Poe, Edgar Allen - The Complete Works of Edgar Allen Poe

by Volume 01-05 (lit)

  were still thinking of the stones,) until we reached the little alley

  called Lamartine, which has been paved, by way of experiment, with

  the overlapping and riveted blocks. Here your countenance brightened

  up, and, perceiving your lips move, I could not doubt that you

  murmured the word 'stereotomy,' a term very affectedly applied to

  this species of pavement. I knew that you could not say to yourself

  'stereotomy' without being brought to think of atomies, and thus of

  the theories of Epicurus; and since, when we discussed this subject

  not very long ago, I mentioned to you how singularly, yet with how

  little notice, the vague guesses of that noble Greek had met with

  confirmation in the late nebular cosmogony, I felt that you could not

  avoid casting your eyes upward to the great _nebula_ in Orion, and I

  certainly expected that you would do so. You did look up; and I was

  now assured that I had correctly followed your steps. But in that

  bitter _tirade_ upon Chantilly, which appeared in yesterday's

  '_MusΘe_,' the satirist, making some disgraceful allusions to the

  cobbler s change of name upon assuming the buskin, quoted a Latin

  line about which we have often conversed. I mean the line

  Perdidit antiquum litera sonum.

  I had told you that this was in reference to Orion, formerly written

  Urion; and, from certain pungencies connected with this explanation,

  I was aware that you could not have forgotten it. It was clear,

  therefore, that you would not fail to combine the two ideas of Orion

  and Chantilly. That you did combine them I saw by the character of

  the smile which passed over your lips. You thought of the poor

  cobbler's immolation. So far, you had been stooping in your gait; but

  now I saw you draw yourself up to your full height. I was then sure

  that you reflected upon the diminutive figure of Chantilly. At this

  point I interrupted your meditations to remark that as, in fact, be

  was a very little fellow - that Chantilly - he would do better at the

  _ThΘΓtre des VariΘtΘs_."

  Not long after this, we were looking over an evening edition of the

  "Gazette des Tribunaux," when the following paragraphs arrested our

  attention.

  "EXTRAORDINARY MURDERS. - This morning, about three o'clock, the

  inhabitants of the Quartier St. Roch were aroused from sleep by a

  succession of terrific shrieks, issuing, apparently, from the fourth

  story of a house in the Rue Morgue, known to be in the sole occupancy

  of one Madame L'Espanaye, and her daughter Mademoiselle Camille

  L'Espanaye. After some delay, occasioned by a fruitless attempt to

  procure admission in the usual manner, the gateway was broken in with

  a crowbar, and eight or ten of the neighbors entered accompanied by

  two _gendarmes_. By this time the cries had ceased; but, as the party

  rushed up the first flight of stairs, two or more rough voices in

  angry contention were distinguished and seemed to proceed from the

  upper part of the house. As the second landing was reached, these

  sounds, also, had ceased and everything remained perfectly quiet. The

  party spread themselves and hurried from room to room. Upon arriving

  at a large back chamber in the fourth story, (the door of which,

  being found locked, with the key inside, was forced open,) a

  spectacle presented itself which struck every one present not less

  with horror than with astonishment.

  "The apartment was in the wildest disorder - the furniture broken and

  thrown about in all directions. There was only one bedstead; and from

  this the bed had been removed, and thrown into the middle of the

  floor. On a chair lay a razor, besmeared with blood. On the hearth

  were two or three long and thick tresses of grey human hair, also

  dabbled in blood, and seeming to have been pulled out by the roots.

  Upon the floor were found four Napoleons, an ear-ring of topaz, three

  large silver spoons, three smaller of_ mΘtal d'Alger_, and two bags,

  containing nearly four thousand francs in gold. The drawers of a

  _bureau_, which stood in one corner were open, and had been,

  apparently, rifled, although many articles still remained in them. A

  small iron safe was discovered under the _bed_ (not under the

  bedstead). It was open, with the key still in the door. It had no

  contents beyond a few old letters, and other papers of little

  consequence.

  "Of Madame L'Espanaye no traces were here seen; but an unusual

  quantity of soot being observed in the fire-place, a search was made

  in the chimney, and (horrible to relate!) the; corpse of the

  daughter, head downward, was dragged therefrom; it having been thus

  forced up the narrow aperture for a considerable distance. The body

  was quite warm. Upon examining it, many excoriations were perceived,

  no doubt occasioned by the violence with which it had been thrust up

  and disengaged. Upon the face were many severe scratches, and, upon

  the throat, dark bruises, and deep indentations of finger nails, as

  if the deceased had been throttled to death.

  "After a thorough investigation of every portion of the house,

  without farther discovery, the party made its way into a small paved

  yard in the rear of the building, where lay the corpse of the old

  lady, with her throat so entirely cut that, upon an attempt to raise

  her, the head fell off. The body, as well as the head, was fearfully

  mutilated - the former so much so as scarcely to retain any semblance

  of humanity.

