etter is stolen
and hidden? The detectives failed to find it, though it was in plain
sight all the time, but another man did find it. He went upon the
correct theory that the thief, knowing that a search would be made, and
guessing that all obscure places would be explored first, would hide it
in some commonplace manner. He visited the apartments, and found the
letter in the letter-rack. Now this is ingenious, but Mr. Poe here gives
us a bit of special pleading and a curious anomaly at the same time. He
wished to show that an obscure corner would be a bad hiding-place, and
so worked out his result. At the same time he draws a skilful thief who
baffled expert police, and yet who hid his letter where the first man
with brains easily found it. This is the anomaly. Where the article is
small, as is the case with this lost ruby, there is but one safe place
for the thief to hide his stolen property."

"And that place is?" asked Mr. Mitchel, himself betraying interest.

"Upon his own person, where at all times he could be on the alert to
thwart the searching committee."

"Ah, you are forgetting," said Mr. Mitchel, "that idea was not
overlooked by Edgar Poe. In the tale, the man was waylaid by officers in
disguise, who bound him and then searched him. If the letter had been
about him, it would have been found."

"Not at all. The letter was placed in an envelope, which had been
turned, and then mailed so that on the reverse it received the postal
imprint. This foiled the detectives when they examined the letter-rack.
It would have fooled them in exploring his pockets, if found with other
letters similarly addressed. On the other hand, had it been in his
pocket, the man who finally obtained it could not have done so by
creating a confusion in the street which attracted the man to the
window. It would have been difficult for him even to guess that it was
in the pocket. Besides, with the ruby it would be simple, since it is an
article that can be disposed of at a moment's notice."

"Very true," said Mr. Mitchel, "but----" Here he paused for a moment,
and seemed abstracted. Quickly recovering, he said: "What was I saying?
I have lost the thread of our conversation."

"Mr. Thauret suggested that the thief could keep the ruby about him,"
replied Mr. Randolph.

"Ah, exactly. Now I remember. Well, I should say that it would be a
hazardous undertaking. I believe had I stolen the gem, as, by the way,
Randolph, you suggested, I cou