The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-03-18
Srlett Stor'p.
THE PURLOINED LETTER.
BY EDGAR ALLAN POE.
CHAPTER 1.

Il
the twofold luxury of meditation and a
meerschaum, in company with my friend
G. Auguste Dupin, in his little back library,
or book closet au troisieme, No. 33, Rue
Dunot, Faubourg, St. Germain. For one
hour at least we had maintained profound
silence; while each, to any casual observer,
might have seemed intently and exclusive
ly occupied with the curling eddies OF
smoke that oppressed the atmosphere of
the chamber. For myself, however, | was
mentally discussing certain topics which
had formed matter for conversation between
us at an earlier period of the evening. l
mean the affair of the Rue Morgue, and
the mystery attending the murder of Marie
Roget. l looked upon it, therefore, as
something of a coincidence, when the door
of our apartment was thrown open and
admitted our old acquaintance, Monsieur
c., the Prefect of the Partisan police.
We gave him hearty welcome, for there
was nearly half as much of the entertaining
as of the contemplate about the man, and
we had not seen him for several years.
We had been sitting in the dark, and Dupin
now arose for the purpose of lighting a
lamp, but sat down again without doing
SO, upon G.s saying that he had called to
consult us, or rather to ask the opinion of
my friend about some official business
which had occasioned great deal of trouble
''If it is any point requiring reflection,
observed Dupin, as he forebore to enkindle
the wick, "we shall examine it to better
purpose in the dark"
"That is another of your odd notions"
said the Prefect, who had fashion of
calling everything "odd" that was beyond
his comprehension, and thus lived amid
an absolute legion of oddities.
avery true, said Dupin, as he supplied
his visitor with pipe, and rolled towards
him a comfortable chair.
"And what is the difficulty now ?" 1
asked. "Nothing more in the assassina-
ton way hope?"
"Oh, no, nothing of that nature. The
fact is, the business is very simple indeed,
and make no doubt that we can manage
it sufficiently well ourselves; but then l
thought Dupin would like to hear the de-
tails of it, because it is so excessively odd. "
"Simple and odd, said Dupin.
"Why, yes; and not exactly that, either.
The fact is, we have all been good deal
puzzled because the affair is so simple, and
yet battles us altogether
"Perhaps it is the very simplicity of the
thing which puts you at fault, " said my
friend.
"What nonsense you do talk p replied
the Prefect, laughing heartily.
"Pcrhaps the mystery is little too
plain, said Dupin.
"0h, good heavens who ever heard of
such an idea p
ga Ii tie too self-evident."
.'Ha ha ha l-hal ha ha i-ho no !
no |" roared our visitor, profoundly amused,
ooh, Dupin, you will be the death of me
YETI
"And what, after all, is the matter on
hand p asked.
"Why, l will tell you, replied the Pre-
feet, as he gave long, steady, and con-
templative puff, and settled himself in his
chair. 81 will tell you in few words; but
before begin, let me caution you that this
is an affair demanding the greatest secrecy,
and that should most probably lose the
position | now hold were it known that l
confded it to anyone"
proceed" said I.
''Or not, said Dupin.
"Well, then; I have received personal
information, from very high quarter,
that certain document of the last import
ance has been purloined from the royal
apartments The individual who purloined
it is known; this beyond donbt; he was
seen to take it. 1t is known, also, that it
still remains in his possession"
''How is this known? p asked Dupin.
at is clearly inferred" replied the Pre-
fect "from the nature of the document
and from the appearance of certain re-
suits which would at once arise from its
passing out of the robbers possession;-
that is to say, from his employing it as he
must design in the end to employ it.
'Be little more explicit, | said.
"Well, may venture so far as to say
that the paper gives its holder certain
power in certain quarter where such
power is immensely valuable" The Pre-
feet was fond of the cant of diplomacy.
"Still do not quite understand" said
Dupin.
''No? Well, the disclosure of the docu
ment to third person, who shall be name
less, would bring in question the honor ol
parsonage of most exalted station; anC
this fact gives the holder of the document
an ascendancy over the illustrious person
age whose honor and peace are so leopard
, lied
"But this ascendancy," | interposed
''would depend upon the robbers kuowl
: edge of the losers S knowledge of the robber
Who would dare"
''The thief, SAID g.. 'is the Minister
D, who dares all things, those unbe
! coming as well as those becoming man
The method of the theft was not less in
J genious than bold. The document il
) question: letter, TO be frank-had beer
received by the parsonage robbed whil'
alone in the royal boudoir. During it
perusal she was suddenly interrupted BY
5 the entrance of the other exalted personag,
from whom especially it was her wish L
conceal it. After hurried and vain en-
deavor to thrust it in drawer, she wal
forced to place it, open as it was, upon {
table. The address, however, was upper
most, and, the contents thus unexposed
the letter escaped notice. At thisjuncturt
enters the Minister D His lynx ey,
Immediately perceives the paper, recog
nizes the handwriting of the address, OBJ
serves the confusion of the parsonage ad
dressed, and fathoms her secret. Aftel
some business TRANSACTIONS, hurried through
. in his ordinary manner, he produces lettel
; somewhat similar to the one in question
: opens it, pretends to read it, and ther
} places it in close juxtaposition to the other
t Again he conyerses, for some fifteen min
utes, upon the public affairs. At length
! in taking leave, he takes also from th'
; table the letter to which he had no claim