“YouwillsaythatIwaspuzzled；but，ifyouthinkso，youmusthavemisunderstoodthenatureoftheinductions。Touseasportingphrase，Ihadnotbeenonce’atfault。’Thescenthadneverforaninstantbeenlost。Therewasnoflawinanylinkofthechain。Ihadtracedthesecrettoitsultimateresult，-andthatresultwas_thenail。_
Ithad，Isay，ineveryrespect，theappearanceofitsfellowintheotherwindow；butthisfactwasanabsolutenullityconclusiveusitmightseemtobewhencomparedwiththeconsiderationthathere，atthispoint，terminatedtheclew。’There_must_besomethingwrong，’I
said，’aboutthenail。’Itouchedit；andthehead，withaboutaquarterofaninchoftheshank，cameoffinmyfingers。Therestoftheshankwasinthegimlet-holewhereithadbeenbrokenoff。Thefracturewasanoldoneforitsedgeswereincrustedwithrust，andhadapparentlybeenaccomplishedbytheblowofahammer，whichhadpartiallyimbedded，inthetopofthebottomsash，theheadportionofthenail。InowcarefullyreplacedthisheadportionintheindentationwhenceIhadtakenit，andtheresemblancetoaperfectnailwascomplete-thefissurewasinvisible。Pressingthespring，I
gentlyraisedthesashforafewinches；theheadwentupwithit，remainingfirminitsbed。Iclosedthewindow，andthesemblanceofthewholenailwasagainperfect。
“Theriddle，sofar，wasnowunriddled。Theassassinhadescapedthroughthewindowwhichlookeduponthebed。Droppingofitsownaccorduponhisexitorperhapspurposelyclosed，ithadbecomefastenedbythespring；anditwastheretentionofthisspringwhichhadbeenmistakenbythepoliceforthatofthenail，-fartherinquirybeingthusconsideredunnecessary。
“Thenextquestionisthatofthemodeofdescent。UponthispointI
hadbeensatisfiedinmywalkwithyouaroundthebuilding。Aboutfivefeetandahalffromthecasementinquestionthererunsalightning-rod。Fromthisroditwouldhavebeenimpossibleforanyonetoreachthewindowitself，tosaynothingofenteringit。I
observed，however，thattheshuttersofthefourthstorywereofthepeculiarkindcalledbyParisiancarpenters_ferrades_-akindrarelyemployedatthepresentday，butfrequentlyseenuponveryoldmansionsatLyonsandBourdeaux。Theyareintheformofanordinarydoor，asingle，notafoldingdoorexceptthatthelowerhalfislatticedorworkedinopentrellis-thusaffordinganexcellentholdforthehands。Inthepresentinstancetheseshuttersarefullythreefeetandahalfbroad。Whenwesawthemfromtherearofthehouse，theywerebothabouthalfopen-thatistosay，theystoodoffatrightanglesfromthewall。Itisprobablethatthepolice，aswellasmyself，examinedthebackofthetenement；but，ifso，inlookingatthese_ferrades_inthelineoftheirbreadthastheymusthavedone，theydidnotperceivethisgreatbreadthitself，or，atallevents，failedtotakeitintodueconsideration。Infact，havingoncesatisfiedthemselvesthatnoegresscouldhavebeenmadeinthisquarter，theywouldnaturallybestowhereaverycursoryexamination。
Itwascleartome，however，thattheshutterbelongingtothewindowattheheadofthebed，would，ifswungfullybacktothewall，reachtowithintwofeetofthelightning-rod。Itwasalsoevidentthat，byexertionofaveryunusualdegreeofactivityandcourage，anentranceintothewindow，fromtherod，mighthavebeenthuseffected-Byreachingtothedistanceoftwofeetandahalfwenowsupposetheshutteropentoitswholeextentarobbermighthavetakenafirmgraspuponthetrellis-work。Lettinggo，then，hisholdupontherod，placinghisfeetsecurelyagainstthewall，andspringingboldlyfromit，hemighthaveswungtheshuttersoastocloseit，and，ifweimaginethewindowopenatthetime，mightevenhaveswunghimselfintotheroom。
“IwishyoutobearespeciallyinmindthatIhavespokenofa_very_
unusualdegreeofactivityasrequisitetosuccessinsohazardousandsodifficultafeat。Itismydesigntoshowyou，first，thatthethingmightpossiblyhavebeenaccomplished：-but，secondlyand_chiefly_，Iwishtoimpressuponyourunderstandingthe_veryextraordinary_-thealmostpr鎡ernaturalcharacterofthatagilitywhichcouldhaveaccomplishedit。
“Youwillsay，nodoubt，usingthelanguageofthelaw，that’tomakeoutmycase，’Ishouldratherundervalue，thaninsistuponafullestimationoftheactivityrequiredinthismatter。Thismaybethepracticeinlaw，butitisnottheusageofreason。Myultimateobjectisonlythetruth。Myimmediatepurposeistoleadyoutoplaceinjuxta-position，that_veryunusual_activityofwhichIhavejustspokenwiththat_verypeculiar_shrillorharshand_unequal_
