whattheniftwoorthree，ormore？Eachsuccessiveoneismultipleevidence-proofnot_added_toproof，butmultipliedbyhundredsorthousands。Letusnowdiscover，uponthedeceased，garterssuchasthelivingused，anditisalmostfollytoproceed。Butthesegartersarefoundtobetightened，bythesettingbackofaclasp，injustsuchamannerasherownhadbeentightenedbyMarie，shortlyprevioustoherleavinghome。Itisnowmadnessorhypocrisytodoubt。WhatL’Etoilesaysinrespecttothisabbreviationofthegarter’sbeinganusualoccurrence，showsnothingbeyonditsownpertinacityinerror。Theelasticnatureoftheclasp-garterisself-demonstrationoftheunusualnessoftheabbreviation。Whatismadetoadjustitself，mustofnecessityrequireforeignadjustmentbutrarely。Itmusthavebeenbyanaccident，initsstrictestsense，thatthesegartersofMarieneededthetighteningdescribed。Theyalonewouldhaveamplyestablishedheridentity。Butitisnotthatthecorpsewasfoundtohavethegartersofthemissinggirl，orfoundtohavehershoes，orherbonnet，ortheflowersofherbonnet，orherfeet，orapeculiarmarkuponthearm，orhergeneralsizeandappearance-itisthatthecorpsehadeach，and_allcollectively_。
　　CoulditbeprovedthattheeditorofL’Etoile_really_entertainedadoubt，underthecircumstances，therewouldbenoneed，inhiscase，ofacommissiondelunaticoinquirendo。Hehasthoughtitsagacioustoechothesmalltalkofthelawyers，who，forthemostpart，contentthemselveswithechoingtherectangularpreceptsofthecourts。Iwouldhereobservethatverymuchofwhatisrejectedasevidencebyacourt，isthebestofevidencetotheintellect。Forthecourt，guidingitselfbythegeneralprinciplesofevidence-therecognizedand_booked_principles-isaversefromswervingatparticularinstances。Andthissteadfastadherencetoprinciple，withrigorousdisregardoftheconflictingexception，isasuremodeofattainingthemaximumofattainabletruth，inanylongsequenceoftime。Thepractice，inmass，isthereforephilosophical；butitisnotthelesscertainthatitengendersvastindividualerror。{*16}
　　“InrespecttotheinsinuationslevelledatBeauvais，youwillbewillingtodismisstheminabreath。Youhavealreadyfathomedthetruecharacterofthisgoodgentleman。Heisabusy-body，withmuchofromanceandlittleofwit。Anyonesoconstitutedwillreadilysoconducthimself，uponoccasionofrealexcitement，astorenderhimselfliabletosuspiciononthepartoftheoveracute，ortheill-disposed。M。BeauvaisasitappearsfromyournoteshadsomepersonalinterviewswiththeeditorofL’Etoile，andoffendedhimbyventuringanopinionthatthecorpse，notwithstandingthetheoryoftheeditor，was，insoberfact，thatofMarie。’Hepersists，’saysthepaper，’inassertingthecorpsetobethatofMarie，butcannotgiveacircumstance，inadditiontothosewhichwehavecommentedupon，tomakeothersbelieve。’Now，withoutre-advertingtothefactthatstrongerevidence’tomakeothersbelieve，’couldneverhavebeenadduced，itmayberemarkedthatamanmayverywellbeunderstoodtobelieve，inacaseofthiskind，withouttheabilitytoadvanceasinglereasonforthebeliefofasecondparty。Nothingismorevaguethanimpressionsofindividualidentity。Eachmanrecognizeshisneighbor，yettherearefewinstancesinwhichanyoneispreparedtogiveareasonforhisrecognition。TheeditorofL’EtoilehadnorighttobeoffendedatM。Beauvais’unreasoningbelief。
　　“Thesuspiciouscircumstanceswhichinvesthim，willbefoundtotallymuchbetterwithmyhypothesisofromanticbusy-bodyism，thanwiththereasoner’ssuggestionofguilt。Onceadoptingthemorecharitableinterpretation，weshallfindnodifficultyincomprehendingtheroseinthekey-hole；the’Marie’upontheslate；
