the lamp that went out-第17部分

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engaged　them　at　first　sight；　for　the　apartment　possessed　one
qualification　which　was　absolutely　necessary　for　him。　　Its
situation　and　the　arrangement　of　its　doors　made　it　possible　for
him　to　enter　and　leave　his　rooms　without　being　seen　either　by　his
own　landlady　or　by　the　other　lodgers　in　the　house。　　The　little
apartment　was　on　the　ground　floor；　and　Muller's　own　rooms　had　a
separate　entrance　opening　on　to　the　main　corridor　almost　immediately
behind　the　door。　　Nine　times　out　of　ten；　he　could　come　and　go
without　being　seen　by　any　one　in　the　house。　　To…day　was　the　first
time；　however；　that　Muller　had　had　occasion　to　try　this　particular
qualification　of　his　new　lodgings。

He　opened　the　street　door　and　slipped　into　his　own　room　without
having　seen　or　been　seen　by　any　one。

Fifteen　minutes　later　he　left　the　apartment　again；　but　left　it
such　a　changed　man　that　nobody　who　had　seen　him　go　in　would　have
recognised　him。　　Before　he　came　out；　however；　he　looked　about
carefully　to　see　whether　there　was　any　one　in　sight　He　came　out
unseen　and　was　just　closing　the　main　door　behind　him；　when　he　met
the　janitress。

〃Were　you　looking　for　anybody　in　the　house？〃　said　the　woman；
glancing　sharply　at　the　stranger；　who　answered　in　a　slightly　veiled
voice：　〃No；　I　made　a　mistake　in　the　number。　　The　place　I　am　looking
for　is　two　houses　further　down。〃

He　walked　down　the　street　and　the　woman　looked　after　him　until　she
saw　him　turn　into　the　doorway　of　the　second　house。　　Then　she　went
into　her　own　rooms。　　The　house　Muller　entered　happened　to　be　a
corner　house　with　an　entrance　on　the　other　street；　through　which
the　detective　passed　and　went　on　his　way。　　He　was　quite　satisfied
with　the　security　of　his　disguise；　for　the　woman　who　knew　him　well
had　not　recognised　him　at　all。　　If　his　own　janitress　did　not　know
him；　the　people　in　the　Thorne　house　would　never　imagine　it　was　he。

And　indeed　Muller　was　entirely　changed。　　In　actuality　small　and
thin；　with　sparse　brown　hair　and　smooth　shaven　face；　he　was　now　an
inch　or　two　taller　and　very　much　stouter。　　He　wore　thick　curly　blond
hair；　a　little　pointed　blond　beard　and　moustache。　　His　eyes　were
hidden　by　heavy…rimmed　spectacles。

It　was　just　half…past　five　when　he　rang　the　bell　at　the　entrance
gate　to　the　Thorne　property。　　He　had　spent　the　intervening　time　in
the　caf？　as　he　was　in　no　hurry　to　enter　the　house。　　Franz　came　down
the　path　and　opened　the　door。　　〃'What　do　you　want？〃　　he　asked。

〃I　come　from　Siemens　&　Halske；　I　was　to　ask　whether　the　other　man　…　〃

〃Has　been　here　already？〃　　interrupted　Franz；　adding　in　an　irritated
tone；　〃No；　he　hasn't　been　here　at　all。〃

〃Well；　I　guess　he　didn't　get　through　at　the　other　place　in　time。
I'll　see　what　the　trouble　is；〃　　said　the　stranger；　whom　Franz
naturally　supposed　to　be　the　electrician；　lie　opened　the　gate　and
asked　the　other　to　come　in；　leading　him　into　the　house。　　Under　a
cloudy　sky　the　day　was　fading　rapidly。　　Muller　knew　that　it　would
not　occur　to　the　real　electrician　to　begin　any　work　as　late　as　this；
and　that　he　was　perfectly　safe　in　the　examination　he　wanted　to　make。

〃Well；　what's　the　trouble　here？　　Why　did　you　write　to　our　firm？〃
asked　the　supposed　electrician。

〃The　wires　must　cross　somewhere；　or　there's　something　wrong　with
the　bells。　　When　the　housekeeper　touches　the　button　in　her　room　to
ring　for　the　cook　or　the　upstairs　girl；　the　bell　rings　in　Mr。　Thorne's
room。　　It　starts　ringing　and　it　keeps　up　with　a　deuce　of　a　noise。
Fortunately　the　family　are　away。〃

