the case of the pocket diary found in the snow-第2部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


the　commissioner　was　about　to　open　it；　he　handed　him　a　paper…knife
with　the　words：　〃You　had　better　cut　it　open；　sir。〃

〃Why？〃

〃It　is　best　not　to　injure　the　seals　that　fasten　a　package。〃

〃Just　as　you　say；　Muller；〃　answered　the　young　commissioner；　smiling。
He　was　still　very　young　to　hold　such　an　office；　but　then　he　was　the
son　of　a　Cabinet　Minister；　and　family　connections　had　obtained　this
responsible　position　for　him　so　soon。　　Kurt　von　Mayringen　was　his
name；　and　he　was　a　very　good…looking　young　man；　apparently　a　very
good…natured　young　man　also；　for　he　took　this　advice　from　a
subordinate　with　a　most　charming　smile。　　He　knew；　however；　that　this
quiet；　pale…faced　little　man　in　the　shabby　clothes　was　greater　than
he；　and　that　it　was　mere　accident　of　birth　that　put　him；　Kurt　von
Mayringen；　instead　of　Joseph　Muller；　in　the　position　of　superior。

The　young　commissioner　had　had　most　careful　advice　from　headquarters
as　to　Muller；　and　he　treated　the　secret　service　detective；　who　was
one　of　the　most　expert　and　best　known　men　in　the　profession；　with
the　greatest　deference；　for　he　knew　that　anything　Muller　might　say
could　be　only　of　value　to　him　with　his　very　slight　knowledge　of　his
business。　　He　took　the　knife；　therefore；　and　carefully　cut　open　the
paper；　taking　out　a　tiny　little　notebook；　on　the　outer　side　of　which
a　handsome　monogram　gleamed　up　at　him　in　golden　letters。

〃A　woman　made　this　package；〃　said　Muller；　who　had　been　looking　at
the　covering　very　carefully；　〃a　blond　woman。〃

The　other　two　looked　at　him　in　astonishment。　　He　showed　them　a
single　blond　hair　which　had　been　in　one　of　the　bread　seals。

〃How　I　was　murdered。〃　　Those　were　the　words　that　Commissioner　von
Mayringen　read　aloud　after　he　had　hastily　turned　the　first　few
pages　of　the　notebook；　and　had　come　to　a　place　where　the　writing
was　heavily　underscored。

The　commissioner　and　Amster　were　much　astonished　at　these　words；　but
the　detective　still　gazed　quietly　at　the　seals　of　the　wrapping。

〃This　heading　reads　like　insanity；　said　the　commissioner。　　Muller
shrugged　his　shoulders；　then　turned　to　Amster。　　〃Where　did　you　find
the　package？〃

In　Garden　street。〃

〃When？〃

〃About　twenty　minutes　ago。〃

Amster　gave　a　short　and　lucid　account　of　his　discovery。　　His
intelligent　face　and　well…chosen　words　showed　that　he　had　observation
and　the　power　to　describe　correctly　what　he　had　observed。　　His　honest
eyes　inspired　confidence。

〃Where　could　they　have　been　taking　the　woman？〃　asked　the　detective；
more　of　himself　than　of　the　others。

The　commissioner　searched　hastily　through　the　notebook　for　a
signature；　but　without　success。　　〃Why　do　you　think　it　is　a　woman？
This　writing　looks　more　like　a　man's　hand　to　me。　　The　letters　are
so　heavy　and　…　〃

〃That　is　only　because　they　are　written　with　　broad　pen；〃　interrupted
Muller；　showing　him　the　writing　on　the　package；　〃here　is　the　same
hand；　but　it　is　written　with　a　fine　hard　pencil；　and　you　can　see
distinctly　that　this　is　a　woman's　handwriting。　　And　besides；　the
skin　on　a　man's　thumb　does　not　show　the　fine　markings　that　you　can
see　here　on　these　bits　of　bread　that　have　been　used　for　seals。〃

The　commissioner　rose　from　his　seat。　　〃You　may　be　right；　Muller。
We　will　take　for　granted；　then；　that　there　is　a　woman　in　trouble。
It　remains　to　be　seen　whether　she　is　insane　or　not。〃

〃Yes；　that　remains　to　be　seen；〃　said　Muller　dryly；　as　he　reached
for　his　overcoat。

