piece，’saysthisjournal，’ofoneoftheunfortunategirl’spetticoatswastornoutandtiedunderherchin，andaroundthebackofherhead，probablytopreventscreams。Thiswasdonebyfellowswhohadnopocket-handkerchiefs。’
　　“Ihavebeforesuggestedthatagenuineblackguardisneverwithoutapocket-handkerchief。ButitisnottothisfactthatInowespeciallyadvert。ThatitwasnotthroughwantofahandkerchiefforthepurposeimaginedbyLeCommerciel，thatthisbandagewasemployed，isrenderedapparentbythehandkerchiefleftinthethicket；andthattheobjectwasnot’topreventscreams’appears，also，fromthebandagehavingbeenemployedinpreferencetowhatwouldsomuchbetterhaveansweredthepurpose。Butthelanguageoftheevidencespeaksofthestripinquestionas’foundaroundtheneck，fittingloosely，andsecuredwithahardknot。’Thesewordsaresufficientlyvague，butdiffermateriallyfromthoseofLeCommerciel。Theslipwaseighteenincheswide，andtherefore，althoughofmuslin，wouldformastrongbandwhenfoldedorrumpledlongitudinally。Andthusrumpleditwasdiscovered。Myinferenceisthis。Thesolitarymurderer，havingbornethecorpse，forsomedistance，whetherfromthethicketorelsewherebymeansofthebandagehitchedarounditsmiddle，foundtheweight，inthismodeofprocedure，toomuchforhisstrength。Heresolvedtodragtheburthen-theevidencegoestoshowthatitwasdragged。Withthisobjectinview，itbecamenecessarytoattachsomethinglikearopetooneoftheextremities。Itcouldbebestattachedabouttheneck，wheretheheadwouldpreventitsslippingoff。And，now，themurdererbethoughthim，unquestionably，ofthebandageabouttheloins。Hewouldhaveusedthis，butforitsvolutionaboutthecorpse，thehitchwhichembarrassedit，andthereflectionthatithadnotbeen’tornoff’fromthegarment。Itwaseasiertotearanewslipfromthepetticoat。Hetoreit，madeitfastabouttheneck，andsodraggedhisvictimtothebrinkoftheriver。Thatthis’bandage，’onlyattainablewithtroubleanddelay，andbutimperfectlyansweringitspurpose-thatthisbandagewasemployedatall，demonstratesthatthenecessityforitsemploymentsprangfromcircumstancesarisingataperiodwhenthehandkerchiefwasnolongerattainablethatistosay，arising，aswehaveimagined，afterquittingthethicket，ifthethicketitwas，andontheroadbetweenthethicketandtheriver。
　　“Buttheevidence，youwillsay，ofMadameDeluc，！pointsespeciallytothepresenceofagang，inthevicinityofthethicket，atorabouttheepochofthemurder。ThisIgrant。Idoubtiftherewerenotadozengangs，suchasdescribedbyMadameDeluc，inandaboutthevicinityoftheBarri鑢eduRouleatorabouttheperiodofthistragedy。Butthegangwhichhasdrawnuponitselfthepointedanimadversion，althoughthesomewhattardyandverysuspiciousevidenceofMadameDeluc，istheonlygangwhichisrepresentedbythathonestandscrupulousoldladyashavingeatenhercakesandswallowedherbrandy，withoutputtingthemselvestothetroubleofmakingherpayment。Ethincill？ir？
　　“ButwhatisthepreciseevidenceofMadameDeluc？’Agangofmiscreantsmadetheirappearance，behavedboisterously，ateanddrankwithoutmakingpayment，followedintherouteoftheyoungmanandgirl，returnedtotheinnaboutdusk，andrecrossedtheriverasifingreathaste。’
