the case of the golden bullet-第4部分

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ever　happens　here；　and　a　gift　like　Muller's　needs　occupation　to　keep
it　fresh。　　I'm　afraid　his　talents　will　dull　and　wither　here。　　The
man　has　grown　perceptibly　older　in　this　inaction。　　His　mind　is　like
a　high…bred　horse　that　needs　exercise　to　keep　it　in　good　condition。〃

〃He　hasn't　grown　rich　at　his　work；　either；〃　said　Horn。

〃No；　there's　not　much　chance　for　a　police　detective　to　get　rich。
I've　often　wondered　why　Muller　never　had　the　energy　to　set　up　in
business　for　himself。　　He　might　have　won　fame　and　fortune　as　a
private　detective。　　But　he's　gone　on　plodding　along　as　a　police
subordinate；　and　letting　the　department　get　all　the　credit　for　his
most　brilliant　achievements。　　It's　a　sort　of　incorrigible　humbleness
of　nature　…　and　then；　you　know；　he　had　the　misfortune　to　be　unjustly
sentenced　to　a　term　in　prison　in　his　early　youth。〃

〃No；　I　did　not　know　that。〃

〃The　stigma　stuck　to　his　name；　and　finally　drove　him　to　take　up
this　work。　　I　don't　think　Muller　realised；　when　he　began；　just
how　greatly　he　is　gifted。　　I　don't　know　that　he　really　knows　now。
He　seems　to　do　it　because　he　likes　it　…　he's　a　queer　sort　of　man。〃

While　the　commissioners　drove　through　the　streets　to　the　police
station　the　man　of　whom　they　were　speaking　sat　in　Johann's　little
room　in　close　consultation　with　the　valet。

〃How　long　is　it　since　the　Professor　began　to　give　you　money　to　go
to　the　theatre　on　Saturday　evenings？〃

The　first　time　it　happened　was　on　my　name　day。　　〃What's　the　rest
of　your　name？　　There　are　so　many　Johanns　on　the　calendar。〃

〃I　am　Johann　Nepomuk。〃

Muller　took　a　little　calendar　from　his　pocket　and　turned　its　pages。
〃It　was　May　sixteenth；〃　volunteered　the　valet。

〃Quite　right。　　May　sixteenth　was　a　Saturday。　　And　since　then　you
have　gone　to　the　theatre　every　Saturday　evening？〃

〃Yes；　sir。

〃When　did　the　owner　of　the　house　go　away？〃

〃Last　April。　　His　wife　was　ill　and　he　had　to　take　her　away。　　They
went　to　Italy。〃

〃And　you　two　have　been　alone　in　the　house　since　April？〃

〃Yes；　sir；　we　two。〃

〃Was　there　no　janitor？〃

〃No；　sir。　　The　garden　was　taken　care　of　by　a　man　who　came　in　for
the　day。〃

〃And　you　had　no　dog？　　I　haven't　seen　any　around　the　place。〃

〃No；　sir；　the　Professor　did　not　like　animals。　　But　he　must　have
been　thinking　about　buying　a　dog；　because　I　found　a　new　dog…whip
in　his　room　one　day。〃

〃Somebody　might　have　left　it　there。　　One　usually　buys　the　dog
first　and　then　the　whip。〃

〃Yes；　sir。　　But　there　wasn't　anybody　here　to　forget　it。　　The
Professor　did　not　receive　any　visits　at　that　time。〃

〃Why　are　you　so　sure　of　that？〃

〃Because　it　was　the　middle　of　summer；　and　everybody　was　away。〃

Oh；　then；　we　won't　bother　about　the　whip。　　Can　you　tell　me　of　any
ladies　with　whom　the　Professor　was　acquainted？〃

〃Ladies？　　I　don't　know　of　any。　　Of　course；　the　Professor　was
invited　out　a　good　deal；　and　most　of　the　other　gentlemen　from　the
college　were　married。〃

〃Did　he　ever　receive　letters　from　ladies？〃　continued　Muller。

Johann　thought　the　matter　over；　then　confessed　that　he　knew　very
little　about　writing　and　couldn't　read　handwriting　very　well　anyway。
But　he　remembered　to　have　seen　a　letter　now　and　then；　a　little
letter　with　a　fine　and　delicate　handwriting。

