The Redwood gazette., 1893-06-08

Suppose you detau," said l, "the par.
ticulars of your search."
by no means if when the article is
deposited sufficient wadding of cotton
be placed around it, Besides, in our case
we were obliged to proceed without
noise"
But you could not have removed
you could not have taken to pieces all
articles of furniture in which it would
have been possible to make deposit in
the manner you mention. A letter may
be compressed into thin spiral roll not
differing much in shape or bulk from a
large knitting needle, and in this form it
might be inserted into the rung of
chair, for example. You did not take to
pieces all the chairs?'
Certainly not: but we did better-we
examined the rungs of every chair in
the hotel, and indeed the jointings Of
every description of furniture, by the
aid of most powerful microscope. Had
there been any traces of recent disturb
ance we should not have failed to de-
tect it instantly. A single grain of gim-
let dust, for example, would have been
as obvious as an apple. Any disorder in
the gluing. any unusual gaping in the
joints, would have suficed to insure de-
lection"
Il presume you looked to the mirrors.
between the boards and the plates, and
you probed the beds and the bedclothes
as well as the curtains and carpets"
THAT, of course. And when we had
absolutely completed every particle of
the furniture in this way, then we ex-s
amined the house itself. We divided its
entire surface into compartments, which
we numbered, so that none might be
missed; then we scrutinized each indi-
vidual square zach throughout the prem
ises, including the two houses immedi-
ately adjoining. with the microscope as
before"
THE two houses adjoiningw | ex-
claimed You must have had great
deal of trouble"
I'VE had, but the reward offered is
prodigious.
You include the grounds about the
housesY'
''All the grounds are paved with brick.
They gave US comparatively little
trouble. We examined the moss be-
tween the bricks and found it undis-
turbed."
You looked among DIS papers, of
course. and into the books of the IL
brary?''
Certainly. We opened every package
and parcel. We not only opened every
book, but we turned over every leaf in
each volume, not contenting ourselves
with mere shake, according to the fash
ion of some of our police officers. We
also measured the thickness of every
book cover with the most accurate meas
urements and applied to each the most
jealous scrutiny of the microscope. Had
any Of the bindings been recently med
died with it would have been utterly
impossible that the fact should have es-
capped observation. Some five or six vol
umes 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?'
"Yes.~
"You looked into the cellars?''
I'VE did,"
''Then," said, you have been max
ing miscalculation, and the letter is not
upon the premises, as you suppose"
II fear you are right there" said the
prefect. "And now, Dupin. what would
you advise me to dor
ITO make thorough research of the
premises"
THAT is absolutely needless" replied
G.. Il am not more sure that
breathe than | am that the letter is not
at the hotel"
II have no better advice to give you"
said Dupin. you have of course an
accurate description of the letter."
"Oh, yesv' And here the prefect, pro-
ducing a memorandum book, proceeded
to read aloud minute account of the
internal, and especially of the external,
appearance of the missing document.
Soon after finishing the perusal of this
description he took his departure, more
entirely depressed in spirits than had
ever known the good gentleman before.
In about month afterward he paid
us another visit and found us occupied
very nearly as before. He took a pine