The Press., 1893-08-10
.sBe a little more exnlio;t , i said.

s.Well, may venture so far as to say that the paper gives it's holder certain power in a certain quarter where such power is immensely valuable" The pre- feet was fond of the cant of diplomacy.
 .'Still do not quite understand, 2 said Dupin.
 No? We'll, the disclosure of the docu- ment to third person, who shall be nameless, would bring in question the the honor of 8 parsonage of most exalted 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, ''would depend upon the robbers know1- edge of the losers knowledge of the rob Der. Who would dare"--
 ''The thief, said G-, .tis the Minister D., who dares all things, those unbe- coming as well as those becoming a man. The method of the theft was not less in- genious than bold. The document in questions letter, to be frank-had been received by the parsonage robbed while alone in the royal boudoir. During it's perusal she was suddenly interrupted by the entrance of the other exalted person age from whom especially it was her wish to conceal it. After 8 hurried and vain endeavor to thrust it into 8 drawer she was forced to place it, open as it was, upon table. The address, however, was uppermost, and the contents thus unexposed the letter escaped notice.
 ''At this juncture enters the Minister D.. His 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 dinary manner, he produces a letter somew hat similar to the one in question, opens it.. pretends to read it and then places it in close juxtaposition. to the other. Again he conyerses for some 15 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 ister decamped, leaving his own letter one of no importance-upont 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 wielded for political purposes to a very dangerous extent. The parsonage robbed is more thoroughly convinced every day of the necessity of retaining 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, ''no more sagacious agent could, I 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"
 "It is clear" said I, ''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 G., ''and upon this con- viction proceeded. My first case was to make thorough search of the minister's 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 I. ''you are quite au fait | in these Investigations. The Parisian police have done this thing often before. ; .'Oh. yes, and for this reason I did not despair. The habits of the minister gave me, too, great advantage. He is ire l quently absent from home all night. His servants are by no means numerous. They sleep at a distance from their mas ter's apartment, and being chiefly Neapol- itans are readily made drunk. l have keys. as you know, with which can open any chamber or cabinet in Paris. For three months night has not passed during the greater part of which have not been engaged personally in ransack- ing the D. hotel. My honor is inter- ested, and, to mention a great secret, the reward is enormous. So l did not aban- don the search until had become fully satisfied that the. thief is more astute man than myself. fancy that have investigated every nook and corner of the premises in which it is possible that the paper can be concealed" /r..
 But is it not possible" I 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 premises3"
 ''This is barely possible" said Dupin. 1.-The present peculiar condition of af- fairs at court, and especially of those in trigues iii which D. is known to be involved, would render the instant avail ability of the document susceptibil- ity of being produced at moments mo- tice-a point of nearly equal importance with its possession"
 Its susceptibility of being producedY' said I.
 "That is to say. of being destroyed, :" said Dupin. ,..~.. ........... .....
 True" l observed; 'the paper is clearly then upon the premises. As for it's being upon the person of the minister, we may conside thatzas out of the ques- tion.n M A
 ,s.Entirelysn said the prefect. 'sHe has been twice waylaid. .as if bys footpads, and his person vigorously searched under my own inspection F.. " ou might have spared yourself this trouble, " said Ddpin. ssD@, I pre- ourna is not oItoeynflo,. o FnoJ and # oo%