the case of the registered letter-第5部分

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so　merely　as　a　blind。　　At　least　they　did　not　take　me　for　a　thief
as　well　as　a　murderer。　　If　the　money　is　really　missing；　it　was　for
its　sake　he　was　murdered　I　suppose。〃

〃Yes；　that　would　be　natural；〃　said　Muller。　　〃And　you　know　nothing
of　any　other　relations　or　connections　that　the　man　may　have　had？
Anything　that　might　give　us　a　clue　to　the　truth？〃

〃No；　nothing。　　He　stood　so　alone　here；　as　far　as　I　knew。　　Of　course；
as　I　told　you；　his　actions　of　the　evening　before　having　been　so
peculiar　…　and　as　I　knew　that　he　was　not　in　the　happiest　frame　of
mind　…　I　naturally　thought　of　suicide　at　once；　when　they　told　me
that　he　had　been　found　shot　dead。　　Then　they　told　me　that　the
appearance　of　the　room　and　many　other　things；　proved　suicide　to　have
been　out　of　the　question。　　I　know　nothing　more　about　it。　　I　cannot
think　any　more　about　it。　　I　know　only　that　I　am　here　in　danger　of
being　sentenced　for　the　crime　that　I　never　committed　…　that　is
enough　to　keep　any　man's　mind　busy。〃　　He　leaned　back　with　an　intense
fatigue　in　every　line　of　his　face　and　figure。

Muller　rose　from　his　seat。　　〃I　am　afraid　I　have　tired　you；　Mr。
Graumann；〃　he　said；　〃but　it　was　necessary　that　I　should　know　all
that　you　had　to　tell　me。　　Try　and　rest　a　little　now　and　meanwhile
be　assured　that　I　am　doing　all　I　can　to　find　out　the　truth　of　this
matter。　　As　far　as　I　can　tell　now　I　do　not　believe　that　you　have
killed　John　Siders。　　But　I　must　find　some　further　proofs　that　will
convince　others　as　well　as　myself。　　If　it　is　of　any　comfort　to　you；
I　can　tell　you　that　during　a　long　career　as　police　detective　I　have
been　most　astonishingly　fortunate　in　the　cases　I　have　undertaken。
I　am　hoping　that　my　usual　good　luck　will　follow　me　here　also。　　I　am
hoping　it　for　your　sake。〃

The　man　on　the　cot　took　the　hand　the　detective　offered　him　and
pressed　it　firmly。　　〃You　will　let　me　know　as　soon　as　you　have　found
anything　…　anything　that　gives　me　hope？〃

〃I　will　indeed。　　And　now　save　your　strength　and　do　not　worry。　　I
will　help　you　if　it　is　in　my　power。

After　leaving　the　prison；　Muller　took　the　train　for　the　village　of
Grunau；　about　half　an　hour　distant　from　the　city。　　He　found　his　way
easily　to　Graumann's　home；　an　attractive　old　house　set　in　a　large
garden　amid　groups　of　beautiful　old　trees。　　When　he　sent　up　his　card
to　Miss　Graumann；　the　old　lady　tripped　down　stairs　in　a　flutter　of
excitement。

〃Did　you　see　him？〃　she　asked。　　〃You　have　been　to　the　prison？　　What
do　you　think？　　How　does　he　seem？〃

〃He　seems　calm　to…day；〃　replied　Muller；　〃although　the　confinement
and　the　anxiety　are　evidently　wearing　on　him。〃

〃And　you　heard　his　story？　　And　you　believe　him　innocent？〃

〃I　am　inclined　to　do　so。　　But　there　is　more　yet　for　me　to　investigate
in　this　matter。　　It　is　certainly　not　as　simple　as　the　police　here
seem　to　believe。　　May　I　speak　to　your　ward；　Miss　Roemer？　　She　is　at
home　now？〃

〃Yes；　Lora　is　at　home。　　If　you　will　wait　here　a　moment　I　will　send
her　in。〃

Muller　paced　up　and　down　the　large　sunny　room；　casting　a　glance
over　the　handsome　old　pieces　of　furniture　and　the　family　portraits
on　the　wall。　　It　was　evidently　the　home　of　generations　of　well…to…do；
well…bred　people；　the　narrow　circle　of　whose　life　was　made　rich　by
congenial　duties　and　a　comfortable　feeling　of　their　standing　in　the
community。

