the case of the pocket diary found in the snow-第5部分

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Besides；　I　know　that　Fellner　is　a　highly　respected　man。

〃There　is　many　a　man　who　is　highly　respected　until　he　is　found　out；〃
remarked　the　detective。

〃And　you　are　going　to　find　out　about　Fellner？〃　smiled　the
commissioner。　　〃And　this　evening；　too？〃

〃This　very　evening。　　If　he　is　asleep　I　shall　wake　him　up。　　That　is
the　best　time　to　get　at　the　truth　about　a　man。

The　commissioner　sat　down　at　his　desk　and　wrote　out　the　necessary
credentials　for　the　detective。　　A　few　moments　later　Muller　was　in
the　street。　　He　left　the　notebook　with　the　commissioner。　　It　was
snowing　heavily；　and　an　icy　north　wind　was　howling　through　the
streets。　　Muller　turned　up　the　collar　of　his　coat　and　walked　on
quickly。　　It　was　just　striking　a　quarter　to　twelve　when　he　reached
Cathedral　Lane。　　As　he　walked　slowly　along　the　moonlit　side　of　the
pavement；　a　man　stepped　out　of　the　shadow　to　meet　him。　　It　was　the
policeman　who　had　been　sent　to　watch　the　house。　　Like　Muller；　he
wore　plain　clothes。

〃Well？〃　the　latter　asked。

〃Nothing　new。　　Mr。　Fellner　has　been　ill　in　bed　several　days；　quite
seriously　ill；　they　tell　me。　　The　janitor　seems　very　fond　of　him。

〃Hm　…　we'll　see　what　sort　of　a　man　he　is。　　You　can　go　back　to　the
station　now；　you　must　be　nearly　frozen　standing　here。〃

Muller　looked　carefully　at　the　house　which　bore　the　number　14。　　It
was　a　handsome；　old…fashioned　building；　a　true　patrician　mansion
which　looked　worthy　of　all　confidence。　　But　Muller　knew　that　the
outside　of　a　house　has　very　little　to　do　with　the　honesty　of　the
people　who　live　in　it。　　He　rang　the　bell　carefully；　as　he　wished　no
one　but　the　janitor　to　hear　him。

The　latter　did　not　seem　at　all　surprised　to　find　a　stranger　asking
for　the　owner　of　the　house　at　so　late　an　hour。　　〃You　come　with　a
telegram；　I　suppose？　　Come　right　up　stairs　then；　I　have　orders　to
let　you　in。〃

These　were　the　words　with　which　the　old　janitor　greeted　Muller。　　The
detective　could　see　from　this　that　Mr。　Theodore　Fellner's　conscience
must　be　perfectly　clear。　　The　expected　telegram　probably　had
something　to　do　with　the　non…appearance　of　Asta　Langen；　of　whose
terrible　fate　her　guardian　evidently　as　yet　knew　nothing。　　The
janitor　knocked　on　one　of　the　doors；　which　was　opened　in　a　few
moments　by　an　old　woman。

〃Is　it　the　telegram？〃　she　asked　sleepily。

〃Yes〃　said　the　janitor。

〃No；〃　said　Muller；　〃but　I　want　to　speak　to　Mr。　Fellner。〃

The　two　old　people　stared　at　him　in　surprise。

〃To　speak　to　him？〃　said　the　woman；　and　shook　her　head　as　if　in　doubt。
〃Is　it　about　Miss　Langen？〃

〃Yes；　please　wake　him。〃　

〃But　he　is　ill；　and　the　doctor　…　〃

〃Please　wake　him　up。　　I　will　take　the　responsibility。〃

〃But　who　are　you？〃　asked　the　janitor。

Muller　smiled　a　little　at　this　belated　caution　on　the　part　of　the
old　man；　and　answered。　　〃I　will　tell　Mr。　Fellner　who　I　am。　　But
please　announce　me　at　once。　　It　concerns　the　young　lady。〃　　His
expression　was　so　grave　that　the　woman　waited　no　longer；　but　let
him　in　and　then　disappeared　through　another　door。　　The　janitor　stood
and　looked　at　Muller　with　half　distrustful；　half　anxious　glances。

〃It's　no　good　news　you　bring；〃　he　said　after　a　few　minutes。

〃You　may　be　right。〃

〃Has　anything　happened　to　our　dear　young　lady？〃

〃Then　you　know　Miss　Asta　Langen　and　her　family？〃

〃Why；　of　course。　　I　was　in　service　on　the　estate　when　all　the
dreadful　things　happened。〃

