the case of the golden bullet-第8部分

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his　toilet　and　putting　the　goldsmith's　declaration；　with　the　ring
and　the　bullet　in　his　pocketbook；　he　went　down　to　the　first　floor
of　the　building；　in　one　wing　of　which　was　the　apartment　occupied　by
the　Chief。　　He　sent　in　his　name　and　was　told　to　wait　in　the　little
study。　　He　sat　down　quietly　in　a　corner　of　the　comfortable　little
room　beyond　which；　in　a　handsomely　furnished　smoking　room；　a　number
of　guests　sat　playing　cards。　　From　the　drawing　rooms　beyond；　there
was　the　sound　of　music　and　many　voices。

It　was　all　very　attractive　and　comfortable；　and　the　solitary　man
sat　there　enjoying　once　more　the　pleasant　sensation　of　triumph；　of
joy　at　the　victory　that　was　his　alone　and　that　would　win　him　back
all　his　old　friends　and　prestige。　　He　was　looking　forward　in
agreeable　anticipation　to　the　explanations　he　had　to　give；　when　he
suddenly　started　and　grew　pale。　　His　eyes　dimmed　a　moment；　then　he
pulled　himself　together　and　murmured：　〃No；　no；　not　this　time。　　I
will　not　be　weak　this　time。〃

Just　then　the　Chief　entered　the　room；　accompanied　by　Councillor
Kniepp。

〃Won't　you　sit　down　here　a　little？〃　asked　the　friendly　host。　　〃You
will　find　it　much　quieter　in　this　room。〃　　He　pulled　up　a　little
table　laden　with　cigars　and　wine；　close　to　a　comfortable　armchair。
Then；　noticing　Muller；　he　continued　with　a　friendly　nod：　〃I'm　glad
they　told　you　to　wait　in　here。　　You　must　be　frozen　after　your　long
ride。　　If　you　will　wait　just　a　moment　more；　I　will　return　at　once
and　we　can　go　into　my　office。　　And　if　you　will　make　yourself
comfortable　here；　my　dear　Kniepp；　I　will　send　our　friend　Horn　in
to　talk　with　you。　　He　is　bright　and　jovial　and　will　keep　you　amused。〃

The　chief　chattered　on；　making　a　strenuous　endeavour　to　appear　quite
harmless。　　But　Kniepp；　more　apt　than　ever　just　now　to　notice　the
actions　of　others；　saw　plainly　that　his　genial　host　was　concealing
some　excitement。　　When　the　latter　had　gone　out　the　Councillor　looked
after　him；　shaking　his　head。　　Then　his　glance　fell　by　chance　on　the
quiet…looking　man　who　had　risen　at　his　entrance　and　had　not　sat
down　again。

〃Please　sit　down；〃　he　said　in　a　friendly　tone；　but　the　other　did　not
move。　　His　grey　eyes　gazed　intently　at　the　man　whose　fate　he　was　to
change　so　horribly。

Kniepp　grew　uneasy　under　the　stare。　　〃What　is　there　that　interests
you　so　about　me？〃　he　asked　in　a　tone　that　was　an　attempt　at　a　joke。

〃The　ring；　the　ring　on　your　watch　chain；〃　murmured　Muller。

〃It　belonged　to　my　dead　wife。　　I　have　worn　it　since　she　left　me；〃
answered　the　unhappy　man　with　the　same　iron　calm　with　which　he　had；
all　these　past　days；　been　emphasizing　his　love　for　the　woman　he
had　lost。　　Yet　the　question　touched　him　unpleasantly　and　he　looked
more　sharply　at　the　strange　man　over　in　the　corner。　　He　saw　the
latter's　face　turn　pale　and　a　shiver　run　through　his　form。　　A
feeling　of　sympathy　came　over　Kniepp　and　he　asked　warmly：　〃Won't
you　take　a　glass　of　this　wine？　　If　you　have　been　out　in　the　cold
it　will　be　good　for　you。〃　　His　tone　was　gentle；　almost　cordial；
but　the　man　to　whom　he　offered　the　refreshment　turned　from　him　with
a　gesture　that　was　almost　one　of　terror。