〃Well；　we'll　fix　it　all　right　for　you。　　First　of　all　I　want　to　look
at　the　button　in　the　housekeeper's　room。〃

〃I'll　take　you　up　there；〃　　said　Franz。

They　walked　through　the　wide　corridor；　then　turned　into　a　shorter；
darker　hall　and　went　up　a　narrow　winding　stairway。　　Franz　halted
before　a　door　in　the　second　story。　　It　was　the　last　of　the　three
doors　in　the　hall。〃　　Muller　took　off　his　hat　as　the　door　opened
and　murmured　a　〃good…evening。〃

〃There's　no　one　there；　Mrs。　Bernaner's　out。〃

〃Has　she　gone　away；　too？〃　　asked　the　electrician　hastily。

Franz　did　not　notice　that　there　was　a　slight　change　in　the　stranger's
voice　at　this　question；　and　he　answered　calmly　as　ever：　〃Oh；　no；
she's　just　driven　to　town。　　T　think　she　went　to　see　the　doctor　who
lives　quite　a　distance　away。　　She　hasn't　been　feeling　at　all　well。
She　took　a　cab　to…day。　　I　told　her　she　ought　to；　as　she　wasn't　well
enough　to　go　by　the　tram。　　She　ought　to　be　home　any　moment　now。〃

〃Well；　I'll　hurry　up　with　the　job　so　that　I'll　be　out　of　the　way
when　the　lady　comes；〃　　said　Muller；　as　Franz　led　him　to　the
misbehaving　bell。

It　was　in　the　wall　immediately　above　a　large　table　which　filled　the
window　niche　so　completely　that　there　was　but　scant　space　left　for
the　comfortable　armchair　that　stood　in　front　of　it。　　The　window　was
open　and　Muller　leaned　out；　looking　down　at　the　garden　below。

〃What　a　fine　old　garden！〃　　he　exclaimed　aloud。　　To　himself　he　said：
〃This　is　the　last　window　in　the　left　wing。　　It　is　the　window　where
Johann　Knoll　saw　the　red　light。〃

And　when　he　turned　back　into　the　room　again　he　found　the　source　of
this　light　right　at　his　hand　on　the　handsome　old　table　at　which　Mrs。
Bernauer　evidently　spent　many　of　her　hours。　　A　row　of　books　stood
against　the　wall；　framing　the　back　of　the　table。　　Well…worn　volumes
of　the　classics　among　them　gave　proof　that　the　one…time　nurse　was　a
woman　of　education。　　A　sewing　basket　and　neat　piles　of　house　linen；
awaiting　repairs；　covered　a　large　part　of　the　table…top；　and　beside
them　stood　a　gracefully　shaped　lamp；　covered　by　a　shade　of　soft　red
silk。

It　took　Muller　but　a　few　seconds　to　see　all　this。　　Then　he　set　about
his　investigation　of　the　electric　button。　　He　unscrewed　the　plate
and　examined　the　wires　meeting　under　it。　　While　doing　so　he　cast
another　glance　at　the　table　and　saw　a　letter　lying　there；　an　open
letter　half　out　of　its　envelope。　　This　envelope　was　of　unusual　shape；
long　and　narrow；　and　the　paper　was　heavy　and　high…glossed。

〃Your　housekeeper　evidently　has　no　secrets　from　the　rest　of　you；〃
Muller　remarked　with　a　laugh；　still　busy　at　the　wires；　〃or　she
wouldn't　leave　her　letters　lying　about　like　that。〃

〃Oh；　we've　all　heard　what's　in　that　letter；〃　　replied　Franz。　　〃She
read　it　to　us　when　it　came　this　morning。　　It's　from　the　Madam。　　She
sent　messages　to　all　of　us　and　orders；　so　Mrs。　Bernauer　read　us　the
whole　letter。　　There's　no　secrets　in　that。〃

〃The　button　has　been　pressed　in　too　far　and　caught　down。　　That　seems
to　be　the　main　trouble；〃　　said　Muller；　readjusting　the　little　knob。
〃I'd　like　a　candle　here　if　I　may　have　one。〃

