the case of the golden bullet-第2部分

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by　the　owner　of　the　house；　who　was　now　in　Italy　with　his　invalid
wife。　　Otherwise　the　dainty　little　villa；　built　in　the　fashionable
Nuremberg　style；　with　heavy　wooden　doors　and　lozenged…paned　windows；
had　no　occupants　except　Professor　Fellner　and　his　servant。　　With
its　graceful　outlines　and　well…planned　garden；　the　dwelling　had　a
most　attractive　appearance。　　Opposite　it　was　the　broad　avenue　known
as　the　Promenade；　and　beyond　this　were　open　fields。　　To　the　right
and　to　the　left　were　similar　villas　in　their　gardens。

Dummel　opened　the　door　and　the　three　men　entered　the　house。　　The
commissioner　and　the　valet　went　in　first；　Muller　following　them　more
slowly。　　His　sharp　eyes　glanced　quickly　over　the　coloured　tiles　of
the　flooring；　over　the　white　steps　and　the　carpeted　hallway　beyond。
Once　he　bent　quickly　and　picked　up　something；　then　he　walked　on　with
his　usual　quiet　manner；　out　of　which　every　trace　of　excitement　had
now　vanished。

The　dull　winter　sun　seemed　only　to　make　the　gloom　of　the　dark
vestibule　more　visible。　　Johann　turned　up　the　light；　and　Horn；　who
had　visited　the　Professor　several　times　and　knew　the　situation　of
the　rooms；　went　at　once　to　the　heavy；　carved　and　iron　trimmed　door
of　the　study。　　He　attempted　to　open　the　door；　but　it　resisted　all
pressure。　　The　heavy　key　was　in　the　inner　side　of　the　big　lock　with
its　medieval　iron　ornamentation。　　But　the　key　was　turned　so　that
the　lower　part　of　the　lock　was　free；　a　round　opening　of　unusual　size。
Horn　made　sure　of　this　by　holding　a　lighted　match　to　the　door。

〃You　are　right；〃　he　said　to　the　valet；　〃the　door　is　locked　from　the
inside。　　We'll　have　to　go　through　the　bedroom。　　Johann；　bring　me　a
chisel　or　a　hatchet。　　Muller；　you　stay　here　and　open　the　door　when
the　doctor　comes。〃

Muller　nodded。　　Johann　disappeared；　returning　in　a　few　moments　with
a　small　hatchet；　and　followed　the　commissioner　through　the
dining…room。　　It　was　an　attractive　apartment　with　its　high　wooden
paneling　and　its　dainty　breakfast　table。　　But　a　slight　shiver　ran
through　the　commissioner's　frame　as　he　realised　that　some　misfortune；
some　crime　even　might　be　waiting　for　them　on　the　other　side　of　the
closed　door。　　The　bedroom　door　also　was　locked　on　the　inside；　and
after　some　moments　of　knocking　and　calling；　Horn　set　the　hatchet　to
the　framework　just　as　the　bell　of　the　house…door　pealed　out。

With　a　cracking　and　tearing　of　wood　the　bedroom　door　fell　open；　and
in　the　same　moment　Muller　and　the　physician　passed　through　the
dining…room。　　Johann　hurried　into　the　bedroom　to　open　the
window…shutters；　and　the　others　gathered　in　the　doorway。　　A　single
look　showed　each　of　the　men　that　the　bed　was　untouched；　and　they
passed　on　through　the　room。　　The　door　from　the　bedroom　to　the　study
stood　open。　　In　the　latter　room　the　shutters　were　tightly　closed；
and　the　lamp　had　long　since　gone　out。　　But　sufficient　light　fell
through　the　open　bedroom　door　for　the　men　to　see　the　figure　of　the
Professor　seated　at　his　desk；　and　when　Johann　had　opened　the
shutters；　it　was　plain　to　all　that　the　silent　figure　before　them
was　that　of　a　corpse。

〃Heart　disease；　probably；〃　murmured　the　physician；　as　he　touched
the　icy　forehead。　　Then　he　felt　the　pulse　of　the　stiffened　hand
from　which　the　pen　had　fallen　in　the　moment　of　death；　raised　the
drooping　head　and　lifted　up　the　half…closed　eyelids。　　The　eyes
were　glazed。

