the case of the pocket diary found in the snow-第8部分

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〃Very　well；　it's　all　the　same　to　me。〃　　They　were　silent　again；
only　the　wind　roared　around　them；　and　somewhere　in　the　distance　a
fog　horn　moaned。

It　was　now　six　o'clock。　　The　snow　threw　out　a　mild　light　which　could
not　brighten　the　deep　darkness　around　them。　　About　half　an　hour
later　the　first　cab　halted。　　〃There's　the　house　up　there。　　Shall　I
drive　to　the　garden　gate？〃

〃No；　stop　here。〃　　Muller　was　already　on　the　ground。　　〃Are　there　any
dogs　here？〃　he　asked。

〃I　didn't　hear　any　yesterday。〃

〃That's　of　no　value。　　You　didn't　seem　to　hear　much　of　anything
yesterday。〃　　Muller　opened　the　door　of　the　cab　and　helped　Berner
out。　　The　old　man　was　trembling。　　〃That　was　a　dreadful　drive！〃
he　stammered。

〃I　hope　you　will　be　happier　on　the　drive　back；〃　said　the　detective
and　added；　〃You　stay　here　with　the　commissioner　now。〃

The　latter　had　already　left　his　cab　with　his　companion。　　His　sharp
eyes　glanced　over　the　heavily　shaded　garden　and　the　little　house　in
its　midst。　　A　little　light　shone　from　two　windows　of　the　first　story。
The　men's　eyes　looked　toward　them；　then　the　detective　and　Amster
walked　toward　a　high　picket　fence　which　closed　the　garden　on　the
side　nearest　its　neighbours。　　They　shook　the　various　pickets　without
much　caution；　for　the　wind　made　noise　enough　to　kill　any　other　sound。
Amster　called　to　Muller；　he　had　found　a　loose　picket；　and　his　strong
young　arms　had　torn　it　out　easily。　　Muller　motioned　to　the　other
three　to　join　them。　　A　moment　later　they　were　all　in　the　garden；
walking　carefully　toward　the　house。

The　door　was　closed　but　there　were　no　bars　at　the　windows　of　the
ground　floor。　　Amster　looked　inquiringly　at　the　commissioner　and
the　latter　nodded　and　said；　〃All　right；　go　ahead。〃

The　next　minute　Amster　had　broken　in　through　one　pane　of　the　window
and　turned　the　latch。　　The　inner　window　was　broken　already　so　that
it　was　not　difficult　for　him　to　open　it　without　any　further　noise。
He　disappeared　into　the　dark　room　within。　　In　a　few　seconds　they
heard　a　key　turn　in　the　door　and　it　opened　gently。　　The　men　entered；
all　except　the　policeman；　who　remained　outside。　　The　blind　of　his
lantern　was　slightly　opened；　and　he　had　his　revolver　ready　in　his
hand。

Muller　had　opened　his　lantern　also；　and　they　saw　that　they　were
in　a　prettily　furnished　corridor　from　which　the　staircase　and　one
door　led　out。

The；　four　men　tiptoed　up　the　stairway　and　the　commissioner　stepped
to　the　first　of　the　two　doors　which　opened　onto　the　upper　corridor。
He　turned　the　key　which　was　in　the　lock；　and　opened　the　door；　but
they　found　themselves　in　a　room　as　dark　as　was　the　corridor。　　From
somewhere；　however；　a　ray　of　light　fell　into　the　blackness。　　The
official　stepped　into　the　room；　pulling　Berner　in　after　him。　　The
poor　old　man　was　in　a　state　of　trembling　excitement　when　he　found
himself　in　the　house　where　his　beloved　young　lady　might　already　be
a　corpse。　　One　step　more　and　a　smothered　cry　broke　from　his　lips。
The　commissioner　had　opened　the　door　of　an　adjoining　room；　which
was　lighted　and　handsomely　furnished。　　Only　the　heavy　iron　bars
across　the　closed　windows　showed　that　the　young　lady　who　sat　leaning
back　wearily　in　an　arm…chair　was　a　prisoner。

She　looked　up　as　they　entered。　　The　expression　of　utter　despair　and
deep　weariness　which　had　rested　on　her　pale　face　changed　to　a　look
of　terror；　then　she　saw　that　it　was　not　her　would…be　murderer　who
was　entering；　but　those　who　came　to　rescue。　　A　bright　flush　illumined
her　cheeks　and　her　eyes　gleamed。　　But　the　change　was　too　sudden　for
her　tortured　soul。　　She　rose　from　her　chair；　then　sank　fainting　to
the　floor。