　　the’elbowingthemalerelativesoutoftheway；’the’aversiontopermittingthemtoseethebody；’thecautiongiventoMadameB，thatshemustholdnoconversationwiththegendarmeuntilhisreturnBeauvais’；and，lastly，hisapparentdetermination’thatnobodyshouldhaveanythingtodowiththeproceedingsexcepthimself。’ItseemstomeunquestionablethatBeauvaiswasasuitorofMarie’s；
　　thatshecoquettedwithhim；andthathewasambitiousofbeingthoughttoenjoyherfullestintimacyandconfidence。Ishallsaynothingmoreuponthispoint；and，astheevidencefullyrebutstheassertionofL’Etoile，touchingthematterofapathyonthepartofthemotherandotherrelatives-anapathyinconsistentwiththesuppositionoftheirbelievingthecorpsetobethatoftheperfumery-girl-weshallnowproceedasifthequestionofidentityweresettledtoourperfectsatisfaction。”
　　“Andwhat。”Iheredemanded，“doyouthinkoftheopinionsofLeCommerciel？”
　　“That，inspirit，theyarefarmoreworthyofattentionthananywhichhavebeenpromulgateduponthesubject。Thedeductionsfromthepremisesarephilosophicalandacute；butthepremises，intwoinstances，atleast，arefoundedinimperfectobservation。LeCommercielwishestointimatethatMariewasseizedbysomegangoflowruffiansnotfarfromhermother’sdoor。’Itisimpossible，’iturges，’thatapersonsowellknowntothousandsasthisyoungwomanwas，shouldhavepassedthreeblockswithoutsomeonehavingseenher。’ThisistheideaofamanlongresidentinParis-apublicman-andonewhosewalkstoandfrointhecity，havebeenmostlylimitedtothevicinityofthepublicoffices。Heisawarethatheseldompassessofarasadozenblocksfromhisownbureau，withoutbeingrecognizedandaccosted。And，knowingtheextentofhispersonalacquaintancewithothers，andofotherswithhim，hecompareshisnotorietywiththatoftheperfumery-girl，findsnogreatdifferencebetweenthem，andreachesatoncetheconclusionthatshe，inherwalks，wouldbeequallyliabletorecognitionwithhimselfinhis。Thiscouldonlybethecasewereherwalksofthesameunvarying，methodicalcharacter，andwithinthesamespeciesoflimitedregionasarehisown。Hepassestoandfro，atregularintervals，withinaconfinedperiphery，aboundinginindividualswhoareledtoobservationofhispersonthroughinterestinthekindrednatureofhisoccupationwiththeirown。ButthewalksofMariemay，ingeneral，besupposeddiscursive。Inthisparticularinstance，itwillbeunderstoodasmostprobable，thatsheproceededuponarouteofmorethanaveragediversityfromheraccustomedones。TheparallelwhichweimaginetohaveexistedinthemindofLeCommercielwouldonlybesustainedintheeventofthetwoindividuals’traversingthewholecity。Inthiscase，grantingthepersonalacquaintancestobeequal，thechanceswouldbealsoequalthatanequalnumberofpersonalrencounterswouldbemade。Formyownpart，Ishouldholditnotonlyaspossible，butasveryfarmorethanprobable，thatMariemighthaveproceeded，atanygivenperiod，byanyoneofthemanyroutesbetweenherownresidenceandthatofheraunt，withoutmeetingasingleindividualwhomsheknew，orbywhomshewasknown。
　　Inviewingthisquestioninitsfullandproperlight，wemustholdsteadilyinmindthegreatdisproportionbetweenthepersonalacquaintancesofeventhemostnotedindividualinParis，andtheentirepopulationofParisitself。
　　“ButwhateverforcetheremaystillappeartobeinthesuggestionofLeCommerciel，willbemuchdiminishedwhenwetakeintoconsiderationthehouratwhichthegirlwentabroad。’Itwaswhenthestreetswerefullofpeople，’saysLeCommerciel，’thatshewentout。’Butnotso。Itwasatnineo’clockinthemorning。Nowatnineo’clockofeverymorningintheweek，_withtheexceptionofSunday_，thestreetsofthecityare，itistrue，throngedwithpeople。AtnineonSunday，thepopulacearechieflywithindoors_preparingforchurch_。Noobservingpersoncanhavefailedtonoticethepeculiarlydesertedairofthetown，fromabouteightuntiltenonthemorningofeverySabbath。Betweentenandeleventhestreetsarethronged，butnotatsoearlyaperiodasthatdesignated。
