the lamp that went out-第22部分

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standing　there　before　him。

〃Yes；　I　have　come　to　Venice　too。　　I　must　be　with　my　dear　lady　…　when
…　when　Herbert　…　〃　　She　had　begun　quite　calmly；　but　she　did　not
finish　her　sentence；　for　loud　sobs　drowned　the　words。

〃You　were　in　the　next　compartment？　　Why　didn't　you　come　in　here
with　me？　　It　would　have　made　this　journey　shorter　for　both　of　us。〃

〃I　had　to　be　alone；〃　　said　the　pale　woman　and　then　she　added：　〃I
only　came　to　you　now　to　ask　you　where　I　must　go。〃

〃I　think　we　two　had　better　go　to　the　Hotel　Bauer。　　Let　me　arrange
things　for　you。　　Mrs。　Thorne　must　not　see　you　until　she　has　been
prepared　for　your　coming。　　I　will　arrange　that　with　her　husband。〃

The　two　took　each　other's　hands。　　They　had　won　respect　and　sympathy
for　each　other；　this　quiet　man　who　went　so　relentlessly　and　yet　so
pityingly　about　his　duty　in　the　interest　of　justice　…　and　the　devoted
woman　whose　faithfulness　had　brought　about　such　a　tragedy。

The　train　had　now　entered　the　railway　station。　　Muller　and　Mrs。
Bernauer　stood　a　few　minutes　later　on　the　banks　of　the　Grand　Canal
and　entered；　one　of　the　many　gondolas　waiting　there。　　The　moon
glanced　back　from　the　surface　of　the　water　broken　into　ripples　under
the　oars　of　the　gondoliers；　it　shone　with　a　magic　charm　on　the　old
palaces　that　stood　knee…deep　in　the　lagoons；　and　threw　heavy　shadows
over　the　narrow　water…roads　on　which　the　little　dark　boats　glided
silently　forward。　　In　most　of　the　gondolas　coming　from　the　station
excited　voices　and　exclamations　of　delight　broke　the　calm　of　the
moonlit　evening　as　the　tourists　rejoiced　in　the　beauty　that　is
Venice。

But　in　the　gondola　in　which　Muller　and　Mrs。　Bernauer　sat　there　was
deep　silence；　silence　broken　only　by　a　sobbing　sigh　that　now　and
then　burst　from　the　heart　of　the　haggard　woman。　　There　were　few
travellers　entering　Venice　on　one　of　its　world…famous　moonlit　nights
who　were　so　sad　at　heart　as　were　these　two。

And　there　were　few　travellers　in　Venice　as　heavy　hearted　as　was　the
man　who　next　morning　took　one　of　the　earliest　boats　out　to　the　Lido。

Muller　and　Mrs。　Bernauer　were　on　the　same　boat　watching　him　from　a
hidden　corner。　　The　woman's　sad　eyes　gazed　yearningly　at　the　haggard
face　of　the　tall　man　who　stood　looking　over　the　railing　of　the　little
steamer。　　Her　own　tears　came　as　she　saw　the　gloom　in　the　once　shining
grey　eyes　she　loved　so　well。

Muller　stood　beside　Mrs。　Bernauer。　　His　eyes　too；　keen　and　quick；
followed　Herbert　Thorne　as　he　stood　by　the　rail　or　paced　restlessly
up　and　down；　his　face　too　showed　pity　and　concern。　　He　also　saw　that
Thorne　held　in　his　hand　a　bundle　of　newspapers　which　were　still
enclosed　in　their　mailing　wrappers。　　The　papers　were　pressed　in　a
convulsive　grip　of　the　artist's　long　slender　fingers。

Muller　knew　then　that　Thorne　had　not　yet　learned　of　the　arrest　of
Johann　Knoll。　　At　the　very　earliest；　Thursday's　papers；　which　brought
the　news；　could　not　reach　him　before　Friday　morning。　　But　these
newspapers　（Muller　saw　that　they　were　German　papers）　were　still　in
their　wrappings。　　They　were　probably　Viennese　papers　for　which　he　had
telegraphed　and　which　had　just　arrived。　　His　anxiety　had　not　allowed
him　to　read　them　in　the　presence　of　his　wife。　　He　had　sought　the
solitude　of　early　morning　on　the　Lido；　that　he　might　learn；
unobserved；　what　terrors　fate　had　in　store　for　him。