Berner　threw　himself　on　his　knees　beside　her；　sobbing　out；　〃She　is
dying！　　She　is　dying！〃

Muller　turned　on　the　instant；　for　he　had　heard　the　door　on　the　other
side　of　the　hall　open；　and　a　tall　　slender　man　with　a　smooth　face
and　a　deep　scar　on　his　right　cheek　stood　on　the　threshold　looking　at
them　in　dazed　surprise。　　For　an　instant　only　had　he　lost　his　control。
The　next　second　he　was　in　his　room　again；　slamming　the　door　behind
him。　　But　it　was　too　late。　　Amster's　foot　was　already　in　the　crack
of　the　door　and　he　pushed　it　open　to　let　Muller　enter。　　〃Well　done；〃
cried　the　latter；　and　then　he　turned　to　the　man　in　the　room。　　〃Here；
stop　that。　　I　can　fire　twice　before　you　get　the　window　open。〃

The　man　turned　and　walked　slowly　to　the　centre　of　the　room；　sinking
down　into　an　arm…chair　that　stood　beside　the　desk。　　Neither　Amster
nor　Muller　turned　their　eyes　from　him　for　a　moment；　ready　for　any
attempt　on　his　part　to　escape。　　But　the　detective　had　already　seen
something　that　told　him　that　Langen　was　not　thinking　of　flight。
When　he　turned　to　the　desk；　Muller　had　seen　his　eyes　glisten　while
a　scornful　smile　parted　his　thin；　lips。　　A　second　later　he　had　let
his　handkerchief　fall；　apparently　carelessly；　upon　the　desk。　　But
in　this　short　space　of　time　the　detective's　sharp　eyes　had　seen　a
tiny　bottle　upon　which　was　a　black　label　with　a　grinning　skull。
Muller　could　not　see　whether　the　bottle　was　full　or　empty；　but　now
he　knew　that　it　must　hold　sufficient　poison　to　enable　the　captured
criminal　to　escape　open　disgrace。　　Knowing　this；　Muller　looked　with
admiration　at　the　calmness　of　the　villain；　whose　intelligent　eyes
were　turned　towards　him　in　evident　curiosity。

〃Who　are　you　and　who　else　is　here　with　you？〃　asked　the　man　calmly。

〃I　am　Muller　of　the　Secret　Service；〃　replied　his　visitor　and　added；
〃You　must　put　up　with　us　for　the　time　being；　Mr。　Egon　Langen。　　The
police　commissioner　is　occupied　with　your　step…sister；　whom　you
were　about　to　murder。〃

Langen　put　his　hand　to　his　cheek；　looking　at　Muller　between　his
lashes　as　he　said；　〃To　murder？　　Who　can　prove　that？〃

〃We　have　all　the　proofs　we　need。〃

〃I　will　acknowledge　only　that　I　wanted　Asta　to　disappear。〃

Muller　smiled。　　〃What　good　would　that　have　done　you？　　You　wanted
her　entire　fortune；　did　you　not？　　But　that　could　have　come　to　you
only　after　thirty　years；　and　you　are　not　likely　to　have　waited　that
long。　　Your　plan　was　to　murder　your　step…sister；　even　if　you　could
not　get　a　letter　from　her　telling　of　her　intention　to　commit　suicide。〃

Langen　rose　suddenly；　but　controlled　himself　again　and　sank　back
easily　in　his　chair。　　〃Then　the　old　woman　has　been　talking？〃　he
asked。

Muller　shook　his　head。　　〃We　knew　it　through　Miss　Langen　herself。〃

〃She　has　spoken　to　no　one　for　over　ten　days。〃

〃But　you　let　her　throw　her　notebook　out　of　the　window　of　the　cab。〃

〃Ah　…　〃

〃There；　you　see；　you　should　not　have　let　that　happen。〃

Drops　of　perspiration　stood　out　on　Langen's　forehead。　　Until　now；
perhaps；　he　had　had　some　possible　hope　of　escape。　　It　was　useless
now；　he　knew。

