back their long hair. And this colour is a favourite of Maltese sailors. You see, if I am right about this, it will make the man think carefully But will he answer the advertisement?' I said. "He saw the terrible things that his orang-outang did. Won't he be afraid to say he is its owner?' Yes, he will be a little afraid,' said Dupin. "But I hope that he will think like this, and will say to himself: I am innocent. I am poor. I can sell my orang-outang for a lot of money, and I don't want to lose that money. What danger am l in? They found the animal in the Bois de Boulogne a long way from that house in the Rue Morgue Who will ever know that the orang-outang did those murders? Or that I saw what happened? The police know nothing. But this advertiser knows something about me. lf he wants to, he can find me easily. If I don't answer the advertisement, perhaps he will think that I have something to hide. He will start asking questions, about the animal or about me, perhaps. No, it's better for me to answer the advertisement, get the orang-outang back, and k eep the animal hidden away for a time." At the very moment when Dupin stopped speakin heard the sound of feet on the stairs.