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his toilet and putting the goldsmith's declaration； with the ring
and the bullet in his pocketbook； he went down to the first floor
of the building； in one wing of which was the apartment occupied by
the Chief。 He sent in his name and was told to wait in the little
study。 He sat down quietly in a corner of the comfortable little
room beyond which； in a handsomely furnished smoking room； a number
of guests sat playing cards。 From the drawing rooms beyond； there
was the sound of music and many voices。
It was all very attractive and comfortable； and the solitary man
sat there enjoying once more the pleasant sensation of triumph； of
joy at the victory that was his alone and that would win him back
all his old friends and prestige。 He was looking forward in
agreeable anticipation to the explanations he had to give； when he
suddenly started and grew pale。 His eyes dimmed a moment； then he
pulled himself together and murmured： 〃No； no； not this time。 I
will not be weak this time。〃
Just then the Chief entered the room； accompanied by Councillor
Kniepp。
〃Won't you sit down here a little？〃 asked the friendly host。 〃You
will find it much quieter in this room。〃 He pulled up a little
table laden with cigars and wine； close to a comfortable armchair。
Then； noticing Muller； he continued with a friendly nod： 〃I'm glad
they told you to wait in here。 You must be frozen after your long
ride。 If you will wait just a moment more； I will return at once
and we can go into my office。 And if you will make yourself
comfortable here； my dear Kniepp； I will send our friend Horn in
to talk with you。 He is bright and jovial and will keep you amused。〃
The chief chattered on； making a strenuous endeavour to appear quite
harmless。 But Kniepp； more apt than ever just now to notice the
actions of others； saw plainly that his genial host was concealing
some excitement。 When the latter had gone out the Councillor looked
after him； shaking his head。 Then his glance fell by chance on the
quiet…looking man who had risen at his entrance and had not sat
down again。
〃Please sit down；〃 he said in a friendly tone； but the other did not
move。 His grey eyes gazed intently at the man whose fate he was to
change so horribly。
Kniepp grew uneasy under the stare。 〃What is there that interests
you so about me？〃 he asked in a tone that was an attempt at a joke。
〃The ring； the ring on your watch chain；〃 murmured Muller。
〃It belonged to my dead wife。 I have worn it since she left me；〃
answered the unhappy man with the same iron calm with which he had；
all these past days； been emphasizing his love for the woman he
had lost。 Yet the question touched him unpleasantly and he looked
more sharply at the strange man over in the corner。 He saw the
latter's face turn pale and a shiver run through his form。 A
feeling of sympathy came over Kniepp and he asked warmly： 〃Won't
you take a glass of this wine？ If you have been out in the cold
it will be good for you。〃 His tone was gentle； almost cordial；
but the man to whom he offered the refreshment turned from him with
a gesture that was almost one of terror。
The Councillor rose suddenly from his chair。 〃Who are you？ What
news is it you bring？〃 he asked with a voice that began to tremble。
Muller raised his head sharply as if his decision had been made；
and his kind intelligent eyes grew soft as they rested on the pale
face of the stately man before him。 〃I belong to the Secret Police
and I am compelled to find out the secrets of others … not because
of my profession … no； because my own nature compels me … I must do
it。 I have just come from Vienna and I bring the last of the proofs
necessary to turn you over to the courts。 And yet you are a
thousand times better than the coward who stole the honour of your
wife and who hid behind the shelter of the law … and therefore；
therefore； therefore … 〃 Muller's voice grew hoarse； then died
away altogether。
Kniepp listened with pallid cheeks but without a quiver。 Now he
spoke； completing the other's words： 〃And therefore you wish to
save me from the prison or from the gallows？ I thank you。 What
is your name？〃 The unhappy man spoke as calmly as if the matter
scarcely concerned him at all。
The detective told him his name。
〃Muller； Muller；〃 repeated the Councillor； as if he were
particularly anxious to remember the name。 He held out his hand
to the detective。 〃I thank you； ab； indeed； it thank you；〃 he
said with the first sign of emotion he had shown； and then added
low： 〃Do not fear that you will have trouble on my account。 They
can find me in my home。〃 With these words he turned away and sat
down in his chair again。 When Bauer entered the room a few moments
later； Kniepp was smoking calmly。
〃Now； Muller； I'm ready。 Horn will be in in a moment； friend
Kniepp； I know you will enjoy his chatter。〃 The chief led the way
out of the room through another door。 He could not see the ghastly
pale face of the guest he left behind him； for it was almost hidden
in a cloud of thick smoke； but Muller turned back once more at the
threshold and caught a last grateful glance from eyes shadowed by
deep sadness； as the Councillor raised his hand in a friendly
gesture。
〃Dear Muller； you take so long to get at the point of the story！
Don't you see you are torturing me？〃 This outburst came from the
Chief about an hour later。 But the detective would not permit
himself to be interrupted in spinning out his story in his own
way； and it was nearly another hour before Bauer knew that the man
for whose name he had been waiting so long was Leo Kniepp。
The knowledge came as a terrible surprise to him。 He was dazed
almost。 〃And I； … I've got to arrest him in my own house？〃 he
exclaimed as if horrified。 And Muller answered calmly： 〃I doubt
if you will have the opportunity； sir。〃
〃Muller！ Did you； again … 〃
〃Yes； I did！ I have again warned an unfortunate。 It's my nature；
I can't seem to help it。 But you will find the Councillor in his
house。 He promised me that。〃
〃And you believe it？〃
〃That man will keep his promise；〃 said Muller quietly。
Councillor Kniepp did keep his promise。 When the police arrived at
the hunting castle shortly after midnight； they found the terrified
servants standing by the body of their master。
〃Well； Muller； you had better luck than you deserved this time；〃
Bauer said a few days later。 〃This last trick has made you quite
impossible for the service。 But you needn't worry about that；
because the legacy Kniepp left you will put you out of reach of
want。〃
The detective was as much surprised as anybody。 He was as if dazed
by his unexpected good fortune。 The day before he was a poor man
bowed under the weight of sordid cares； and now he was the possessor
of twenty thousand gulden。 And it was not his clever brain but his
warm heart that had won this fortune for him。 His breast swelled
with gratitude as he thought of the unhappy man whose life had been
ruined by the careless cruelty of others and his own passions。
Again and again he read the letter which had been found on Kniepp's
desk； addressed to him and whic