the case of the golden bullet-第5部分

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　　were　obliged　to　break　open　one　of　the　doors　to　get　to　it。　　And
　　a　revolver　was　found　lying　close　at　hand；　upon　the　desk。　　But
　　this　revolver　was　loaded　in　every　chamber　and　there　was　no　other
　　weapon　to　be　seen　in　the　room。　　There　was　a　bullet　wound　in　the
　　left　breast　of　the　corpse；　and　the　bullet　had　penetrated　the
　　heart。　　Death　must　have　been　instantaneous。

　　The　most　mysterious　thing　about　this　strange　affair　was
　　discovered　during　the　autopsy。　　It　is　incredible；　but　it　is
　　absolutely　true；　as　it　is　vouched　for　under　oath　by　the
　　authorities　who　were　present；　that　the　bullet　which　was　found
　　in　the　heart　of　the　dead　man　was　made　of　solid　gold。　　And　yet；
　　strange　as　is　this　circumstance；　it　is　still　more　a　riddle　how
　　the　murderer　could　have　escaped　from　the　room　where　he　had　shot
　　down　his　victim；　for　the　keys　in　both　doors　were　in　the　locks
　　from　the　inside。　　We　have　evidently　to　do　here　with　a　criminal
　　of　very　unusual　cleverness　and　it　is　therefore　not　surprising
　　that　there　has　been　no　clue　discovered　thus　far。　　The　only
　　thing　that　is　known　is　that　this　murder　was　an　act　of　revenge。

The　entire　city　was　in　excitement　over　the　mystery；　even　the　police
station　was　shaken　out　of　its　usual　business…like　indifference。
There　was　no　other　topic　of　conversation　in　any　of　the　rooms　but
the　mystery　of　the　golden　bullet　and　the　doors　closed　from　the
inside。　　The　attendants　and　the　policeman　gathered　whispering　in
the　corners；　and　strangers　who　came　in　on　their　own　business　forgot
it　in　their　excitement　over　this　new　and　fascinating　mystery。

That　afternoon　Muller　passed　through　Horn's　office　with　a　bundle
of　papers；　on　his　way　to　the　inner　office　occupied　by　his　patron；
Chief　of　Police　Bauer。　　Horn；　who　had　avoided　Muller　since　yesterday
although　he　was　conscious　of　a　freshened　interest　in　the　man；　raised
his　head　and　watched　the　little　detective　as　he　walked　across　the
room　with　his　usual　quiet　tread。　　The　commissioner　saw　nothing　but
the　usual　humble　business…like　manner　to　which　he　was　accustomed
…　then　suddenly　something　happened　that　came　to　him　like　a　distinct
shock。　　Muller　stopped　in　his　walk　so　suddenly　that　one　foot　was
poised　in　the　air。　　His　bowed　head　was　thrown　back；　his　face
flushed　to　his　forehead；　and　the　papers　trembled　in　his　hands。　　He
ran　the　fingers　of　his　unoccupied　hand　through　his　hair　and　murmured
audibly；　〃That　dog！　that　dog！〃　　It　was　evident　that　some　thought
had　struck　him　with　such　insistence　as　to　render　him　oblivious　of
his　surroundings。　　Then　he　finally　realised　where　he　was；　and　walked
on　quickly　to　Bauer's　room；　his　face　still　flushed；　his　hands
trembling。　　When　he　came　out　from　the　office　again；　he　was　his　usual
quiet；　humble　self。

But　the　commissioner；　with　his　now　greater　knowledge　of　the　little
man's　gifts　and　past；　could　not　forget　the　incident。　　During　the
afternoon　he　found　himself　repeating　mechanically；　〃That　dog　…　that
dog。〃　　But　the　words　meant　nothing　to　him；　hard　as　he　might　try　to
find　the　connection。

When　the　commissioner　left　for　his　home　late　that　afternoon；　Muller
re…entered　the　office　to　lay　some　papers　on　the　desk。　　His　duties
over；　he　was　about　to　turn　out　the　gas；　when　his　eye　fell　on　the
blotter　on　Horn's　desk。　　He　looked　at　it　more　closely；　then　burst
into　a　loud　laugh。　　The　same　two　words　were　scribbled　again　and
again　over　the　white　surface；　but　it　was　not　the　name　of　any　fair
maiden；　or　even　the　title　of　a　love　poem；　it　was　only　the　words；
〃That　dog　…　〃