As　calmly　as　he　had　spoken　thus　far　Muller　continued。　　〃For　twenty
years　I　have　been　studying　the　hearts　of　criminals　like　yourself。
But　there　are　things　I　do　not　understand　about　this　case　and　it
interests　me　very　much。〃

Langen　had　wiped　the　drops　from　his　forehead　and　he　now　turned　on
Muller　a　face　that　seemed　made　of　bronze。　　There　was　but　one
expression　on　it；　that　of　cold　scorn。

〃I　feel　greatly　flattered；　sir；　to　think　that　I　can　offer　a　problem
to　one　of　your　experience；〃　Langen　began。　　His　voice；　which　had　been
slightly　veiled　before；　was　now　quite　clear。　　〃Ask　me　all　you　like。
I　will　answer　you。〃

Muller　began：　〃Why　did　you　wait　so　long　before　committing　the
murder？　　and　why　did　you　drag　your　victim　from　place　to　place　when
you　could　have　killed　her　easily　in　the　compartment　of　the　railway
train？〃

〃The　windows　of　the　compartment　were　open；　my　honoured　friend；　and
it　was　a　fine　warm　evening　for　the　season；　because　of　which　the
windows　in　the　other　compartment　were　also　open。　　There　was　nothing
else　I　could　do　at　that　time　then；　except　to　offer　Asta　a　cup　of
tea　when　she　felt　a　little　faint　upon　leaving　the　train。　　I　am　a
physician　and　I　know　how　to　use　the　right　drugs　at　the　right　time。
When　Asta　had　taken　the　tea；　she　knew　nothing　more　until　she　woke
up　a　day　later　in　a　room　in　the　city。〃

〃And　the　piece　of　paper　with　the　threat　on　it？　　and　the；　revolver
you　left　so　handy　for　her？　　oh；　but　I　forgot；　the　old　woman　took
the　weapon　away　before　the　lady　could　use　it　in　her　despair；〃　said
Muller。

〃Quite　right。　　I　see　you　know　every　detail。〃

〃But　why　didn't　you　complete　your　crime　in　the　room　in　the　old
house？〃　persisted　Muller。

〃Because　I　lost　my　false　beard　one　day　upon　the　staircase；　and　I
feared　the　old　woman　might　have　seen　my　face　enough　to　recognise　me
again。　　I　thought　it　better　to　look　for　another　place。〃

〃And　then　you　found　this　house。〃

〃Yes；　but　several　days　later。〃

〃And　you　hired　it　in　the　name　of　Miss　Asta　Langen？　　Who　would　then
have　been　found　dead　here　several　days　after　you　had　entered　the
house？〃

〃Several　days；　several　weeks　perhaps。　　I　preferred　to　wait　until
the　woman　who　rented　the　house　had　read　in　the　papers　that　Asta
Langen　had　disappeared　and　was　being　sought　for。　　Somebody　would
have　found　her　here；　and　her　identity　would　have　easily　been
established；　for　I　knew　that　she　had　some　important　family　documents
with　her。〃

Muller　was　silent　a　moment；　with　an　expression　of　deep　pity　on　his
face。　　Then　he　continued：　〃Yes；　someone　would　have　found　her；　and
her　suicide　would　have　been　a　dark　mystery；　unless；　of　course；
malicious　tongues　would　have　found　ugly　reasons　enough　why　a
beautiful　young　lady　should　hide　herself　in　a　lonely　cottage　to
take　her　own　life。〃

Muller　had　spoken　as　if　to　himself。　　Egon　Langen's　lips；　parted　in
a　smile　so　evil　that　Amster　clenched　his　fists。

〃And　you　would　not　have　regretted　this　ruining　the　reputation　as
well　as　taking　the　life　of　an　innocent　girl？〃　asked　the　detective
low　and　tense。

〃No；　for　I　hated　her。〃

〃You　hated　her　because　she　was　rich　and　innocent。　　She　was　very
charitable　and　would　gladly　have　helped　you　if　you　were　in　need。
Beside　this；　you　were　entitled　to　a　portion　of　your　father's　estate。
It　is　almost　thirty　thousand　guldens；　as　Mr。　Fellner　tells　me。　　Why
did　you　not　take　that？〃

〃Fellner　did　not　know　that　I　had　already　received　twenty　thousand
of　this　when　my　father　turned　me　out。　　He　probably　would　have　heard
of　it　later；　for