  "To this horrible mystery there is not as yet, we believe, the

  slightest clew."

  The next day's paper had these additional particulars.

  "_The Tragedy in the Rue Morgue._ Many individuals have been examined

  in relation to this most extraordinary and frightful affair. [The

  word 'affaire' has not yet, in France, that levity of import which it

  conveys with us,] "but nothing whatever has transpired to throw light

  upon it. We give below all the material testimony elicited.

  "_Pauline Dubourg_, laundress, deposes that she has known both the

  deceased for three years, having washed for them during that period.

  The old lady and her daughter seemed on good terms - very

  affectionate towards each other. They were excellent pay. Could not

  speak in regard to their mode or means of living. Believed that

  Madame L. told fortunes for a living. Was reputed to have money put

  by. Never met any persons in the house when she called for the

  clothes or took them home. Was sure that they had no servant in

  employ. There appeared to be no furniture in any part of the building

  except in the fourth story.

  "_Pierre Moreau_, tobacconist, deposes that he has been in the habit

  of selling small quantities of tobacco and snuff to Madame L'Espanaye

  for nearly four years. Was born in the neighborhood, and has always

  resided there. The deceased and her daughter had occupied the house

  in which the corpses were found, for more than six years. It was

  formerly occupied by a jeweller, who under-let the upper rooms to

  various persons. The house was the property of Madame L. She became

  dissati
sfied with the abuse of the premises by her tenant, and moved

  into them herself, refusing to let any portion. The old lady was

  childish. Witness had seen the daughter some five or six times during

  the six years. The two lived an exceedingly retired life - were

  reputed to have money. Had heard it said among the neighbors that

  Madame L. told fortunes - did not believe it. Had never seen any

  person enter the door except the old lady and her daughter, a porter

  once or twice, and a physician some eight or ten times.

  "Many other persons, neighbors, gave evidence to the same effect. No

  one was spoken of as frequenting the house. It was not known whether

  there were any living connexions of Madame L. and her daughter. The

  shutters of the front windows were seldom opened. Those in the rear

  were always closed, with the exception of the large back room, fourth

  story. The house was a good house - not very old.

  "_Isidore Muset_, _gendarme_, deposes that he was called to the house

  about three o'clock in the morning, and found some twenty or thirty

  persons at the gateway, endeavoring to gain admittance. Forced it

  open, at length, with a bayonet - not with a crowbar. Had but little

  difficulty in getting it open, on account of its being a double or

  folding gate, and bolted neither at bottom not top. The shrieks were

  continued until the gate was forced - and then suddenly ceased. They

  seemed to be screams of some person (or persons) in great agony -

  were loud and drawn out, not short and quick. Witness led the way up

  stairs. Upon reaching the first landing, heard two voices in loud and

  angry contention - the one a gruff voice, the other much shriller - a

  very strange voice. Could distinguish some words of the former, which

  was that of a Frenchman. Was positive that it was not a woman's

  voice. Could distinguish the words '_sacrΘ_' and '_diable._' The

  shrill voice was that of a foreigner. Could not be sure whether it

  was the voice of a man or of a woman. Could not make out what was

  said, but believed the language to be Spanish. The state of the room

  and of the bodies was described by this witness as we described them

  yesterday.

  "_Henri Duval_, a neighbor, and by trade a silver-smith, deposes that

  he was one of the party who first entered the house. Corroborates the

  testimony of MusΦt in general. As soon as they forced an entrance,

  they reclosed the door, to keep out the crowd, which collected very

  fast, notwithstanding the lateness of the hour. The shrill voice,

  this witness thinks, was that of an Italian. Was certain it was not

  French. Could not be sure that it was a man's voice. It might have

  been a woman's. Was not acquainted with the Italian language. Could

  not distinguish the words, but was convinced by the intonation that

  the speaker was an Italian. Knew Madame L. and her daughter. Had

  conversed with both frequently. Was sure that the shrill voice was

  not that of either of the deceased.

  "-- _Odenheimer, restaurateur._ This witness volunteered his

  testimony. Not speaking French, was examined through an interpreter.

  Is a native of Amsterdam. Was passing the house at the time of the

  shrieks. They lasted for several minutes - probably ten. They were

  long and loud - very awful and distressing. Was one of those who

  entered the building. Corroborated the previous evidence in every

  respect but one. Was sure that the shrill voice was that of a man -

  of a Frenchman. Could not distinguish the words uttered. They were

  loud and quick - unequal - spoken apparently in fear as well as in

  anger. The voice was harsh - not so much shrill as harsh. Could not

  call it a shrill voice. The gruff voice said repeatedly '_sacrΘ_,'

  '_diable_,' and once '_mon Dieu._'

  "_Jules Mignaud_, banker, of the firm of Mignaud et Fils, Rue

  Deloraine. Is the elder Mignaud. Madame L'Espanaye had some property.

