THE PURLOINED LETTER
by Edgar Allan Poe
(1845)
At Paris, just after dark one gusty evening in the autumn of 18--, I was enjoying the twofold luxury of meditation and a meerschaum, in company with my friend C. Auguste Dupin, in his little back library, or book-closet, au troisieme, No. 33, Rue Dunot, Faubourg St. Germain. For one hour at least we had maintained a profound silence; while each, to any casual observer, might have seemed intently and exclusively occupied with the curling eddies of smoke that oppressed the atmosphere of the chamber. For myself, however, I was mentally discussing certain topics which had formed matter for conversation between us at an earlier period of the evening; I mean the affair of the Rue Morgue, and the mystery attending the murder of Marie Roget. I looked upon it, therefore, as something of a coincidence, when the door of our apartment was thrown open and admitted our old acquaintance, Monsieur G--, the Prefect of the Parisian police.
We gave him a hearty welcome; for there was nearly half as much of the entertaining as of the contemptible about the man, and we had not seen him for several years. We had been sitting in the dark, and Dupin now arose for the purpose of lighting a lamp, but sat down again, without doing so, upon G.'s saying that he had called to consult us, or rather to ask the opinion of my friend, about some official business which had occasioned a great deal of trouble.
"If it is any point requiring reflection," observed Dupin, as he forbore to enkindle the wick, "we shall examine it to better purpose in the dark."
"That is another of your odd notions," said the Prefect, who had a fashion of calling every thing "odd" that was beyond his comprehension, and thus lived amid an absolute legion of "oddities."
"Very true," said Dupin, as he supplied his visitor with a pipe, and rolled towards him a comfortable chair.
"And what is the difficulty now?" I asked. "Nothing more in the assassination way, I hope?"
"Oh no; nothing of that nature. The fact is, the business is very simple indeed, and I make no doubt that we can manage it sufficiently well ourselves; but then I thought Dupin would like to hear the details of it, because it is so excessively odd."
"Simple and odd," said Dupin.
"Why, yes; and not exactly that, either. The fact is, we have all been a good deal puzzled because the affair is so simple, and yet baffles us altogether."
"Perhaps it is the very simplicity of the thing which puts you at fault," said my friend.
"What nonsense you do talk!" replied the Prefect, laughing heartily.
"Perhaps the mystery is a little too plain," said Dupin.
"Oh, good heavens! who ever heard of such an idea?"
"A little too self-evident."
"Ha! ha! ha! --ha! ha! ha! --ho! ho! ho!" --roared our visitor, profoundly amused, "oh, Dupin, you will be the death of me yet!"
国际英语资讯:Voting begins in Japans upper house election
国内英语资讯:Supreme court mulling list to define judicial powers, responsibilities
国内英语资讯:Chinese, Vietnamese parties hold 15th theory seminar
国内英语资讯:Spokesperson denounces radical demonstrators blockading liaison office of Chinas central g
欧盟斥巨资鼓励人们食用昆虫
罗温-艾金森告别银幕:憨豆先生也会老
体坛英语资讯:VAR saves USA, England fall down before World Cup final
国际英语资讯:Abes ruling coalition wins upper house election, but suffers constitutional reform setback
实验室有望在数年内培植出人体器官
国内英语资讯:Residents of Chinas Hong Kong rally to appeal for peace, stability
国内英语资讯:Commentary: Xinjiangs development has been closely related to that of its motherland
外貌歧视引争议:貌丑者应受保护
会毁掉你的谈话的坏习惯
国际英语资讯:S. African president challenges public protector over election donation scandal
生日决定命运 星座影响职场生涯
国内英语资讯:Public security minister stresses security, stability in 70th anniversary of PRC
国内英语资讯:China issues white paper on historical matters concerning Xinjiang
国际英语资讯:Panama says withdrawing flag from missing oil tanker in Hormuz Strait
哥特式悬念小说:品读《第十三个故事》
国际英语资讯:News Analysis: U.S. Democrats squad receives disproportionate media attention, experts say
国际英语资讯:Palestinian president reiterates opposition to U.S. peace deal
英科学家将建超大氮气球给地球降温
平板电脑已经out了 折叠笔记本时代到来
国际英语资讯:Assad, Putin exchange congratulations on 75th anniv. of establishing diplomatic relations
国内英语资讯:Senior CPC official urges political, legal organs to better serve public
喝酒其实只是人醉心不醉
国际英语资讯:UN calls on Non-Aligned Movement to continue defending respect for sovereignty
国际英语资讯:Jordan stresses role of UN in addressing regional issues
研究表明,这是你每天锻炼保持体重的最佳时间
雅虎CEO卡罗尔-巴茨被炒 CFO暂时接替工作
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |