the case of the pocket diary found in the snow-第6部分

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He　received　no　answer；　for　Muller　was　already　walking　quickly　down
the　street。　　The　old　man　stared　after　him　for　some　few　minutes；
then　suddenly　his　knees　began　to　tremble。　　He　closed　the　door　with
difficulty；　and　sank　down　on　a　bench　beside　it。　　The　wind　had　blown
out　the　light　of　his　lantern；　Berner　was　sitting　in　the　dark
without　knowing　it；　for　a　sudden　terrible　light　had　burst　upon　his
soul；　burst　upon　it　so　sharply　that　he　hid　his　eyes　with　his　hands；
and　his　old　lips　murmured；　〃Horrible！　　Horrible！　　The　brother
against　the　sister。〃

The　next　morning　was　clear　and　bright。　　Muller　was　up　early；　for　he
had　taken　but　a　few　hours　sleep　in　one　of　the　rooms　of　the　station；
before　he　set　out　into　the　cold　winter　morning。　　At　the　next　corner
he　found　Amster　waiting　for　him。　　〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃　he
asked　in　astonishment。

I　have　been　thinking　over　what　you　said　to　me　yesterday。　　Your
profession　is　as　good　and　perhaps　better　than　many　another。〃

〃And　you　come　out　here　so　early　to　tell　me　that？〃

Amster　smiled。　　〃I　have　something　else　to　say。〃

〃Well？〃

〃The　commissioner　asked　me　yesterday　if　I　knew　of　a　church　in　the
city　that　had　a　slender　spire　with　a　green　top　and　two　poplars　in
front　of　it。〃

Muller　looked　his　interest。

〃I　thought　it　might　possibly　be　the　Convent　Church　of　the　Grey
Sisters；　but　I　wasn't　quite　sure；　so　I　went　there　an　hour　ago。　　It's
all　right；　just　as　I　thought。　　And　I　suppose　it　has　something　to　do
with　the　case　of　last　night；　so　I　thought　I　had　better　report　at
once。　　I　was　on　my　way　to　the　station。〃

〃That　will　do　very　well。　　You　have　saved　us　much　time　and　you　have
shown　that　you　are　eminently　fitted　for　this　business。〃

〃If　you　really　will　try　me；　then　…　〃

〃We'll　see。　　You　can　begin　on　this。　　Come　to　the　church　with　me　now。〃
Muller　was　no　talker；　particularly　not　when；　as　now；　his　brain　was
busy　on　a　problem。

The　two　men　walked　on　quickly。　　In　about　half　an　hour　they　found
themselves　in　a　little　square　in　the　middle　of　which　stood　an　old
church。　　In　front　of　the　church；　like　giant　sentinels；　stood　a　pair
of　tall　poplars。　　One　of　them　looked　sickly　and　was　a　good　deal
shorter　than　its　neighbour。　　Muller　nodded　as　if　content。

〃Is　this　the　church　the　commissioner　was　talking　about？〃　queried
Amster。

〃It　is；〃　was　the　answer。　　Muller　walked　on　toward　a　little　house
built　up　against　the　church；　which　was　evidently　the　dwelling　of
the　sexton。

The　detective　introduced　himself　to　this　official；　who　did　not　look
over…intelligent；　as　a　stranger　in　the　city　who　had　been　told　that
the　view　from　the　tower　of　the　church　was　particularly　interesting。
A　bright　silver　piece　banished　all　distrust　from　the　soul　of　the
worthy　man。　　With　great　friendliness　he　inquired　when　the　gentlemen
would　like　to　ascend　the　tower。　　〃At　once；〃　was　the　answer。

The　sexton　took　a　bunch　of　keys　and　told　the　strangers　to　follow
him。　　A　few　moments　later　Muller　and　his　companion　stood　in　the
tiny　belfry　room　of　the　slender　spire。　　The　fat　sexton；　to　his　own
great　satisfaction；　had　yielded　to　their　request　not　to　undertake
the　steep　ascent。　　The　cloudless　sky　lay　crystal　clear　over　the
still　sleeping　city　and　the　wide　spread　snow…covered　fields　which
lay　close　at　hand；　beyond　the　church。　　On　the　one　side　were　gardens
and　the　low　rambling　buildings　of　the　convent；　and　on　the　other
were　huddled　high…piled　dwellings　of　poverty。

Muller　looked　out　of　each　of　the　four　windows　in　turn。　　He　spent
some　time　at　each　window；　but　evidently　without　discovering　what　he
looked　for；　for　he　shook　his　head　in　discontent。　　But　when　he　went
once　more　to　the　opening　in　the　East；　into　which　the　sun　was　just
beginning　to　pour　its　light；　something　seemed　to　attract　his
attention。　　He　called　Amster　and　pointed　from　the　window。　　〃Your
eyes　are　younger　than　mine；　lend　them　to　me。　　What　do　you　see　over
there　to　the　right；　below　the　tall　factory　chimney？〃　　Muller's　voice
was　calm；　but　there　was　something　in　his　manner　that　revealed
excitement。　　Amster　caught　the　infection　without　knowing　why。　　He
looked　sharply　in　the　direction　towards　which　Muller　pointed；　and
began：　〃There　is　a　tall　house　near　the　chimney；　to　the　right　of　it；
one　wall　touching　it。　　The　house　is　crowded　in　between　other　newer
buildings；　and　looks　to　be　very　old　and　of　a　much　better　sort　than
its　neighbours。　　The　other　houses　are　plain　stone；　but　this　house
has　carvings　and　statues　on　it；　which　are　white　with　snow。　　But　the
house　is　in　bad　condition；　one　can　see　cracks　in　the　wall。〃

〃And　its　windows？〃

〃I　cannot　see　them。　　They　must　be　on　the　other　side　of　the　house；
towards　the　courtyard　which　seems　to　be　hemmed　in　by　the　blank
walls　of　the　other　houses。〃

〃And　at　the　front　of　the　house？〃

〃There　is　a　low　wall　in　front　which　shuts　off　the　courtyard　from　a
narrow；　ill…kept　street。〃

〃　Yes；　I　see　it　myself　now。　　The　street　is　bordered　mainly　by
gardens　and　vacant　lots。〃

〃Yes；　sir；　that　is　it。〃　　Muller　nodded　as　if　satisfied。　　Amster
looked　at　him　in　surprise；　still　more　surprised；　however；　at　the
excitement　he　felt　himself。　　He　did　not　understand　it；　but　Muller
understood　it。　　He　knew　that　he　had　found　in　Amster　a　talent　akin
to　his　own；　one　of　those　natures　who　once　having　taken　up　a　trail
cannot　rest　until　they　reach　their　goal。　　He　looked　for　a　few
moments　in　satisfaction　at　the　assistant　he　had　found　by　such
chance；　then　he　turned　and　hastened　down　the　stairs　again。

〃We're　going　to　that　house？〃　asked　Amster　when　they　were　down　in
the　street。　　Muller　nodded。

Without　hesitation　the　two　men　made　their　way　through　a　tangle　of
dingy；　uninteresting　alleys；　between　modem　tenements；　until　about
ten　minutes　later　they　stood　before　an　old　three…storied　building；
which　had　a　frontage　of　four　windows　on　the　street。　　〃This　is　our
place；〃　said　the　detective；　looking　up　at　the　tall；　handsome
gateway　and　the　rococo　carvings　that　ornamented　the　front　of　this
decaying　dwelling。　　It　was　very　evidently　of　a　different　age　and
class　from　those　about　it。

Muller　had　already　raised　his　hand　to　pull　the　bell；　when　he　stopped
and　let　it　sink　again。　　His　eye　caught　sight　of　a　placard　pasted　up
on　the　wall　of　the　next　house；　and　already　half　torn　off　by　the　wind。
The　detective　walked　over；　and　raising　the　placard　with　his　cane；
read　the　words　on　it。　　〃That's　right；〃　he　said　to　himself。　　Amster
gave　a　look　on　the　paper。　　But　he　could　not　connect　the　contents　of
the　notice　with　the　case　of　the　kidnapped　lady；　and　he　shook　his
head　in　surprise　when　Muller　turned　to　him　with　the　words：　〃The　lady
we　are　looking　for　is　not　insane。〃　　On　the　paper　was　announced　in
large　letters　that　a　reward　would　be　offered　to　the　finder　of　a　red
and　green　parrot　which　had　escaped　from　a　neighbouring　house。

Muller　rang　the　bell　and　they　had　to　wait　some　few　minutes　before
the　door　opened　with　great　creakings；　and　the　towsled　head　of　an
old　woman　peered　out。

〃What　do　you　want？〃　she　asked　hoarsely；　with　distrustful　looks。

〃Let　us　in；　and　then　give　us　the　keys　of　the　upstairs　rooms。〃
Muller's　voice　was　friendly；　but　the　woman　grew　perceptibly　paler。

〃Who　are　you？〃　she　stammered。　　Muller　threw　back　his　overcoat　and
showed　her　his　badge。　　〃But　there　is　nobody　here；　the　house　is
quite　empty。〃

〃There　were　a　lady　and　gentleman　here　last　evening。〃　　The　woman
threw　a　frightened　look　at　Muller；　then　she　said　hesitatingly：
〃The　lady　was　insane　and　has　been　taken　to　an　asylum。〃

〃That　is　what　the　man　told　you。　　He　is　a　criminal　and　the　police　are
looking　for　him。〃

〃Come　with　me；〃　murmured　the　woman。　　She　seemed　to　understand　that
further　resistance　was　useless。　　She　carefully　locked　the　outside
door。　　Amster　remained　down　stairs　in　the　corridor；　while　Muller
followed　the　old　woman　up　the　stairs。　　The　staircase　to　the　third
story　was　made　of　wood。　　The　house　was　evidently　very　old；　with
low　ceilings　and　many　dark　corners。

The　woman　led　Muller　into　the　room　in　which　she　had　cared　for　the
strange　lady　at　the　order　of　the　latter's　〃husband。〃　　He　had　told
her　that　it　was　only　until　he　could　take　the　lady　to　an　asylum。　　One
look　at　the　wall　paper；　a　glance　out　of　the　window；　and　Muller　knew
that　this　was　where　Asta　Langen　had　been　imprisoned。　　He　sat　down
on　a　chair　and　looked　at　the　woman；　who　stood　frightened　before　him。

〃Do　you　know　where　they　have　taken　the　lady？〃

〃No；　sir。

〃Do　you　know　the　gentleman's　name？〃

〃No；　sir。

〃You　did　not　send　the　lady's　name　to　the　authorities？〃　*

〃No；　sir。
___________________________________________________________________

*　Any　stranger　taking　rooms　in　a　hotel　or　lodging　house　must
be　registered　with　the　police　authorities　by　the　proprietor　of　the
house　within　forty…eight　hours　of　arrival。
___________________________________________________________________

〃Were　you　not　afraid　you　would　get　into　trouble？〃

The　gentleman　paid　me　well；　and　I　did　not　think　that　he　meant
anything　bad；　and　…　and　…　〃

〃And　you　did　not　think　that　it　would　be　found　out？〃　said　Muller
sternly。


〃I　took　good　care　of　the　lady。〃

〃Yes；　we　know　that。〃

〃Did　she　escape　from　her　husband？〃

〃He　was　not　her　husband。　　But　now　tell　me　all　you　know　about　these
people；　the　more　truthful　you　are　the　better　it　will　be　for　you。〃

The　old　woman　was　so　frightened　that　she　could　scarcely　find
strength　to　talk。　　When　she　finally　got　control　of　herself　again
she　began：　〃He　came　here　on　the　first　of　November　and　rented　this
room　for　himself。　　But　he　was　here　only　twice　before　he　brought　the
lady　and　left　her　alone　here。　　She　was　very　ill　when　he　brought　her
here　…　so　ill　that　he　had　to　carry　her　upstairs。　　I　wanted　to　go
for　a　doctor；　but　he　said　he　was　a　doctor　himself；　and　that　he　could
take　care　of　his　wife；　who　often　had　such　attacks。　　He　gave　me　some
medicine　for　her　after　I　had　put　her　to　bed。　　I　gave　her　the　drops；
but　it　was　a　long　while　before　she　came　to　herself　again。

〃Then　he　told　me　that　she　had　lost　her　mind；　and　that　she　believed
everybody　was　trying　to　harm　her。　　She　was　so　bad　that　he　was　taking
her　to　an　asylum。　　But　he　hadn't　found　quite　the　right　place　yet；
and　wanted　me　to　keep　her　here　until　he　knew　where　he　could　take　her。
Onc