the case of the golden bullet-第3部分

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family　affair　to　attend　to；　I　have　secured　several　days'　leave。
Of　course　I　do　not　intend　to　return。　　I　am　hoping　that　you　will
come　here　and　break　up　my　establishment　in　my　stead。　　I　will　tell
you　everything　else　when　I　see　you。　　I　am　in　a　hurry　now；　for　there
is　a　good　deal　of　packing　to　do。　　If　anything　should　happen　to　me；
you　will　know　who　it　is　who　is　responsible　for　my　death。　　His
name　is　…　〃

Here　the　letter　came　to　an　abrupt　close。

Muller　and　Horn　looked　at　each　other　in　silence；　then　they　turned
their　eyes　again　toward　the　dead　man。

〃He　was　a　coward；〃　said　the　detective　coldly；　and　turned　away。
Horn　repeated　mechanically；　〃A　coward！〃　and　his　eyes　also　looked
down　with　a　changed　expression　upon　the　handsome；　soft…featured
face；　framed　in　curly　blond　hair；　that　lay　so　silent　against　the
chair…back。　　Many　women　had　loved　this　dead　man；　and　many　men　had
been　fond　of　him；　for　they　had　believed　him　capable　and　manly。

The　commissioner　and　Muller　continued　their　researches　in　silence
and　with　less　interest　than　before。　　They　found　a　heap　of　loose
ashes　in　the　bedroom　stove。　　Letters　and　other　trifles　had　been
burned　there。　　Muller　raked　out　the　heap　very　carefully；　but　the
writing　on　the　few　pieces　of　paper　still　left　whole　was　quite
illegible。　　There　were　several　envelopes　in　the　waste…basket；　but
all　of　them　were　dated　several　months　back。　　There　was　nothing　that
could　give　the　slightest　clue。

The　letter　written　by　the　murdered　man　was　sufficient　proof　that
his　death　had　been　an　act　of　vengeance。　　But　who　was　it　who　had
carried　out　this　secret；　terrible　deed？　　The　victim　had　not　been
allowed　the　time　to　write　down　the　name　of　his　murderer。

Horn　took　the　letter　into　his　keeping。　　Then　he　left　the　room；
followed　by　Muller　and　the　valet；　to　look　about　the　rest　of　the
house　as　far　as　possible。　　This　was　not　very　far；　for　the　second
story　was　closed　off　by　a　tall　iron　grating。

〃Is　the　house　door　locked　during　the　daytime？〃　asked　Horn　of　the
servant。

〃The　front　door　is；　but　the　side　door　into　the　garden　is　usually
open。〃

〃Has　it　ever　happened　that　any　one　got　into　the　house　from　this
side　door　without　your　knowing　it？〃

〃No；　sir。　　The　garden　has　a　high　wall　around　it。　　And　there　is　extra
protection　on　the　side　toward　the　Promenade。〃

〃But　there's　a　little　gate　there？〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃Is　that　usually　closed？〃

〃We　never　use　the　key　for　that；　sir。　　It　has　a　trick　lock　that　you
can't　open　unless　you　know　how。〃

〃You　said　you　went　to　the　theatre　yesterday　evening。　　Did　your
master　give　you　permission　to　go？〃

〃Yes；　sir。　　It's　about　a　year　now　that　he　gave　me　money　for　a
theatre　ticket　every　Saturday　evening。　　He　was　very　kind。〃

〃Did　you　come　into　the　house　last　night　by　the　front　door；　or
through　the　garden？〃

〃Through　the　garden；　sir。　　I　walked　down　the　Promenade　from　the
theatre。〃

〃And　you　didn't　notice　anything　…　you　saw　no　traces　of　footsteps？〃

〃No；　sir。　　I　didn't　notice　anything　unusual。　　We　shut　the　side
door；　the　garden　door；　every　evening；　also。　　It　was　closed
yesterday　and　I　found　the　key　…　we've　only　got　one　key　to　the
garden　door　…　in　the　same　place　where　I　was　told　to　hide　it　when
I　went　out　in　the　evening。〃

〃What　place　was　that？〃

〃In　one　of　the　pails　by　the　well。〃

〃You　say　you　were　told　to　hide　it　there？〃

〃Yes；　sir；　the　Professor　told　me。　　He'd　go　out　in　the　evening
sometimes；　too；　I　suppose；　and　he　wanted　to　be　able　to　come　in　that
way　if　necessary。〃