Several　days　had　passed　since　the　discovery　of　the　murder。　　Fellner
had　been　buried　and　his　possessions　taken　into　custody　by　the
authorities　until　his　heirs　should　appear。　　The　dead　man's　papers
and　affairs　were　in　excellent　condition　and　the　arranging　of　the
inheritance　had　been　quickly　done。　　Until　the　heirs　should　take
possession；　the　apartment　was　sealed　by　the　police。　　There　was
nothing　else　to　do　in　the　matter；　and　the　commission　appointed　to
make　researches　had　discovered　nothing　of　value。　　The　murderer
might　easily　feel　that　he　was　absolutely　safe　by　this　time。

The　day　after　the　publication　of　the　article　we　have　quoted；　Muller
appeared　in　Bauer's　office　and　asked　for　a　few　days'　leave。

〃In　the　Fellner　case？〃　asked　the　Chief　with　his　usual　calm；　and
Muller　replied　in　the　affirmative。

Two　days　later　he　returned；　bringing　with　him　nothing　but　a　single
little　notice。

〃Marie　Dorn；　now　Mrs。　Kniepp；〃　was　one　line　in　his　notebook；　and
beside　it　some　dates。　　The　latter　showed　that　Marie　Dorn　had　for
two　years　past　been　the　wife　of　the　Archducal　Forest…Councillor；
Leo　Kniepp。

And　for　one　year　now　Professor　Paul　Fellner　had　been　in　the　town；
after　having　applied　for　his　transference　from　the　university　in
the　capital　to　this　place；　which　was　scarce　half　an　hour's　walk
distant　from　the　home　of　the　beautiful　young　woman　who　had　been
the　love　of　his　youth。

And　Fellner　had　made　his　home　in　the　quietest　quarter　of　the　city；
in　that　quarter　which　was　nearest　the　Archducal　hunting　castle。　　
He　had　lived　very　quietly；　had　not　cultivated　the　acquaintance　of
the　ladies　of　the　town；　but　was　a　great　walker　and　bicycle　rider；
and　every　Saturday　evening　since　he　had　been　alone　in　the　house；
he　had　sent　his　servant　to　the　theatre。　　And　it　was　on　Saturday
evenings　that　Forest…Councillor　Kniepp　went　to　his　Bowling　Club
at　the　other　end　of　the　city；　and　did　not　return　until　the　last
train　at　midnight。

And　during　these　evening　hours　Fellner's　apartment　was　a　convenient
place　for　pleasant　meetings；　and　nothing　prevented　the　Professor
from　accompanying　his　beautiful　friend　home　through　the　quiet
Promenade；　along　the　turnpike　to　the　hunting　castle。　　And　Johann
had　once　found　a　dog…whip　in　his　master's　room…and　Councillor　Leo
Kniepp；　head　of　the　Forestry　Department；　was　the　possessor　of　a
beautiful　Ulmer　hound　which　took　an　active　interest　in　people　who
wore　clothes　belonging　to　Fellner。

Furthermore；　in　the　little　drawer　of　the　bedside　table　in　the
murdered　man's　room；　there　had　been　found　a　tortoise…shell　hairpin；
and　in　the　corner　of　the　vestibule　of　his　house；　a　little
mother…of…pearl　glove　button；　of　the　kind　much　in　fashion　that
winter；　because　of　a　desire　on　the　part　of　the　ladies　of　the　town
to　help　the　home　industry　of　the　neighbourhood。　　Mrs。　Marie　Kniepp
was　one　of　the　fashionable　women　of　the　town；　and　several　days
before　the　Professor　was　murdered；　this　woman　had　thrown　herself
from　the　second…story　window　of　her　home；　and　her　husband；　whose
passionate　eccentric　nature　was　well　known；　had　been　a　changed
man　from　that　hour。