〃Have　you　any　of　these　envelopes？〃　asked　Muller。　　But　Johann　told
him　that　in　spite　of　his　usual　carelessness　in　such　matters；
Professor　Fellner　never　allowed　these　letters　to　lie　about　his　room。

Finally　the　detective　came　out　with　the　question　to　which　he　had
been　leading　up。　　〃Did　your　master　ever　receive　visits　from　ladies？

Johann　looked　extremely　stupid　at　this　moment。　　His　lack　of
intelligence　and　a　certain　crude　sensitiveness　in　his　nature　made
him　take　umbrage　at　what　appeared　to　him　a　very　unnecessary　question。
He　answered　it　with　a　shake　of　the　head　only。　　Muller　smiled　at　the
young　man's　ill…concealed　indignation　and　paid　no　attention　to　it。

〃Your　master　has　been　here　for　about　a　year。　Where　was　he　before
that？〃

〃In　the　capital。〃

〃You　were　in　his　service　then？〃

〃I　have　been　with　him　for　three　years。〃

〃Did　he　know　any　ladies　in　his　former　home？〃

〃There　was　one　…　I　think　he　was　engaged　to　her。〃

〃Why　didn't　he　marry　her？〃

〃I　don't　know。〃

〃What　was　her　name？〃

〃Marie。　　That's　all　I　know　about　it。〃

〃Was　she　beautiful？〃

〃I　never　saw　her。　　The　only　way　I　knew　about　her　was　when　the
Professor's　friends　spoke　of　her。〃

〃Did　he　have　many　friends？〃

〃There　were　ever　so　many　gentlemen　whom　he　called　his　friends。〃

〃Take　me　into　the　garden　now。〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃　　Muller　took　his　hat　and　coat　and　followed　the　valet
into　the　garden。　　It　was　of　considerable　size；　carefully　and
attractively　planned；　and　pleasing　even　now　when　the　bare　twigs
bent　under　their　load　of　snow。

〃Now　think　carefully；　Johann。　　We　had　a　full　moon　last　night。　　Don't
you　remember　seeing　any　footsteps　in　the　garden；　leading　away　from
the　house？〃　asked　Muller；　as　they　stood　on　the　snow…covered　paths。

Johann　thought　it　over　carefully；　then　said　decidedly；　〃No。　　At
least　I　don't　remember　anything　of　the　kind。　　There　was　a　strong
wind　yesterday　anyway；　and　the　snow　drifts　easily　out　here。　　No
tracks　could　remain　clear　for　long。〃

The　men　walked　down　the　straight　path　which　led　to　the　little　gate
in　the　high　wall。　　This　gate　had　a　secret　lock；　which；　however；　was
neither　hard　to　find　nor　hard　to　open。　　Muller　managed　it　with　ease；
and　looked　out　through　the　gate　on　the　street　beyond。　　The　broad
promenade；　deserted　now　in　its　winter　snowiness；　led　away　in　one
direction　to　the　heart　of　the　city。　　In　the　other　it　ended　in　the
main　county　high…road。　　This　was　a　broad；　well…made　turnpike；　with
footpath　and　rows　of　trees。　　A　half…hour's　walk　along　it　would　bring
one　to　the　little　village　clustering　about　the　Archduke's　favourite
hunting　castle。　　There　was　a　little　railway　station　near　the　castle；
but　it　was　used　only　by　suburban　trains　or　for　the　royal　private　car。

Muller　did　not　intend　to　burden　his　brain　with　unnecessary　facts；
so　with　his　usual　thoroughness　he　left　the　further　investigation　of
what　lay　beyond　the　gate；　until　he　had　searched　the　garden　thoroughly。
But　even　for　his　sharp　eyes　there　was　no　trace　to　be　found　that
would　tell　of　the　night　visit　of　the　murderer。

〃In　which　of　the　pails　did　you　put　the　key　to　the　side　door？〃　he
asked。

〃In　the　first　pail　on　the　right　hand　side。　　But　be　careful；　sir；
there's　a　nail　sticking　out　of　the　post　there。　　The　wind　tore　off
a　piece　of　wood　yesterday。〃

The　warning　came　too　late。　　Muller's　sleeve　tore　apart　with　a　sharp
sound　just　as　Johann　spoke；　for　the　detective　had　already　plunged
his　hand　into　the　pail。　　The　bottom　of　the　bucket　was　easy　to　reach；
as　this　one　hung　much　lower　than　the　others。　　Looking　regretfully
at　the　rent　in　his　coat；　Muller　asked　for　needle　and　thread　that
he　might　repair　it　sufficiently　to　get　home。