　　“ThereisanotherpointatwhichthereseemsadeficiencyofobservationonthepartofLeCommerciel。’Apiece，’itsays，’ofoneoftheunfortunategirl’spetticoats，twofeetlong，andonefootwide，wastornoutandtiedunderherchin，andaroundthebackofherhead，probablytopreventscreams。Thiswasdone，byfellowswhohadnopocket-handkerchiefs。’Whetherthisideais，orisnotwellfounded，wewillendeavortoseehereafter；butby’fellowswhohavenopocket-handkerchiefs’theeditorintendsthelowestclassofruffians。These，however，aretheverydescriptionofpeoplewhowillalwaysbefoundtohavehandkerchiefsevenwhendestituteofshirts。
　　Youmusthavehadoccasiontoobservehowabsolutelyindispensable，oflateyears，tothethoroughblackguard，hasbecomethepocket-handkerchief。”
　　“Andwhatarewetothink。”Iasked，“ofthearticleinLeSoleil？”
　　“Thatitisavastpityitsinditerwasnotbornaparrot-inwhichcasehewouldhavebeenthemostillustriousparrotofhisrace。Hehasmerelyrepeatedtheindividualitemsofthealreadypublishedopinion；collectingthem，withalaudableindustry，fromthispaperandfromthat。’Thethingshadallevidentlybeenthere，’hesays，’atleast，threeorfourweeks，andtherecanbe_nodoubt_thatthespotofthisappallingoutragehasbeendiscovered。’Thefactsherere-statedbyLeSoleil，areveryfarindeedfromremovingmyowndoubtsuponthissubject，andwewillexaminethemmoreparticularlyhereafterinconnexionwithanotherdivisionofthetheme。
　　“AtpresentwemustoccupyourselveswithotherinvestigationsYoucannotfailtohaveremarkedtheextremelaxityoftheexaminationofthecorpse。Tobesure，thequestionofidentitywasreadilydetermined，orshouldhavebeen；buttherewereotherpointstobeascertained。Hadthebodybeeninanyrespectdespoiled？Hadthedeceasedanyarticlesofjewelryaboutherpersonuponleavinghome？
　　ifso，hadsheanywhenfound？Theseareimportantquestionsutterlyuntouchedbytheevidence；andthereareothersofequalmoment，whichhavemetwithnoattention。Wemustendeavortosatisfyourselvesbypersonalinquiry。ThecaseofSt。Eustachemustbere-examined。Ihavenosuspicionofthisperson；butletusproceedmethodically。WewillascertainbeyondadoubtthevalidityoftheaffidavitsinregardtohiswhereaboutsontheSunday。Affidavitsofthischaracterarereadilymadematterofmystification。Shouldtherebenothingwronghere，however，wewilldismissSt。Eustachefromourinvestigations。Hissuicide，howevercorroborativeofsuspicion，weretherefoundtobedeceitintheaffidavits，is，withoutsuchdeceit，innorespectanunaccountablecircumstance，oronewhichneedcauseustodeflectfromthelineofordinaryanalysis。
　　“InthatwhichInowpropose，wewilldiscardtheinteriorpointsofthistragedy，andconcentrateourattentionuponitsoutskirts。Nottheleastusualerror，ininvestigationssuchasthis，isthelimitingofinquirytotheimmediate，withtotaldisregardofthecollateralorcircumstantialevents。Itisthemal-practiceofthecourtstoconfineevidenceanddiscussiontotheboundsofapparentrelevancy。Yetexperiencehasshown，andatruephilosophywillalwaysshow，thatavast，perhapsthelargerportionoftruth，arisesfromtheseeminglyirrelevant。Itisthroughthespiritofthisprinciple，ifnotpreciselythroughitsletter，thatmodernsciencehasresolvedtocalculateupontheunforeseen。Butperhapsyoudonotcomprehendme。Thehistoryofhumanknowledgehassouninterruptedlyshownthattocollateral，orincidental，oraccidentaleventsweareindebtedforthemostnumerousandmostvaluablediscoveries，thatithasatlengthbecomenecessary，inanyprospectiveviewofimprovement，tomakenotonlylarge，butthelargestallowancesforinventionsthatshallarisebychance，andquiteoutoftherangeofordinaryexpectation。Itisnolongerphilosophicaltobase，uponwhathasbeen，avisionofwhatistobe。Accidentisadmittedasaportionofthesubstructure。Wemakechanceamatterofabsolutecalculation。Wesubjecttheunlookedforandunimagined，tothemathematical_formulae_oftheschools。
