Убийство на улице Морг

           “Idonotknowit,”saidDupin.“Iamnotsureofit.Here,however,isasmallpieceofribbon,whichfromitsform,andfromitsgreasyappearance,hasevidentlybeenusedintyingthehairinoneofthoselongqueuesofwhichsailorsaresofond.Moreover,thisknotisonewhichfewbesidessailorscantie,andispeculiartotheMaltese.Ipickedtheribbonupatthefootofthelightning-rod.Itcouldnothavebelongedtoeitherofthedeceased.Nowif,afterall,Iamwronginmyinductionfromthisribbon,thattheFrenchmanwasasailorbelongingtoaMaltesevessel,stillIcanhavedonenoharminsayingwhatIdidintheadvertisement.IfIaminerror,hewillmerelysupposethatIhavebeenmisledbysomecircumstanceintowhichhewillnottakethetroubletoinquire.ButifIamright,agreatpointisgained.Cognizantalthoughinnocentofthemurder,theFrenchmanwillnaturallyhesitateaboutreplyingtotheadvertisement—aboutdemandingtheOurang-Outang.Hewillreasonthus:—‘Iaminnocent;Iampoor;myOurang-Outangisofgreatvalue—tooneinmycircumstancesafortuneofitself—whyshouldIloseitthroughidleapprehensionsofdanger?Hereitis,withinmygrasp.ItwasfoundintheBoisdeBoulogne—atavastdistancefromthesceneofthatbutchery.Howcaniteverbesuspectedthatabrutebeastshouldhavedonethedeed?Thepoliceareatfault—theyhavefailedtoprocuretheslightestclew.Shouldtheyeventracetheanimal,itwouldbeimpossibletoprovemecognizantofthemurder,ortoimplicatemeinguiltonaccountofthatcognizance.Aboveall,Iamknown.