While　he　was　studying　one　of　the　portraits　more　carefully；　he　became
aware　that　there　was　some　one　in　the　room。　　He　turned　and　saw　a　tall
blond　girl　standing　by　the　door。　　She　had　entered　so　softly　that
even　Muller's　quick　ear　had　not　heard　the　opening　of　the　door。

〃Do　you　wish　to　speak　to　me？〃　she　said；　coming　down　into　the　room。
〃I　am　Eleonora　Roemer〃

Her　face；　which　could　be　called　handsome　in　its　even　regularity　of
feature　and　delicate　skin；　was　very　pale　now；　and　around　her　eyes
were　dark　rings　that　spoke　of　sleepless　nights。　　Grief　and　mental
shock　were　preying　upon　this　girl's　mind。　　〃She　is　not　the　one　to
make　a　confidant　of　those　around　her；〃　thought　Muller　to　himself。
Then　he　added　aloud：　〃If　it　does　not　distress　you　too　much　to　talk
about　this　sad　affair；　I　will　be　very　grateful　if　you　will　answer
a　few　questions。〃

〃I　will　tell　you　whatever　I　can；〃　said　the　girl　in　the　same　low
even　tone　in　which　she　had　first　spoken。　　〃Miss　Graumann　tells　me
that　you　have　come　from　Vienna　to　take　up　this　case。　　It　is　only
natural　that　we　should　want　to　give　you　every　assistance　in　our
power。〃

〃　What　is　your　opinion　about　it？〃　was　Muller's　next　remark；　made
rather　suddenly　after　a　moment's　pause。

The　directness　of　the　question　seemed　to　shake　the　girl　out　of　her
enforced　calm。　　A　slow　flush　mounted　into　her　pale　cheeks　and　then
died　away；　again　leaving　them　whiter　than　before。　　〃I　do　not　know
…　oh；　I　do　not　know　what　to　believe。〃

〃But　you　do　not　think　Mr。　Graumann　capable　of　such　a　crime；　do　you？〃

〃Not　of　the　robbery；　of　course　not；　that　would　be　absurd！　But　has
it　been　clearly　proven　that　there　is　a　robbery？　　Might　it　not　have
been　…　might　they　not　have　…　〃

〃You　mean；　might　they　not　have　quarreled？　　Of　course　there　is
that　possibility。　　And　that　is　why　I　wanted　to　speak　to　you。　　You
are　the　one　person　who　could　possibly　throw　light　on　this　subject。
Was　there　any　other　reason　beyond　the　dead　man's　past　that　would
render　your　guardian　unwilling　to　have　you　marry　him？〃

Again　the　slow　flush　mounted　to　Eleonora　Roemer's　cheeks　and　her
head　drooped。

〃I　fear　it　may　be　painful　for　you　to　answer　this；〃　said　Muller
gently；　〃and　yet　I　must　insist　on　it　in　the　interest　of　justice。〃

〃He　…　my　guardian　…　wished　to　marry　me　himself；〃　the　girl's　words
came　slowly　and　painfully。

Muller　drew　in　his　breath　so　sharply　that　it　was　almost　like　a
whistle。　　〃He　did　not　tell　me　that；　it　might　make　a　difference。〃

〃That　。。。　that　is　。。。　what　I　fear；〃　said　the　girl；　her　eyes
looking　keenly　into　those　of　the　man　who　sat　opposite。　　〃And　then；
it　was　his　revolver。〃

〃Then　you　do　believe　him　guilty？〃

〃It　would　be　horrible；　horrible　…　and　yet　I　do　not　know　what　to
think。〃

There　was　silence　in　the　room　for　a　moment。　　Miss　Roemer's　head
drooped　again　and　her　hands　twisted　nervously　in　her　lap。　　Muller's
brain　was　very　busy　with　this　new　phase　of　the　problem。　　Finally
he　spoke。

〃Let　us　dismiss　this　side　of　the　question　and　talk　of　another　phase
of　it；　a　phase　of　which　it　is　necessary　for　me　to　know　something。
You　would　naturally　be　the　person　nearest　the　dead　man；　the　one；　the
only　one；　perhaps；　to　whom　he　had　given　his　confidence。　　Do　you　know
of　any　enemies　he　might　have　had　in　the　city？〃