〃I'll　get　you　a　light　at　once；〃　　said　Franz。　　But　his　intentions；
however　excellent；　seemed　difficult　of　fulfilment。　　It　was　rapidly
growing　dark；　and　the　old　butler　peered　about　uncertainly。　　〃Stupid；〃
he　muttered。　　〃I　don't　know　where　she　keeps　the　matches。　　I　can't
find　them　anywhere。　　I'm　not　a　smoker；　so　I　haven't　any　in　my　pocket。〃

〃Nor　I；〃　　said　Muller　calmly；　letting　his　hand　close　protectingly
over　a　new　full　box　of　them　in　his　own　pocket。

〃I'll　get　you　some　from　my　own　room；〃　　and　Franz　hurried　away；　his
loose　slippers　clattering　down　the　stairs。　　He　was　no　sooner　well
out　of　the　room　than　Muller　had　the　letter　in　his　hand　and　was
standing　close　by　the　window　to　catch　the　fading　light。　　But　on　the
old　servant's　return　the　supposed　electrician　stood　calmly　awaiting
the　coming　of　the　light；　and　the　letter　was　back　on　the　table　half
hidden　by　a　piece　of　linen。　　Franz　did　not　notice　that　the　envelope
was　missing。　　And　the　housekeeper；　whose　mind　was　so　upset　by　the
events　of　the　day；　and　whose　thoughts　were　on　other　more　absorbing
matters；　would　hardly　be　likely　to　remember　whether　she　had　returned
this　quite　unimportant　letter　to　its　envelope　or　not。

Franz　brought　a　lighted　candle　with　him；　and　Muller；　who　really　did
possess　a　creditable　knowledge　of　electricity；　saw　that　the　wires
in　the　room　were　all　in　good　condition。　　As　he　had　seen　at　first；
there　was　really　nothing　the　matter　except　with　the　position　of
the　button。　　But　it　did　not　suit　his　purpose　to　enlighten　Franz　on
the　matter　just　yet。

〃Now　I'd　better　look　at　the　wires　in　the　gentleman's　room；〃　　he
said；　when　he　had　returned　plate　and　button　to　their　place。

〃Just　as　you　say；〃　　replied　Franz；　taking　up　his　candle　and　leading
the　way　out　into　the　hail　and　down　the　winding　stair。　　They　crossed
the　lower　corridor；　mounted　another　staircase　and　entered　a　large；
handsomely　furnished　room；　half　studio；　half　library。　　The　wall　was
covered　with　pictures　and　sketches；　several　easels　stood　piled　up
in　the　corner；　and　a　broad　table　beside　them　held　paint　boxes；
colour　tubes；　brushes；　all　the　paraphernalia　of　the　painter；　now
carefully　ordered　and　covered　for　a　term　of　idleness。　　Great
bookcases　towered　to　the　ceiling；　and　a　huge　flat　top　desk；　a
costly　piece　of　furniture；　was　covered　with　books　and　papers。　　It
was　the　room　of　a　man　of　brains　and　breeding；　a　man　of　talent　and
ability；　possessing；　furthermore；　the　means　to　indulge　his　tastes
freely。　　Even　now；　with　its　master　absent；　the　handsome　apartment
bore　the　impress　of　his　personality。　　The　detective's　quick
imagination　called　up　the　attractive；　sympathetic　figure　of　the
man　he　had　seen　at　the　gate；　as　his　quick　eye　took　in　the　details
of　the　room。　　All　the　charm　of　Herbert　Thorne's　personality；　which
the　keen…sensed　Muller　had　felt　so　strongly　even　in　that　fleeting
glimpse　of　him；　came　back　again　here　in　the　room　which　was　his　own
little　kingdom　and　the　expression　of　his　mentality。

〃Well；　what's　the　trouble　here？　　Where　are　the　wires？〃　　asked　the
detective；　after　the　momentary　pause　which　had　followed　his　entrance
into　the　room。　　Franz　led　him　to　a　spot　on　the　wall　hidden　by　a
marquetry　cabinet。　　〃Here's　the　bell；　it　rings　for　several　minutes
before　it　stops。〃

The　light　of　the　candle　which　the　butler　held　fell　upon　a　portrait
hanging　above　the　cabinet。　　It　was　a　sketch　in　water…colours；　the
life…sized　head　of　a　man　who　may　have　been　about　thirty　years　old；
perhaps；　but　who　had　none　of　the　freshness　and　vigour　of　youth。
The　scanty　hair；　the　sunken　temples；　and　the　faded　skin；　emphasised
the