the lamp that went out-第9部分

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〃No；　sir；　I　never　learned　anything。〃

〃Do　you　mean　to　tell　me　that　without　having　learned　any　trade　you've
gotten　through　life　thus　far　honestly？〃

〃Oh；　I've　worked　hard　enough　…　I've　worked　good　and　hard　sometimes。〃

〃The　last　few　days　particularly；　eh？〃

〃Why；　no；　sir；　not　these　last　days　…　I　was　drover　on　a　transport　of
pigs；　we　brought　'em　down　from　Hungary；　200　of　'em；　to　the　slaughter
house　here。〃

〃When　was　that？〃

〃That　was　…　that　was　Monday。〃

〃This　last　Monday？〃

〃Yes；　sir。

〃And　then　you　went　to　Hietzing？〃

〃Yes；　sir；　that's　right。〃

〃Why　did　you　go　to　Hietzing？〃

〃Why；　see　here；　sir；　if　I　had　gone　to　Ottakring；　then　I　suppose　you
would　have　asked　why　did　I　go　to　Ottakring。　　I　just　went　to　Hietzing。
A　fellow　has　to　go　somewhere。　　You　don't　stay　in　the　same　spot　all
the　time；　do　you？〃

Again　the　commissioner　turned　his　head　and　another　smile　went
through　the　room。　　This　Hietzing　murderer　had　a　sense　of　humour。

〃Well；　then；　we'll　go　to　Hietzing　again；　in　our　minds　at　least；〃
said　the　commissioner；　turning　back　to　Knoll　when　he　had　controlled
his　merriment。　　〃You　went　there　on　Monday；　then　…　and　the　day　was
coming　to　an　end。　　What　did　you　do　when　you　reached　Hietzing？〃

〃I　looked　about　for　a　place　to　sleep。〃

〃Where　did　you　look　for　a　place　to　sleep？〃

〃Why；　in　Hietzing。〃

〃That　is　not　definite　enough。〃

〃Well；　in　a　garden。〃

〃You　were　trespassing；　you　mean？〃

〃Why；　yes；　sir。　　There　wasn't　anybody　that　seemed　to　want　to　invite
me　to　dinner　or　to　give　me　a　place　to　sleep。　　I　just　had　to　look
out　for　myself。〃

〃You　evidently　know　how　to　look　out　for　yourself　at　the　cost　of
others；　a　heavy　cost。〃　　The　commissioner's　easy　tone　had　changed　to
sternness。　　Knoll　felt　this；　and　a　sharp　gleam　shot　out　from　his
dull　little　eyes；　while　the　tone　of　his　voice　was　gruff　and
impertinent　again　as　he　asked：　〃What　do　you　mean　by　that？〃

〃You　know　well　enough。　　You　had　better　not　waste　any　more　time；　but
tell　us　at　once　how　you　came　into　possession　of　this　purse。〃

〃It's　my　purse；〃　　Knoll　answered　with　calm　impertinence。　　〃I　got　it
the　way　most　people　get　it。　　I　bought　it。〃

〃This　purse？〃　　the　commissioner　emphasised　both　words　distinctly。

〃This　purse　…　yes；〃　　answered　the　tramp　with　a　perfect　imitation　of
Riedau's　voice。　　〃Why　shouldn't　I　have　bought　this　purse　just　like
any　other？〃

〃Because　you　stole　this　purse　from　the　man　whom　you　…　murdered；〃
was　the　commissioner's　reply。

There　was　another　moment　of　dead　silence　in　the　room。　　The
commissioner　and　Muller　watched　intently　for　any　change　of
expression　in　the　face　of　the　man　who　had　just　had　such　an
accusation　hurled　at　him。　　Even　the　clerk　and　the　two　policemen　at
the　door　were　interested　to　see　what　would　happen。

Knoll's　calm　impertinence　vanished；　a　deadly　pallor　spread　over　his
face；　and　he　seemed　frozen　to　stone。　　He　attempted　to　speak；　but　was
not　able　to　control　his　voice。　　His　hands　were　clenched　and　tremors
shook　his　gaunt　but　strong…muscled　frame。

〃When　did　I　murder　anybody？〃　　he　gasped　finally　in　a　hoarse　croak。
〃You'll　have　to　prove　it　to　me　that　I　am　a　murderer。〃

〃That　is　easily　proved。　　Here　is　one　of　the　proofs；〃　said　Riedan
coldly；　pointing　to　the　purse。　　〃The　purse　and　the　watch　of　the
murdered　man　are　fatal　witnesses　against　you。〃