The　Councillor　rose　suddenly　from　his　chair。　　〃Who　are　you？　　What
news　is　it　you　bring？〃　he　asked　with　a　voice　that　began　to　tremble。

Muller　raised　his　head　sharply　as　if　his　decision　had　been　made；
and　his　kind　intelligent　eyes　grew　soft　as　they　rested　on　the　pale
face　of　the　stately　man　before　him。　　〃I　belong　to　the　Secret　Police
and　I　am　compelled　to　find　out　the　secrets　of　others　…　not　because
of　my　profession　…　no；　because　my　own　nature　compels　me　…　I　must　do
it。　　I　have　just　come　from　Vienna　and　I　bring　the　last　of　the　proofs
necessary　to　turn　you　over　to　the　courts。　　And　yet　you　are　a
thousand　times　better　than　the　coward　who　stole　the　honour　of　your
wife　and　who　hid　behind　the　shelter　of　the　law　…　and　therefore；
therefore；　therefore　…　〃　　Muller's　voice　grew　hoarse；　then　died
away　altogether。

Kniepp　listened　with　pallid　cheeks　but　without　a　quiver。　　Now　he
spoke；　completing　the　other's　words：　〃And　therefore　you　wish　to
save　me　from　the　prison　or　from　the　gallows？　　I　thank　you。　　What
is　your　name？〃　　The　unhappy　man　spoke　as　calmly　as　if　the　matter
scarcely　concerned　him　at　all。

The　detective　told　him　his　name。

〃Muller；　Muller；〃　repeated　the　Councillor；　as　if　he　were
particularly　anxious　to　remember　the　name。　　He　held　out　his　hand
to　the　detective。　　〃I　thank　you；　ab；　indeed；　it　thank　you；〃　he
said　with　the　first　sign　of　emotion　he　had　shown；　and　then　added
low：　〃Do　not　fear　that　you　will　have　trouble　on　my　account。　　They
can　find　me　in　my　home。〃　　With　these　words　he　turned　away　and　sat
down　in　his　chair　again。　　When　Bauer　entered　the　room　a　few　moments
later；　Kniepp　was　smoking　calmly。

〃Now；　Muller；　I'm　ready。　　Horn　will　be　in　in　a　moment；　friend
Kniepp；　I　know　you　will　enjoy　his　chatter。〃　　The　chief　led　the　way
out　of　the　room　through　another　door。　　He　could　not　see　the　ghastly
pale　face　of　the　guest　he　left　behind　him；　for　it　was　almost　hidden
in　a　cloud　of　thick　smoke；　but　Muller　turned　back　once　more　at　the
threshold　and　caught　a　last　grateful　glance　from　eyes　shadowed　by
deep　sadness；　as　the　Councillor　raised　his　hand　in　a　friendly
gesture。

〃Dear　Muller；　you　take　so　long　to　get　at　the　point　of　the　story！
Don't　you　see　you　are　torturing　me？〃　　This　outburst　came　from　the
Chief　about　an　hour　later。　　But　the　detective　would　not　permit
himself　to　be　interrupted　in　spinning　out　his　story　in　his　own
way；　and　it　was　nearly　another　hour　before　Bauer　knew　that　the　man
for　whose　name　he　had　been　waiting　so　long　was　Leo　Kniepp。

The　knowledge　came　as　a　terrible　surprise　to　him。　　He　was　dazed
almost。　　〃And　I；　…　I've　got　to　arrest　him　in　my　own　house？〃　he
exclaimed　as　if　horrified。　　And　Muller　answered　calmly：　〃I　doubt
if　you　will　have　the　opportunity；　sir。〃

〃Muller！　Did　you；　again　…　〃

〃Yes；　I　did！　I　have　again　warned　an　unfortunate。　　It's　my　nature；
I　can't　seem　to　help　it。　　But　you　will　find　the　Councillor　in　his
house。　　He　promised　me　that。〃

