the lamp that went out-第3部分

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lot　in　which　he　stood　was　not　protected　in　any　way。　　To　the　back
it　was　closed　off　by　a　corn　field　where　the　tall　stalks　rustled
gently　in　the　faint　morning　breeze。　　All　this　could　be　seen　by
anybody　and　Muller　had　seen　it　all　at　his　first　glance。　　But　now
he　had　seen　something　else。　　Something　that　excited　him　because
it　might　possibly　have　some　connection　with　the　newly　discovered
crime。　　His　keen　eyes；　in　glancing　along　the　wooden　fence　at　his
right　hand；　had　caught　sight　of　a　little　twig　which　had　worked　its
way　through　the　fence。　　This　twig　belonged　to　a　willow　tree　which
grew　on　the　other　side；　and　which　spread　its　grey…green　foliage
over　the　fence　or　through　its　wide　openings。　　One　of　the　little
twigs　which　had　crept　in　between　the　planks　was　broken；　and　it
had　been　broken　very　recently；　for　the　leaves　were　still　fresh
and　the　sap　was　oozing　from　the　crushed　stem。　　Muller　walked　over
to　the　fence　and　examined　the　twig　carefully。　　He　soon　saw　how
it　came　to　be　broken。　　The　broken　part　was　about　the　height　of　a
man's　knee　from　the　ground。　　And　just　at　this　height　there　was
quite　a　space　between　two　of　the　planks　of　the　fence；　heavy
planks　which　were　laid　cross…ways　and　nailed　to　thick　posts。　　It
would　have　been　very　easy　for　anybody　to　get　a　foothold　in　this
open　space　between　the　planks。

It　was　very　evidently　some　foot　thrust　in　between　the　planks　which
had　broken　the　little　willow　twig；　and　its　soft　rind　had　left　a
green　mark　on　the　lower　plank。　　〃I　wonder　if　that　has　anything　to
do　with　the　murder；〃　　thought　Muller；　looking　over　the　fence
into　the　lot　on　the　other　side。

This　neighbouring　plot　was　evidently　a　neglected　garden。　　It　had
once　worn　an　aristocratic　air；　with　stone　statues　and　artistic
arrangement　of　flower　beds　and　shrubs。　　It　was　still　attractive
even　in　its　neglected　condition。　　Beyond　it；　through　the　foliage
of　its　heavy　trees；　glass　windows　caught　the　sunlight。　　Muller
remembered　that　there　was　a　handsome　old　house　in　this　direction；
a　house　with　a　mansard　roof　and　wide…reaching　wings。　　He　did　not
now　know　to　whom　this　handsome　old　house　belonged；　a　house　that
must　have　been　built　in　the　time　of　Maria　Theresa；　。。。　but　he　was
sure　of　one　thing；　and　that　was　that　he　would　soon　find　out　to
whom　it　belonged。　　At　present　it　was　the　garden　which　interested
him；　and　he　was　anxious　to　see　where　it　ended。　　A　few　moments'
further　inspection　showed　him　what　he　wanted　to　know。　　The　garden
extended　to　the　beginning　of　the　park…like　grounds　which　surrounded
the　old　house　with　the　mansard　roof。　　A　tall　iron　railing　separated
the　garden　from　the　park；　but　this　railing　did　not　extend　down　as
far　as　the　quiet　lane。　　Where　it　ended　there　was　a　light；　well…built
wooden　fence。　　Along　the　street　side　of　the　fence　there　was　a　high
thick　hedge。　　Muller　walked　along　this　hedge　until　he　came　to　a
little　gate。　　Then　crossing　the　street；　he　saw　that　the　house　whose
windows　glistened　in　the　sunlight　was　a　house　which　he　knew　well
from　its　other　side；　its　front　facade。

Now　he　went　back　to　the　elder　tree　and　then　walked　slowly　away　from
this　to　the　spot　where　he　found　the　broken　willow　twig。　　He　examined
every　foot　of　the　ground；　but　there　was　nothing　to　be　seen　that
was　of　any　interest　to　him…not　a　footprint；　or　anything　to　prove
that　some　one　else　had　passed　that　way　a　short　time　before。　　And
yet　it　would　have　been　impossible　to　pass　that　way　without　leaving
some　trace；　for　the　ground　was　cut　up　in　all　directions　by　mole
hills。

