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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/34917-8.txt b/34917-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..cdf9169 --- /dev/null +++ b/34917-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5810 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Lonely House, by Adolph Streckfuss + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Lonely House + +Author: Adolph Streckfuss + +Illustrator: Charlotte Weber-Ditzler + +Translator: A. L. Wister + +Release Date: January 11, 2011 [EBook #34917] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LONELY HOUSE *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by the Web Archive + + + + + + +Transcriber's Note: + 1. page scan source: + http://www.archive.org/details/lonelyhousefrom00wistgoog + + + + + + + The Lonely House + + + + + + +[Illustration: Franz and Anna] + + + + + + + _The_ + Lonely House + + + From the German of + ADOLF STRECKFUSS + Author of "Too Rich," "Castle Hohenwald," etc. + + + _By_ + MRS. A. L. WISTER + Translator of "The Old Mam'selle's Secret," "Gold Elsie," "The + Second Wife," "The Happy-Go-Lucky," etc. + + + + + _WITH ILLUSTRATIONS IN COLOR BY_ + CHARLOTTE WEBER-DITZLER + + + + + PHILADELPHIA & LONDON + J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY + 1907 + + + + + + + Copyright, 1907 + BY J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY + + + + + Published October, 1907 + + + + + _Electrotyped and printed by J. B. Lippincott Company_ + _The Washington Square Press, Philadelphia, U. S. A_. + + + + + + +I TAKE PLEASURE IN INSCRIBING THIS TRANSLATION--THE LAST I SHALL EVER +COMPLETE--TO THE CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN OF THOSE WHO SO KINDLY +WELCOMED THE FIRST, PUBLISHED A LIFE-TIME AGO. + + ANNIS LEE WISTER + + + + + "Lindenshade," + Walungford, Pa. + September, 1907 + + + + + Contents + + CHAP. + I. The Professor's Persistence + + II. The Professor's First Excursion + + III. The Professor's Return + + IV. The Investigation + + V. The Investigation Continued + + VI. Two Wounded Hands + + VII. The Two Requests + + VIII. Quiet Weeks + + IX. An Exploring Party + + X. An Accident? + + XI. Forced Seclusion + + XII. An Arrest + + XIII. An Old Chest + + XIV. The End of the Professor's Holiday + + + + + Illustrations + + Franz and Anna _Frontispiece_ + + "You Must Help Me!" + + Then Began a Struggle, a Fight for Life and Death + + + + + + The + Lonely House + + + + + CHAPTER I. + THE PROFESSOR'S PERSISTENCE. + + +Ukraine! Ukraine! For years I had longed to spend some weeks in +Southern Ukraine. The descriptions I had read of its wonderful +mountains had greatly attracted me; I was certain of adding there +many valuable specimens to my collection; that section of country had +been so rarely visited by entomologists that I might even hope to +enrich our German fauna with a new species. Some years before a +butterfly-collector from Vienna had discovered there the caterpillar of +the beautiful _Saturnia cćcigena_, found previously only in Dalmatia. +Why might I not hope for something equally interesting! + +The scenery of Southern Ukraine is not thought to be very fine: the +mountains are much less imposing than in other Alpine districts, but +the Carpathian range is said to have many very interesting caves, and +strange formations of rock, while for the naturalist its fauna and +flora offer a rich field for investigation in its mountain fastnesses +and deep valleys. + +If travel in that section of the country were only not attended with +such risk and inconvenience! Travellers who seemed thoroughly familiar +with its political and social condition warned me seriously not to +attempt going thither. The only tolerable accommodation for strangers, +they said, is to be found in the larger towns--Laibach, Adelsberg, +etc., and on the high road followed by tourists; as soon as the +traveller attempts to penetrate the interior he finds only wretched +inns, no comfort of any description, and a poverty-stricken peasantry, +speaking the dialect of the country, and understanding not one word of +German. All expeditions into the valleys are fraught with discomfort +and even hardships. Nevertheless, little alluring as were the accounts +given me of the country, the prospect of adding to my collections--I am +a naturalist--an entomologist--was so tempting that when I had a longer +vacation than usual I determined to fulfil a long cherished desire and +to pass a spring in Southern Ukraine. + +And then the question arose as to what place I should make my +headquarters. A naturalist cannot travel hither and thither like an +ordinary tourist; he must establish himself somewhere, and make +excursions into the surrounding country, which he must investigate +thoroughly or he can hope for no results from his labours; moreover, +the paraphernalia of his profession are too bulky to be moved easily +from place to place. + +Unfortunately all the guide books were too incomplete to give me the +least assistance; I had recourse to the admirable maps of the Austrian +Government, and in them I found a small town--Luttach--which seemed +well fitted for my purpose. It is situated in a deep valley in the +midst of the Carpathians, at the foot of a long spur of Mt. Nanos on +the road from Adelsberg to Görz--a road once much travelled, but fallen +into disrepair since the intrusion of the railroad. From Luttach the +topmost peak of Mt. Nanos could be reached in a few hours, and in the +valley itself there was sure to be a mingling of the southern fauna and +flora with those of the Alps proper. I might promise myself rich +additions to my collections. Moreover the many German names of the +surrounding villages, and indeed the German name of the town itself, +were very attractive for me, giving me hopes that there might be German +elements mingling with the Slavonic civilization. + +Luttach it should be then. My two huge travelling trunks were duly +packed and I was provided with every requisite for collecting. The last +of April I left Berlin full of pleasant anticipations. + +In Vienna, where I stopped for a day as I passed through, I called on a +friend; he gravely shook his head when he heard that I had chosen +Luttach for a stay of some weeks. "I never heard before of this +God-forsaken hole," said he; "I should not risk going there, but since +you are determined to go, provide yourself at least with a good +revolver, for without it you never ought to venture among the dreary +deserts of the Carpathians, or to