Золотой жук / The Gold-bug

«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 everything «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.

«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; «O 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.»

«How is this known?» asked Dupin.