  Had opened an account with his banking house in the spring of the

  year - (eight years previously). Made frequent deposits in small

  sums. Had checked for nothing until the third day before her death,

  when she took out in person the sum of 4000 francs. This sum was paid

  in gold, and a clerk went home with the money.

  "_Adolphe Le Bon_, clerk to Mignaud et Fils, deposes that on the day

  in question, about noon, he accompanied Madame L'Espanaye to her

  residence with the 4000 francs, put up in two bags. Upon the door

  being opened, Mademoiselle L. appeared and took from his hands one of

  the bags, while the old lady relieved him of the other. He then bowed

  and departed. Did not see any person in the street at the time. It is

  a bye-street - very lonely.

  "_William Bird_, tailor deposes that he was one of the party who

  entered the house. Is an Englishman. Has lived in Paris two years.

  Was one of the first to ascend the stairs. Heard the voices in

  contention. The gruff voice was that of a Frenchman. Could make out

  several words, but cannot now remember all. Heard distinctly

  '_sacrΘ_' and '_mon Dieu._' There was a sound at the moment as if of

  several persons struggling - a scraping and scuffling sound. The

  shrill voice was very loud - louder than the gruff one. Is sure that

  it was not the voice of an Englishman. Appeared to be that of a

  German. Might have been a woman's voice. Does not understand German.

  "Four of the above-named witnesses, being recalled, deposed that the

  door of the chamber in which was found the body of Mademoiselle L.

  was locked on the inside when the party reached it. Every thing was

  perfectly silent - no groans or noises of any kind. Upon forcing the

  door no person was seen. The windows, both of the back and front

  room, were down and firmly fastened from within. A door between the

  two rooms was closed, but not locked. The door leading from the front

  room into the passage was locked, with the key on the inside. A small

  room in the front of the house, on the fourth story, at the head of

  the passage was open, the door being ajar. This room was crowded with

  old beds, boxes, and so forth. These were carefully removed and

  searched. There was not an inch of any portion of the house which was

  not carefully searched. Sweeps were sent up and down the chimneys.

  The house was a four story one, with garrets (_mansardes._) A

  trap-door on the roof was nailed down very securely - did not appear

  to have been opened for years. The time elapsing between the hearing

  of the voices in contention and the breaking open of the room door,

  was variously stated by the witnesses. Some made it as short as three

  minutes - some as long as five. The door was opened with difficulty.

  "_Alfonzo Garcio_, undertaker, deposes that he resides in the Rue

  Morgue. Is a native of Spain. Was one of the party who entered the

  house. Did not proceed up stairs. Is nervous, and was apprehensive of

  the consequences of agitation. Heard the voices in contention. The

  gruff voice was that of a Frenchman. Could not distinguish what was

  said. The shrill voice was that of an Englishman - is sure of this.

  Does not understand the English language, but
judges by the

  intonation.

  "_Alberto Montani_, confectioner, deposes that he was among the first

  to ascend the stairs. Heard the voices in question. The gruff voice

  was that of a Frenchman. Distinguished several words. The speaker

  appeared to be expostulating. Could not make out the words of the

  shrill voice. Spoke quick and unevenly. Thinks it the voice of a

  Russian. Corroborates the general testimony. Is an Italian. Never

  conversed with a native of Russia.

  "Several witnesses, recalled, here testified that the chimneys of all

  the rooms on the fourth story were too narrow to admit the passage of

  a human being. By 'sweeps' were meant cylindrical sweeping brushes,

  such as are employed by those who clean chimneys. These brushes were

  passed up and down every flue in the house. There is no back passage

  by which any one could have descended while the party proceeded up

  stairs. The body of Mademoiselle L'Espanaye was so firmly wedged in

  the chimney that it could not be got down until four or five of the

  party united their strength.

  "_Paul Dumas_, physician, deposes that he was called to view the

  bodies about day-break. They were both then lying on the sacking of

  the bedstead in the chamber where Mademoiselle L. was found. The

  corpse of the young lady was much bruised and excoriated. The fact

  that it had been thrust up the chimney would sufficiently account for

  these appearances. The throat was greatly chafed. There were several

  deep scratches just below the chin, together with a series of livid

  spots which were evidently the impression of fingers. The face was

  fearfully discolored, and the eye-balls protruded. The tongue had

  been partially bitten through. A large bruise was discovered upon the

  pit of the stomach, produced, apparently, by the pressure of a knee.

  In the opinion of M. Dumas, Mademoiselle L'Espanaye had been

  throttled to death by some person or persons unknown. The corpse of

  the mother was horribly mutilated. All the bones of the right leg and

  arm were more or less shattered. The left _tibia_ much splintered, as