the case of the golden bullet-第7部分

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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　comfortable　warmth　in　the　compartment；　in　spite　of　his　tired
and　half…frozen　condition；　he　could　not　sleep。

He　reached　the　capital　at　midnight　and　took　a　room　in　a　small　hotel
in　a　quiet　street。　　When　he　went　out　next　morning；　the　servants
looked　after　him　with　suspicion；　as　in　their　opinion　a　man　who
spent　most　of　the　night　pacing　up　and　down　his　room　must　surely
have　a　guilty　conscience。

Muller　went　to　police　headquarters　and　looked　through　the　arrivals
at　the　hotels　on　the　21st　of　November。　　The　burial　of　Mrs。　Kniepp
had　taken　place　on　the　20th。　　Muller　soon　found　the　name　he　was
looking　for；　〃Forest　Councillor　Leo　Kniepp；〃　in　the　list　of　guests
at　the　Hotel　Imperial。　　The　detective　went　at　once　to　the　Hotel
Imperial；　where　he　was　already　well　known。　　It　cost　him　little　time
and　trouble　to　discover　what　he　wished　to　know；　the　reason　for　the
Councillor's　visit　to　the　capital。

Kniepp　had　asked　for　the　address　of　a　goldsmith；　and　had　been
directed　to　one　of　the　shops　which　had　the　best　reputation　in　the
city。　　He　had　been　in　the　capital　altogether　for　about　twenty…four
hours。　　He　had　the　manner　and　appearance　of　a　man　suffering　under
some　terrible　blow。

Muller　himself　was　deep　in　thought　as　he　entered　the　train　to
return　to　his　home；　after　a　visit　to　the　goldsmith　in　question。
He　had　a　short　interview　with　Chief　of　Police　Bauer；　who　finally
gave　him　the　golden　bullet　and　the　keys　to　the　apartment　of　the
murdered　man。　　Then　the　two　went　out　together。

An　hour　later；　the　chief　of　police　and　Muller　stood　in　the　garden
of　the　house　in　which　the　murder　had　occurred。　　Bauer　had　entered
from　the　Promenade　after　Muller　had　shown　him　how　to　work　the　lock
of　the　little　gate。　　Together　they　went　up　into　the　apartment；
which　was　icy　cold　and　uncanny　in　its　loneliness。　　But　the　two　men
did　not　appear　to　notice　this；　so　greatly　were　they　interested　in
the　task　that　had　brought　them　there。　　First　of　all；　they　made　a
most　minute　examination　of　the　two　doors　which　had　been　locked。　　The
keys　were　still　in　both　locks　on　the　inside。　　They　were　big　heavy
keys；　suitable　for　the　tall　massive　heavily…paneled　and
iron…ornamented　doors。　　The　entire　villa　was　built　in　this　heavy
old　German　style；　the　favourite　fashion　of　the　last　few　years。

When　they　had　looked　the　locks　over　carefully；　Muller　lit　the　lamp
that　hung　over　the　desk　in　the　study　and　closed　the　window　shutters
tight。　　Bauer　had　smiled　at　first　as　he　watched　his；　protege's
actions；　but　his　smile　changed　to　a　look　of　keen　interest　as　he
suddenly　understood。　　Muller　took　his　place　in　the　chair　before　the
desk　and　looked　over　at　the　door　of　the　vestibule；　which　was
directly　opposite　him。　　〃Yes；　that's　all　right；〃　he　said　with　a
deep　breath。

Bauer　had　sat　down　on　the　sofa　to　watch　the　proceedings；　now　he
sprang　up　with　an　exclamation：　〃Through　the　keyhole？〃

〃Through　the　keyhole；〃　answered　Muller。

〃It　is　scarcely　possible。〃

〃Shall　we　try　it？〃

〃Yes；　yes；　you　do　it。〃　　Even　the　usually　indifferent　old　chief　of
police　was　breathing　more　hastily　now。　　Muller　took　a　roll　of　paper
and　a　small　pistol　out　of　his　pocket。　　He　unrolled　the　paper；　which
represented　the　figure　of　a　French　soldier　with　a　marked　target　on
the　breast。　　The　detective　pinned　the　paper　on　the　back　of　the　chair
in　which　Professor　Fellner　had　been　seated　when　he　met　his　death。

