The Works of Edgar Allan Poe, Book II E-Book

Edgar Allan Poe

• Herausgeber: Edgar Allan Poe
• Kategorie: Fantasy und Science-Fiction
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2015

Beschreibung

DURING the whole of a dull, dark, and soundless day in the autumn of the year, when the clouds hung oppressively low in the heavens, I had been passing alone, on horseback, through a singularly dreary tract of country; and at length found myself, as the shades of the evening drew on, within view of the melancholy House of Usher. I know not how it was—but, with the first glimpse of the building, a sense of insufferable gloom pervaded my spirit. I say insufferable; for the feeling was unrelieved by any of that half-pleasurable, because poetic, sentiment, with which the mind usually receives even the sternest natural images of the desolate or terrible.

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Edgar Allan Poe

The Works of Edgar Allan Poe, Book II

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Table of contents

THE PURLOINED LETTER

THE THOUSAND-AND-SECOND TALE OF SCHEHERAZADE

A DESCENT INTO THE MAELSTRÖM.

VON KEMPELEN AND HIS DISCOVERY

MESMERIC REVELATION

THE FACTS IN THE CASE OF M. VALDEMAR

THE BLACK CAT.

THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER

SILENCE—A FABLE

THE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH.

THE CASK OF AMONTILLADO.

THE IMP OF THE PERVERSE

THE ISLAND OF THE FAY

THE ASSIGNATION

THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM

THE PREMATURE BURIAL

THE DOMAIN OF ARNHEIM

LANDOR'S COTTAGE

WILLIAM WILSON

THE TELL-TALE HEART.

BERENICE

ELEONORA

NOTES

THE PURLOINED LETTER

Nil sapientiae odiosius acumine nimio. Seneca.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 troisiême, No. 33, Rue Dunôt, 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 Rogêt. 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 forebore 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 visiter 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 visiter, profoundly amused, "oh, Dupin, you will be the death of me yet!""And what, after all, is the matter on hand?" I asked."Why, I will tell you," replied the Prefect, as he gave a long, steady and contemplative puff, and settled himself in his chair. "I will tell you in a few words; but, before I begin, let me caution you that this is an affair demanding the greatest secrecy, and that I should most probably lose the position I now hold, were it known that I confided it to any one.""Proceed," said I."Or not," said Dupin."Well, then; I have received personal information, from a very high quarter, that a certain document of the last importance, has been purloined from the royal apartments. The individual who purloined it is known; this beyond a doubt; he was seen to take it. It is known, also, that it still remains in his possession."