〃And　no　one　else　knew　where　the　key　was　hidden？〃

〃No　one　else；　sir。　　It's　nearly　a　year　now　that　we've　been　alone　in
the　house。　　Who　else　should　know　of　it？〃

〃When　you　looked　through　the　keyhole　last　night；　are　you　sure　that
the　Professor　was　still　alive？〃

〃Why；　yes；　sir；　of　course　I　couldn't　say　so　surely。　　I　thought　he
was　reading　or　writing；　but　oh；　dear　Lord！　there　he　was　this　morning；
nearly　twelve　hours　later；　in　just　the　same　position。〃　　Johann
shivered　at　the　thought　that　he　might　have　seen　his　master　sitting
at　his　desk；　already　a　corpse。

〃He　must　have　been　dead　when　you　came　home。　　Don't　you　think　the
sound　of　that　shot　would　have　wakened　you？〃

〃Yes；　sir；　I　think　likely；　sir；〃　murmured　Johann。　　〃But　if　the
murderer　could　get　into　the　house；　how　could　he　get　into　the
apartment？〃

〃There　must　have　been　a　third　key　of　which　you　knew　nothing；〃
answered　Horn；　turning　to　Muller　again。　　〃It's　stranger　still　how
Fellner　could　have　been　shot；　for　the　window…shutters　were　fastened
and　quite　uninjured；　and　both　doors　were　locked　on　the　inside。〃

As　he　said　these　words；　Horn　looked　sharply　at　his　subordinate；　but
Muller's　calm　face　did　not　give　the　slightest　clue　to　his　thoughts。
The　experienced　police　commissioner　was　pleased　and　yet　slightly
angered　at　this　behaviour　on　the　part　of　the　detective。　　He　knew
that　it　was　quite　possible　that　Muller　had　already　formed　a　clear
opinion　about　the　case；　and　that　he　was　merely　keeping　it　to　himself。
And　yet　he　was　glad　to　see　that　the　little　detective　had　apparently
learned　a　lesson　from　his　recent　mistake　concerning　the　death　of
Mrs。　Kniepp　…　that　he　had　somewhat　lost　confidence　in　his　hitherto
unerring　instinct；　and　did　not　care　to　express　any　opinion　until　he
had　studied　the　matter　a　little　closer。　　The　commissioner　was　just
a　little　bit　vain；　and　just　a　little　bit　jealous　of　this　humble
detective's　fame。

Muller　shrugged　his　shoulders　at　the　remark　of　his　superior；　and
the　two　men　stood　silent；　thinking　over　the　case；　as　the　Chief　of
Police　appeared；　accompanied　by　the　doctor；　a　clerk；　and　two　hospital
attendants。　　The　chief　commissioner　received　the　report　of　what　had
been　discovered；　while　the　corpse　was　laid　on　a　bier　to　be　taken　to
the　hospital。

Muller　handed　the　commissioner　his　hat　and　cane　and　helped　him　into
his　overcoat。　　Horn　noticed　that　the　detective　himself　was　making
no　preparations　to　go　out。　　〃Aren't　you　coming　with　us？〃　he　asked；
astonished。

〃I　hope　the　gentlemen　will　allow　me　to　remain　here　for　a　little
while；〃　answered　Muller　modestly。

〃But　you　know　that　we　will　have　to　close　the　apartment　officially；〃
said　Horn；　his　voice　sharpening　in　his　surprise　and　displeasure。

〃I　do　not　need　to　be　in　these　rooms　any　longer。〃

〃Don't　let　them　disturb　you；　my　dear　Muller；　we　will　allow　your
keenness　all　possible　leeway　here。〃　　The　Head　of　Police　spoke　with
calm　politeness；　but　Muller　started　and　shivered。　　The　emphasis　on
the　〃here〃　showed　him　that　even　the　head　of　the　department　had　been
incensed　at　his　suggestion　that　the　beautiful　Mrs。　Kniepp　had　died
of　her　own　free　will。　　It　had　been　his　assertion　of　this　which；
coming　to　the　ears　of　the　bereaved　husband；　had　enraged　and
embittered　him；　and　had　turned　the　power　of　his　influence　with　the
high　authorities　against　the　detective。　　Muller　knew　how　greatly　he
had　fallen　from　favour　in　the　Police　Department；　and　the　words　of
his　respected　superior　showed　him　that　he　was　still　in　disgrace。

