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writer of a really good detective story had sustained； he would
regard the final product with a new wonder and respect； and read it
all over once more to find out how the troubles occurred。 But he
will search in vain； there are no signs of them left； no； not so
much as a scar。 The tale moves along as smoothly and inevitably as
oiled machinery； obviously； it could not have been arranged
otherwise than it is； and the wise reader is convinced that he
could have done the thing himself without half trying。 At that；
the weary writer smiles a bitter smile； but it is one of the spurns
that patient merit of the unworthy takes。 Nobody； except him who
has tried it； will ever know how hard it is to write a really good
detective story。 The man or woman who can do it can also write a
good play （according to modern ideas of plays）； and possesses force
of character； individuality； and mental ability。 He or she must
combine the intuition of the artist with the talent of the master
mechanic； but will seldom be a poet； and will generally care more
for things and events than for fellow creatures。 For； although the
story is often concerned with righting some wrong； or avenging some
murder； yet it must be confessed that the author commonly succeeds
better in the measure of his ruthlessness in devising crimes and
giving his portraits of devils an extra touch of black。 Mercy is
not his strong point； however he may abound in justice； and he will
not stickle at piling up the agony； if thereby he provides
opportunity for enhancing the picturesqueness and completeness of
the evil doer's due。
But this leads me to the admission that one charge； at least； does
lie against the door of the riddle…story writer； and that is； that
he is not sincere； he makes his mysteries backward； and knows the
answer to his riddle before he states its terms。 He deliberately
supplies his reader； also； with all manner of false scents； well
knowing them to be such； and concocts various seeming artless and
innocent remarks and allusions； which in reality are diabolically
artful； and would deceive the very elect。 All this； I say； must be
conceded； but it is not unfair； the very object； ostensibly； of the
riddle story is to prompt you to sharpen your wits； and as you are
yourself the real detective in the case； so you must regard your
author as the real criminal whom you are to detect。 Credit no
statement of his save as supported by the clearest evidence； be
continually repeating to yourself； 〃Timeo Danaos et dona
ferentes；〃nay； never so much as then。 But； as I said before；
when the game is well set； you have no chance whatever against the
dealer； and for my own part； I never try to be clever when I go up
against these thimble…riggers； I believe all they tell me； and
accept the most insolent gold bricks； and in that way I
occasionally catch some of the very ablest of them napping； for
they are so subtle that they will sometimes tell you the truth
because they think you will suppose it to be a lie。 I do not wish
to catch them napping； however； I cling to the wisdom of ignorance；
and childishly enjoy the way in which things work themselves out
the cul…de…sac resolving itself at the very last moment into a
promising corridor toward the outer air。 At every rebuff it is my
happiness to be hopelessly bewildered； and I gape with admiration
when the Gordian knot is untied。 If the author be old…fashioned
enough to apostrophize the Gentle Reader； I know he must mean me；
and docilely give ear； and presently tumble head…foremost into the
treacherous pit he has digged for me。 In brief； I am there to be
sold； and I get my money's worth。 No one can thoroughly enjoy
riddle stories unless he is old enough； or young enough； or； at any
rate； wise enough to appreciate the value of the faculty of being
surprised。 Those sardonic and omniscient persons who know
everything beforehand； and smile compassionately or scornfully at
the artless outcries of astonishment of those who are uninformed；
may get an ill…natured satisfaction out of the persuasion that they
are superior beings； but there is very little meat in that sort of
happiness； and the uninformed have the better lot after all。
I need hardly point out that there is a distinction and a
difference between short riddle stories and long onesnovels。 The
former require far more technical art for their proper development；
the enigma cannot be posed in so many ways； but must be stated once
for all； there cannot be false scents； or but a few of them； there
can be small opportunity for character drawing； and all kinds of
ornament and comment must be reduced to their very lowest terms。
Here； indeed； as everywhere； genius will have its way； and while a
merely talented writer would deem it impossible to tell the story
of 〃The Gold Bug〃 in less than a volume； Poe could do it in a few
thousand words； and yet appear to have said everything worth
saying。 In the case of the Sherlock Holmes tales； they form a
series； and our previous knowledge of the hero enables the writer
to dispense with much description and accompaniment that would be
necessary had that eminent personage been presented in only a
single complication of events。 Each special episode of the great
analyst's career can therefore be handled with the utmost economy；
and yet fill all the requirements of intelligent interest and
comprehension。 But； as a rule； the riddle novel approaches its
theme in a spirit essentially other than that which inspires the
short tale。 We are given； as it were； a wide landscape instead of
a detailed genre picture。 The number of the dramatis personae is
much larger； and the parts given to many of them may be very small；
though each should have his or her necessary function in the
general plan。 It is much easier to create perplexity on these
terms； but on the other hand； the riddle novel demands a power of
vivid character portrayal and of telling description which are not
indispensable in the briefer narrative。 A famous tale； published
perhaps forty years ago； but which cannot be included in our
series； tells the story of a murder the secret of which is
admirably concealed till the last； and much of the fascination of
the book is due to the ability with which the leading character；
and some of the subordinate ones； are drawn。 The author was a
woman； and I have often marveled that women so seldom attempt this
form of literature； many of them possess a good constructive
faculty； and their love of detail and of mystery is notorious。
Perhaps they are too fond of sentiment； and sentiment must be
handled with caution in riddle stories。 The fault of all riddle
novels is that they inevitably involve two kinds of interest； and
can seldom balance these so perfectly that one or the other of them
shall not suffer。 The mind of the reader becomes weary in its
frequent journeys between human characters on one side the
mysterious events on the ot