voice，aboutwhosenationalitynotwopersonscouldbefoundtoagree，andinwhoseutterancenosyllabificationcouldbedetected。”
Atthesewordsavagueandhalf-formedconceptionofthemeaningofDupinflittedovermymind。Iseemedtobeuponthevergeofcomprehensionwithoutpowertocomprehend-men，attimes，findthemselvesuponthebrinkofremembrancewithoutbeingable，intheend，toremember。Myfriendwentonwithhisdiscourse。
“Youwillsee。”hesaid，“thatIhaveshiftedthequestionfromthemodeofegresstothatofingress。Itwasmydesigntoconveytheideathatbothwereeffectedinthesamemanner，atthesamepoint。
Letusnowreverttotheinterioroftheroom。Letussurveytheappearanceshere。Thedrawersofthebureau，itissaid，hadbeenrifled，althoughmanyarticlesofapparelstillremainedwithinthem。
Theconclusionhereisabsurd。Itisamereguess-averysillyone-andnomore。Howarewetoknowthatthearticlesfoundinthedrawerswerenotallthesedrawershadoriginallycontained？MadameL’Espanayeandherdaughterlivedanexceedinglyretiredlife-sawnocompany-seldomwentout-hadlittleusefornumerouschangesofhabiliment。Thosefoundwereatleastofasgoodqualityasanylikelytobepossessedbytheseladies。Ifathiefhadtakenany，whydidhenottakethebest-whydidhenottakeall？Inaword，whydidheabandonfourthousandfrancsingoldtoencumberhimselfwithabundleoflinen？Thegold_was_abandoned。NearlythewholesummentionedbyMonsieurMignaud，thebanker，wasdiscovered，inbags，uponthefloor。Iwishyou，therefore，todiscardfromyourthoughtstheblunderingideaof_motive_，engenderedinthebrainsofthepolicebythatportionoftheevidencewhichspeaksofmoneydeliveredatthedoorofthehouse。Coincidencestentimesasremarkableasthisthedeliveryofthemoney，andmurdercommittedwithinthreedaysuponthepartyreceivingit，happentoallofuseveryhourofourlives，withoutattractingevenmomentarynotice。
Coincidences，ingeneral，aregreatstumbling-blocksinthewayofthatclassofthinkerswhohavebeeneducatedtoknownothingofthetheoryofprobabilities-thattheorytowhichthemostgloriousobjectsofhumanresearchareindebtedforthemostgloriousofillustration。Inthepresentinstance，hadthegoldbeengone，thefactofitsdeliverythreedaysbeforewouldhaveformedsomethingmorethanacoincidence。Itwouldhavebeencorroborativeofthisideaofmotive。But，undertherealcircumstancesofthecase，ifwearetosupposegoldthemotiveofthisoutrage，wemustalsoimaginetheperpetratorsovacillatinganidiotastohaveabandonedhisgoldandhismotivetogether。
“KeepingnowsteadilyinmindthepointstowhichIhavedrawnyourattention-thatpeculiarvoice，thatunusualagility，andthatstartlingabsenceofmotiveinamurdersosingularlyatrociousasthis-letusglanceatthebutcheryitself。Hereisawomanstrangledtodeathbymanualstrength，andthrustupachimney，headdownward。Ordinaryassassinsemploynosuchmodesofmurderasthis。
Leastofall，dotheythusdisposeofthemurdered。Inthemannerofthrustingthecorpseupthechimney，youwilladmitthattherewassomething_excessivelyoutr開-somethingaltogetherirreconcilablewithourcommonnotionsofhumanaction，evenwhenwesupposetheactorsthemostdepravedofmen。Think，too，howgreatmusthavebeenthatstrengthwhichcouldhavethrustthebody_up_suchanaperturesoforciblythattheunitedvigorofseveralpersonswasfoundbarelysufficienttodragit_down！_
“Turn，now，tootherindicationsoftheemploymentofavigormostmarvellous。Onthehearthwerethicktresses-verythicktresses-
ofgreyhumanhair。Thesehadbeentornoutbytheroots。Youareawareofthegreatforcenecessaryintearingthusfromtheheadeventwentyorthirtyhairstogether。Yousawthelocksinquestionaswellasmyself。Theirrootsahideoussight！wereclottedwithfragmentsofthefleshofthescalp-suretokenoftheprodigiouspowerwhichhadbeenexertedinuprootingperhapshalfamillionofhairsatatime。Thethroatoftheoldladywasnotmerelycut，buttheheadabsolutelyseveredfromthebody：theinstrumentwasamererazor。Iwishyoualsotolookatthe_brutal_ferocityofthesedeeds。OfthebruisesuponthebodyofMadameL’EspanayeIdonotspeak。MonsieurDumas，andhisworthycoadjutorMonsieurEtienne，havepronouncedthattheywereinflictedbysomeobtuseinstrument；