But　the　strange；　quiet　smile　was　still　on　his　lips　as；　with　his
usual　humble　deference；　he　accompanied　the　others　to　the　sidewalk。
Before　the　commissioners　left　the　house；　the　Chief　commanded　Johann
to　answer　carefully　any　questions　Muller　might　put　to　him。

〃He'll　find　something；　you　may　be　sure；〃　said　Horn；　as　they　drove
off　in　the　cab。

〃Let　him　that's　his　business。　　He　is　officially　bound　to　see　more
than　the　rest　of　us；〃　smiled　the　older　official　good…naturedly。
〃But　in　spite　of　it；　he'll　never　get　any　further　than　the　vestibule；
he'll　be　making　bows　to　us　to　the　end　of　his　days。〃

〃You　think　so？　　I've　wondered　at　the　man。　　I　know　his　fame　in　the
capital；　indeed；　in　police　circles　all　over　Austria　and　Germany。
It　seems　hard　on　him　to　be　transferred　to　this　small　town；　now　that
he　is　growing　old。　　I've　wondered　why　he　hasn't　done　more　for
himself；　with　his　gifts。〃

〃He　never　will；〃　replied　the　Chief。　　〃He　may　win　more　fame　…　he　may
still　go　on　winning　triumphs；　but　he　will　go　on　in　a　circle；　he'll
never　forge　ahead　as　his　capabilities　deserve。　　Muller's　peculiarity
is　that　his　genius　…　for　the　man　has　undeniable　genius　…　will　always
make　concessions　to　his　heart　just　at　the　moment　when　he　is　about
to　do　something　great　…　and　his　triumph　is　lost。〃

Horn　looked　up　at　his　superior；　whom；　in　spite　of　his　good　nature；
he　knew　to　be　a　sharp；　keen；　capable　police　official。　　〃I　forgot
you　have　known　Muller　longer　than　the　rest　of　us；〃　he　said。　　〃What
was　that　you　said　about　his　heart？〃

〃I　said　that　it　is　one　of　those　inconvenient　hearts　that　will　always
make　itself　noticeable　at　the　wrong　time。　　Muller's　heart　has　played
several　tricks　on　the　police　department；　which　has；　at　other　times；
profited　so　well　by　his　genius。　　He　is　a　strange　mixture。　　While　he
is　on　the　trail　of　the　criminal　he　is　like　the　bloodhound。　　He　does
not　seem　to　know　fatigue　nor　hunger；　his　whole　being　is　absorbed　by
the　excitement　of　the　chase。　　He　has　done　many　a　brilliant　service
to　the　cause　of　justice；　he　has　discovered　the　guilt；　or　the
innocence；　of　many　in　cases　where　the　official　department　was　as
blind　as　Justice　is　proverbially　supposed　to　be。　　Joseph　Muller　has
become　the　idol　of　all　who　are　engaged　in　this　weary　business　of
hunting　down　wrong　and　punishing　crime。　　He　is　without　a　peer　in　his
profession。　　But　he　has　also　become　the　idol　of　some　of　the　criminals。
For　if　he　discovers　（as　sometimes　happens）　that　the　criminal　is　a
good　sort　after　all；　he　is　just　as　likely　to　warn　his　prey；　once　he
has　all　proofs　of　the　guilt　and　a　conviction　is　certain。　　Possibly
this　is　his　way　of　taking　the　sting　from　his　irresistible　impulse　to
ferret　out　hidden　mysteries。　　But　it　is　rather　inconvenient；　and　he
has　hurt　himself　by　it　…　hurt　himself　badly。　　They　were　tired　of　his
peculiarities　at　the　capital；　and　wanted　to　make　his　years　an　excuse
to　discharge　him。　　I　happened　to　get　wind　of　it；　and　it　was　my
weakness　for　him　that　saved　him。〃

〃Yes；　you　brought　him　here　when　they　transferred　you　to　this　town；
I　remember　now。〃

〃I'm　afraid　it　wasn't　such　a　good　thing　for　him；　after　all。　　Nothing
ever　happens　here；　and　a　gift　like　Muller's　needs　occupation　to　keep
it　fresh。　　I'm　afraid　his　talents　will　dull