　　“Irepeatthatitisnomorethanfact，thatthelargerportionofalltruthhassprungfromthecollateral；anditisbutinaccordancewiththespiritoftheprincipleinvolvedinthisfact，thatIwoulddivertinquiry，inthepresentcase，fromthetroddenandhithertounfruitfulgroundoftheeventitself，tothecontemporarycircumstanceswhichsurroundit。Whileyouascertainthevalidityoftheaffidavits，Iwillexaminethenewspapersmoregenerallythanyouhaveasyetdone。Sofar，wehaveonlyreconnoitredthefieldofinvestigation；butitwillbestrangeindeedifacomprehensivesurvey，suchasIpropose，ofthepublicprints，willnotaffordussomeminutepointswhichshallestablishadirectionforinquiry。”
　　InpursuanceofDupin’ssuggestion，Imadescrupulousexaminationoftheaffairoftheaffidavits。Theresultwasafirmconvictionoftheirvalidity，andoftheconsequentinnocenceofSt。Eustache。Inthemeantimemyfriendoccupiedhimself，withwhatseemedtomeaminutenessaltogetherobjectless，inascrutinyofthevariousnewspaperfiles。Attheendofaweekheplacedbeforemethefollowingextracts：
　　“Aboutthreeyearsandahalfago，adisturbanceverysimilartothepresent，wascausedbythedisappearanceofthissameMarieRog阾，fromtheparfumerieofMonsieurLeBlanc，inthePalaisRoyal。Attheendofaweek，however，shere-appearedathercustomarycomptoir，aswellasever，withtheexceptionofaslightpalenessnotaltogetherusual。ItwasgivenoutbyMonsieurLeBlancandhermother，thatshehadmerelybeenonavisittosomefriendinthecountry；andtheaffairwasspeedilyhushedup。Wepresumethatthepresentabsenceisafreakofthesamenature，andthat，attheexpirationofaweek，orperhapsofamonth，weshallhaveheramongusagain。”-EveningPaper-MondayJune23。###第31章
　　“Aneveningjournalofyesterday，referstoaformermysteriousdisappearanceofMademoiselleRog阾。Itiswellknownthat，duringtheweekofherabsencefromLeBlanc’sparfumerie，shewasinthecompanyofayoungnavalofficer，muchnotedforhisdebaucheries。A
　　quarrel，itissupposed，providentiallyledtoherreturnhome。WehavethenameoftheLotharioinquestion，whois，atpresent，stationedinParis，but，forobviousreasons，forbeartomakeitpublic。”-LeMercurie-TuesdayMorning，June24。{*18}
　　“Anoutrageofthemostatrociouscharacterwasperpetratednearthiscitythedaybeforeyesterday。Agentleman，withhiswifeanddaughter，engaged，aboutdusk，theservicesofsixyoungmen，whowereidlyrowingaboattoandfronearthebanksoftheSeine，toconveyhimacrosstheriver。Uponreachingtheoppositeshore，thethreepassengerssteppedout，andhadproceededsofarastobebeyondtheviewoftheboat，whenthedaughterdiscoveredthatshehadleftinitherparasol。Shereturnedforit，wasseizedbythegang，carriedoutintothestream，gagged，brutallytreated，andfinallytakentotheshoreatapointnotfarfromthatatwhichshehadoriginallyenteredtheboatwithherparents。Thevillainshaveescapedforthetime，butthepoliceareupontheirtrail，andsomeofthemwillsoonbetaken。”-MorningPaper-June25。{*19}
　　“Wehavereceivedoneortwocommunications，theobjectofwhichistofastenthecrimeofthelateatrocityuponMennais；{*20}butasthisgentlemanhasbeenfullyexoneratedbyaloyalinquiry，andastheargumentsofourseveralcorrespondentsappeartobemorezealousthanprofound，wedonotthinkitadvisabletomakethempublic。”-
　　MorningPaper-June28。{*21}