〃You　are　going　before　you　read　what　is　in　the　notebook？〃　asked
Commissioner　von　Mayringen。

Muller　nodded。　　〃I　want　to　see　the　wagon　tracks　before　they　are
lost；　it　may　help　me　to　discover　something　else。　　You　can　read　the
book　and　make　any　arrangements　you　find　necessary　after　that。〃

Muller　was　already　wrapped　in　his　overcoat。　　〃Is　it　snowing　now？〃
He　turned　to　Arnster。

〃Some　flakes　were　falling　as　I　came　here。〃

〃All　right。　　Come　with　me　and　show　me　the　way。〃　　Muller　nodded
carelessly　to　his　superior　officer；　his　mind　evidently　already
engrossed　in　thoughts　of　the　interesting　case；　and　hurried　out
with　Amster。　　The　commissioner　was　quite　satisfied　with　the　state
of　affairs。　　He　knew　the　case　was　in　safe　hands。　　He　seated
himself　at　his　desk　again　and　began　to　read　the　little　book　which
had　come　into　his　hands　so　strangely。　　His　eyes　ran　more　and　more
rapidly　over　the　closely　written　pages；　as　his　interest　grew　and
grew。

When；　half　an　hour　later；　he　had　finished　the　reading；　he　paced
restlessly　up　and　down　the　room；　trying　to　bring　order　into　the
thoughts　that　rushed　through　his　brain。　　And　one　thought　came
again　and　again；　and　would　not　be　denied　in　spite　of　many
improbabilities；　and　many　strange　things　with　which　the　book　was
full；　in　spite；　also；　of　the　varying；　uncertain　handwriting　and
style　of　the　message。　　This　one　thought　was；　〃This　woman　is　not
insane。〃

While　the　young　official　was　pondering　over　the　problem；　Muller
entered　as　quietly　as　ever；　bowed；　put　his　hat　and　cane　in　their
places；　and　shook　the　snow　off　his　clothing。　　He　was　evidently
pleased　about　something。　　Kurt　von　Mayringen　did　not　notice　his
entrance。　　He　was　again　at　the　desk　with　the　open　book　before　him；
staring　at　the　mysterious　words；　〃How　I　was　murdered。〃

〃It　is　a　woman；　a　lady　of　position。　　And　if　she　is　mad；　then　her
madness　certainly　has　method。〃　　Muller　said　these　words　in　his
usual　quiet　way；　almost　indifferently。　　The　young　commissioner
started　up　and　snatched　for　the　fine　white　handkerchief　which　the
detective　handed　him。　　A　strong　sweet　perfume　filled　the　room。
〃It　is　hers？〃　he　murmured。

〃It　is　hers；〃　said　Muller。　　〃At　least　we　can　take　that　much　for
granted；　for　the　handkerchief　bears　the　same　monogram；　A。　L。；　which
is　on　the　notebook。〃

Commissioner　von　Mayringen　rose　from　his　chair　in　evident　excitement。
〃Well？〃　he　asked。

It　was　a　short　question；　but　full　of　meaning；　and　one　could　see　that
he　was　waiting　in　great　excitement　for　the　answer。　　Muller　reported
what　he　had　discovered。　　The　commissioner　thought　it　little　enough；
and　shrugged　his　shoulders　impatiently　when　the　other　had　finished。

Muller　noticed　his　chief's　dissatisfaction　and　smiled　at　it。　　He
himself　was　quite　content　with　what　he　bad　found。

〃Is　that　all？〃　murmured　the　commissioner；　as　if　disappointed。

〃That　is　all；〃　repeated　the　detective　calmly；　and　added；　〃That　is
a　good　deal。　　We　have　here　a　closely　written　notebook；　the　contents
of　which；　judging　by　your　excitement；　are　evidently　important。　　We
have　also　a　handkerchief　with　an　unusual　perfume　on　it。　　I　repeat
that　this　is　quite　considerable。　　Besides　this；　we　have　the　seals；
and　we　know　several　other　things。　　I　believe　that　we　can　save　this
lady；　of　if　it　be　too　late；　we　can　avenge　her　at　least。〃

The　commissioner　looked　at　Muller　in　surprise。　　〃We　are　in　a　city
of　more　than　a　million　inhabitants；〃　he　said；　almost　timidly。

