The Works of Edgar Allan Poe - Volume 1


google search for The Works of Edgar Allan Poe - Volume 1

Return to Master Book Index.

Page
201 202 203 204 205

Quick Jump
1 90 180 269 359

"
Gazette des Tribunaux," when the following paragraphs arrested our  
attention.  
"
EXTRAORDINARY MURDERS.--This morning, about three o'clock, the  
inhabitants of the Quartier St. Roch were aroused from sleep by a  
succession of terrific shrieks, issuing, apparently, from the fourth  
story of a house in the Rue Morgue, known to be in the sole occupancy of  
one Madame L'Espanaye, and her daughter Mademoiselle Camille L'Espanaye.  
After some delay, occasioned by a fruitless attempt to procure admission  
in the usual manner, the gateway was broken in with a crowbar, and eight  
or ten of the neighbors entered accompanied by two gendarmes. By this  
time the cries had ceased; but, as the party rushed up the first  
flight of stairs, two or more rough voices in angry contention were  
distinguished and seemed to proceed from the upper part of the house.  
As the second landing was reached, these sounds, also, had ceased and  
everything remained perfectly quiet. The party spread themselves and  
hurried from room to room. Upon arriving at a large back chamber in  
the fourth story, (the door of which, being found locked, with the key  
inside, was forced open,) a spectacle presented itself which struck  
every one present not less with horror than with astonishment.  
"
The apartment was in the wildest disorder--the furniture broken and  
thrown about in all directions. There was only one bedstead; and from  
this the bed had been removed, and thrown into the middle of the floor.  
On a chair lay a razor, besmeared with blood. On the hearth were two or  
203  


Page
201 202 203 204 205

Quick Jump
1 90 180 269 359