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… then suddenly something happened that came to him like a distinct
shock。 Muller stopped in his walk so suddenly that one foot was
poised in the air。 His bowed head was thrown back； his face
flushed to his forehead； and the papers trembled in his hands。 He
ran the fingers of his unoccupied hand through his hair and murmured
audibly； 〃That dog！ that dog！〃 It was evident that some thought
had struck him with such insistence as to render him oblivious of
his surroundings。 Then he finally realised where he was； and walked
on quickly to Bauer's room； his face still flushed； his hands
trembling。 When he came out from the office again； he was his usual
quiet； humble self。
But the commissioner； with his now greater knowledge of the little
man's gifts and past； could not forget the incident。 During the
afternoon he found himself repeating mechanically； 〃That dog … that
dog。〃 But the words meant nothing to him； hard as he might try to
find the connection。
When the commissioner left for his home late that afternoon； Muller
re…entered the office to lay some papers on the desk。 His duties
over； he was about to turn out the gas； when his eye fell on the
blotter on Horn's desk。 He looked at it more closely； then burst
into a loud laugh。 The same two words were scribbled again and
again over the white surface； but it was not the name of any fair
maiden； or even the title of a love poem； it was only the words；
〃That dog … 〃
Several days had passed since the discovery of the murder。 Fellner
had been buried and his possessions taken into custody by the
authorities until his heirs should appear。 The dead man's papers
and affairs were in excellent condition and the arranging of the
inheritance had been quickly done。 Until the heirs should take
possession； the apartment was sealed by the police。 There was
nothing else to do in the matter； and the commission appointed to
make researches had discovered nothing of value。 The murderer
might easily feel that he was absolutely safe by this time。
The day after the publication of the article we have quoted； Muller
appeared in Bauer's office and asked for a few days' leave。
〃In the Fellner case？〃 asked the Chief with his usual calm； and
Muller replied in the affirmative。
Two days later he returned； bringing with him nothing but a single
little notice。
〃Marie Dorn； now Mrs。 Kniepp；〃 was one line in his notebook； and
beside it some dates。 The latter showed that Marie Dorn had for
two years past been the wife of the Archducal Forest…Councillor；
Leo Kniepp。
And for one year now Professor Paul Fellner had been in the town；
after having applied for his transference from the university in
the capital to this place； which was scarce half an hour's walk
distant from the home of the beautiful young woman who had been
the love of his youth。
And Fellner had made his home in the quietest quarter of the city；
in that quarter which was nearest the Archducal hunting castle。
He had lived very quietly； had not cultivated the acquaintance of
the ladies of the town； but was a great walker and bicycle rider；
and every Saturday evening since he had been alone in the house；
he had sent his servant to the theatre。 And it was on Saturday
evenings that Forest…Councillor Kniepp went to his Bowling Club
at the other end of the city； and did not return until the last
train at midnight。
And during these evening hours Fellner's apartment was a convenient
place for pleasant meetings； and nothing prevented the Professor
from accompanying his beautiful friend home through the quiet
Promenade； along the turnpike to the hunting castle。 And Johann
had once found a dog…whip in his master's room…and Councillor Leo
Kniepp； head of the Forestry Department； was the possessor of a
beautiful Ulmer hound which took an active interest in people who
wore clothes belonging to Fellner。
Furthermore； in the little drawer of the bedside table in the
murdered man's room； there had been found a tortoise…shell hairpin；
and in the corner of the vestibule of his house； a little
mother…of…pearl glove button； of the kind much in fashion that
winter； because of a desire on the part of the ladies of the town
to help the home industry of the neighbourhood。 Mrs。 Marie Kniepp
was one of the fashionable women of the town； and several days
before the Professor was murdered； this woman had thrown herself
from the second…story window of her home； and her husband； whose
passionate eccentric nature was well known； had been a changed
man from that hour。
It was his deep grief at the loss of his beloved wife that had
turned his hair grey and had drawn lines of terrible sorrow in his
face … said gossip。 But Muller； who did not know Kniepp personally
although he had been taking a great interest in his affairs for the
last few days； had his own ideas on the subject； and he decided to
make the acquaintance of the Forest Councillor as soon as possible
… that is； after he had found out all there was to be found out
about his affairs and his habits。
Just a week after the murder； on Saturday evening therefore； the
snow was whirling merrily about the gables and cupolas of the
Archducal hunting castle。 The weather…vanes groaned and the old
trees in the park bent their tall tops under the mad wind which
swept across the earth and tore the protecting snow covering from
their branches。 It was a stormy evening； not one to be out in if
a man had a warm corner in which to hide。
An old peddler was trying to find shelter from the rapidly
increasing storm under the lea of the castle wall。 He crouched so
close to the stones that he could scarcely be seen at all； in
spite of the light from the snow。 Finally he disappeared altogether
behind one of the heavy columns which sprang out at intervals from
the magnificent wall。 Only his head peeped out occasionally as if
looking for something。 His dark； thoughtful eyes glanced over the
little village spread out on one side of the castle； and over the
railway station； its most imposing building。 Then they would turn
back again to the entrance gate in the wall near where he stood。
It was a heavy iron…barred gate； its handsome ornamentation outlined
in snow； and behind it the body of a large dog could be occasionally
seen。 This dog was an enormous grey Ulmer hound。
The peddler stood for a long time motionless behind the pillar； then
he looked at his watch。 〃It's nearly time；〃 he murmured； and looked
over towards the station again； where lights and figures were
gathering。
At the same time the noise of an opening door was heard； and steps
creaked over the snow。 A man； evidently a servant； opened the
little door beside the great gate and held it for another man to
pass out。 〃You'll come back by the night train as usual； sir？〃
he asked respectfully。
〃Yes；〃 replied the other； pushing back the dog； which fawned upon
him。
〃Come back here； Tristan；〃 called the servant； pulling the dog in
by his collar； as lie closed the door and re…entered the house。
The Councillor took the path to the station。 He walked slowly；
with bowed head and uneven step。 He did not look like a man who
was in