the case of the golden bullet-第6部分

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back　and　held　it　out　to　the　animal；　the　noise　ceased　and　the　dog's
anger　turned　to　friendliness。　　Tristan　was　quite　gentle；　put　his
huge　head　up　to　the　bars　to　let　the　stranger　pat　it；　and　seemed　not
at　all　alarmed　when　the　latter　rang　the　bell。

The　young　man　who　had　opened　the　door　for　the　Councillor　came　out
from　a　wing　of　the　castle。　　The　peddler　looked　so　frozen　and　yet　so
venerable　that　the　youth　had　not　the　heart　to　turn　him　away。
Possibly　he　was　glad　of　a　little　diversion　for　his　own　sake。

〃Who　do　you　want　to　see？〃　he　asked。

〃I　want　to　speak　to　the　maid；　the　one　who　attended　your　dead
mistress。〃

〃Oh；　then　you　know　…？〃

〃I　know　of　the　misfortune　that　has　happened　here。〃

〃And　you　think　that　Nanette　might　have　something　to　sell　to　you？〃

〃Yes；　that's　it；　that's　why　I　came。　　For　I　don't　suppose　there's
much　chance　for　any　business　with　my　cigar　holders　and　other
trifles　here　so　near　the　city。〃

〃Cigar　holders？　　Why；　I　don't　know；　perhaps　we　can　make　a　trade。
Come　in　with　me。　　Why；　just　see　how　gentle　the　dog　is　with　you！〃

〃Isn't　he　that　way　with　everybody？　　I　supposed　he　was　no　watchdog。〃

〃Oh；　indeed　he　is。　　He　usually　won't　allow　anybody　to　touch　him；
except　those　whom　he　knows　well。　　I'm　astonished　that　he　lets　you
come　to　the　house　at　all。〃

They　had　reached　the　door　by　this　time。　　The　peddler　laid　his　hand
on　the　servant's　arm　and　halted　a　moment。　　〃Where　was　it　that　she
threw　herself　out？〃

〃From　the　last　window　upstairs　there。〃

〃And　did　it　kill　her　at　once？〃

〃Yes。　　Anyway　she　was　unconscious　when　we　came　down。〃

〃Was　the　master　at　home？〃

〃Why；　yes；　it　happened　in　the　middle　of　the　night。〃

〃She　had　a　fever；　didn't　she？　　Had　she　been　ill　long？〃

〃No。　　She　was　in　bed　that　day；　but　we　thought　it　was　nothing　of
importance。〃

〃These　fevers　come　on　quickly　sometimes；〃　remarked　the　old　man
wisely；　and　added：　〃This　case　interests　the　entire　neighbourhood
and　I　will　show　you　that　I　can　be　grateful　for　anything　you　may
tell　me　…　of　course；　only　what　a　faithful　servant　could　tell。　　It
will　interest　my　customers　very　much。〃

〃You　know　all　there　is　to　know；〃　said　the　valet；　evidently
disappointed　that　he　had　nothing　to　tell　which　could　win　the
peddler's　gratitude。　　〃There　are　no　secrets　about　it。　　Everybody
knows　that　they　were　a　very　happy　couple；　and　even　if　there　was　a
little　talk　between　them　on　that　day；　why　it　was　pure　accident　and
had　nothing　to　do　with　the　mistress'　excitement。〃

〃Then　there　was　a　quarrel　between　them？〃

〃Are　people　talking　about　it？〃

〃I've　heard　some　things　said。　　They　even　say　that　this　quarrel
was　the　reason　for　…　her　death。〃

〃It's　stupid　nonsense！〃　exclaimed　the　servant。　　The　old　peddler
seemed　to　like　the　young　man's　honest　indignation。

While　they　were　talking；　they　had　passed　through　a　long　corridor
and　the　young　man　laid　his　hand　on　one　of　the　doors　as　the　peddler
asked；　〃Can　I　see　Miss　Nanette　alone？〃

〃Alone？　　Oho；　she's　engaged　to　me！〃

〃I　know　that；〃　said　the　stranger；　who　seemed　to　be　initiated　into
all　the　doings　of　this　household。　　〃And　I　am　an　old　man　…　all　I
meant　was　that　I　would　rather　not　have　any　of　the　other　servants
about。〃