〃But　the　key　was　in　the　hole；〃　objected　Bauer　suddenly。

〃Yes；　but　it　was　turned　so　that　the　lower　part　of　the　hole　was　free。
Johann　saw　the　light　streaming　through　and　could　look　into　the　room。
If　the　murderer　put　the　barrel　of　his　pistol　to　this　open　part　of
the　keyhole；　the　bullet　would　have　to　strike　exactly　where　the　dead
man　sat。　　There　would　be　no　need　to　take　any　particular　aim。〃
Muller　gazed　into　space　like　a　seer　before　whose　mental　eye　a　vision
has　arisen；　and　continued　in　level　tones：　〃Fellner　had　refused　the
duel　and　the　murderer　was　crazed　by　his　desire　for　revenge。　　He　came
here　to　the　house；　he　must　have　known　just　how　to　enter　the　place；
how　to　reach　the　rooms；　and　he　must　have　known　also；　that　the
Professor；　coward　as　he　was　…　〃

〃Coward？　　Is　a　man　a　coward　when　he　refuses　to　stand　up　to　a　maniac？〃
interrupted　Bauer。

Muller　came　back　to　the　present　with　a　start　and　said　calmly；
〃Fellner　was　a　coward。〃

〃Then　you　know　more　than　you　are　telling　me　now？〃

Muller　nodded。　　〃Yes；　I　do；〃　he　answered　with　a　smile。　　〃But　I　will
tell　you　more　only　when　I　have　all　the　proofs　in　my　own　hand。〃

〃And　the　criminal　will　escape　us　in　the　meantime。〃

〃He　has　no　idea　that　he　is　suspected。〃

〃But　…　you'll　promise　to　be　sensible　this　time；　Muller？〃

〃Yes。　　But　you　will　pardon　me　my　present　reticence；　even　towards
you？　　I　…　I　don't　want　to　be　thought　a　dreamer　again。〃

〃As　in　the　Kniepp　case？〃

〃As　in　the　Kniepp　case；〃　repeated　the　little　man　with　a　strange
smile。　　〃So　please　allow　me　to　go　about　it　in　my　own　way。　　I　will
tell　you　all　you　want　to　know　to…morrow。〃

〃To…morrow；　then。〃

〃May　I　now　continue　to　unfold　my　theories？〃　　Bauer　nodded　and
Muller　continued：　〃The　criminal　wanted　Fellner's　blood；　no　matter
how。〃

〃Even　if　it　meant　murder；〃　said　Bauer。

Muller　nodded　calmly。　　〃It　would　have　been　nobler；　perhaps；　to
have　warned　his　victim　of　his　approach；　but　it　might　have　all　come
to　nothing　then。　　The　other　could　have　called　for　help；　could　have
barricaded　himself　in　his　room；　one　crime　might　have　been　prevented；
and　another；　more　shameful　one；　would　have　gone　unavenged。〃

〃Another　crime？　　Fellner　a　criminal？〃

〃To…morrow　you　shall　know　everything；　my　kind　friend。　　And　now；　let
us　make　the　trial。　　Please　lock　the　door　behind　me　as　it　was　locked
then。〃

Muller　left　the　room；　taking　the　pistol　with　him。　　Bauer　locked　the
door。　　〃Is　this　right？〃　he　asked。

〃Yes；　I　can　see　a　wide　curve　of　the　room；　taking　in　the　entire　desk。
Please　stand　to　one　side　now。〃

There　was　deep　silence　for　a　moment；　then　a　slight　sound　as　of　metal
on　metal；　then　a　report；　and　Muller　re…entered　the　study　through　the
bedroom。　　He　found　Bauer　stooping　over　the　picture　of　the　French
soldier。　　There　was　a　hole　in　the　left　breast；　where　the　bullet；
passing　through；　had　buried　itself　in　the　back　of　the　chair。

〃Yes；　it　was　all　just　as　you　said；〃　began　the　chief　of　police；
holding　out　his　hand　to　Muller。　　〃But　…　why　the　golden　bullet？〃

〃To…morrow；　to…morrow；〃　replied　the　detective；　looking　up　at　his
superior　with　a　glance　of　pleading。

They　left　the　house　together　and　in　less　than　an　hour's　time　Muller
was　again　in　the　train　rolling　towards　the　capital。

