[soop]

This is just a quick one, shouldn't be too hard.

Myself and my good friend, the celebrated Monsieur C. August Dupin were to attend a banquet held, and attended by some very influential people in the south of France. Many people of great importance were to be there, and I had secured, through my friend two invitations. I intended to publish my coverage of the event in a periodical I was working freelance for at the time.

In the week leading up to the event, news came to us of a wealthy Merchant Captain, who had landed just in with silks and other goods from far-away China. Naturally he was invited to attend the event, and provided great entertainment with his tales of the sea. It was after lunch that my good friend approached me. "During the national anthem," he began (for the National anthem was always played at such important events) "did you not notice something strange?" I replied in the negative - everyone had stood for the anthem without exception, as was quite ordinary. "Indeed…" he mused. "And that is what is extraordinary. Come. We must attend this interesting character of the Sea Captain."

And so we did, delightful chap as he was. Very interesting, and full of insight into the latest topics of interest (including the recent scandal involving Madame L______). Towards the end of the night, he enquired as to the directions of the nearby bastille, intimating that he had some important information of a military nature. And so we retired.

The next day after lunch, I accompanied Dupin to the bastille, on which he insisted was extremely urgent and important business. As we were greeted by the Commander in charge, Dupin asked if he had been paid a visit by the sea Captain.

"Indeed I have" says the Commander "- and a damn good thing too. He reported seeing a fleet of the Spanish Navy lurking some miles west off the coast yesterday. Up to no good I must say, but we'd best make all haste to intercept them before they do any real harm."

"Do not believe what this 'sea Captain' has told you." Said Dupin with the utmost gravity. "He is a liar, and He is certainly not whom he claims to be."

Why did Dupin say this?

[Guest]

This is just a quick one, shouldn't be too hard.

Myself and my good friend, the celebrated Monsieur C. August Dupin were to attend a banquet held, and attended by some very influential people in the south of France. Many people of great importance were to be there, and I had secured, through my friend two invitations. I intended to publish my coverage of the event in a periodical I was working freelance for at the time.

In the week leading up to the event, news came to us of a wealthy Merchant Captain, who had landed just in with silks and other goods from far-away China. Naturally he was invited to attend the event, and provided great entertainment with his tales of the sea. It was after lunch that my good friend approached me. "During the national anthem," he began (for the National anthem was always played at such important events) "did you not notice something strange?" I replied in the negative - everyone had stood for the anthem without exception, as was quite ordinary. "Indeed…" he mused. "And that is what is extraordinary. Come. We must attend this interesting character of the Sea Captain."

And so we did, delightful chap as he was. Very interesting, and full of insight into the latest topics of interest (including the recent scandal involving Madame L______). Towards the end of the night, he enquired as to the directions of the nearby bastille, intimating that he had some important information of a military nature. And so we retired.

The next day after lunch, I accompanied Dupin to the bastille, on which he insisted was extremely urgent and important business. As we were greeted by the Commander in charge, Dupin asked if he had been paid a visit by the sea Captain.

"Indeed I have" says the Commander "- and a damn good thing too. He reported seeing a fleet of the Spanish Navy lurking some miles west off the coast yesterday. Up to no good I must say, but we'd best make all haste to intercept them before they do any real harm."

"Do not believe what this 'sea Captain' has told you." Said Dupin with the utmost gravity. "He is a liar, and He is certainly not whom he claims to be."

Why did Dupin say this?

[soop]

I said the exact same thing

[Guest]

In the 1st paragraph it's mentioned that a week before the banquet there was news of the Sea Captain just landing with goods from China. Dupin knows he's a liar when the bastille commander says that the Sea Captain had just spotted the Spanish Fleet of the coast yesterday.

[Guest]

I agree...however i can't get my head around the standing for the National Anthem issue.

[soop]

In the 1st paragraph it's mentioned that a week before the banquet there was news of the Sea Captain just landing with goods from China. Dupin knows he's a liar when the bastille commander says that the Sea Captain had just spotted the Spanish Fleet of the coast yesterday.

Nope that's not it - Dupin knows before then - in fact, that's why he goes there.

Welcome to the boards btw! Oh, and try to use the "spoilers" thing under the smileys - it just lets you hide spoilers

[Guest]

It was surprising that he had managed to lose his 'sea legs' so quickly after getting off a ship from china.

[soop]

It was surprising that he had managed to lose his 'sea legs' so quickly after getting off a ship from china.

Very damn close. There's also a second reason too, but you've pretty much hit the nail on the head.

[Guest]

The only thing I can think of

the National Anthem was only created a few weeks ago, when he would be out at sea. And he wouldn't get a chance to know about it - asuming he is not smart enought to stand when everyone else does.

or maybe

a different country nation anthem

[Guest]

Does "full of insight" mean he already knew about the 'recent' scandal? If so then thats definately a hole in his story.

[soop]

Does "full of insight" mean he already knew about the 'recent' scandal? If so then thats definately a hole in his story.

Indeed

After the anthem, Dupin cleverly slipped in snippets about recent events that the 'Captain' would have no knowledge about if he were on a long sea voyage from china.

[soop]

The only thing I can think of

the National Anthem was only created a few weeks ago, when he would be out at sea. And he wouldn't get a chance to know about it - asuming he is not smart enought to stand when everyone else does.

or maybe

a different country nation anthem

No, unfortunately, although your first point was close to the second part of the clue.

[soop]

I think you've pretty much solved it, I'll give you the (slightly subtle) first part:

The Sea Captain stood immediately for the national anthem. Sailors (for practical reasons) do not stand for the national anthem at sea. The fact that the captain claimed he had been to china (at the time, a period of months), it was remarkable that he should not show even the slightest hesitation.

[Guest]

I think you've pretty much solved it, I'll give you the (slightly subtle) first part:

The Sea Captain stood immediately for the national anthem. Sailors (for practical reasons) do not stand for the national anthem at sea. The fact that the captain claimed he had been to china (at the time, a period of months), it was remarkable that he should not show even the slightest hesitation.

This doesn't make much sense

The story didn't say that everybody stood immediately for the anthem, only that everybody stood.. Secondly, I'm sure a well-traveled naval man would understand the custom of standing for the national anthem, even if he did not do it regularly.