The　others　looked　on　in　silence。　　Horn　was　very　pale；　and　his
usually　calm　face　showed　great　emotion。　　Johann　seemed　quite　beside
himself；　the　tears　rolled　down　his　cheeks　unhindered。　　Muller　stood
without　a　sign　of　life；　his　sallow　face　seemed　made　of　bronze；　he
was　watching　and　listening。　　He　seemed　to　hear　and　see　what　no　one
else　could　see　or　hear。　　He　smiled　slightly　when　the　doctor　spoke
of　〃heart　disease；〃　and　his　eyes　fell　on　the　revolver　that　lay　near
the　dead　man's　hand　on　the　desk。　　Then　he　shook　his　head；　and　then
he　started　suddenly。　　Horn　noticed　the　movement；　it　was　in　the　moment
when　the　physician　raised　up　the　sunken　figure　that　had　fallen　half
over　the　desk。

〃He　was　killed　by　a　bullet；〃　said　Muller。

〃Yes；　that　was　it；〃　replied　the　doctor。　　With　the　raising　of　the
body　the　dead　man's　waistcoat　fell　back　into　its　usual　position；
and　they　could　see　a　little　round　hole　in　his　shirt。　　The　doctor
opened　the　shirt　bosom　and　pointed　to　a　little　wound　in　the
Professor's　left　breast。　　There　were　scarcely　three　or　four　drops
of　blood　visible。　　The　hemorrhage　had　been　internal。

〃He　must　have　died　at　once；　without　suffering；〃　said　the　physician。

〃He　killed　himself　…　he　killed　himself；〃　murmured　Johann；　as　if
bewildered。

〃It's　strange　that　he　should　have　found　time　to　lay　down　the
revolver　before　he　died；〃　remarked　Horn。　　Johann　put　out　his　hand
and　raised　the　weapon　before　Horn　could　prevent　him。　　〃Leave　that
pistol　where　it　was；〃　commanded　the　commissioner。　　〃We　have　to　look
into　this　matter　more　closely。〃

The　doctor　turned　quickly。　　〃You　think　it　was　a　murder？〃　he
exclaimed。　　〃The　doors　were　both　locked　on　the　inside　…　where　could
the　murderer　be？〃

〃I　don't　pretend　to　see　him　myself　yet。　　But　our　rule　is　to　leave
things　as　they　are　discovered；　until　the　official　examination。
Muller；　did　you　shut　the　outer　door？〃

〃Yes；　sir；　here　is　the　key。〃

〃Johann；　are　there　any　more　keys　for　the　outer　door？〃

〃Yes；　sir。　　One　more；　that　is；　for　the　third　was　lost　some　months
ago。　　The　Professor's　own　key　ought　to　be　in　the　drawer　of　the
little　table　beside　the　bed。〃

〃Will　you　please　look　for　it；　Muller？〃

Muller　went　into　the　bedroom　and　soon　returned　with　the　key；　which
he　handed　to　the　commissioner。　　The　detective　had　found　something
else　in　the　little　table　drawer　…　a　tortoise…shell　hairpin；　which
he　had　carefully　hidden　in　his　own　pocket　before　rejoining　the
others。

Horn　turned　to　the　servant　again。　　〃How　many　times　have　you　been
out　of　the　apartment　since　last　night？〃

〃Once　only；　sir；　to　go　to　the　police　station　to　fetch　you。〃

〃And　you　locked　the　door　behind　you？〃

〃Why；　yes；　sir。　　You　saw　that　I　had　to　turn　the　key　twice　to　let
you　in。〃

Horn　and　Muller　both　looked　the　young　man　over　very　carefully。　　He
seemed　perfectly　innocent；　and　their　suspicion　that　he　might　have
turned　the　key　in　pretense　only；　soon　vanished。　　It　would　have　been
a　foolish　suspicion　anyway。　　If　he　were　in　league　with　the　murderer；
he　could　have　let　the　latter　escape　with　much　more　safety　during　the
night。　　Horn　let　his　eyes　wander　about　the　rooms　again；　and　said
slowly：　〃Then　the　murderer　is　still　here　…　or　else　…　〃

〃Or　else？〃　asked　the　doctor。

〃Or　else　we　have　a　strange　riddle　to　solve。〃

Johann　had　laid　the　pistol　down　again。　　Muller　stretched　forth　his
hand　and　took　it　up。　　He　looked　at　it　a　moment；　then　handed　it　to
the　commissioner。　　〃We　have　to　do　with　a　murder　here。　　There　was
not　a　shot　fired　from　this　revolver；　for　every　chamber　is　still
loaded。　　And　there　is　no　other　weapon　in　sight；〃　said　the　detective
quietly。

