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is that his genius … for the man has undeniable genius … will always
make concessions to his heart just at the moment when he is about
to do something great … and his triumph is lost。〃
Horn looked up at his superior； whom； in spite of his good nature；
he knew to be a sharp； keen； capable police official。 〃I forgot
you have known Muller longer than the rest of us；〃 he said。 〃What
was that you said about his heart？〃
〃I said that it is one of those inconvenient hearts that will always
make itself noticeable at the wrong time。 Muller's heart has played
several tricks on the police department； which has； at other times；
profited so well by his genius。 He is a strange mixture。 While he
is on the trail of the criminal he is like the bloodhound。 He does
not seem to know fatigue nor hunger； his whole being is absorbed by
the excitement of the chase。 He has done many a brilliant service
to the cause of justice； he has discovered the guilt； or the
innocence； of many in cases where the official department was as
blind as Justice is proverbially supposed to be。 Joseph Muller has
become the idol of all who are engaged in this weary business of
hunting down wrong and punishing crime。 He is without a peer in his
profession。 But he has also become the idol of some of the criminals。
For if he discovers （as sometimes happens） that the criminal is a
good sort after all； he is just as likely to warn his prey； once he
has all proofs of the guilt and a conviction is certain。 Possibly
this is his way of taking the sting from his irresistible impulse to
ferret out hidden mysteries。 But it is rather inconvenient； and he
has hurt himself by it … hurt himself badly。 They were tired of his
peculiarities at the capital； and wanted to make his years an excuse
to discharge him。 I happened to get wind of it； and it was my
weakness for him that saved him。〃
〃Yes； you brought him here when they transferred you to this town；
I remember now。〃
〃I'm afraid it wasn't such a good thing for him； after all。 Nothing
ever happens here； and a gift like Muller's needs occupation to keep
it fresh。 I'm afraid his talents will dull and wither here。 The
man has grown perceptibly older in this inaction。 His mind is like
a high…bred horse that needs exercise to keep it in good condition。〃
〃He hasn't grown rich at his work； either；〃 said Horn。
〃No； there's not much chance for a police detective to get rich。
I've often wondered why Muller never had the energy to set up in
business for himself。 He might have won fame and fortune as a
private detective。 But he's gone on plodding along as a police
subordinate； and letting the department get all the credit for his
most brilliant achievements。 It's a sort of incorrigible humbleness
of nature … and then； you know； he had the misfortune to be unjustly
sentenced to a term in prison in his early youth。〃
〃No； I did not know that。〃
〃The stigma stuck to his name； and finally drove him to take up
this work。 I don't think Muller realised； when he began； just
how greatly he is gifted。 I don't know that he really knows now。
He seems to do it because he likes it … he's a queer sort of man。〃
While the commissioners drove through the streets to the police
station the man of whom they were speaking sat in Johann's little
room in close consultation with the valet。
〃How long is it since the Professor began to give you money to go
to the theatre on Saturday evenings？〃
The first time it happened was on my name day。 〃What's the rest
of your name？ There are so many Johanns on the calendar。〃
〃I am Johann Nepomuk。〃
Muller took a little calendar from his pocket and turned its pages。
〃It was May sixteenth；〃 volunteered the valet。
〃Quite right。 May sixteenth was a Saturday。 And since then you
have gone to the theatre every Saturday evening？〃
〃Yes； sir。
〃When did the owner of the house go away？〃
〃Last April。 His wife was ill and he had to take her away。 They
went to Italy。〃
〃And you two have been alone in the house since April？〃
〃Yes； sir； we two。〃
〃Was there no janitor？〃
〃No； sir。 The garden was taken care of by a man who came in for
the day。〃
〃And you had no dog？ I haven't seen any around the place。〃
〃No； sir； the Professor did not like animals。 But he must have
been thinking about buying a dog； because I found a new dog…whip
in his room one day。〃
〃Somebody might have left it there。 One usually buys the dog
first and then the whip。〃
〃Yes； sir。 But there wasn't anybody here to forget it。 The
Professor did not receive any visits at that time。〃
〃Why are you so sure of that？〃
〃Because it was the middle of summer； and everybody was away。〃
Oh； then； we won't bother about the whip。 Can you tell me of any
ladies with whom the Professor was acquainted？〃
〃Ladies？ I don't know of any。 Of course； the Professor was
invited out a good deal； and most of the other gentlemen from the
college were married。〃
〃Did he ever receive letters from ladies？〃 continued Muller。
Johann thought the matter over； then confessed that he knew very
little about writing and couldn't read handwriting very well anyway。
But he remembered to have seen a letter now and then； a little
letter with a fine and delicate handwriting。
〃Have you any of these envelopes？〃 asked Muller。 But Johann told
him that in spite of his usual carelessness in such matters；
Professor Fellner never allowed these letters to lie about his room。
Finally the detective came out with the question to which he had
been leading up。 〃Did your master ever receive visits from ladies？
Johann looked extremely stupid at this moment。 His lack of
intelligence and a certain crude sensitiveness in his nature made
him take umbrage at what appeared to him a very unnecessary question。
He answered it with a shake of the head only。 Muller smiled at the
young man's ill…concealed indignation and paid no attention to it。
〃Your master has been here for about a year。 Where was he before
that？〃
〃In the capital。〃
〃You were in his service then？〃
〃I have been with him for three years。〃
〃Did he know any ladies in his former home？〃
〃There was one … I think he was engaged to her。〃
〃Why didn't he marry her？〃
〃I don't know。〃
〃What was her name？〃
〃Marie。 That's all I know about it。〃
〃Was she beautiful？〃
〃I never saw her。 The only way I knew about her was when the
Professor's friends spoke of her。〃
〃Did he have many friends？〃
〃There were ever so many gentlemen whom he called his friends。〃
〃Take me into the garden now。〃
〃Yes； sir。〃 Muller took his hat and coat and followed the valet
into the garden。 It was of considerable size； carefully and
attractively planned； and pleasing even now when the bare twigs
bent under their load of snow。
〃Now think carefully； Johann。 We had a full moon last night。 Don't
you remember seeing any footsteps in the garden； leading away from
the house？〃 asked Muller； as they stood on the snow…covered paths。
Johann thought it over carefully； then said decidedly； 〃No。 At
least I don't remember anything of the kind。 There was a strong
wind yesterday anyway； and the snow dr