〃And　you　believe　it？〃

〃That　man　will　keep　his　promise；〃　said　Muller　quietly。

Councillor　Kniepp　did　keep　his　promise。　　When　the　police　arrived　at
the　hunting　castle　shortly　after　midnight；　they　found　the　terrified
servants　standing　by　the　body　of　their　master。

〃Well；　Muller；　you　had　better　luck　than　you　deserved　this　time；〃
Bauer　said　a　few　days　later。　　〃This　last　trick　has　made　you　quite
impossible　for　the　service。　　But　you　needn't　worry　about　that；
because　the　legacy　Kniepp　left　you　will　put　you　out　of　reach　of
want。〃

The　detective　was　as　much　surprised　as　anybody。　　He　was　as　if　dazed
by　his　unexpected　good　fortune。　　The　day　before　he　was　a　poor　man
bowed　under　the　weight　of　sordid　cares；　and　now　he　was　the　possessor
of　twenty　thousand　gulden。　　And　it　was　not　his　clever　brain　but　his
warm　heart　that　had　won　this　fortune　for　him。　　His　breast　swelled
with　gratitude　as　he　thought　of　the　unhappy　man　whose　life　had　been
ruined　by　the　careless　cruelty　of　others　and　his　own　passions。
Again　and　again　he　read　the　letter　which　had　been　found　on　Kniepp's
desk；　addressed　to　him　and　which　had　been　handed　out　to　him　after
the　inquest。

　　My　friend：…

　　You　have　saved　me　from　the　shame　of　an　open　trial。　　I　thank　you
　　for　this　from　the　very　depth　of　my　heart。　　I　have　left　you　a
　　part　of　my　own　private　fortune；　that　you　may　be　a　free　man；　free
　　as　a　poor　man　never　can　be。　　You　can　accept　this　present　for　it
　　comes　from　the　hand　of　an　honest　man　in　spite　of　all。　　Yes；　I
　　compelled　my　wife　to　go　to　her　death　after　I　had　compelled　her
　　to　confess　her　shame　to　me；　and　I　entered　her　lover's　house　with
　　the　knowledge　I　had　forced　from　her。　　When　I　looked　through　the
　　keyhole　and　saw　his　false　face　before　me；　I　murdered　him　in　cold
　　blood。　　Then；　that　the　truth　might　not　be　suspected；　I　continued
　　to　play　the　sorrowing　husband。　　I　wore　on　my　watch　chain　the　ring
　　I　had　had　made　in　imitation　of　the　one　my　wife　had　worn。　　This
　　original　ring　of　hers；　her　wedding　ring　which　she　had　defiled；
　　I　sent　in　the　form　of　a　bullet　straight　to　her　lover's　heart。
　　Yes；　I　have　committed　a　crime；　but　I　feel　that　I　am　less　criminal
　　than　those　two　whom　I　judged　and　condemned；　and　whose　sentence　I
　　carried　out　as　I　now　shall　carry　out　my　own　sentence　with　a　hand
　　which　will　not　tremble。　　That　I　can　do　this　myself；　I　have　you　to
　　thank　for；　you　who　can　look　into　the　souls　of　men　and　recognise
　　the　most　hidden　motives；　you　who　have　not　only　a　wonderful　brain
　　but　a　heart　that　can　feel。　　You；　I　hope；　will　sometimes　think
　　kindly　of　your　grateful
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　LEO　KNIEPP。

Muller　kept　this　letter　as　one　of　his　most　sacred　treasures。

The　〃Kniepp　Case〃　was　really；　as　Bauer　had　predicted；　the　last　in
Muller's　public　career。　　Even　the　friendliness　of　the　kind　old
chief　could　not　keep　him　in　his　position　after　this　new　display
of　the　unreliability　of　his　heart。　　But　his　quiet　tastes　allowed
him　to　live　in　humble　comfort　from　the　income　of　his　little　fortune。

Every　now　and　then　letters　or　telegrams　will　come　for　him　and　he
will　disappear　for　several　days。　　His　few　friends　believe　that　the
police　authorities；　who　refused　to　employ　him　publicly　owing　to　his
strange　weakness；　cannot　resist　a　private　appeal　to　his　talent
whenever　a　particularly　difficult　case　arises。







End