He　went　to　the　goldsmith's　shop　as　soon　as　he　arrived。　　The
proprietor　received　him　with　eager　interest　and　Muller　handed　him
the　golden　bullet。　　〃Here　is　the　golden　object　of　which　I　spoke；〃
said　the　detective；　paying　no　heed　to　the　other's　astonishment。　
The　goldsmith　opened　a　small　locked　drawer；　took　a　ring　from　it　and
set　about　an　examination　of　the　two　little　objects。　　When　he　turned
to　his　visitor　again；　he　was　evidently　satisfied　with　what　he　had
discovered。　　〃These　two　objects　are　made　of　exactly　the　same　sort
of　gold；　of　a　peculiar　old　French　composition；　which　can　no　longer
be　produced　in　the　same　richness。　　The　weight　of　the　gold　in　the
bullet　is　exactly　the　same　as　in　the　ring。〃

〃Would　you　be　willing　to　take　an　oath　on　that　if　you　were　called
in　as　an　expert？〃

〃I　am　willing　to　stand　up　for　my　judgment。〃

〃Good。　　And　now　will　you　read　this　over　please；　it　contains　the
substance　of　what　you　told　me　yesterday。　　Should　I　have　made　any
mistakes；　please　correct　them；　for　I　will　ask　you　to　set　your
signature　to　it。〃

Muller　handed　several　sheets　of　close　writing　to　the　goldsmith　and
the　latter　read　aloud　as　follows：　　〃On　the　22nd　of　November；　a
gentleman　came　into　my　shop　and　handed　me　a　wedding　ring　with　the
request　that　I　should　make　another　one　exactly　like　it。　　He　was
particularly　anxious　that　the　work　should　be　done　in　two　days　at
the　very　latest；　and　also　that　the　new　ring；　in　form；　colour；　and
in　the　engraving　on　the　inside；　should　be　a　perfect　counterpart　of
the　first。　　He　explained　his　order　by　saying　that　his　wife　was　ill；
and　that　she　was　grieving　over　the　loss　of　her　wedding　ring　which
had　somehow　disappeared。　　The　new　ring　could　be　found　somewhere　as
if　by　chance　and　the　sick　woman's　anxiety　would　be　over。　　Two　days
later；　as　arranged；　the　same　gentleman　appeared　again　and　I　handed
him　the　two　rings。　　

〃He　left　the　shop；　greatly　satisfied　with　my　work　and　apparently
much　relieved　in　his　mind。　　But　he　left　me　uneasy　in　spirit　because
I　had　deceived　him。　　It　had　not　been　possible　for　me　to　reproduce
exactly　the　composition　of　the　original　ring；　and　as　I　believed　that
the　work　was　to　be　done　in　order　to　comfort　an　invalid；　and　I　was
getting　no　profit；　but　on　the　contrary　a　little　extra　work　out　of
it；　I　made　two　new　rings；　lettered　them　according　to　the　original
and　gave　them　to　my　customer。　　The　original　ring　I　am　now；　on　this
seventh　day　of　December；　giving　to　Mr。　Joseph　Mullet；　who　has　shown
me　his　legitimation　as　a　member　of　the　Secret　Police。　　I　am　willing
to　put　myself　at　the　service　of　the　authorities　if　I　am　called　for。〃

〃You　are　willing　to　do　this；　aren't　you？〃　asked　Muller　when　the
goldsmith　had　arrived　at　the　end　of　the　notice。

〃Of　course。〃

〃Have　you　anything　to　add　to　this？〃

〃No；　it　is　quite　complete。　　I　will　sign　it　at　once。〃

Several　hours　later；　Muller　re…entered　the　police　station　in　his
home　town　and　saw　the　windows　of　the　chief's　apartment　brilliantly
lighted。　　〃What's　going　on；〃　he　asked　of　Baner's　servant　who　was
just　hurrying　up　the　stairs。

〃The　mistress'　birthday；　we've　got　company。〃

Muller　grumbled　something　and　went　on　up　to　his　own　room。　　He　knew
it　would　not　be　pleasant　for　his　patron　to　be　disturbed　in　the　midst
of　entertaining　his　guests；　but　the　matter　was　important　and　could
not　wait。

The　detective　laid　off　his　outer　garments；　made　a　few　changes　in
his　toilet　and　putting　the　goldsmith's　declaration；　with　the　ring
and　the　bullet　in　his　pocketbook；