　　“Wehavereceivedseveralforciblywrittencommunications，apparentlyfromvarioussources，andwhichgofartorenderitamatterofcertaintythattheunfortunateMarieRog阾hasbecomeavictimofoneofthenumerousbandsofblackguardswhichinfestthevicinityofthecityuponSunday。Ourownopinionisdecidedlyinfavorofthissupposition。Weshallendeavortomakeroomforsomeoftheseargumentshereafter。”-EveningPaper-Tuesday，June31。{*22}
　　“OnMonday，oneofthebargemenconnectedwiththerevenueservice，sawaemptyboatfloatingdowntheSeine。Sailswerelyinginthebottomoftheboat。Thebargemantoweditunderthebargeoffice。Thenextmorningitwastakenfromthence，withouttheknowledgeofanyoftheofficers。Therudderisnowatthebargeoffice。”-LeDiligence-Thursday，June26。§；
　　Uponreadingthesevariousextracts，theynotonlyseemedtomeirrelevant，butIcouldperceivenomodeinwhichanyoneofthemcouldbebroughttobearuponthematterinhand。IwaitedforsomeexplanationfromDupin。
　　“Itisnotmypresentdesign。”hesaid，“todwelluponthefirstandsecondofthoseextracts。Ihavecopiedthemchieflytoshowyoutheextremeremissnessofthepolice，who，asfarasIcanunderstandfromthePrefect，havenottroubledthemselves，inanyrespect，withanexaminationofthenavalofficeralludedto。YetitismerefollytosaythatbetweenthefirstandseconddisappearanceofMarie，thereisno_supposable_connection。Letusadmitthefirstelopementtohaveresultedinaquarrelbetweenthelovers，andthereturnhomeofthebetrayed。Wearenowpreparedtoviewasecondelopementifweknowthatanelopementhasagaintakenplaceasindicatingarenewalofthebetrayer’sadvances，ratherthanastheresultofnewproposalsbyasecondindividual-wearepreparedtoregarditasa’makingup’oftheoldamour，ratherthanasthecommencementofanewone。Thechancesaretentoone，thathewhohadonceelopedwithMarie，wouldagainproposeanelopement，ratherthanthatshetowhomproposalsofelopementhadbeenmadebyoneindividual，shouldhavethemmadetoherbyanother。Andhereletmecallyourattentiontothefact，thatthetimeelapsingbetweenthefirstascertained，andthesecondsupposedelopement，isafewmonthsmorethanthegeneralperiodofthecruisesofourmen-of-war。Hadtheloverbeeninterruptedinhisfirstvillanybythenecessityofdeparturetosea，andhadheseizedthefirstmomentofhisreturntorenewthebasedesignsnotyetaltogetheraccomplished-ornotyetaltogetheraccomplishedby_him？_Ofallthesethingsweknownothing。
　　“Youwillsay，however，that，inthesecondinstance，therewasnoelopementasimagined。Certainlynot-butarewepreparedtosaythattherewasnotthefrustrateddesign？BeyondSt。Eustache，andperhapsBeauvais，wefindnorecognized，noopen，nohonorablesuitorsofMarie。Ofnoneotheristhereanythingsaid。Who，then，isthesecretlover，ofwhomtherelativesatleastmostofthem
　　knownothing，butwhomMariemeetsuponthemorningofSunday，andwhoissodeeplyinherconfidence，thatshehesitatesnottoremainwithhimuntiltheshadesoftheeveningdescend，amidthesolitarygrovesoftheBarri鑢eduRoule？Whoisthatsecretlover，Iask，ofwhom，atleast，mostoftherelativesknownothing？AndwhatmeansthesingularprophecyofMadameRog阾onthemorningofMarie’sdeparture？’IfearthatIshallneverseeMarieagain。’
　　“ButifwecannotimagineMadameRog阾privytothedesignofelopement，maywenotatleastsupposethisdesignentertainedbythegirl？Uponquittinghome，shegaveittobeunderstoodthatshewasabouttovisitherauntintheRuedesDr鬽esandSt。Eustachewasrequestedtocallforheratdark。Now，atfirstglance，thisfactstronglymilitatesagainstmysuggestion；-butletusreflect。Thatshedidmeetsomecompanion，andproceedwithhimacrosstheriver，reachingtheBarri鑢eduRouleatsolateanhourasthreeo’clockintheafternoon，isknown。Butinconsentingsotoaccompanythisindividual，_forwhateverpurposetohermotherknownorunknown，_shemusthavethoughtofherexpressedintentionwhenleavinghome，andofthesurpriseandsuspicionarousedinthebosomofheraffiancedsuitor，St。Eustache，when，callingforher，atthehourappointed，intheRuedesDr鬽es，heshouldfindthatshehadnotbeenthere，andwhen，moreover，uponreturningtothepensionwiththisalarmingintelligence，heshouldbecomeawareofhercontinuedabsencefromhome。Shemusthavethoughtofthesethings，I