Next　the　detective　scrutinised　as　much　of　the　surroundings　as　would
come　into　immediate　connection　with　the　spot　where　the　corpse　had
been　found。　　There　was　nothing　to　be　seen　there　either；　and　Muller
was　obliged　to　acknowledge　that　he　had　discovered　nothing　that
would　lead　to　an　understanding　of　the　crime；　unless；　indeed；　the
broken　willow　twig　should　prove　to　be　a　clue。　　He　sprang　back
across　the　ditch；　turned　up　the　edges　of　his　trousers　where　they
had　been　moistened　by　the　dew　and　walked　slowly　along　the　dusty
street。　　He　was　no　longer　alone　in　the　lane。　　An　old　man；　accompanied
by　a　large　dog；　came　out　from　one　of　the　new　houses　and　walked
towards　the　detective；　he　was　very　evidently　going　in　the　direction
of　the　elder…tree；　which　had　already　been　such　a　centre　of　interest
that　morning。　　When　he　met　Muller；　the　old　man　halted；　touched　his
cap　and　asked　in　a　confidential　tone：　〃I　suppose　you've　been　to
see　the　place　already？〃

〃Which　place？〃　　was　Muller's　reserved　answer。

Why；　I　mean　the　place　where　they　found　the　man　who　was　murdered。
They　found　him　under　that　elder…tree。　　My　wife　just　heard　of　it　and
told　me。　　I　suppose　everybody　round　here　will　know　it　soon。〃

〃Was　there　a　man　murdered　here？〃　　asked　Muller；　as　if　surprised　by
the　news。

〃Yes；　he　was　shot　last　night。　　Only　I　don't　understand　why　I　didn't
hear　the　shot。　　I　couldn't　sleep　a　wink　all　night　for　the　pain　in
my　bones。〃

〃You　live　near　here；　then？〃

〃Yes；　I　live　in　No。1。　　Didn't　you　see　me　coming　out？〃

〃I　didn't　notice　it。　　I　came　across　the　wet　meadows　and　I　stooped
to　turn　up　my　trousers　so　that　they　wouldn't　get　dusty　…　it　must
have　been　then　you　came　out。〃

〃Why；　then　you　must　have　been　right　near　the　place　I　was　talking
about。　　Do　you　see　that　elder　tree　there？　　It's　the　only　one　in
the　street；　and　the　girl　who　brings　the　milk　found　the　man　under　it。
The　police　have　been　here　already　and　have　taken　him　away。　　They
discovered　him　about　six　o'clock　and　now　it's　just　seven。〃

〃And　you　hadn't　any　suspicion　that　this　dreadful　thing　was
happening　so　near　you？〃　　asked　the　detective　casually。

〃I　didn't　know　a　thing；　sir；　not　a　thing。　　There　couldn't　have
been　a　fight　or　I　would　have　heard　it。　　But　I　don't　know　why　I
didn't　hear　the　shot。〃

〃Why；　then　you　must　have　been　asleep　after　all；　in　spite　of　your
pain；〃　　said　Muller　with　a　smile；　as　he　walked　along　beside　the
man　back　to　the　place　from　which　he　had　just　come。

The　old　man　shook　his　head。　　〃No；　I　tell　you　I　didn't　close　an
eye　all　night。　　I　went　to　bed　at　half…past　nine　and　I　smoked　two
pipes　before　I　put　out　the　light；　and　then　I　heard　every　hour
strike　all　night　long　and　it　wasn't　until　nearly　five　o'clock；
when　it　was　almost　dawn；　that　I　dozed　off　a　bit。〃

〃Then　it　is　astonishing　that　you　didn't　hear　anything！〃

〃Sure　it's　astonishing！　　But　it's　still　more　astonishing　that　my
dog　Sultan　didn't　hear　anything。　　Sultan　is　a　famous　watchdog；　I'd
have　you　know。　　He'll　growl　if　anybody　passes　through　the　street
after　dark；　and　I　don't　see　why　he　didn't　notice　what　was　going　on
over　there　last　night。　　If　a　man's　attacked；　he　generally　calls　for
help；　it's　a　queer　business　all　right。〃

〃Well；　Sultan；　why　didn't　you　make　a　noise？〃　asked　Muller；　patting
the　dog's　broad　head。　　Sultan　growled　and　walked　on　indifferently；
after　he　had　shaken　off　the　strange　hand。