It　was　his　deep　grief　at　the　loss　of　his　beloved　wife　that　had
turned　his　hair　grey　and　had　drawn　lines　of　terrible　sorrow　in　his
face　…　said　gossip。　　But　Muller；　who　did　not　know　Kniepp　personally
although　he　had　been　taking　a　great　interest　in　his　affairs　for　the
last　few　days；　had　his　own　ideas　on　the　subject；　and　he　decided　to
make　the　acquaintance　of　the　Forest　Councillor　as　soon　as　possible
…　that　is；　after　he　had　found　out　all　there　was　to　be　found　out
about　his　affairs　and　his　habits。

Just　a　week　after　the　murder；　on　Saturday　evening　therefore；　the
snow　was　whirling　merrily　about　the　gables　and　cupolas　of　the
Archducal　hunting　castle。　　The　weather…vanes　groaned　and　the　old
trees　in　the　park　bent　their　tall　tops　under　the　mad　wind　which
swept　across　the　earth　and　tore　the　protecting　snow　covering　from
their　branches。　　It　was　a　stormy　evening；　not　one　to　be　out　in　if
a　man　had　a　warm　corner　in　which　to　hide。

An　old　peddler　was　trying　to　find　shelter　from　the　rapidly
increasing　storm　under　the　lea　of　the　castle　wall。　　He　crouched　so
close　to　the　stones　that　he　could　scarcely　be　seen　at　all；　in
spite　of　the　light　from　the　snow。　　Finally　he　disappeared　altogether
behind　one　of　the　heavy　columns　which　sprang　out　at　intervals　from
the　magnificent　wall。　　Only　his　head　peeped　out　occasionally　as　if
looking　for　something。　　His　dark；　thoughtful　eyes　glanced　over　the
little　village　spread　out　on　one　side　of　the　castle；　and　over　the
railway　station；　its　most　imposing　building。　　Then　they　would　turn
back　again　to　the　entrance　gate　in　the　wall　near　where　he　stood。
It　was　a　heavy　iron…barred　gate；　its　handsome　ornamentation　outlined
in　snow；　and　behind　it　the　body　of　a　large　dog　could　be　occasionally
seen。　　This　dog　was　an　enormous　grey　Ulmer　hound。

The　peddler　stood　for　a　long　time　motionless　behind　the　pillar；　then
he　looked　at　his　watch。　　〃It's　nearly　time；〃　he　murmured；　and　looked
over　towards　the　station　again；　where　lights　and　figures　were
gathering。

At　the　same　time　the　noise　of　an　opening　door　was　heard；　and　steps
creaked　over　the　snow。　　A　man；　evidently　a　servant；　opened　the
little　door　beside　the　great　gate　and　held　it　for　another　man　to
pass　out。　　〃You'll　come　back　by　the　night　train　as　usual；　sir？〃
he　asked　respectfully。

〃Yes；〃　replied　the　other；　pushing　back　the　dog；　which　fawned　upon
him。

〃Come　back　here；　Tristan；〃　called　the　servant；　pulling　the　dog　in
by　his　collar；　as　lie　closed　the　door　and　re…entered　the　house。

The　Councillor　took　the　path　to　the　station。　　He　walked　slowly；
with　bowed　head　and　uneven　step。　　He　did　not　look　like　a　man　who
was　in　the　mood　to　join　a　merry　crowd；　and　yet　he　was　evidently
going　to　his　Club。　　〃He　wants　to　show　himself；　he　doesn't　want　to
let　people　think　that　he　has　anything　to　be　afraid　of；〃　murmured
the　peddler；　looking　after　him　sharply。　　Then　his　eyes　suddenly
dimmed　and　a　light　sigh　was　heard；　with　another　murmur；　〃Poor　man。〃
The　Councillor　reached　the　station　and　disappeared　within　its　door。
The　train　arrived　and　departed　a　few　moments　later。　　Kniepp　must
have　really　gone　to　the　city；　for　although　the　man　behind　the
pillar　waited　for　some　little　time；　the　Councillor　did　not　return
…　a　contingency　that　the　peddler　had　not　deemed　improbable。

About　half　an　hour　after　the　departure　of　the　train　the　watcher　came
out　of　his　hiding　place　and　walked　noisily　past　the　gate。　　What　he
expected；　happened。　　The　dog　rushed　up　to　the　bars；　barking　loudly；
but　when　the　peddler　had　taken　a　silk　muffler　from　the　pack　on　his
back　and　held　it　out　to　the　animal；　the　noise　ceased　an