　　say。ShemusthaveforeseenthechagrinofSt。Eustache，thesuspicionofall。Shecouldnothavethoughtofreturningtobravethissuspicion；butthesuspicionbecomesapointoftrivialimportancetoher，ifwesupposehernotintendingtoreturn。
　　“Wemayimagineherthinkingthus-’Iamtomeetacertainpersonforthepurposeofelopement，orforcertainotherpurposesknownonlytomyself。Itisnecessarythattherebenochanceofinterruption-theremustbesufficienttimegivenustoeludepursuit-IwillgiveittobeunderstoodthatIshallvisitandspendthedaywithmyauntattheRuedesDr鬽es-IwelltellSt。
　　Eustachenottocallformeuntildark-inthisway，myabsencefromhomeforthelongestpossibleperiod，withoutcausingsuspicionoranxiety，willbeaccountedfor，andIshallgainmoretimethaninanyothermanner。IfIbidSt。Eustachecallformeatdark，hewillbesurenottocallbefore；but，ifIwhollyneglecttobidhimcall，mytimeforescapewillbediminished，sinceitwillbeexpectedthatIreturntheearlier，andmyabsencewillthesoonerexciteanxiety。
　　Now，ifitweremydesigntoreturnatall-ifIhadincontemplationmerelyastrollwiththeindividualinquestion-itwouldnotbemypolicytobidSt。Eustachecall；for，calling，hewillbesuretoascertainthatIhaveplayedhimfalse-afactofwhichImightkeephimforeverinignorance，byleavinghomewithoutnotifyinghimofmyintention，byreturningbeforedark，andbythenstatingthatIhadbeentovisitmyauntintheRuedesDr鬽es。But，asitismydesignnevertoreturn-ornotforsomeweeks-ornotuntilcertainconcealmentsareeffected-thegainingoftimeistheonlypointaboutwhichIneedgivemyselfanyconcern。’
　　“Youhaveobserved，inyournotes，thatthemostgeneralopinioninrelationtothissadaffairis，andwasfromthefirst，thatthegirlhadbeenthevictimofagangofblackguards。Now，thepopularopinion，undercertainconditions，isnottobedisregarded。Whenarisingofitselfwhenmanifestingitselfinastrictlyspontaneousmannerweshouldlookuponitasanalogouswiththat_intuition_whichistheidiosyncrasyoftheindividualmanofgenius。Inninety-ninecasesfromthehundredIwouldabidebyitsdecision。Butitisimportantthatwefindnopalpabletracesof_suggestion_。Theopinionmustberigorously_thepublic’sown_；andthedistinctionisoftenexceedinglydifficulttoperceiveandtomaintain。Inthepresentinstance，itappearstomethatthis’publicopinion’inrespecttoagang，hasbeensuperinducedbythecollateraleventwhichisdetailedinthethirdofmyextracts。AllParisisexcitedbythediscoveredcorpseofMarie，agirlyoung，beautifulandnotorious。Thiscorpseisfound，bearingmarksofviolence，andfloatingintheriver。Butitisnowmadeknownthat，attheveryperiod，orabouttheveryperiod，inwhichitissupposedthatthegirlwasassassinated，anoutragesimilarinnaturetothatenduredbythedeceased，althoughlessinextent，wasperpetuated，byagangofyoungruffians，uponthepersonofasecondyoungfemale。