〃The　watch？　　I　haven't　any　watch。　　Where　should　I　get　a　watch？〃

〃You　didn't　have　one　until　Monday；　possibly；　I　can　believe　that。
But　you　were　in　possession　of　a　watch　between　the　evening　of　Monday；
the　27th；　and　the　morning　of　Wednesday；　the　29th。〃

Knoll's　eyes　dropped　again　and　he　did　not　trust　himself　to　speak。

〃Well；　you　do　not　deny　this　statement？〃

〃No；　I　can't；〃　　said　Knoll；　still　trying　to　control　his　voice。
〃You　must　have　the　watch　yourself　now；　or　else　you　wouldn't　be　so
certain　about　it。〃

〃Ah；　you　see；　I　thought　you'd　had　experience　with　police　courts
before；〃　　said　the　commissioner　amiably。　　〃Of　course　I　have　the
watch　already。　　The　man　whom　you　sold　it　to　this　morning　knew　by
three　o'clock　this　afternoon　where　this　watch　came　from。　　He　brought
it　here　at　once　and　gave　us　your　description。　　A　very　exact
description。　　The　man　will　be　brought　here　to　identify　you　to…morrow。
We　must　send　for　him　anyway；　to　return　his　money　to　him。　　He　paid
you　fifty…two　gulden　for　the　watch。　　And　how　much　money　was　in　the
purse　that　you　took　from　the　murdered　man？〃

〃Three　gulden　eighty…five。〃

〃That　was　a　very　small　sum　for　which　to　commit　a　murder。〃

Knoll　groaned　and　bit　his　lips　until　they　bled。

Commissioner　von　Riedau　raised　the　paper　that　covered　the　watch　and
continued：　〃You　presumably　recognised　that　the　chain　on　which　this
watch　hung　was　valueless；　also　that　it　could　easily　be　recognised。
Did　you　throw　it　away；　or　have　you　it　still？〃

〃I　threw　it　in　the　river。〃

〃That　will　not　make　any　difference。　　We　do　not　need　the　chain；　we
have　quite　enough　evidence　without　it。　　The　purse；　for　instance：　you
thought；　I　suppose；　that　it　was　just　a　purse　like　a　thousand　others；
but　it　is　not。　　This　purse　is　absolutely　individual　and　easily
recognised；　because　it　is　mended　in　one　spot　with　yellow　thread。
The　thread　has　become　loosened　and　hangs　down　in　a　very　noticeable
manner。　　It　was　this　yellow　thread　on　the　purse；　which　he　happened
to　see　by　chance；　that　showed　the　dealer　Goldstamm　who　it　was　that
had　entered　his　store。〃

Knoll　stood　quite　silent；　staring　at　the　floor。　　Drops　of
perspiration　stood　out　on　his　forehead；　some　of　them　rolling　like
tears　down　his　cheek。

The　commissioner　rose　from　his　seat　and　walked　slowly　to　where　the
prisoner　stood。　　He　laid　one　hand　on　the　man's　shoulder　and　said　in
a　voice　that　was　quite　gentle　and　kind　again：　〃Johann　Knoll；　do　not
waste　your　time；　or　ours；　in　thinking　up　useless　lies。　　You　are
almost　convicted　of　this　crime　now。　　You　have　already　acknowledged
so　much；　that　there　is　but　little　more　for　you　to　say。　　If　you　make
an　open　confession；　it　will　be　greatly　to　your　advantage。〃

Again　the　room　was　quiet　while　the　others　waited　for　what　would
happen。　　For　a　moment　the　tramp　stood　silent；　with　the　commissioner's
right　hand　resting　on　his　shoulder。　　Then　there　was　a　sudden　movement；
a　struggle　and　a　shout；　and　the　two　policemen　had　overpowered　the
prisoner　and　held　him　firmly。　　Muller　rose　quickly　and　sprang　to　his
chief's　side。　　Riedau　had　not　even　changed　colour；　and　he　said
calmly：　〃Oh；　never　mind；　Muller；　sit　down　again。　　The　man　had
handcuffs　on　and　he　is　quite　quiet　now。　　I　think　he　has　sense　enough
to　see　that　he　is　only　harming　himself　by　his　violence。

The　commissioner　returned　to　his　desk　and　Muller　went　back　to　his
chair　by　the　window。　　The　prisoner　was　quiet　again；　although　his
face　wore　a　dark　flush　and　the　veins　on　throat　and　forehead　were
swollen　thick。　　He　trembled　noticeably　and　the　heavy　drops
besprinkled　his　brow。

