In Paris during the 19th century, the narrator and his friend, C. Auguste Dupin, are visited by Monsieur G, the Prefect of Police, who seeks their help with a perplexing case. The Prefect explains that a vital document has been stolen from the royal apartments by Minister D, who was seen acquiring it. The document’s content holds significant power, enabling the Minister to manipulate a person of high status.
Despite thorough searches of the Minister’s hotel, the police cannot find the document. Dupin suggests that the Minister might have concealed it in plain sight, considering his cunning nature. The Prefect, desperate to retrieve the document, offers a substantial reward for its recovery.
A month later, the Prefect returns, disheartened by his failure to find the document. Dupin asks for a check for the reward amount and then hands the Prefect the stolen letter. Dupin reveals that he deduced the Minister would hide the letter in an obvious place. He visited the Minister, observed a letter matching the description hidden in plain sight, and replaced it with a duplicate.
Dupin explains his reasoning, highlighting the police’s failure to think like the thief, focusing instead on conventional hiding spots. He also criticizes the Prefect’s and police’s approach, suggesting they lack the imagination and insight to solve such a case. Dupin’s successful retrieval of the letter, leveraging his understanding of human nature and the Minister’s character, underscores his superior detective skills. This case illustrates Dupin’s analytical prowess, showing how thinking outside conventional norms can solve complex problems.