〃He　must　have　slept　more　soundly　than　usual。　　He　went　off　into　the
country　with　me　yesterday。　　We　had　an　errand　to　do　there　and　on　the
way　back　we　stopped　in　for　a　drink。　　Sultan　takes　a　drop　or　two
himself　occasionally；　and　that　usually　makes　him　sleep。　　I　had　hard
work　to　bring　him　home。　　We　got　here　just　a　few　minutes　before
half…past　nine　and　I　tell　you　we　were　both　good　and　tired。〃

By　this　time　they　had　come　to　the　elder…tree　and　the　old　man's
stream　of　talk　ceased　as　he　stood　before　the　spot　where　the
mysterious　crime　had　occurred。　　He　looked　down　thoughtfully　at　the
grass；　now　trampled　by　many　feet。　　〃Who　could　have　done　it？〃　he
murmured　finally；　with　a　sigh　that　expressed　his　pity　for　the　victim。

〃Hietzing　is　known　to　be　one　of　the　safest　spots　in　Vienna；〃
remarked　Muller。

〃Indeed　it　is；　sir；　indeed　it　is。　　As　it　would　well　have　to　be　with
the　royal　castles　right　here　in　the　neighbourhood！　　Indeed　it　would
have　to　be　safe　with　the　Court　coming　here　all　the　time。〃

〃Why；　yes；　you　see　more　police　here　than　anywhere　else　in　the　city。〃

〃Yes；　they're　always　sticking　their　nose　in　where　they're　not
necessary；〃　remarked　the　old　man；　not　realising　to　whom　he　was
speaking。　　〃They　fuss　about　everything　you　do　or　don't　do；　and　yet
a　man　can　be　shot　down　right　under　our　very　noses　here　and　the
police　can't　help　it。〃

〃But；　my　dear　sir；　it　isn't　always　possible　for　the　police　to
prevent　a　criminal　carrying　out　his　evil　intention；〃　　said　Muller
good…naturedly。

〃Well；　why　not？　　if　they　watch　out　sharp　enough？〃

〃The　police　watch　out　sharper　than　most　people　think。　　But　they
can't　catch　a　man　until　he　has　committed　his　crime；　can　they？〃

〃No；　I　suppose　not；〃　　said　the　old　man；　with　another　glance　at　the
elder…tree。　　He　bowed　to　Muller　and　turned　and　walked　away。

Muller　followed　him　slowly；　very　much　pleased　with　this　meeting；　for
it　had　given　him　a　new　clue。　　There　was　no　reason　to　doubt　the　old
man's　story。　　And　if　this　story　was　true；　then　the　crime　had　been
committed　before　half…past　nine　of　the　evening　previous。　　For　the
old　man　…　he　was　evidently　the　janitor　in　No。1　…　had　not　heard　the
shot。

Muller　left　the　scene　of　the　crime　and　walked　towards　the　four
houses。　　Before　he　reached　them　he　had　to　pass　the　garden　which
belonged　to　the　house　with　the　mansard　roof。　　Right　and　left　of
this　garden　were　vacant　lots；　as　well　as　on　the　opposite　side
of　the　street。　　Then　came　to　the　right　and　left　the　four　new　houses
which　stood　at　the　beginning　of　the　quiet　lane。　　Muller　passed　them；
turned　up　a　cross　street　and　then　down　again；　into　the　street
running　parallel；　to　the　lane；　a　quiet　aristocratic　street　on
which　fronted　the　house　with　the　mansard　roof。

A　carriage　stood　in　front　of　this　house；　two　great　trunks　piled
up　on　the　box　beside　the　driver。　　A　young　girl　and　an　old　man　in
livery　were　placing　bags　and　bundles　of　rugs　inside　the　carriage。
Muller　walked　slowly　toward　the　carriage。　　Just　as　he　reached　the
open　gate　of　the　garden　he　was　obliged　to　halt；　to　his　own　great
satisfaction。　　For　at　this　moment　a　group　of　people　came　out　from
the　house；　the　owners　of　it　evidently；　prepared　for　a　journey　and
surrounded　by　their　servants。

Beside　the　old　man　and　the　young　girl；　there　were　two　other　women；
one　evidently　the　housekeeper；　the　other　possibly　the　cook。　　T