〃I　…　I　have　something　to　say；　sir；〃　　he　began；　〃but　first　I　want　to
beg　your　pardon　…〃

〃Oh；　never　mind　that。　　I　am　not　angry　when　a　man　is　fighting　for　his
life；　even　if　he　doesn't　choose　quite　the　right　way；〃　　answered　the
commissioner　calmly；　playing　with　a　lead　pencil。

Knoll's　expression　was　defiant　now。　　He　laughed　harshly　and　began
again：　〃What　I'm　tellin'　you　now　is　the　truth　whether　you　believe
it　or　not。　　I　didn't　kill　the　man。　　I　took　the　watch　and　purse
from　him。　　I　thought　he　was　drunk。　　If　he　was　killed；　I　didn't
do　it。〃

〃He　was　killed　by　a　shot。〃

〃A　shot？　　Why；　yes；　I　heard　a　shot；　but　I　didn't　think　any　more
about　it；　I　didn't　think　there　was　anythin'　doing；　I　thought　somebody
was　shootin'　a　cat；　or　else…〃

〃Oh；　don't　bother　to　invent　things。　　It　was　a　man　who　was　shot　at；
the　man　whom　you　robbed。　　But　go　on；　go　on。　　I　am　anxious　to　hear
what　you　will　tell　me。〃

Knoll's　hands；　clenched　to　fists　and　his　eyes　glowed　in　hate　and
defiance。　　Then　he　dropped　them　to　the　floor　again　and　began　to
talk　slowly　in　a　monotonous　tone　that　sounded　as　if　he　were
repeating　a　lesson。　　His　manner　was　rather　unfortunate　and　did　not
tend　to　induce　belief　in　the　truth　of　his　story。　　The　gist　of　what
he　said　was　as　follows：

He　had　reached　Hietzing　on　Monday　evening　about　8　o'clock。　　He　was
thirsty；　as　usual；　and　had　about　two　gulden　in　his　possession；　his
wages　for　the　last　day's　work。　　He　turned　into　a　tavern　in　Hietzing
and　ate　and　drank　until　his　money　was　all　gone；　and　he　had　not　even
enough　left　to　pay　for　a　night's　lodging。　　But　Knoll　was　not　worried
about　that。　　He　was　accustomed　to　sleeping　out　of　doors；　and　as　this
was　a　particularly　fine　evening；　there　was　nothing　in　the　prospect
to　alarm　him。　　He　set　about　finding　a　suitable　place　where　he　would
not　be　disturbed　by　the　guardians　of　the　law。　　His　search　led　him
by　chance　into　a　newly　opened　street。　　This　suited　him　exactly。
The　fences　were　easy　to　climb；　and　there　were　several　little　summer
houses　in　sight　which　made　much　more　agreeable　lodgings　than　the
ground　under　a　bush。　　And　above　all；　the　street　was　so　quiet　and
deserted　that　he　knew　it　was　just　the　place　for　him。　　He　had　never
been　in　the　street　before；　and　did　not　know　its　name。　　He　passed
the　four　houses　at　the　end　of　the　street　…　he　was　on　the　left
sidewalk　…　and　then　he　came　to　two　fenced…in　building　lots。　　These
interested　him。　　He　was　very　agile；　raised　himself　up　on　the　fences
easily　and　took　stock　of　the　situation。　　One　of　the　lots　did　not
appeal　to　him　particularly；　but　the　second　one　did。　　It　bordered
on　a　large　garden；　in　the　middle　of　which　he　could　see　a　little
house　of　some　kind。　　It　was　after　sunset　but　he　could　see　things
quite　plainly　yet　for　the　air　was　clear　and　the　moon　was　just
rising。　　He　saw　also　that　in　the　vacant　lot　adjoining　the　garden；
a　lot　which　appeared　to　have　been　a　garden　itself　once；　there　was
a　sort　of　shed。　　It　looked　very　much　damaged　but　appeared　to　offer
shelter　sufficient　for　a　fine　night。

The　shed　stood　on　a　little　raise　of　the　ground　near　the　high　iron
fence　that　protected　the　large　garden。　　Knoll　decided　that　the
shed　would　make　a　good　place　to　spend　the　night。　　He　climbed　the
fence　easily　and　walked　across　the　lot。　　When　he　was　just　settling
himself　for　his　nap；　he　heard　the　clock　on　a　near…by　church　st