Золотой жук. Уровень 1 / The Gold-bug

All chairs and tables were broken and lying all over the place. On a chair lay a razor covered with blood. On the hearth were two or three long and thick tresses of grey human hair, also in blood. It seemed like someone pulled them out of the roots. Upon the floor were two bags with almost four thousand francs in gold inside. There was no trace of Madame L’Espanaye. After searching in the chimney, the police found the corpse of her daughter. There were many severe scratches upon her face; dark bruises and deep indentations of finger nails were on her throat, as if someone strangled her to death.

Finally, they found the body of Madame L’Espanaye outside. It lay behind the house; her neck was almost cut through. When they tried to pull her up, her head fell off.

To this horrible mystery there is not as yet, we believe, the slightest clew.

The next day’s paper had these additional particulars.

The Tragedy in the Rue Morgue

The police questioned many people about the extraordinary and frightful killing but still has no answer who is the killer or killers.

Pauline Dubourg, washwoman, claims she knew both women for at least three years. She was washing their clothes during that period. The old lady and her daughter seemed to be on good terms[1 - seemed to be on good terms – как будто бы были в хороших отношениях] – very affectionate towards each other. She did not know where their money came from but they paid her well. She also never met anyone in the house except these two women who lived on the fourth floor.

Pierre Moreau, tobacconist, claims he sold small quantities of tobacco and snuff to Madame L’Espanaye for nearly four years. She and her daughter occupied the house in which the corpses were found, for more than six years. People say they had money. The house was the property of Madame L. He never saw anyone enter the house except Madame L. and her daughter and a doctor eight or ten times, perhaps.

Other neighbors said the same thing.

Jules Mignaud, banker, claims Madame L. had money in his bank; she put small sums in her account for eight years. Three days before her death she took out of the bank a large amount of money, in gold. A clerk went home with the money.

Isidore Musèt, a policeman, says he was called to the house about three o’clock in the morning.