　　“Nowthis’greathaste’verypossiblyseemedgreaterhasteintheeyesofMadameDeluc，sinceshedweltlingeringlyandlamentinglyuponherviolatedcakesandale-cakesandaleforwhichshemightstillhaveentertainedafainthopeofcompensation。Why，otherwise，sinceitwasaboutdusk，shouldshemakeapointofthehaste？Itisnocauseforwonder，surely，thatevenagangofblackguardsshouldmakehastetogethome，whenawideriveristobecrossedinsmallboats，whenstormimpends，andwhennightapproaches。
　　“Isayapproaches；forthenighthadnotyetarrived。Itwasonlyaboutduskthattheindecenthasteofthese’miscreants’offendedthesobereyesofMadameDeluc。ButwearetoldthatitwasuponthisveryeveningthatMadameDeluc，aswellashereldestson，’heardthescreamsofafemaleinthevicinityoftheinn。’AndinwhatwordsdoesMadameDelucdesignatetheperiodoftheeveningatwhichthesescreamswereheard？’Itwassoonafterdark，’shesays。But’soonafterdark，’is，atleast，dark；and’aboutdusk’isascertainlydaylight。ThusitisabundantlyclearthatthegangquittedtheBarri鑢eduRoulepriortothescreamsoverheard？byMadameDeluc。
　　Andalthough，inallthemanyreportsoftheevidence，therelativeexpressionsinquestionaredistinctlyandinvariablyemployedjustasIhaveemployedtheminthisconversationwithyourself，nonoticewhateverofthegrossdiscrepancyhas，asyet，beentakenbyanyofthepublicjournals，orbyanyoftheMyrmidonsofpolice。
　　“Ishalladdbutonetotheargumentsagainstagang；butthisonehas，tomyownunderstandingatleast，aweightaltogetherirresistible。Underthecircumstancesoflargerewardoffered，andfullpardontoanyKing’sevidence，itisnottobeimagined，foramoment，thatsomememberofagangoflowruffians，orofanybodyofmen，wouldnotlongagohavebetrayedhisaccomplices。Eachoneofagangsoplaced，isnotsomuchgreedyofreward，oranxiousforescape，asfearfulofbetrayal。Hebetrayseagerlyandearlythathemaynothimselfbebetrayed。Thatthesecrethasnotbeendivulged，istheverybestofproofthatitis，infact，asecret。Thehorrorsofthisdarkdeedareknownonlytoone，ortwo，livinghumanbeings，andtoGod。
　　“Letussumupnowthemeagreyetcertainfruitsofourlonganalysis。WehaveattainedtheideaeitherofafatalaccidentundertheroofofMadameDeluc，orofamurderperpetrated，inthethicketattheBarri鑢eduRoule，byalover，oratleastbyanintimateandsecretassociateofthedeceased。Thisassociateisofswarthycomplexion。Thiscomplexion，the’hitch’inthebandage，andthe’sailor’sknot，’withwhichthebonnet-ribbonistied，pointtoaseaman。Hiscompanionshipwiththedeceased，agay，butnotanabjectyounggirl，designateshimasabovethegradeofthecommonsailor。
　　Herethewellwrittenandurgentcommunicationstothejournalsaremuchinthewayofcorroboration。Thecircumstanceofthefirstelopement，asmentionedbyLeMercurie，tendstoblendtheideaofthisseamanwiththatofthe’navalofficer’whoisfirstknowntohaveledtheunfortunateintocrime。
　　“Andhere，mostfitly，comestheconsiderationofthecontinuedabsenceofhimofthedarkcomplexion。Letmepausetoobservethatthecomplexionofthismanisdarkandswarthy；itwasnocommonswarthinesswhichconstitutedthesolepointofremembrance，bothasregardsValenceandMadameDeluc。Butwhyisthismanabsent？Washemurderedbythegang？Ifso，whyarethereonlytracesoftheassassinatedgirl？Thesceneofthetwooutrageswillnaturallybesupposedidentical。Andwhereishiscorpse？Theassassinswouldmostprobablyhavedisposedofbothinthesameway。Butitmaybesaidthatthismanlives，andisdeterredfrommakinghimselfknown，throughdreadofbeingchargedwiththemurder。Thisconsiderationmightbesupposedtooperateuponhimnow-atthislateperiod-
