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articles in the hamper。
〃George； won't you please keep Lena out in the kitchen。 Ask her
to make some tea for us；〃 asked Nanette with well feigned assurance。
George smiled a meaning smile and disappeared。
〃I am particularly interested in the dead lady's gloves；〃 said the
peddler when they were alone again。
Nanette looked at him in surprise but was still too frightened to
offer any remarks。 She opened several boxes and packages and laid
a number of pairs of gloves on the table。 The old man looked
through them； turning them over carefully。 Then he shook his head：
〃There must be some more somewhere；〃 he said。 Nanette was no longer
astonished at anything he might say or do； so she obediently went
through the basket again and found a little box in which were
several pair of grey suede gloves； fastened by bluish mother…of…pearl
buttons。 One of the pairs had been worn； and a button was missing。
〃These are the ones I was looking for；〃 said the peddler； putting
the gloves in his pocket。 Then he continued： 〃Your mistress was
rather fond of taking long walks by herself； wasn't she？〃
The girl's pale face flushed hotly and she stammered： 〃You know
… about it？〃
〃You know about it also； I see。 And did you know everything？〃
〃Yes； everything；〃 murmured Nanette。
〃Then it was you and Tristan who accompanied the lady on her walks？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃I supposed she must have taken some one into her confidence。 Well；
and what do you think about the murder？〃
〃The Professor？〃 replied Nanette hastily。 〃Why； what should I know
about it？〃
〃The Councillor was greatly excited and very unhappy when he
discovered this affair； I suppose？〃
〃He is still。〃
〃And how did he act after the … let us call it the accident？〃
〃He was like a crazy man。〃
〃They tell me that he went about his duties just the same … that he
went away on business。〃
〃It wasn't business this time； at least not professional business。
But before that he did have to go away frequently for weeks at a
time。〃
〃And it was then that your mistress was most interested in her
lonely walks； eh？〃
〃Yes。〃 Nanette's voice was so low as to be scarcely heard。
〃Well； and this time？〃 continued the peddler。 〃Why did he go
away this time？〃
〃He went to the capital on private business of his own。〃
〃Are you sure of that？〃
〃Quite sure。 He went two different times。 I thought it was because
he couldn't stand it here and wanted to see something different。
He went to his club this evening； too。〃
〃And when did he go away？〃
〃The first time was the day after his wife was buried。〃
〃And the second time？〃
Two or three days after his return。〃
〃How long did he stay away the first time？〃
〃Only one day。〃
〃Good！ Pull yourself together now。 I'll send your George in to
you and tell him you haven't been feeling well。 Don't tell any
one about our conversation。 Where is the kitchen？〃
〃The last door to the right down the hall。〃
The peddler left the room and Nanette sank down dazed and trembling
on the nearest chair。 George found her still pale； but he seemed
to think it quite natural that she should have been overcome by the
recollection of the terrible death of her mistress。 He gave the
old man a most cordial invitation to return during the next few days。
The cook brought the peddler a cup of steaming tea； and purchased
several trifles from him； before he left the house。
When the old man had reached a lonely spot on the road； about half
way between the hunting castle and the city； he halted； set down
his pack； divested himself of his beard and his wig and washed the
wrinkles from his face with a handful of snow from the wayside。 A
quarter of an hour later； Detective Muller entered the railway
station of the city； burdened with a large grip。 He took a seat
in the night express which rolled out from the station a few moments
later。
As he was alone in his compartment； Muller gave way to his
excitement； sometimes even murmuring half…aloud the thoughts that
rushed through his brain。 〃Yes； I am convinced of it； but can I
find the proofs？〃 the words came again and again； and in spite of
the comfortable warmth in the compartment； in spite of his tired
and half…frozen condition； he could not sleep。
He reached the capital at midnight and took a room in a small hotel
in a quiet street。 When he went out next morning； the servants
looked after him with suspicion； as in their opinion a man who
spent most of the night pacing up and down his room must surely
have a guilty conscience。
Muller went to police headquarters and looked through the arrivals
at the hotels on the 21st of November。 The burial of Mrs。 Kniepp
had taken place on the 20th。 Muller soon found the name he was
looking for； 〃Forest Councillor Leo Kniepp；〃 in the list of guests
at the Hotel Imperial。 The detective went at once to the Hotel
Imperial； where he was already well known。 It cost him little time
and trouble to discover what he wished to know； the reason for the
Councillor's visit to the capital。
Kniepp had asked for the address of a goldsmith； and had been
directed to one of the shops which had the best reputation in the
city。 He had been in the capital altogether for about twenty…four
hours。 He had the manner and appearance of a man suffering under
some terrible blow。
Muller himself was deep in thought as he entered the train to
return to his home； after a visit to the goldsmith in question。
He had a short interview with Chief of Police Bauer； who finally
gave him the golden bullet and the keys to the apartment of the
murdered man。 Then the two went out together。
An hour later； the chief of police and Muller stood in the garden
of the house in which the murder had occurred。 Bauer had entered
from the Promenade after Muller had shown him how to work the lock
of the little gate。 Together they went up into the apartment；
which was icy cold and uncanny in its loneliness。 But the two men
did not appear to notice this； so greatly were they interested in
the task that had brought them there。 First of all； they made a
most minute examination of the two doors which had been locked。 The
keys were still in both locks on the inside。 They were big heavy
keys； suitable for the tall massive heavily…paneled and
iron…ornamented doors。 The entire villa was built in this heavy
old German style； the favourite fashion of the last few years。
When they had looked the locks over carefully； Muller lit the lamp
that hung over the desk in the study and closed the window shutters
tight。 Bauer had smiled at first as he watched his； protege's
actions； but his smile changed to a look of keen interest as he
suddenly understood。 Muller took his place in the chair before the
desk and looked over at the door of the vestibule； which was
directly opposite him。 〃Yes； that's all right；〃 he said with a
deep breath。
Bauer had sat down on the sofa to watch the proceedings； now he
sprang up with an exclamation： 〃Through the keyhole？〃
〃Through the keyhole；〃 answered Muller。
〃It is scarcely possible。〃
〃Shall we try it？〃
〃Yes； yes； you do it。〃 Even the usually indifferent old chief of
p