It　was　doubtless　Mrs。　Bernauer's　telegram　which　caused　his　present
anxiety；　a　telegram　which　had　reached　him　only　the　night　before
when　he　returned　with　his　wife　from　an　excursion　to　Torcello。　　It
had　caused　him　a　sleepless　night；　for　it　had　brought　the　realisation
that　his　faithful　nurse　suspected　the　truth　about　the　murder　in　the
quiet　lane。　　The　telegram　had　read　as　follows：　〃Have　drawn　money　and
send　it　at　once。　　Further　journey　probably　necessary；　visitor　in
house　to…day。　　Connected　with　occurrence　in　…Street。　　Please　read
Viennese　papers。　　News　and　orders　for　me　please　send　to　address　A。B。
General　Postoffice。〃

This　telegram　told　Herbert　Thorne　the　truth。　　And　the　papers　which
arrived　this　morning　were　to　tell　him　more　…　what　he　did　not　yet
know。　　But　his　heart　was　drawn　with　terrors　which　threw　lines　in　his
face　and　made　him　look　ten　years　older　than　on　that　Tuesday　morning
when　the　detective　saw　him　setting　out　on　his　journey　with　his　wife。

When　the　boat　landed　at　the　Lido；　Thorne　walked　off　down　the　road
which　led　to　the　ocean　side。　　Muller　and　Mrs。　Bernauer　entered　the
waiting　tramway　that　took　them　in　the　same　direction。　　They
dismounted　in　front　of　the　bathing　establishment；　stepped　behind　a
group　of　bushes　and　waited　there　for　Thorne。　　In　about　ten　minutes
they　saw　his　tall　figure　passing　on　the　other　side　of　the　road。　　He
was　walking　down　to　the　beach；　holding　the　still　unopened　papers　in
his　hand。

A　narrow　strip　of　park　runs　along　parallel　to　the　beach　in　the
direction　towards　Mala　Mocco。　　Muller　and　Mrs　Bernauer　walked　along
through　this　park　on　the　path　which　was　nearest　the　water。　　The
detective　watched　the　rapidly　moving　figure　ahead　of　them；　while　the
woman's　tear…dimmed　eyes　veiled　everything　else　to　her　but　the　path
along　which　her　weary　feet　hastened。　　Thorne　halted　about　half　way
between　the　bathing　establishment　and　the　customs　barracks；　looked
around　to　see　if　he　were　alone　and　threw　himself　down　on　the　sand。

He　had　chosen　a　good　place。　　To　the　right　and　to　the　left　were　high
sand　dunes；　before　him　was　the　broad　surface　of　the　ocean；　and　at
his　back　was　rising　ground；　bare　sand　with　here　and　there　a　scraggly
bush　or　a　group　of　high　thistles。　　Herbert　Thorne　believed　himself
to　be　alone　here　。。。　as　far　as　a　man　can　be　alone　over　whom　hangs
the　shadow　of　a　crime。　　He　groaned　aloud　and　hid　his　pale　face　in
his　hands。

In　his　own　distress　he　did　not　hear　the　deep　sigh　…　which；　just
above　him　on　the　edge　of　the　knoll；　broke　from　the　breast　of　a　woman
who　was　suffering　scarcely　less　than　he；　he　did　not　know　that　two
pair　of　sad　eyes　looked　down　upon　him。　　And　now　into　the　eyes　of　the
watching　woman　there　shot　a　gleam　of　terror。　　For　Herbert　Thorne　had
taken　a　revolver　from　his　pocket　and　laid　it　quietly　beside　him。
Then　he　took　out　a　notebook　and　a　pencil　and　placed　them　beside　the
weapon。　　Then　slowly；　reluctantly；　he　opened　one　of　the　papers。

A　light　breeze　from　the　shining　sea　before　him　carried　off　the
wrapping。　　The　paper　which　he　opened　shook　in　his　trembling　hands；
as　his　eyes　sought　the　reports　of　the　murder。　　He　gave　a　sudden
start　and　a　tremor　ran　through　his　frame。　　He　had　come　to　the　spot
which　told　of　the　arrest　of　another　man；　who　was　under　shadow　of
punishment　for　the　crime　which　he　himself　had　committed。　　When　he
had　read　this　report　through；　he　turned　to　the　other　papers。　　He　was
quite　calm　now；　outwardly　calm　at　least。

