The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1893-06-01

Cne nOnOr OF parsonage OF mOSC e4a1IeG
station, and this fact gives the holder OF
the document an ascendency over the
illustrious parsonage whose honor and
peace are so jeopardized." :.
''But this ascendency," interposed,
''wo.sld denend upon the robbers knowl-
edge of the losers kp knowledge Of the rob
ber Who would daxe"-
The thief" said c.. lis the Minister
D.. who dares all things, those unhe-
coming as well as those becoming man
The method of the theft was not less in
genious than bold. The document in
question: letter. to be frank-had been
received by the parsonage robbed while
alone in the royal boudoir. During its
perusaI she was suddenly interrupted by
the entrance of the other exalted person
age from whom especially it was her
wish to conceal it. After hurried and
vain endeavor to thrust it into drawer
she was forced to place it, open as it was.
upon table The address. however,
was uppernlost, and the contents thus
unexposed the letter escaped notice.
"At this juncture enters the Minister
o.. Els lynx eye Immediately per-
ceives the paper, recognizes the hand
writing of the address, observes the con-
fusion of the parsonage addressed and
fathoms her secret. After some business
transactions. hurried through in his or
binary manner. he produces letter
somewhat similar to the one in question.
opens it. pretends to, read it and then
places it in close juxtaposition to the
other Again he converses for some Is.
minutes upon the public affairs. At
length. in taking leave, he takes also
from the table the letter to which he had
no claim. Its rightful owner saw, but
of course dared not call attention to the
act in the presence Of the third person
age, who stood at her elbow. The min
lister decamped. leaving his own letter
one of no importance-upon the table.
Here, then" said Dupin to me. ''you
have precisely what you demand to make
the ascendency complete-the robbers
knowledge of the losers knowledge of
the robber."
'Yes." replied the prefect, "and the
power thus attained has for some months
past been welded for political purposes
toavery dangerous extent. The parsonage
robbed is more thoroughly convinced
every day of the necessity Of reciaiming
her letter, but this Of course cannot be
done openly. In fine. driven to despair.
she has committed the matter to me-"
Than whom." said Dupin, amid a
perfect whirlwind of smoke. mo more
sagacious agent could, suppose. be de-
sired or even imagined"
You fatter me" replied the prefect.
but it is possible that some such opin-
ion may have been entertained"
1t is clear" said |. ''as you observe
that the letter is still in the possession of
the minister. since it is this possession
and not any employment of the letter
which bestows the power. With the
employment the power departs"
True" said Or, land upon this con-
viction proceeded My first case was
to make thorough search of the ministers
hotel. and here my chief embarrassment
lay in the necessity of searching without
his knowledge Beyond all things l
have been warned of the danger which
would result from giving him reason to
suspect our design"
But. said l. you are quite au fait
in these Investigations. The Partisan
police have done this thing often before. "
''Oh. yes, and for this reason did not
despair. The habits of the minister gave
me. too. u great advantage. He is fire.
quently absent from home all night. His
servants are by no means numerous.
They sleep at u distance from their mas
ter's apartment. and being chiefly Neapol-
itans are readily made drunk. have
keys. as you know. with which ! can
open any chamber or cabinet in Paris.
For three months a night has not passed
during the greater part of which have
not been engaged personally in rausack-
ing the D. hotel. My honor is inter
ested. and. to mention great secret, the
reward is enormous. So did not aban-
don the search until had become fully
satisfied that the thief is more astute
man than myself. l fancy that have
investigated every nook and corner OF
the prer.ises in which it is possible that
the paper can he concealed"
But is it not possible" suggested.
that although the letter may be in pos
session of the minister. as it unquestion-
ably is. he may have concealed it else.
where than upon his own premisesY
This is barely possible" said Dupin.
The present peculiar condition of af.
fairs at court, and especially of those in.
trigusss in which D. is known to be
involved. would render the instant avail.
ability of the document-its susceptible.
ity Of being produced at moments no.
tice-a point Of nearly equal importance
with its possession"
Its susceptibility of being produced?'
said |.
That is to say. of being destroyed.
said Dupin.
"True." observed; 1.-The paper i
clearly then upon the premises AS fol
its being upon the person of the minister
we mayconsider that as out Of the ques
tion."
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