〃What　things？〃

〃Why　the　divorce　…　and　…　but　you　are　a　stranger　and　I　shouldn't
talk　about　these　family　affairs　to　you。　　You　had　better　tell　me　what
has　happened　to　our　young　lady。〃

〃I　must　tell　that　to　your　master　first。〃

The　woman　came　back　at　this　moment　and　said　to　Muller；　〃Come　with
me；　please。　　Berner；　you　are　to　stay　here　until　the　gentleman　goes
out　again。〃

Muller　followed　her　through　several　rooms　into　a　large　bed…chamber
where　he　found　an　elderly　man；　very　evidently　ill；　lying　in　bed。

〃Who　are　you？〃　asked　the　sick　man；　raising　his　head　from　the　pillow。
The　woman　had　gone　out　and　closed　the　door　behind　her。

〃My　name　is　Muller；　police　detective。　　Here　are　my　credentials。〃

Fellner　glanced　hastily　at　the　paper。　　〃Why　does　the　police　send
to　me？〃

〃It　concerns　your　ward。〃

Fellner　sat　upright　in　bed　now。　　He　leaned　over　towards　his　visitor
as　he　said；　pointing　to　a　letter　on　the　table　beside　his　bed；　〃Asta's
overseer　writes　me　from　her　estate　that　she　left　home　on　the　18th　of
November　to　visit　me。　　She　should　have　reached　here　on　the　evening
of　the　18th；　and　she　has　not　arrived　yet。　　I　did　not　receive　this
letter　until　to…day。〃

〃Did　you　expect　the　young　lady？〃

〃I　knew　only　that　she　would　arrive　sometime　before　the　third　of
December。　　That　date　is　her　twenty…fourth　birthday　and　she　was　to
celebrate　it　here。〃

〃Did　she　not　usually　announce　her　coming　to　you？〃

〃No；　she　liked　to　surprise　me。　　Three　days　ago　I　sent　her　a　telegram
asking　her　to　bring　certain　necessary　papers　with　her。　　This　brought
the　answer　from　the　overseer　of　her　estate；　an　answer　which　has
caused　me　great　anxiety。　　Your　coming　makes　it　worse；　for　I　fear　…〃
The　sick　man　broke　off　and　turned　his　eyes　on　Muller；　eyes　so　full
of　fear　and　grief　that　the　detective's　heart　grew　soft。　　He　felt
Fellner's　icy　hand　on　his　as　the　sick　man　murmured：　〃Tell　me　the
truth！　Is　Asta　dead？〃

The　detective　shrugged　his　shoulders。　　〃We　do　not　know　yet。　　She
was　alive　and　able　to　send　a　message　at　half　past　eight　this　evening。〃

〃A　message？　　To　whom？〃

〃To　the　nearest　police　station。〃　　Muller　told　the　story　as　it　had
come　to　him。

The　old　man　listened　with　an　expression　of　such　utter　dazed　terror
that　the　detective　dropped　all　suspicion　of　him　at　once。

〃What　a　terrible　riddle；〃　stammered　the　sick　man　as　the　other
finished　the　story。

〃Would　you　answer　me　several　questions？〃　asked　Muller。　　The　old
gentleman　answered　quickly；　〃Any　one；　every　one。〃

〃Miss　Langen　is　rich？〃

〃She　has　a　fortune　of　over　three　hundred　thousand　guldens；　and
considerable　land。〃

〃Has　she　any　relatives？〃

〃No；〃　replied　Fellner　harshly。　　But　a　thought　must　have　flashed
through　his　brain　for　he　started　suddenly　and　murmured；　〃Yes；　she
has　one　relative；　a　step…brother。〃

The　detective　gave　an　exclamation　of　surprise。

〃Why　are　you　astonished　at　this？〃　asked　Fellner。

〃According　to　her　notebook；　the　young　lady　does　not　seem　to　know　of
this　step…brother。〃

〃She　does　not　know；　sir。　　There　was　an　ugly　scandal　in　her　family
before　her　birth。　　Her　father　turned　his　first　wife　and　their　son
out　of　his　house　on　one　and　the　same　day。　　He　had　discovered　that
she　was　deceiving　him；　and　also　that　her　son；　who　was　studying
medicine　at　the　time；　had　stolen　money　from　his　safe。　　What　he　had
discovered　about　his　wife　made　Langen　doubt　whether　the　boy　was　his
son　at　all。　　There　was　a　terrible　scene；　and　the　two　disappeared
from　their　home　forever。　　The　woman　died　soon　after。　　The　young　man
went　to　Australia。　　He　has　never　been　heard　of　since　and　has　probably
come　to　no　good。〃

