The Importance of Observation

The power of observation is a necessity for the person investigating a mystery. Gus Landor depends heavily on this skill as he sets out to investigate the mystery in this story. However, it is Edgar Allan Poe's keen observation that leads Poe to identify the real killer.

While it is possible for one to hone the skill of observing, Landor talks about his past as a means of explaining that he has always been able to see details that others might miss. He describes being in a church meeting when the preacher sent three women into such an emotional state that they collapsed. Landor saw that two of them simply fell as if they did not care if someone caught them. The third young woman turned her head slightly, ensuring that the preacher was in position to be sure she did not hit...