〃Yes；　he　was　murdered。　　This　revolver　is　fully　loaded。　　Let　us
begin　the　search　at　once。〃　　Horn　was　more　excited　than　he　cared　to
show。

Johann　looked　about　in　alarm；　but　when　he　saw　the　others　beginning
to　peer　into　every　corner　and　every　cupboard；　he　himself　joined　in
the　man…hunt。　　A　quarter　of　an　hour　later；　the　four　men　relinquished
their　fruitless　efforts　and　gathered　beside　the　corpse　again。

〃Doctor；　will　you　have　the　kindness　to　report　to　the　head
Commissioner　of　Police；　and　to　order　the　taking　away　of　the　body？
We　will　look　about　for　some　motive　for　this　murder　in　the　meantime；〃
said　Horn；　as　he　held　out　his　hand　to　the　physician。

Muller　walked　out　to　the　door　of　the　house　with　the　doctor。

〃Do　you　think　this　valet　did　it？〃　asked　the　physician　softly。

〃He？　　Oh；　dear；　no；〃　replied　the　detective　scornfully。

〃You　think　he's　too　stupid？　　But　this　stupidity　might　be　feigned。〃

〃It's　real　enough；　doctor。〃

〃But　what　do　you　think　about　it　…　you；　who　have　the　gift　of　seeing
more　than　other　people　see；　even　if　it　does　bring　you　into　disfavour
with　the　Powers　that　Be？〃

〃Then　you　don't　believe　me　yet？〃

〃You　mean　about　the　beautiful　Mrs。　Kniepp？

〃And　yet　I　tell　you　I　am　right。　　It　was　an　intentional　suicide。〃

〃Muller；　Muller；　you　must　keep　better　watch　over　your　imagination
and　your　tongue！　It　is　a　dangerous　thing　to　spread　rumours　about
persons　high　in　favor　with　the　Arch…duke。　　But　you　had　better　tell
me　what　you　think　about　this　affair；〃　continued　the　doctor；
pointing　back　towards　the　room　they　had　just　left。

〃There's　a　woman　in　the　case。〃

〃Aha！　you　are　romancing　again。　　Well；　they　won't　be　so　sensitive
about　this　matter；　but　take　care　that　you　don't　make　a　mistake　again；
my　dear　Muller。　　It　would　be　likely　to　cost　you　your　position；　don't
forget　that。〃

The　doctor　left　the　house。　　Muller　smiled　bitterly　as　he　closed　the
door　behind　him；　and　murmured　to　himself：　〃Indeed；　I　do　not　forget
it；　and　that　is　why　I　shall　take　this　matter　into　my　own　hands。　　But
the　Kniepp　case　is　not　closed　yet；　by　any　means。〃

When　he　returned　to　the　study　he　saw　Johann　sitting　quietly　in　a
corner；　shaking　his　head；　as　if　trying　to　understand　it　all。　　Horn
was　bending　over　a　sheet　of　writing　paper　which　lay　before　the　dead
man。　　Fellner　must　have　been　busy　at　his　desk　when　the　bullet
penetrated　his　heart。　　His　hand　in　dying　had　let　fall　the　pen；
which　had　drawn　a　long　black　mark　across　the　bottom　of　the　sheet。
One　page　of　the　paper　was　covered　with　a　small；　delicate　handwriting。

Horn　called　up　the　detective；　and　together　they　read　the　following　words：

〃Dear　Friend：　…

〃He　challenged　me　…　pistols　…　it　means　life　or　death。　　My　enemy　is
very　bitter。　　But　I　am　not　ready　to　die　yet。　　And　as　I　know　that　I
would　be　the　one　to　fall；　I　have　refused　the　duel。　　That　will　help
me　little；　for　his　revenge　will　know　how　to　find　me。　　I　dare　not　be
a　moment　without　a　weapon　now　…　his　threats　on　my　refusal　let　me
fear　the　worst。　　I　have　an　uncanny　presentiment　of　evil。　　I　shall
leave　here　to…morrow。　　With　the　excuse　of　having　some　pressing
family　affair　to　attend　to；　I　have　secured　several　days'　leave。
Of　course　I　do　not　intend　to　return。　　I　am　hoping　that　you　wil