The Press., 1893-08-17

of the wortfiessness of the document these things, together with the hyper obtrusive situation of this document, full in the view of every visitor and thus ex- actly in accordance with the conclusions to which had previously arrived-these things, Isay, were strongly corroborative of suspicion in one who came with the intention to suspect.
 q protracted my visit as long as possi ble, and while maintained most ani- mated discussion with the minister upon 8 topic which knew well had never failed to interest and excite him I'kept my attention really riveted upon the let ter. In this examination committed to memory it's external appearance and ar engagement in the rack, and also fell at length upon discovery which set at rest whatever trivial doubt might have en- tertained In scrutinizing the edges of the paper I observed them to be more chafed than seemed necessary. They pre- Bented the broken appearance which is manifested when stiff paper, having been once folded and pressed with fold er, is refoked in reversed direction in the same creases or edges which had formed the original fold. This discovery was sufficient. It was clear to me that the letter had been turned, as a glove inside out-redirected and resealed. bade the minister good morning and took my departure at once, leaving 8 gold snuffbox upon the table.
 1.-The next morning I called for the snuffbox, when we resumed quite eager ly the conversation of the preceding day. While thus engaged, however, loud report, as if of pistol, was heard imme- diately beneath the windows of the ho- tel and was succeeded by series of fearful screams and the shoutings of 8 terrified mob. D. rushed to a case ment, threw it open and looked out. In the meantime I stepped to the cardrack, took the letter, put it in my pocket and replaced it by a facsimile (so far IS re- yards externally, which 1 had carefully prepared at my lodgings, initiating the D. cipher very readily by means of a zeal formed of bread.
 .The disturbance in the street had oeen accustomed by the frantic behavior of man with musket. He had fired it among crowd of women and chil- aren. It proved, however, to have been without ball, and the fellow was suffered to go his way as lunatic or drunkard. When he had gone. D. came from the
 window, whither had followed him im- lnetliately upon securing the object in view. Soon afterward I bade him fare we'll The pretended lunatic was aman in my own pay" ......-...
 But what purpose had you," 1 asked, i'm replacing the letter by facsimilei Would it not have been better at the irst visit to have seized it openly and iepartedY'
 "D-," replied Dupin, ''is desper- ate man, and man of nerve. His hotel, too, is not without attendants devoted to his interests. Had made the wild attempt you suggest might never have left the ministerial presence alive. The good people of Paris might have heard of me no more. But I had an object apart from these considerations You know my political prepossessions. In this mat ter act as partisan of the lady con- cerned. For IS months the minister has had her in his power. She has now him in hers-since. being unaware that the letter Is not in his possession, he will proceed with his exactions as if it was. Thus will he inevitably commit himself at once to his political destruction.