When　he　had　finished　reading　the　papers　he　laid　them　in　a　heap
beside　him　and　reached　out　for　his　notebook。　　As　he　opened　it　the
two　watchers　saw　that　between　its　first　pages　there　was　a　sealed　and
addressed　letter。　　Two　other　envelopes　were　contained　in　the
notebook；　envelopes　which　were　also　addressed　although　still　open。
Muller's　sharp　eyes　could　read　the　addresses　as　Thorne　took　them　up
in　turn；　looking　long　at　each　of　them。　　One　envelope　was　addressed
in　Italian　to　the　Chief　of　Police　of　Venice；　the　other　to　the　Chief
of　Police　in　Vienna。

The　two　watchers　leaned　forward；　scarcely　three　yards　above　the　man
in　whom　they　were　interested。　　Thorne　tore　out　two　leaves　of　his
notebook　and　wrote　several　lines　on　each　of　them。　　One　note；　he
placed　in　the　envelope　addressed　to　the　Viennese　police　and　sealed
it　carefully。　　Then　he　put　the　sealed　letter　with　the　second　note　in
the　other　envelope；　the　one　addressed　to　the　Italian　police。　　He　put
all　the　letters　back　in　his　notebook；　holding　it　together　with　a
rubber　strap；　and　replaced　it　in　his　pocket。

Then　he　stretched　out　his　hand　toward　the　revolver。

The　sand　came　rattling　down　upon　him；　the　thistles　bent　over
creakingly　and　two　figures　appeared　beside　him。

〃There's　time　enough　for　that　yet；　Mr。　Thorne；〃　said　the　man　at　whom
the　painter　gazed　up　in　bewilderment。　　And　then　this　man　took　the
revolver　quietly　from　his　hand　and　hid　it　in　his　own　pocket。

Thorne　pressed　his　teeth　down　on　his　lips　until　the　blood　came。　　He
could　not　speak；　he　looked　first　at　the　stranger　who　had　mastered
him　so　completely；　and　then；　in　dazed　astonishment；　at　the　woman　who
had　sunk　down　beside　him　in　the　sand；　clasping　his　hand　in　both　of
hers。

〃Adele！　　Adele！　　'Why　are　you　here？〃　　he　stammered　finally。

〃I　want　to　be　with　you　…　in　this　hour；〃　　she　answered；　looking　at
him　with　eyes　of　worship。　　〃I　want　to　be　with　my　dear　lady　…　to
comfort　her　…　to　protect　her　when　…　when　…　〃

〃When　they　arrest　me？〃　　Thorne　finished　the　sentence　himself。　　Then
turning　to　Muller　he　continued：　〃And　that　is　why　you　are　here？〃

〃Yes；　Mr。　Thorne。　　I　have　a　warrant　for　your　arrest　in　my　pocket。
But　I　think　it　will　be　unnecessary　to　make　use　of　it　in　the
customary　official　way　through　the　authorities　here。　　I　see　that
you　have　written　to　both　police　stations　…　confessing　your　deed。
This　will　amount　to　a　voluntary　giving　up　of　yourself　to　the
authorities；　therefore　all　that　is　necessary　is　that　I　return　with
you　in　the　same　train　which　takes　you　to　Vienna。　　But　I　must　ask
you　for　those　two　letters；　for　until　you　yourself　give　them　to　the
police　authorities　in　my　presence；　it　is　my　duty　to　keep　them。〃

Muller　had　seldom　found　his　official　duty　as　difficult　as　it　was
now。　　His　words　came　haltingly　and　great　drops　stood　out　on　his
forehead。

The　painter　rose　from　the　sand　and　he　too　wiped　his　face；　which　was
drawn　in　agony。

〃Herbert；　Herbert！〃　　cried　Adele　Bernauer　suddenly。　　〃Oh；　Herbert；
you　will　live；　you　will！　　Promise　me；　you　will　not　think　of　suicide；
it　would　kill　your　wife　…　〃

She　lay　on　her　knees　before　him　in　the　sand。　　He　looked　down　at　her
gently　and　with　a　gesture　which　seemed　to　be　a　familiar　one　of　days
long　past；　he　stroked　the　face　that　had　grown　old　and　worn　in　these
hours　of　fear　for　him。

〃Yes；　you　dear　good　soul；　I　will　live　on；　I　will　take　upon　myself　my
punishment　for　killing　a　scoundrel。　　The　poor　man　whom　they