　　Isitwonderfulthattheoneknownatrocityshouldinfluencethepopularjudgmentinregardtotheotherunknown？Thisjudgmentawaiteddirection，andtheknownoutrageseemedsoopportunelytoaffordit！Marie，too，wasfoundintheriver；anduponthisveryriverwasthisknownoutragecommitted。Theconnexionofthetwoeventshadaboutitsomuchofthepalpable，thatthetruewonderwouldhavebeenafailureofthepopulacetoappreciateandtoseizeit。But，infact，theoneatrocity，knowntobesocommitted，is，ifanything，evidencethattheother，committedatatimenearlycoincident，wasnotsocommitted。Itwouldhavebeenamiracleindeed，if，whileagangofruffianswereperpetrating，atagivenlocality，amostunheard-ofwrong，thereshouldhavebeenanothersimilargang，inasimilarlocality，inthesamecity，underthesamecircumstances，withthesamemeansandappliances，engagedinawrongofpreciselythesameaspect，atpreciselythesameperiodoftime！
　　Yetinwhat，ifnotinthismarvelloustrainofcoincidence，doestheaccidentallysuggestedopinionofthepopulacecalluponustobelieve？
　　“Beforeproceedingfarther，letusconsiderthesupposedsceneoftheassassination，inthethicketattheBarri鑢eduRoule。Thisthicket，althoughdense，wasintheclosevicinityofapublicroad。Withinwerethreeorfourlargestones，formingakindofseatwithabackandfootstool。Ontheupperstonewasdiscoveredawhitepetticoat；
　　onthesecond，asilkscarf。Aparasol，gloves，andapocket-handkerchief，werealsoherefound。Thehandkerchiefborethename，’MarieRog阾。’Fragmentsofdresswereseenonthebranchesaround。Theearthwastrampled，thebusheswerebroken，andtherewaseveryevidenceofaviolentstruggle。
　　“Notwithstandingtheacclamationwithwhichthediscoveryofthisthicketwasreceivedbythepress，andtheunanimitywithwhichitwassupposedtoindicatetheprecisesceneoftheoutrage，itmustbeadmittedthattherewassomeverygoodreasonfordoubt。Thatitwasthescene，ImayorImaynotbelieve-buttherewasexcellentreasonfordoubt。Hadthetruescenebeen，asLeCommercielsuggested，intheneighborhoodoftheRuePav閑St。Andr閑，theperpetratorsofthecrime，supposingthemstillresidentinParis，wouldnaturallyhavebeenstrickenwithterroratthepublicattentionthusacutelydirectedintotheproperchannel；and，incertainclassesofminds，therewouldhavearisen，atonce，asenseofthenecessityofsomeexertiontoredivertthisattention。Andthus，thethicketoftheBarri鑢eduRoulehavingbeenalreadysuspected，theideaofplacingthearticleswheretheywerefound，mighthavebeennaturallyentertained。Thereisnorealevidence，althoughLeSoleilsosupposes，thatthearticlesdiscoveredhadbeenmorethanaveryfewdaysinthethicket；whilethereismuchcircumstantialproofthattheycouldnothaveremainedthere，withoutattractingattention，duringthetwentydayselapsingbetweenthefatalSundayandtheafternoonuponwhichtheywerefoundbytheboys。’Theywereall_mildewed_downhard，’saysLeSoleil，adoptingtheopinionsofitspredecessors，’withtheactionoftherain，andstucktogetherfrom_mildew_。Thegrasshadgrownaroundandoversomeofthem。Thesilkoftheparasolwasstrong，butthethreadsofitwereruntogetherwithin。Theupperpart，whereitbadbeendoubledandfolded，wasall_mildewed_androtten，andtoreonbeingopened。’Inrespecttothegrasshaving’。grownaroundandoversomeofthem，’itisobviousthatthefactcouldonlyhavebeenascertainedfromthewords，andthusfromtherecollections，oftwosmallboys；fortheseboysremovedthearticlesandtookthemhomebeforetheyhadbeenseenbyathirdparty。Butgrasswillgrow，especiallyinwarmanddampweather，suchaswasthatoftheperiodofthemurder，asmuchastwoorthreeinchesinasingleday。A
　　parasollyinguponanewlyturfedground，might，inasingleweek，beentirelyconcealedfromsightbytheupspringinggrass。AndtouchingthatmildewuponwhichtheeditorofLeSoleilsopertinaciouslyinsists，thatheemploysthewordnolessthanthreetimesinthebriefparagraphjustquoted，isbereallyunawareofthenatureofthismildew？Ishetobetoldthatitisoneofthemanyclassesoffungus，ofwhichthemostordinaryfeatureisitsupspringinganddecadencewithintwenty-fourhours？