〃Oh；　don't　bother　about　sewing　it；　I'll　lend　you　one　of　mine；〃
exclaimed　Johann。　　〃I'll　carry　this　one　home　for　you；　for　I'm　not
going　to　stay　here　alone　…　I'd　be　afraid。　　I'm　going　to　a　friend's
house。　　You　can　find　me　there　any　time　you　need　me。　　You'd　better
take　the　key　of　the　apartment　and　give　it　to　the　police。〃

The　detective　had　no　particular　fondness　for　the　task　of　sewing；
and　he　was　glad　to　accept　the　valet's　friendly　offering。　　He　was
rather　astonished　at　the　evident　costliness　of　the　garment　the
young　man　handed　him；　and　when　he　spoke　of　it；　the　valet　could
not　say　enough　in　praise　of　the　kindness　of　his　late　master。　　He
pulled　out　several　other　articles　of　clothing；　which；　like　the
overcoat；　had　been　given　to　him　by　Fellner。　　Then　he　packed　up
a　few　necessities　and　announced　himself　as　ready　to　start。　　He
insisted　on　carrying　the　torn　coat；　and　Muller　permitted　it　after
some　protest。　　They　carefully　closed　the　apartment　and　the　house；
and　walked　toward　the　centre　of　the　city　to　the　police　station；
where　Muller　lived。

As　they　crossed　the　square；　it　suddenly　occurred　to　Johann　that　he
had　no　tobacco。　　He　was　a　great　smoker；　and　as　he　had　many　days　of
enforced　idleness　ahead　of　him；　he　ran　into　a　tobacco　shop　to
purchase　a　sufficiency　of　this　necessity　of　life。

Muller　waited　outside；　and　his　attention　was　attracted　by　a　large
grey　Ulmer　hound　which　was　evidently　waiting　for　some　one　within
the　shop。　　The　dog　came　up　to　him　in　a　most　friendly　manner；　allowed
him　to　pat　its　head；　rubbed　up　against　him　with　every　sign　of
pleasure；　and　would　not　leave　him　even　when　he　turned　to　go　after
Johann　came　out　of　the　shop。　　Still　accompanied　by　the　dog；　the　two
men　walked　on　quite　a　distance；　when　a　sharp　whistle　was　heard
behind　them；　and　the　dog　became　uneasy。　　He　would　not　leave　them；
however；　until　a　powerful　voice　called　〃Tristan！〃　several　times。
Muller　turned　and　saw　that　Tristan's　master　was　a　tall；　stately　man
wearing　a　handsome　fur　overcoat。

It　was　impossible　to　recognise　his　face　at　this　distance；　for　the
snowflakes　were　whirling　thickly　in　the　air。　　But　Muller　was　not
particularly　anxious　to　recognise　the　stranger；　as　he　had　his　head
full　of　more　important　thoughts。

When　Johann　had　given　his　new　address　and　remarked　that　he　would
call　for　his　coat　soon；　the　men　parted；　and　Muller　returned　to
the　police　station。

The　next　day　the　principal　newspaper　of　the　town　printed　the
following　notice：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　GOLDEN　BULLET

　　It　is　but　a　few　days　since　we　announced　to　our　readers　the　sad
　　news　of　the　death　of　a　beautiful　woman；　whose　leap　from　her
　　window；　while　suffering　from　the　agonies　of　fever；　destroyed
　　the　happiness　of　an　unusually　harmonious　marriage。　　And　now　we
　　are　compelled　to　print　the　news　of　another　equally　sad　as　well
　　as　mysterious　occurrence。　　This　time；　Fate　has　demanded　the
　　sacrifice　of　the　life　of　a　capable　and　promising　young　man。
　　Professor　Paul　Fellner；　a　member　of　the　faculty　of　our　college；
　　was　found　dead　at　his　desk　yesterday　morning。　　It　was　thought　at
　　first　that　it　was　a　case　of　suicide；　for　doors　and　windows　were
　　carefully　closed　from　within　and　those　who　discovered　the　corpse
　　were　obliged　to　break　open　one　of　the　doors　to　get　to　it。　　And
　　a　revolver　was　found　lying　close