 Paris natives Dupin and his friend , the unnamed narrator of the story , read these newspaper accounts with interest . The two live in seclusion and allow no visitors . They have cut off contact with " former associates " and venture outside only at night . " We existed within ourselves alone " , the narrator explains . When a bank clerk named Adolphe Le Bon is arrested even though no evidence exists pointing to his guilt , Dupin becomes intrigued and remembers a service that Le Bon once performed for him . He decides to offer his assistance to " G – " , the prefect of police . 