〃I　have　hunted　criminals　in　two　hemispheres；　and　I　have　found　them；〃
said　Muller　simply。　　The　young　commissioner　smiled　and　held　out　his
hand。　　〃Ah；　yes；　Muller　…　I　keep　forgetting　the　great　things　you
have　done。　　You　are　so　quiet　about　it。〃

〃What　I　have　done　is　only　what　any　one　could　do　who　has　that
particular　faculty。　　I　do　only　what　is　in　human　power　to　do；　and
the　cleverest　criminal　can　do　no　more。　　Besides　which；　we　all　know
that　every　criminal　commits　some　stupidity；　and　leaves　some　trace
behind　him。　　If　it　is　really　a　crime　which　we　have　found　the　trace
of　here；　we　will　soon　discover　it。〃　　Muller's　editorial　〃we〃　was　a
matter　of　formality。　　He　might　with　more　truth　have　used　the
singular　pronoun。

〃Very　well；　then；　do　what　you　can；〃　said　the　commissioner　with　a
friendly　smile。

The　older　man　nodded；　took　the　book　and　its　wrappings　from　the
desk；　and　went　into　a　small　adjoining　room。

The　commissioner　sent　for　an　attendant　and　gave　him　the　order　to
fetch　a　pot　of　tea　from　a　neighbouring　saloon。　　When　the　tray
arrived；　he　placed　several　good　cigars　upon　it；　and　sent　it　in　to
Muller。　　Taking　a　cigar　himself；　the　commissioner　leaned　back　in
his　sofa　corner　to　think　over　this　first　interesting　case　of　his
short　professional　experience。　　That　it　concerned　a　lady　in　distress
made　it　all　the　more　romantic。

In　his　little　room　the　detective；　put　in　good　humour　by　the
thoughtful　attention　of　his　chief；　sat　down　to　read　the　book
carefully。　　While　he　studied　its　contents　his　mind　went　back　over
his　search　in　the　silent　street　outside。

He　and　Amster　had　hurried　out　into　the　raw　chill　of　the　night；
reaching　the　spot　of　the　first　discovery　in　about　ten　or　fifteen
minutes。　　Muller　found　nothing　new　there。　　But　he　was　able　to
discover　in　which　direction　the　carriage　had　been　going。　　The　hoof
marks　of　the　single　horse　which　had　drawn　it　were　still　plainly　to
be　seen　in　the　snow。

〃Will　you　follow　these　tracks　in　the　direction　from　which　they　have
come？〃　he　asked　of　Amster。　　〃Then　meet　me　at　the　station　and　report
what　you　have　seen。〃

〃Very　well；　sir；〃　answered　the　workman。　　The　two　men　parted　with　a
hand　shake。

Before　Muller　started　on　to　follow　up　the　tracks　in　the　other
direction；　he　took　up　one　of　the　larger　pieces'　of　glass。　　〃Cheap
glass；〃　he　said；　looking　at　it　carefully。　　〃It　was　only　a　hired　cab；
therefore；　and　a　one…horse　cab　at　that。〃

He　walked　on　slowly；　following　the　marks　of　the　wheels。　　His　eyes
searched　the　road　from　side　to　side；　looking　for　any　other　signs
that　might　have　been　left　by　the　hand　which　had　thrown　the　package
out　of　the　window。　　The　snow；　which　had　been　falling　softly　thus　far；
began　to　come　down　in　heavier　flakes；　and　Muller　quickened　his　pace。
The　tracks　would　soon　be　covered；　but　they　could　still　be　plainly
seen。　　They　led　out　into　the　open　country；　but　when　the　first　little
hill　had　been　climbed　a　drift　heaped　itself　up；　cutting　off　the
trail　completely。

Muller　stood　on　the　top　of　this　knoll　at　a　spot　where　the　street
divided。　　Towards　the　right　it　led　down　into　a　factory　suburb；
towards　the　left　the　road　led　on　to　a　residence　colony；　and　straight
ahead　the　way　was　open；　between　fields；　pastures　and　farms；　over
moors；　to　another　town　of　considerable　size　lying　beside　a　river。
Muller　knew　all　this；　but　his　knowledge　of　the　locality　was　o