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！
and with less interest than before。 They found a heap of loose
ashes in the bedroom stove。 Letters and other trifles had been
burned there。 Muller raked out the heap very carefully； but the
writing on the few pieces of paper still left whole was quite
illegible。 There were several envelopes in the waste…basket； but
all of them were dated several months back。 There was nothing that
could give the slightest clue。
The letter written by the murdered man was sufficient proof that
his death had been an act of vengeance。 But who was it who had
carried out this secret； terrible deed？ The victim had not been
allowed the time to write down the name of his murderer。
Horn took the letter into his keeping。 Then he left the room；
followed by Muller and the valet； to look about the rest of the
house as far as possible。 This was not very far； for the second
story was closed off by a tall iron grating。
〃Is the house door locked during the daytime？〃 asked Horn of the
servant。
〃The front door is； but the side door into the garden is usually
open。〃
〃Has it ever happened that any one got into the house from this
side door without your knowing it？〃
〃No； sir。 The garden has a high wall around it。 And there is extra
protection on the side toward the Promenade。〃
〃But there's a little gate there？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃Is that usually closed？〃
〃We never use the key for that； sir。 It has a trick lock that you
can't open unless you know how。〃
〃You said you went to the theatre yesterday evening。 Did your
master give you permission to go？〃
〃Yes； sir。 It's about a year now that he gave me money for a
theatre ticket every Saturday evening。 He was very kind。〃
〃Did you come into the house last night by the front door； or
through the garden？〃
〃Through the garden； sir。 I walked down the Promenade from the
theatre。〃
〃And you didn't notice anything … you saw no traces of footsteps？〃
〃No； sir。 I didn't notice anything unusual。 We shut the side
door； the garden door； every evening； also。 It was closed
yesterday and I found the key … we've only got one key to the
garden door … in the same place where I was told to hide it when
I went out in the evening。〃
〃What place was that？〃
〃In one of the pails by the well。〃
〃You say you were told to hide it there？〃
〃Yes； sir； the Professor told me。 He'd go out in the evening
sometimes； too； I suppose； and he wanted to be able to come in that
way if necessary。〃
〃And no one else knew where the key was hidden？〃
〃No one else； sir。 It's nearly a year now that we've been alone in
the house。 Who else should know of it？〃
〃When you looked through the keyhole last night； are you sure that
the Professor was still alive？〃
〃Why； yes； sir； of course I couldn't say so surely。 I thought he
was reading or writing； but oh； dear Lord！ there he was this morning；
nearly twelve hours later； in just the same position。〃 Johann
shivered at the thought that he might have seen his master sitting
at his desk； already a corpse。
〃He must have been dead when you came home。 Don't you think the
sound of that shot would have wakened you？〃
〃Yes； sir； I think likely； sir；〃 murmured Johann。 〃But if the
murderer could get into the house； how could he get into the
apartment？〃
〃There must have been a third key of which you knew nothing；〃
answered Horn； turning to Muller again。 〃It's stranger still how
Fellner could have been shot； for the window…shutters were fastened
and quite uninjured； and both doors were locked on the inside。〃
As he said these words； Horn looked sharply at his subordinate； but
Muller's calm face did not give the slightest clue to his thoughts。
The experienced police commissioner was pleased and yet slightly
angered at this behaviour on the part of the detective。 He knew
that it was quite possible that Muller had already formed a clear
opinion about the case； and that he was merely keeping it to himself。
And yet he was glad to see that the little detective had apparently
learned a lesson from his recent mistake concerning the death of
Mrs。 Kniepp … that he had somewhat lost confidence in his hitherto
unerring instinct； and did not care to express any opinion until he
had studied the matter a little closer。 The commissioner was just
a little bit vain； and just a little bit jealous of this humble
detective's fame。
Muller shrugged his shoulders at the remark of his superior； and
the two men stood silent； thinking over the case； as the Chief of
Police appeared； accompanied by the doctor； a clerk； and two hospital
attendants。 The chief commissioner received the report of what had
been discovered； while the corpse was laid on a bier to be taken to
the hospital。
Muller handed the commissioner his hat and cane and helped him into
his overcoat。 Horn noticed that the detective himself was making
no preparations to go out。 〃Aren't you coming with us？〃 he asked；
astonished。
〃I hope the gentlemen will allow me to remain here for a little
while；〃 answered Muller modestly。
〃But you know that we will have to close the apartment officially；〃
said Horn； his voice sharpening in his surprise and displeasure。
〃I do not need to be in these rooms any longer。〃
〃Don't let them disturb you； my dear Muller； we will allow your
keenness all possible leeway here。〃 The Head of Police spoke with
calm politeness； but Muller started and shivered。 The emphasis on
the 〃here〃 showed him that even the head of the department had been
incensed at his suggestion that the beautiful Mrs。 Kniepp had died
of her own free will。 It had been his assertion of this which；
coming to the ears of the bereaved husband； had enraged and
embittered him； and had turned the power of his influence with the
high authorities against the detective。 Muller knew how greatly he
had fallen from favour in the Police Department； and the words of
his respected superior showed him that he was still in disgrace。
But the strange； quiet smile was still on his lips as； with his
usual humble deference； he accompanied the others to the sidewalk。
Before the commissioners left the house； the Chief commanded Johann
to answer carefully any questions Muller might put to him。
〃He'll find something； you may be sure；〃 said Horn； as they drove
off in the cab。
〃Let him that's his business。 He is officially bound to see more
than the rest of us；〃 smiled the older official good…naturedly。
〃But in spite of it； he'll never get any further than the vestibule；
he'll be making bows to us to the end of his days。〃
〃You think so？ I've wondered at the man。 I know his fame in the
capital； indeed； in police circles all over Austria and Germany。
It seems hard on him to be transferred to this small town； now that
he is growing old。 I've wondered why he hasn't done more for
himself； with his gifts。〃
〃He never will；〃 replied the Chief。 〃He may win more fame … he may
still go on winning triumphs； but he will go on in a circle； he'll
never forge ahead as his capabilities deserve。 Muller's peculiarity
is that his genius … for the man has undeniable genius … will always
make concessions to his heart just at the moment when he i