　　sinceithasbeengiveninevidencethathewasseenwithMarie-butitwouldhavehadnoforceattheperiodofthedeed。Thefirstimpulseofaninnocentmanwouldhavebeentoannouncetheoutrage，andtoaidinidentifyingtheruffians。Thispolicywouldhavesuggested。Hehadbeenseenwiththegirl。Hehadcrossedtheriverwithherinanopenferry-boat。Thedenouncingoftheassassinswouldhaveappeared，eventoanidiot，thesurestandsolemeansofrelievinghimselffromsuspicion。Wecannotsupposehim，onthenightofthefatalSunday，bothinnocenthimselfandincognizantofanoutragecommitted。Yetonlyundersuchcircumstancesisitpossibletoimaginethathewouldhavefailed，ifalive，inthedenouncementoftheassassins。
　　“Andwhatmeansareours，ofattainingthetruth？Weshallfindthesemeansmultiplyingandgatheringdistinctnessasweproceed。Letussifttothebottomthisaffairofthefirstelopement。Letusknowthefullhistoryof’theofficer，’withhispresentcircumstances，andhiswhereaboutsatthepreciseperiodofthemurder。Letuscarefullycomparewitheachotherthevariouscommunicationssenttotheeveningpaper，inwhichtheobjectwastoinculpateagang。Thisdone，letuscomparethesecommunications，bothasregardsstyleandMS。，withthosesenttothemorningpaper，atapreviousperiod，andinsistingsovehementlyupontheguiltofMennais。And，allthisdone，letusagaincomparethesevariouscommunicationswiththeknownMSS。oftheofficer。Letusendeavortoascertain，byrepeatedquestioningsofMadameDelucandherboys，aswellasoftheomnibusdriver，Valence，somethingmoreofthepersonalappearanceandbearingofthe’manofdarkcomplexion。’Queries，skilfullydirected，willnotfailtoelicit，fromsomeoftheseparties，informationonthisparticularpointoruponothers-informationwhichthepartiesthemselvesmaynotevenbeawareofpossessing。AndletusnowtracetheboatpickedupbythebargemanonthemorningofMondaythetwenty-thirdofJune，andwhichwasremovedfromthebarge-office，withoutthecognizanceoftheofficerinattendance，andwithouttherudder，atsomeperiodpriortothediscoveryofthecorpse。Withapropercautionandperseveranceweshallinfalliblytracethisboat；fornotonlycanthebargemanwhopickeditupidentifyit，buttherudderisathand。Therudderofasail-boatwouldnothavebeenabandoned，withoutinquiry，byonealtogetherateaseinheart。Andhereletmepausetoinsinuateaquestion。Therewasnoadvertisementofthepickingupofthisboat。Itwassilentlytakentothebarge-office，andassilentlyremoved。Butitsowneroremployer-howhappenedhe，atsoearlyaperiodasTuesdaymorning，tobeinformed，withouttheagencyofadvertisement，ofthelocalityoftheboattakenuponMonday，unlessweimaginesomeconnexionwiththenavy-somepersonalpermanentconnexionleadingtocognizanceofitsminuteininterests-itspettylocalnews？
　　“Inspeakingofthelonelyassassindragginghisburdentotheshore，Ihavealreadysuggestedtheprobabilityofhisavailinghimselfofaboat。NowwearetounderstandthatMarieRog阾wasprecipitatedfromaboat。Thiswouldnaturallyhavebeenthecase。Thecorpsecouldnothavebeentrustedtotheshallowwatersoftheshore。Thepeculiarmarksonthebackandshouldersofthevictimtellofthebottomribsofaboat。Thatthebodywasfoundwithoutweightisalsocorroborativeoftheidea。Ifthrownfromtheshoreaweightwouldhavebeenattached。Wecanonlyaccountforitsabsencebysupposingthemurderertohaveneglectedtheprecautionofsupplyinghimselfwithitbeforepushingoff。Intheactofconsigningthecorpsetothewater，hewouldunquestionablyhavenoticedhisoversight；butthennoremedywouldhavebeenathand。Anyriskwouldhavebeenpreferredtoareturntothataccursedshore。Havingridhimselfofhisghastlycharge，themurdererwouldhavehastenedtothecity。
