Золотой жук / The Gold-bug (сборник) - стр. 24

«Than whom,» said Dupin, amid a perfect whirlwind of smoke, «no more sagacious agent could, I suppose, be desired, or even imagined.»

«You flatter me,» replied the Prefect; «but it is possible that some such opinion may have been entertained.»

«It is clear,» said I, «as you observe, that the letter is still in the possession of the Minister; since it is this possession, and not any employment of the letter, which bestows the power. With the employment the power departs.»

«True,» said G.; «and upon this conviction I proceeded. My first care was to make thorough search of the Minister’s hotel; and here my chief embarrassment lay in the necessity of searching without his knowledge. Beyond all things, I have been warned of the danger which would result from giving him reason to suspect our design.»