〃I'll　keep　the　cook　out　of　the　way　if　you　want　me　to。〃

〃That　would　be　a　good　idea。　　It　isn't　easy　to　talk；　business　before
others；〃　remarked　the　old　man　as　they　entered　the　room。　　It　was　a
comfortably　furnished　and　cozily　warm　apartment。　　Only　two　people
were　there；　an　old　woman　and　a　pretty　young　girl；　who　both　looked
up　in　astonishment　as　the　men　came　in。

〃Who's　this　you're　bringing　in；　George？〃　asked　Nanette。

〃He's　a　peddler　and　he's　got　some　trifles　here　you　might　like　to
look　at。〃

〃Why；　yes；　you　wanted　a　thimble；　didn't　you；　Lena？〃　asked　Nanette；
and　the　cook　beckoned　to　the　peddler。　　〃Let's　see　what　you've　got
there；〃　she　said　in　a　friendly　tone。　　The　old　man　pulled　out　his
wares　from　his　pack；　thimbles　and　scissors；　coloured　ribbons；　silks；
brushes　and　combs；　and　many　other　trifles。　　When　the　women　had　made
their　several　selections　they　noticed　that　the　old　man　was　shivering
with　the　cold；　as　he　leaned　against　the　stove。　　Their　sympathies
were　aroused　in　a　moment。　　〃Why　don't　you　sit　down？〃　asked　Nanette；
pushing　a　chair　towards　him；　and　Lena　rose　to　get　him　something
warm　from　the　kitchen。

The　peddler　threw　a　look　at　George；　who　nodded　in　answer。　　〃He
said　he'd　like　to　see　the　things　they　gave　you　after　Mrs。　Kniepp's
death；〃　the　young　man　remarked

〃Do　you　buy　things　like　that？〃　Nanette　turned　to　the　peddler。

〃I'd　just　like　to　look　at　them　first；　if　you'll　let　me。〃

〃I'd　be　glad　to　get　rid　of　them。　　But　I　won't　go　upstairs；　I'm
afraid　there。〃

〃Well；　I'll　get　the　things　for　you　if　you　want　me　to；〃　offered
George　and　turned　to　leave　the　room。　　The　door　had　scarcely　closed
behind　him　when　a　change　came　over　the　peddler。　　His　old　head　rose
from　its　drooping　position；　his　bowed　figure　started　up　with
youthful　elasticity。

〃Are　you　really　fond　of　him？〃　he　asked　of　the　astonished　Nanette；
who　stepped　back　a　pace；　stammering　in　answer：　〃Yes。　　Why　do　you
ask？　　and　who　are　you？〃

〃Never　mind　that；　my　dear　child；　but　just　answer　the　questions　I
have　to　ask；　and　answer　truthfully；　or　it　might　occur　to　me　to　let
your　George　know　that　he　is　not　the　first　man　you　have　loved。〃

〃What　do　you　know？〃　she　breathed　in　alarm。

The　peddler　laughed。　　〃Oho；　then　he's　jealous！　　All　the　better　for
me　…　the　Councillor　was　jealous　too；　wasn't　he？〃　　Nanette　looked　at
him　in　horror。

〃The　truth；　therefore；　you　must　tell　me　the　truth；　and　get　the
others　away；　so　I　can　speak　to　you　alone。　　You　must　do　this　…　or
else　I'll　tell　George　about　the　handsome　carpenter　in　Church　street；
or　about　Franz　Schmid；　or　…　〃

〃For　God's　sake；　stop　…　stop　…　I'll　do　anything　you　say。〃

The　girl　sank　back　on　her　chair　pale　and　trembling；　while　the
peddler　resumed　his　pose　of　a　tired　old　man　leaning　against　the
stove。　　When　George　returned　with　a　large　basket；　Nanette　had
calmed　herself　sufficiently　to　go　about　the　unpacking　of　the
articles　in　the　hamper。

〃George；　won't　you　please　keep　Lena　out　in　the　kitchen。　　Ask　her
to　make　some　tea　for　us；〃　asked　Nanette　with　well　feigned　assurance。
George　smiled　a　meaning　smile　and　disappeared。

〃I　am　particularly　interested　in　the　dead　lady's　gloves；〃　said　the
peddler　when　they　were　alone　again。

Nanette　looked　at　him　in　surprise　but　was　still　too　frightened　to
offer　any　remarks。　　She　opened　several　boxes　and　packages　and　laid
a　number　of　pairs　of　gloves　on　the　table。　　The　old　man　looked
through　them；　turning　them　over　carefully。　　Then　he　shook　his　head：
〃There　must　be　some　more　somewhere；〃　he　said。　　Nanette　was　no　longer
astonished　at　anything　he　might　say　or　do；　so　she　obediently　went
through　the　basket　again　and　found　a　little　box　in　which　were
several　pair　of　grey　suede　gloves；　fastened　by　bluish　mother…of…pearl
buttons。　　One　of　the　pairs　had　been　worn；　and　a　button　was　missing。