　　There，atsomeobscurewharf，hewouldhaveleapedonland。Buttheboat-wouldhehavesecuredit？Hewouldhavebeenintoogreathasteforsuchthingsassecuringaboat。Moreover，infasteningittothewharf，hewouldhavefeltasifsecuringevidenceagainsthimself。Hisnaturalthoughtwouldhavebeentocastfromhim，asfaraspossible，allthathadheldconnectionwithhiscrime。Hewouldnotonlyhavefledfromthewharf，buthewouldnothavepermittedtheboattoremain。Assuredlyhewouldhavecastitadrift。Letuspursueourfancies-Inthemorning，thewretchisstrickenwithunutterablehorroratfindingthattheboathasbeenpickedupanddetainedatalocalitywhichheisinthedailyhabitoffrequenting-atalocality，perhaps，whichhisdutycompelshimtofrequent。Thenextnight，withoutdaringtoaskfortherudder，heremovesit。Nowwhereisthatrudderlessboat？Letitbeoneofourfirstpurposestodiscover。Withthefirstglimpseweobtainofit，thedawnofoursuccessshallbegin。Thisboatshallguideus，witharapiditywhichwillsurpriseevenourselves，tohimwhoemployeditinthemidnightofthefatalSabbath。Corroborationwillriseuponcorroboration，andthemurdererwillbetraced。”
　　[Forreasonswhichweshallnotspecify，butwhichtomanyreaderswillappearobvious，wehavetakenthelibertyofhereomitting，fromtheMSS。placedinourhands，suchportionasdetailsthefollowingupoftheapparentlyslightclewobtainedbyDupin。Wefeelitadvisableonlytostate，inbrief，thattheresultdesiredwasbroughttopass；andthatthePrefectfulfilledpunctually，althoughwithreluctance，thetermsofhiscompactwiththeChevalier。Mr。
　　Poe’sarticleconcludeswiththefollowingwords-Eds。{*23}]
　　ItwillbeunderstoodthatIspeakofcoincidencesandnomore。WhatIhavesaidaboveuponthistopicmustsuffice。Inmyownhearttheredwellsnofaithinpr鎡er-nature。ThatNatureanditsGodaretwo，nomanwhothinks，willdeny。Thatthelatter，creatingtheformer，can，atwill，controlormodifyit，isalsounquestionable。Isay“atwill；“forthequestionisofwill，andnot，astheinsanityoflogichasassumed，ofpower。ItisnotthattheDeitycannotmodifyhislaws，butthatweinsulthiminimaginingapossiblenecessityformodification。IntheirorigintheselawswerefashionedtoembraceallcontingencieswhichcouldlieintheFuture。WithGodallisNow。
　　Irepeat，then，thatIspeakofthesethingsonlyasofcoincidences。
　　Andfarther：inwhatIrelateitwillbeseenthatbetweenthefateoftheunhappyMaryCeciliaRogers，sofarasthatfateisknown，andthefateofoneMarieRog阾uptoacertainepochinherhistory，therehasexistedaparallelinthecontemplationofwhosewonderfulexactitudethereasonbecomesembarrassed。Isayallthiswillbeseen。Butletitnotforamomentbesupposedthat，inproceedingwiththesadnarrativeofMariefromtheepochjustmentioned，andintracingtoitsd閚ouementthemysterywhichenshroudedher，itismycovertdesigntohintatanextensionoftheparallel，oreventosuggestthatthemeasuresadoptedinParisforthediscoveryoftheassassinofagrisette，ormeasuresfoundedinanysimilarratiocination，wouldproduceanysimilarresult。