〃No；　I　do　not　know　of　any　enemies；　or　even　of　any　friends　he　had
there。　　When　the　terrible　thing　happened　that　clouded　his　past；
when　he　had　regained　his　freedom；　after　his　term　of　imprisonment；
there　was　no　one　left　whom　he　cared　to　see　again。　　He　does　not　seem
to　have　borne　any　malice　towards　the　banker　who　accused　him　of　the
theft。　　The　evidence　was　so　strong　against　him　that　he　felt　the
suspicion　was　justified。　　But　there　was　hatred　in　his　heart　for　one
man；　for　the　Justice　who　sentenced　him；　Justice　Schmidt；　who　is　now
Attorney　General　in　G…。〃

〃The　man　who；　in　the　name　of　the　State；　will　conduct　this　case？〃
asked　Muller　quickly。

〃Yes；　I　believe　it　is　so。　　Is　it　not　an　irony　that　this　man；　the
only　one　whom　John　really　hated；　should　be　the　one　to　avenge　him
now？〃

〃H'm！　yes。　　But　did　you　know　of　any　friends　in　G…？〃

〃No；　none　at　all。〃

〃No　friends　whom　he　might　have　made　while　he　was　in　America　and
then　met　again　in　Germany？〃

〃No；　he　never　spoke　of　any　such　to　me。　　He　told　me　that　he　made　few
friends。　　He　did　not　seek　them　for　he　was　afraid　that　they　might
find　out　what　had　happened　and　turn　from　him。　　He　was　morbidly
sensitive　and　could　not　bear　the　disappointment〃

〃Why　did　he　return　to　Germany？〃

〃He　was　lonely　and　wanted　to　come　home　again。　　He　had　made　money
in　America　…　John　was　very　clever　and　highly　educated　…　but　his
heart　longed　for　his　own　tongue　and　his　own　people。〃

Muller　took　a　folded　piece　of　paper　from　his　pocket。　　〃Do　you　know
this　handwriting？〃

Miss　Roemer　read　the　few　lines　hastily　and　her　voice　trembled　as
she　said：　〃This　is　John's　handwriting。　　I　know　it　well。　　This　is
the　letter　that　was　found　on　the　table？〃

〃Yes；　this　letter　appears　to　be　the　last　he　had　written　in　life。
Do　you　know　to　whom　it　could　have　been　written？　　The　envelope；　as
I　suppose　you　know　from　the　newspaper　reports；　was　not　addressed。
Do　you　know　of　any　friends　with　whom　he　could　have　been　on　terms
of　sufficient　intimacy　to　write　such　a　letter？　　Do　you　know　what
these　plans　for　the　future　could　have　been？　　It　would　certainly　be
natural　that　he　should　have　spoken　to　you　first　about　them。〃

〃No；　I　cannot　understand　this　letter　at　all；〃　replied　the　girl。　　〃I
have　thought　of　it　frequently　these　terrible　days。　　I　have　wondered
why　it　was　that　if　he　had　friends　in　the　city；　he　did　not　speak　to
me　of　them。　　He　repeatedly　told　me　that　he　had　no　friends　there　at
all；　that　his　life　should　begin　anew　after　we　were　married。〃

〃And　did　he　have　any　particular　plans；　in　a　business　way；　perhaps？〃

〃No；　he　had　a　comfortable　little　income　and　need　have　no　fear　for
the　future。　　John　was；　of　course；　too　young　a　man　to　settle　down
and　do　nothing。　　But　the　only　definite　plans　he　had　made　were　that
we　should　travel　a　little　at　first；　and　then　he　would　look　about
him　for　a　congenial　occupation。　　I　always　thought　it　likely　he
would　resume　a　law　practice　somewhere。　　I　cannot　understand　in　the
slightest　what　the　plans　are　to　which　the　letter　referred。〃

〃And　do　you　think；　from　what　you　know　of　his　state　of　mind　when
you　saw　him　last；　that　he　would　be　likely　so　soon　to　be　planning
pleasures　like　this？〃

〃No；　no　indeed！　　John　was　terribly　crushed　when　my　guardian　insisted
on　breaking　off　our　engagement。　　Until　my　twenty…fourth　birthday　I
am　still　bound　to　do　as　my　guardian　says；　you　know。　　John's　life　and
early　misfortune　made　him；　as　I　have　already　said；　morbidly　sensitive
and　the　thought　that　it　would　be　a　bar　to　anything　we　might　plan　in
the　future；　had　rendered　him　so　depressed　that　…　and　it　was　not　the
least　of　my　anxieties　and　my　troubles　…　that　I　feared　。。。　I　fear