representedthe figure of a French soldier with a marked target on the breast. Thedetective pinned the paper on the back of the chair in which ProfessorFellner had been seated when he met his death.
"But the key was in the hole," objected Bauer suddenly.
"Yes, but it was turned so that the lower part of the hole was free.Johann saw the light streaming through and could look into the room.If the murderer put the barrel of his pistol to this open part of thekeyhole, the bullet would have to strike exactly where the dead man sat.There would be no need to take any particular aim." Muller gazed intospace like a seer before whose mental eye a vision has arisen, andcontinued in level tones: "Fellner had refused the duel and the murdererwas crazed by his desire for revenge. He came here to the house, he musthave known just how to enter the place, how to reach the rooms, and hemust have known also, that the Professor, coward as he was--"
"Coward? Is a man a coward when he refuses to stand up to a maniac?"interrupted Bauer.
Muller came back to the present with a start and said calmly, "Fellnerwas a coward."
"Then you know more than you are telling me now?"
Muller nodded. "Yes, I do," he answered with a smile. "But I will tellyou more only when I have all the proofs in my own hand."
"And the criminal will escape us in the meantime."
"He has no idea that he is suspected."
"But--you'll promise to be sensible this time, Muller?"
"Yes. But you will pardon me my present reticence, even towards you?I--I don't want to be thought a dreamer again."
"As in the Kniepp case?"
"As in the Kniepp case," repeated the little man with a strange smile."So please allow me to go about it in my own way. I will tell you allyou want to know to-morrow."
"To-morrow, then."
"May I now continue to unfold my theories?" Bauer nodded and Mullercontinued: "The criminal wanted Fellner's blood, no matter how."
"Even if it meant murder," said Bauer.
Muller nodded calmly. "It would have been nobler, perhaps, to havewarned his victim of his approach, but it might have all come to nothingthen. The other could have called for help, could have barricadedhimself in his room, one crime might have been prevented, and another,more shameful one, would have gone unavenged."
"Another crime? Fellner a criminal?"
"To-morrow you shall know everything, my kind friend. And now, let usmake the trial. Please lock the door behind me as it was locked then."
Muller left the room, taking the pistol with him. Bauer locked the door."Is this right?" he asked.
"Yes, I can see a wide curve of the room, taking in the entire desk.Please stand to one side now."
There was deep silence for a moment, then a slight sound as of metalon metal, then a report, and Muller re-entered the study through thebedroom. He found Bauer stooping over the picture of the French soldier.There was a hole in the left breast, where the bullet, passing through,had buried itself in the back of the chair.
"Yes, it was all just as you said," began the chief of police, holdingout his hand to Muller. "But--why the golden bullet?"
"To-morrow, to-morrow," replied the detective, looking up at hissuperior with a glance of pleading.
They left the house together and in less than an hour's time Muller wasagain in the train rolling towards the capital.
He went to the goldsmith's shop as soon as he arrived. The proprietorreceived him with eager interest and Muller handed him the goldenbullet. "Here is the golden object of which I spoke," said thedetective, paying no heed to the other's astonishment. The goldsmithopened a small locked drawer, took a ring from it and set about anexamination of the two little objects. When he turned to his visitoragain, he was evidently satisfied with what he had discovered. "Thesetwo objects are made of exactly the same sort of gold, of a peculiarold French composition, which can no longer be produced in the samerichness. The weight of the gold in the bullet is exactly the same as inthe ring."
"Would you be willing to take an oath on that if you were called in asan expert?"
"I am willing to stand up for my judgment."
"Good. And now will you read this over please, it contains the substanceof what you told me yesterday. Should I have made any mistakes, pleasecorrect them, for I will ask you to set your signature to it."
Muller handed several sheets of close writing to the goldsmith and thelatter read aloud as follows: "On the 22nd of November, a gentleman cameinto my shop and handed me a wedding ring with the request that I shouldmake another one exactly like it. He was particularly anxious that thework should be done in two days at the very latest, and also that thenew ring, in form, colour, and in the engraving on the inside, shouldbe a perfect counterpart of the first. He explained his order by sayingthat his wife was ill, and that she was grieving over the loss of herwedding ring which had somehow disappeared. The new ring could be foundsomewhere as if by chance and the sick woman's anxiety would be over.Two days later, as arranged, the same gentleman appeared again and Ihanded him the two rings.
"He left the shop, greatly satisfied with my work and apparently muchrelieved in his mind. But he left me uneasy in spirit because I haddeceived him. It had not been possible for me to reproduce exactly thecomposition of the original ring, and as I believed that the work was tobe done in order to comfort an invalid, and I was getting no profit,but on the contrary a little extra work out of it, I made two new rings,lettered them according to the original and gave them to my customer.The original ring I am now, on this seventh day of December, giving toMr. Joseph Mullet, who has shown me his legitimation as a member ofthe Secret Police. I am willing to put myself at the service of theauthorities if I am called for."
"You are willing to do this, aren't you?" asked Muller when thegoldsmith had arrived at the end of the notice.
"Of course."
"Have you anything to add to this?"
"No, it is quite complete. I will sign it at once."
Several hours later, Muller re-entered the police station in his hometown and saw the windows of the chief's apartment brilliantly lighted."What's going on," he asked of Bauer's servant who was just hurrying upthe stairs.
"The mistress' birthday, we've got company."
Muller grumbled something and went on up to his own room. He knew itwould not be pleasant for his patron to be disturbed in the midst ofentertaining his guests, but the matter was important and could notwait.
The detective laid off his outer garments, made a few changes in histoilet and putting the goldsmith's declaration, with the ring andthe bullet in his pocketbook, he went down to the first floor of thebuilding, in one wing of which was the apartment occupied by the Chief.He sent in his name and was told to wait in the little study. He satdown quietly in a corner of the comfortable little room beyond which,in a handsomely furnished smoking room, a number of guests sat playingcards. From the drawing rooms beyond, there was the sound of music andmany voices.
It was all very attractive and comfortable, and the solitary man satthere enjoying once more the pleasant sensation of triumph, of joy atthe victory that was his alone and that would win him back all his oldfriends and prestige. He was looking forward in agreeable anticipationto the explanations he had to give, when he suddenly started and grewpale. His eyes dimmed a moment, then he pulled himself together andmurmured: "No, no, not this time. I will not be weak this time."
Just then the Chief entered the room, accompanied by Councillor Kniepp.
"Won't you sit down here a little?" asked the friendly host. "You willfind it much quieter in this room." He pulled up a little table ladenwith cigars and wine, close to a comfortable armchair. Then, noticingMuller, he continued with a friendly nod: "I'm glad they told you towait in here. You must be frozen after your long ride. If you will waitjust a moment more, I will return at once and we can go into my office.And if you will make yourself comfortable here, my dear Kniepp, I willsend our friend Horn in to talk with you. He is bright and jovial andwill keep you amused."
r /> The chief chattered on, making a strenuous endeavour to appear quiteharmless. But Kniepp, more apt than ever just now to notice theactions of others, saw plainly that his genial host was concealing someexcitement. When the latter had gone out the Councillor lookedafter him, shaking his head. Then his glance fell by chance on thequiet-looking man who had risen at his entrance and had not sat downagain.
"Please sit down," he said in a friendly tone, but the other did notmove. His grey eyes gazed intently at the man whose fate he was tochange so horribly.
Kniepp grew uneasy under the stare. "What is there that interests you soabout me?" he asked in a tone that was an