andsofarthesegentlemenareverycorrect。Theobtuseinstrumentwasclearlythestonepavementintheyard，uponwhichthevictimhadfallenfromthewindowwhichlookedinuponthebed。Thisidea，howeversimpleitmaynowseem，escapedthepoliceforthesamereasonthatthebreadthoftheshuttersescapedthem-because，bytheaffairofthenails，theirperceptionshadbeenhermeticallysealedagainstthepossibilityofthewindowshavingeverbeenopenedatall。
“Ifnow，inadditiontoallthesethings，youhaveproperlyreflectedupontheodddisorderofthechamber，wehavegonesofarastocombinetheideasofanagilityastounding，astrengthsuperhuman，aferocitybrutal，abutcherywithoutmotive，a_grotesquerie_inhorrorabsolutelyalienfromhumanity，andavoiceforeignintonetotheearsofmenofmanynations，anddevoidofalldistinctorintelligiblesyllabification。Whatresult，then，hasensued？WhatimpressionhaveImadeuponyourfancy？”
IfeltacreepingofthefleshasDupinaskedmethequestion。“A
madman。”Isaid，“hasdonethisdeed-someravingmaniac，escapedfromaneighboring_MaisondeSant？_“
“Insomerespects。”hereplied，“yourideaisnotirrelevant。Butthevoicesofmadmen，evenintheirwildestparoxysms，areneverfoundtotallywiththatpeculiarvoicehearduponthestairs。Madmenareofsomenation，andtheirlanguage，howeverincoherentinitswords，hasalwaysthecoherenceofsyllabification。Besides，thehairofamadmanisnotsuchasInowholdinmyhand。IdisentangledthislittletuftfromtherigidlyclutchedfingersofMadameL’Espanaye。
Tellmewhatyoucanmakeofit。”
“Dupin！”Isaid，completelyunnerved；“thishairismostunusual-
thisisno_human_hair。”
“Ihavenotassertedthatitis。”saidhe；“but，beforewedecidethispoint，IwishyoutoglanceatthelittlesketchIhaveheretraceduponthispaper。Itisa_fac-simile_drawingofwhathasbeendescribedinoneportionofthetestimonyas’darkbruises，anddeepindentationsoffingernails，’uponthethroatofMademoiselleL’Espanaye，andinanother，byMessrs。DumasandEtienne，asa’seriesoflividspots，evidentlytheimpressionoffingers。’
“Youwillperceive。”continuedmyfriend，spreadingoutthepaperuponthetablebeforeus，“thatthisdrawinggivestheideaofafirmandfixedhold。Thereisno_slipping_apparent。Eachfingerhasretained-possiblyuntilthedeathofthevictim-thefearfulgraspbywhichitoriginallyimbeddeditself。Attempt，now，toplaceallyourfingers，atthesametime，intherespectiveimpressionsasyouseethem。”
Imadetheattemptinvain。
“Wearepossiblynotgivingthismatterafairtrial。”hesaid。“Thepaperisspreadoutuponaplanesurface；butthehumanthroatiscylindrical。Hereisabilletofwood，thecircumferenceofwhichisaboutthatofthethroat。Wrapthedrawingaroundit，andtrytheexperimentagain。”
Ididso；butthedifficultywasevenmoreobviousthanbefore。
“This。”Isaid，“isthemarkofnohumanhand。”
“Readnow。”repliedDupin，“thispassagefromCuvier。”
ItwasaminuteanatomicalandgenerallydescriptiveaccountofthelargefulvousOurang-OutangoftheEastIndianIslands。Thegiganticstature，theprodigiousstrengthandactivity，thewildferocity，andtheimitativepropensitiesofthesemammaliaaresufficientlywellknowntoall。Iunderstoodthefullhorrorsofthemurderatonce。
“Thedescriptionofthedigits。”saidI，asImadeanendofreading，“isinexactaccordancewiththisdrawing。IseethatnoanimalbutanOurang-Outang，ofthespeciesherementioned，couldhaveimpressedtheindentationsasyouhavetracedthem。Thistuftoftawnyhair，too，isidenticalincharacterwiththatofthebeastofCuvier。ButIcannotpossiblycomprehendtheparticularsofthisfrightfulmystery。Besides，therewere_two_voicesheardincontention，andoneofthemwasunquestionablythevoiceofaFrenchman。”
“True；andyouwillrememberanexpressionattributedalmostunanimously，bytheevidence，tothisvoice，-theexpression，’_monDieu！_’This，underthecircumstances，hasbeenjustlycharacterizedbyoneofthewitnessesMontani，theconfectioner，asanexpressionofremonstranceorexpostulation。Uponthesetwowords，therefore，I