〃These　are　the　ones　I　was　looking　for；〃　said　the　peddler；　putting
the　gloves　in　his　pocket。　　Then　he　continued：　〃Your　mistress　was
rather　fond　of　taking　long　walks　by　herself；　wasn't　she？〃

The　girl's　pale　face　flushed　hotly　and　she　stammered：　〃You　know
…　about　it？〃

〃You　know　about　it　also；　I　see。　　And　did　you　know　everything？〃

〃Yes；　everything；〃　murmured　Nanette。

〃Then　it　was　you　and　Tristan　who　accompanied　the　lady　on　her　walks？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃I　supposed　she　must　have　taken　some　one　into　her　confidence。　　Well；
and　what　do　you　think　about　the　murder？〃

〃The　Professor？〃　replied　Nanette　hastily。　　〃Why；　what　should　I　know
about　it？〃

〃The　Councillor　was　greatly　excited　and　very　unhappy　when　he
discovered　this　affair；　I　suppose？〃

〃He　is　still。〃

〃And　how　did　he　act　after　the　…　let　us　call　it　the　accident？〃

〃He　was　like　a　crazy　man。〃

〃They　tell　me　that　he　went　about　his　duties　just　the　same　…　that　he
went　away　on　business。〃

〃It　wasn't　business　this　time；　at　least　not　professional　business。
But　before　that　he　did　have　to　go　away　frequently　for　weeks　at　a
time。〃

〃And　it　was　then　that　your　mistress　was　most　interested　in　her
lonely　walks；　eh？〃

〃Yes。〃　Nanette's　voice　was　so　low　as　to　be　scarcely　heard。

〃Well；　and　this　time？〃　continued　the　peddler。　　〃Why　did　he　go
away　this　time？〃

〃He　went　to　the　capital　on　private　business　of　his　own。〃

〃Are　you　sure　of　that？〃

〃Quite　sure。　　He　went　two　different　times。　　I　thought　it　was　because
he　couldn't　stand　it　here　and　wanted　to　see　something　different。
He　went　to　his　club　this　evening；　too。〃

〃And　when　did　he　go　away？〃

〃The　first　time　was　the　day　after　his　wife　was　buried。〃

〃And　the　second　time？〃

Two　or　three　days　after　his　return。〃

〃How　long　did　he　stay　away　the　first　time？〃

〃Only　one　day。〃

〃Good！　　Pull　yourself　together　now。　　I'll　send　your　George　in　to
you　and　tell　him　you　haven't　been　feeling　well。　　Don't　tell　any
one　about　our　conversation。　　Where　is　the　kitchen？〃

〃The　last　door　to　the　right　down　the　hall。〃

The　peddler　left　the　room　and　Nanette　sank　down　dazed　and　trembling
on　the　nearest　chair。　　George　found　her　still　pale；　but　he　seemed
to　think　it　quite　natural　that　she　should　have　been　overcome　by　the
recollection　of　the　terrible　death　of　her　mistress。　　He　gave　the
old　man　a　most　cordial　invitation　to　return　during　the　next　few　days。
The　cook　brought　the　peddler　a　cup　of　steaming　tea；　and　purchased
several　trifles　from　him；　before　he　left　the　house。

When　the　old　man　had　reached　a　lonely　spot　on　the　road；　about　half
way　between　the　hunting　castle　and　the　city；　he　halted；　set　down
his　pack；　divested　himself　of　his　beard　and　his　wig　and　washed　the
wrinkles　from　his　face　with　a　handful　of　snow　from　the　wayside。　　A
quarter　of　an　hour　later；　Detective　Muller　entered　the　railway
station　of　the　city；　burdened　with　a　large　grip。　　He　took　a　seat
in　the　night　express　which　rolled　out　from　the　station　a　few　moments
later。
　
As　he　was　alone　in　his　compartment；　Muller　gave　way　to　his
excitement；　sometimes　even　murmuring　half…aloud　the　thoughts　that
rushed　through　his　brain。　　〃Yes；　I　am　convinced　of　it；　but　can　I
find　the　proofs？〃　the　words　came　again　and　again；　and　in　spite　of
the　co