〃Might　he　not　possibly　be　here　in　Europe　again；　watching　for　an
opportunity　to　make　a　fortune？〃

Fellner's　hand　grasped　that　of　his　visitor。　　The　eyes　of　the　two　men
gazed　steadily　at　each　other。　　The　old　man's　glance　was　full　of
sudden　helpless　horror；　the　detective's　eyes　shone　brilliantly。
Muller　spoke　calmly：　〃This　is　one　clue。　　Is　there　no　one　else　who
could　have　an　interest　in　the　young　lady's　death？〃

〃No　one　but　Egon　Langen；　if　he　bear　this　name　by　right；　and　if　he
is　still　alive。〃

〃How　old　would　he　be　now？〃

〃He　must　be　nearly　forty。　　It　was　many　years　before　Langen　married
again。〃

〃Do　you　know　him　personally？〃

〃Have　you　a　picture　of　Miss　Langen？〃

Fellner　rang　a　bell　and　Berner　appeared。　　〃Give　this　gentleman　Miss
Asta's　picture。　　Take　the　one　in　the　silver　frame　on　my　desk〃；　the
old　gentleman's　voice　was　friendly　but　faint　with　fatigue。　　His　old
servant　looked　at　him　in　deep　anxiety。　　Fellner　smiled　weakly　and
nodded　to　the　man。　　〃Sad　news；　Berner！　　Sad　news　and　bad　news。　　Our
poor　Asta　is　being　held　a　prisoner　by　some　unknown　villain　who
threatens　her　with　death。〃

〃My　God；　is　it　possible？　　Can't　we　help　the　poor　young　lady？〃

〃We　will　try　to　help　her；　or　if　it　is　…　too　late；　we　will　at　least
avenge　her。　　My　entire　fortune　shall　be　given　up　for　it。　　But　bring
her　picture　now。〃

Berner　brought　the　picture　of　a　very　pretty　girl　with　a　bright
intelligent　face。　　Muller　took　the　picture　out　of　the　frame　and　put
it　in　his　pocket。

〃You　will　come　again？　　soon？　　And　remember；　I　will　give　ten　thousand
guldens　to　the　man　who　saves　Asta；　or　avenges　her。　　Tell　the　police
to　spare　no　expense　…　I　will　go　to　headquarters　myself　to…morrow。〃

Fellner　was　a　little　surprised　that　Muller；　although　he　had　already
taken　up　his　hat；　did　not　go。　　The　sick　man　had　seen　the　light　flash
up　in　the　eyes　of　the　other　as　he　named　the　sum。　　He　thought　he
understood　this　excitement；　but　it　touched　him　unpleasantly　and　he
sank　back；　almost　frightened；　in　his　cushions　as　the　detective　bent
over　him　with　the　words　〃Good。　　Do　not　forget　your　promise；　for　I
will　save　Miss　Langen　or　avenge　her。　　But　I　do　not　want　the　money
for　myself。　　It　is　to　go　to　those　who　have　been　unjustly　convicted
and　thus　ruined　for　life。　　It　may　give　the　one　or　the　other　of　them
a　better　chance　for　the　future。〃

〃And　you？　　what　good　do　you　get　from　that？〃　asked　the　old　gentleman；
astonished。　　A　soft　smile　illumined　the　detective's　plain　features
and　he　answered　gently；　〃I　know　then　that　there　will　be　some　poor
fellow　who　will　have　an　easier　time　of　it　than　I　have　had。〃

He　nodded　to　Fellner；　who　had　already　grasped　his　hand　and　pressed
it　hard。　　A　tear　ran　down　his　grey　beard；　and　long　after　Muller　had
gone　the　old　gentleman　lay　pondering　over　his　last　words。

Berner　led　the　visitor　to　the　door。　　As　he　was　opening　it；　Muller
asked：　〃Has　Egon　Langen　a　bad　scar　on　his　right　cheek？〃

Berner's　eyes　looked　his　astonishment。　　How　did　the　stranger　know
this？　　And　how　did　he　come　to　mention　this　forgotten　name。

〃Yes；　he　has；　but　how　did　you　know　it？〃　he　murmured　in　surprise。
He　received　no　answer；　for　Muller　was　already　walking　quickly　down
the　street。　　The　old　man　stared　after　him　for