按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃It is scarcely possible。〃
〃Shall we try it？〃
〃Yes； yes； you do it。〃 Even the usually indifferent old chief of
police was breathing more hastily now。 Muller took a roll of paper
and a small pistol out of his pocket。 He unrolled the paper； which
represented the figure of a French soldier with a marked target on
the breast。 The detective pinned the paper on the back of the chair
in which Professor Fellner had been seated when he met his death。
〃But the key was in the hole；〃 objected Bauer suddenly。
〃Yes； but it was turned so that the lower part of the hole was free。
Johann saw the light streaming through and could look into the room。
If the murderer put the barrel of his pistol to this open part of
the keyhole； the bullet would have to strike exactly where the dead
man sat。 There would be no need to take any particular aim。〃
Muller gazed into space like a seer before whose mental eye a vision
has arisen； and continued in level tones： 〃Fellner had refused the
duel and the murderer was crazed by his desire for revenge。 He came
here to the house； he must have known just how to enter the place；
how to reach the rooms； and he must have known also； that the
Professor； coward as he was … 〃
〃Coward？ Is a man a coward when he refuses to stand up to a maniac？〃
interrupted Bauer。
Muller came back to the present with a start and said calmly；
〃Fellner was a coward。〃
〃Then you know more than you are telling me now？〃
Muller nodded。 〃Yes； I do；〃 he answered with a smile。 〃But I will
tell you more only when I have all the proofs in my own hand。〃
〃And the criminal will escape us in the meantime。〃
〃He has no idea that he is suspected。〃
〃But … you'll promise to be sensible this time； Muller？〃
〃Yes。 But you will pardon me my present reticence； even towards
you？ I … I don't want to be thought a dreamer again。〃
〃As in the Kniepp case？〃
〃As in the Kniepp case；〃 repeated the little man with a strange
smile。 〃So please allow me to go about it in my own way。 I will
tell you all you want to know to…morrow。〃
〃To…morrow； then。〃
〃May I now continue to unfold my theories？〃 Bauer nodded and
Muller continued： 〃The criminal wanted Fellner's blood； no matter
how。〃
〃Even if it meant murder；〃 said Bauer。
Muller nodded calmly。 〃It would have been nobler； perhaps； to
have warned his victim of his approach； but it might have all come
to nothing then。 The other could have called for help； could have
barricaded himself in his room； one crime might have been prevented；
and another； more shameful one； would have gone unavenged。〃
〃Another crime？ Fellner a criminal？〃
〃To…morrow you shall know everything； my kind friend。 And now； let
us make the trial。 Please lock the door behind me as it was locked
then。〃
Muller left the room； taking the pistol with him。 Bauer locked the
door。 〃Is this right？〃 he asked。
〃Yes； I can see a wide curve of the room； taking in the entire desk。
Please stand to one side now。〃
There was deep silence for a moment； then a slight sound as of metal
on metal； then a report； and Muller re…entered the study through the
bedroom。 He found Bauer stooping over the picture of the French
soldier。 There was a hole in the left breast； where the bullet；
passing through； had buried itself in the back of the chair。
〃Yes； it was all just as you said；〃 began the chief of police；
holding out his hand to Muller。 〃But … why the golden bullet？〃
〃To…morrow； to…morrow；〃 replied the detective； looking up at his
superior with a glance of pleading。
They left the house together and in less than an hour's time Muller
was again in the train rolling towards the capital。
He went to the goldsmith's shop as soon as he arrived。 The
proprietor received him with eager interest and Muller handed him
the golden bullet。 〃Here is the golden object of which I spoke；〃
said the detective； paying no heed to the other's astonishment。
The goldsmith opened a small locked drawer； took a ring from it and
set about an examination of the two little objects。 When he turned
to his visitor again； he was evidently satisfied with what he had
discovered。 〃These two objects are made of exactly the same sort
of gold； of a peculiar old French composition； which can no longer
be produced in the same richness。 The weight of the gold in the
bullet is exactly the same as in the ring。〃
〃Would you be willing to take an oath on that if you were called
in as an expert？〃
〃I am willing to stand up for my judgment。〃
〃Good。 And now will you read this over please； it contains the
substance of what you told me yesterday。 Should I have made any
mistakes； please correct them； for I will ask you to set your
signature to it。〃
Muller handed several sheets of close writing to the goldsmith and
the latter read aloud as follows： 〃On the 22nd of November； a
gentleman came into my shop and handed me a wedding ring with the
request that I should make another one exactly like it。 He was
particularly anxious that the work should be done in two days at
the very latest； and also that the new ring； in form； colour； and
in the engraving on the inside； should be a perfect counterpart of
the first。 He explained his order by saying that his wife was ill；
and that she was grieving over the loss of her wedding ring which
had somehow disappeared。 The new ring could be found somewhere as
if by chance and the sick woman's anxiety would be over。 Two days
later； as arranged； the same gentleman appeared again and I handed
him the two rings。
〃He left the shop； greatly satisfied with my work and apparently
much relieved in his mind。 But he left me uneasy in spirit because
I had deceived him。 It had not been possible for me to reproduce
exactly the composition of the original ring； and as I believed that
the work was to be done in order to comfort an invalid； and I was
getting no profit； but on the contrary a little extra work out of
it； I made two new rings； lettered them according to the original
and gave them to my customer。 The original ring I am now； on this
seventh day of December； giving to Mr。 Joseph Mullet； who has shown
me his legitimation as a member of the Secret Police。 I am willing
to put myself at the service of the authorities if I am called for。〃
〃You are willing to do this； aren't you？〃 asked Muller when the
goldsmith had arrived at the end of the notice。
〃Of course。〃
〃Have you anything to add to this？〃
〃No； it is quite complete。 I will sign it at once。〃
Several hours later； Muller re…entered the police station in his
home town and saw the windows of the chief's apartment brilliantly
lighted。 〃What's going on；〃 he asked of Baner's servant who was
just hurrying up the stairs。
〃The mistress' birthday； we've got company。〃
Muller grumbled something and went on up to his own room。 He knew
it would not be pleasant for his patron to be disturbed in the midst
of entertaining his guests； but the matter was important and could
not wait。
The detective laid off his outer garments； made a few changes in
his toilet and putting the goldsmith's declaration； with the ring
and the bullet in his pocketbook； he went