with open mouth, and eyes that seemed
staring from their sockets; then, apparently
recovering himself IN some measure, he
seized pen, and after several pauses aud
. 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 pocketbook; then unlocking an escri-
toire, took hence a letter and gave it to the
prefect. This functioaary grasped 1t in
perfect agony of joy, opened it with trem-
bling hand, cast rapid glance at Its con-
tents, and then, scrambling and struggling
to the door, rushed at length unceremo-
uiously from the room and from the house,
} without having uttered syllable since
} Dupin had requested him to fill up the
check
} When he had gone, my friend entered
into some explanations.
, sThe Partisan police, be said, "are ex-
ceedingly able in their way. They are
persevering, ingenious, cunning and thor
|, oughly versed in the knowledge which
} their duties seem chiefly to demand. Thus.
when G. detailed to us his mode of
searching the premises at the Hotel D,
, | felt entire confidence in his having made
satisfactory investigation-so far as his
Iabors extended"
II mean to say" continued Dupin, while
| merely laughed at his last observations,
''that if the Minister had been no more
than a mathematician, the Prefect would
have been under no necessity of giving me
this check. knew him, however, as both
mathematician and poet, and my measures
were adapted to his capacity, with refer
ence to the circumstances by which he was