wander in those primeval woods and +forests. It is dangerous for an elderly man like yourself. You know +besides that there are still bears and wildcats in the forest on Mt. +Nanos, not to mention those two venomous reptiles native to the rocky +retreats of the Karst range--the cross-adder and the sand-viper. More +to be feared than all these, moreover, is the human beast of prey whom +you will surely meet in your wanderings there. You had really best +relinquish your plan of visiting so inhospitable a region. But if you +insist upon it, pray be cautious. Go well armed, and do not venture too +far among those desert fastnesses." + +I cannot say that I was agreeably impressed by my friend's warning. I +was not formed in an heroic mould and I do not willingly court danger. +At sixty, after a life spent principally in study, there is small +desire for perilous adventure. Although I am not deficient in personal +bravery, as I had opportunity to prove in my student-days, and +afterwards in political embroglios, it is not my nature to seek for +perils. Bears and wildcats, and even venomous serpents, caused me no +alarm--the beasts are rarely dangerous in summer, and I knew well how +to manage the reptiles; I had frequently encountered them in my +excursions in the Swiss Alps and even in Northern Germany. The danger +from human beasts of prey appeared to me far more serious, but even +this could not deter me from carrying out the plan I had contemplated +for so long. In Vienna I purchased an excellent revolver with the +necessary ammunition and started the next morning for Görz, where I +wished to visit an old friend and fellow-student, who, dwelling so near +the frontier, would, I hoped, give me a less alarming account of the +country I wished to explore. But my hope was vain; he was even more +emphatic than my Vienna friend had been, although he laughed at the +story of bears, wildcats, and snakes. He shook his head and said: "I +know nothing of Luttach and the surrounding country, except that on +Nanos the _Saturnia cćcigena_ was formerly to be found. You will +probably make some good additions to your collections, although I doubt +your making as many as you hope, since in the rocky parts of the +mountains insect life is sparse, and where the mountain sides are +clothed with trees, they form an impenetrable primeval forest. I doubt +also whether the richest harvest you can reap will compensate you for +the hardships, the discomforts--yes, the dangers to which you will +expose yourself. The greatest of these lies in the fact of your being a +German. The unhappy strife between nationalities in Ukraine has so +embittered the inhabitants there that all kindly feeling is extinct. +The Slav considers hatred of the German his first duty; it is his +greatest delight to annoy--even to maltreat--a German. Whether you can +defend yourself with your revolver from such maltreatment is more than +doubtful. You could not use it against any single peasant who should +meet you in the forest, and insult you, or even against three or four, +who might amuse themselves by annoying you in countless ways. There +certainly is danger of encountering robbers in those wilds; your +revolver might serve you there--to me danger from the determined +hostility towards Germans seems far greater." + +This was encouraging! I almost wonder now that I was not deterred from +my undertaking. If my respected colleague had not expressly stated that +I should find _Saturnia cćcigena_ on Mt. Nanos, I should probably have +followed his advice not to go to Luttach, but my passion for collecting +outweighed every other consideration. I refused to be intimidated, and +started upon my journey the very next day, arriving at four o 'clock in +the afternoon at Adelsberg, whence I could reach Luttach in four hours +by a carriage road. So desirous was I to attain this goal of my wishes +that I resisted the temptation to visit the world-renowned Grotto at +Adelsberg, postponing this pleasure until my return. I hired a vehicle, +large enough to accommodate myself and my two huge travelling trunks, +and in half an hour I was on my way to Luttach. + +The road was excellent, leading through an attractive mountain region +among low hills, although loftier eminences bounded the horizon. I +should have liked to know the names of those giant mountains, but my +driver was a genuine Slav, who could not understand a word of German, +and who was too stupid to comprehend signs, so all intercourse with +him was impossible. We drove swiftly, almost as swiftly up-hill as +down-hill, through a charmingly varied landscape, through forests, past +meadows and cornfields, with only a glimpse of the desolate Karst range +now and then in the distance, until we rapidly approached the bare gray +rocks of Mt. Nanos--which, as we descended by a winding road to the +valley of Luttach, stood out boldly against the sky. + +Time passed rapidly during the long drive; there was so much to see, +and everything that I saw was distinctly in contrast with what I had +been led to expect in Southern Ukraine. The numerous villages through +which the road ran were entirely different from the ruinous Polish +hamlets with which I was familiar in Upper Silesia; they consisted +mostly of flourishing farms, with very few straw-thatched cottages. The +peasants whom we met greeted me as we passed along with friendly +courtesy--they could not recognize me as a hated German--and the inns +as we drove by them, so far from presenting pictures of dirt and decay, +were most attractive, and invitingly clean. + +And when in the valley we drove among meadows bright with the luxuriant +growth of spring--past vineyards where each vine showed careful culture +and was just putting forth its tender leaves--along a road bordered on +the left by hillsides under full cultivation, where countless white +cottages in the midst of blossoming orchards betokened a numerous +population, I could hardly fancy that I was in the midst of the +ill-reputed desolate Karst range, in a corner of the world of which +scarce a hint was to be found in the guide books. The bald rocky mass +of Mt. Nanos alone, clothed at its feet only with a forest of oaks, and +the bare peaks of the high range that seemed to close in the valley in +the distant west, showed that vegetation was not as luxuriant +everywhere in the Karst range as I found it on the hills to the left +and in the valley itself. + +"Luttava!" my driver called out, nodding to me and pointing with his +whip towards a little town near at hand, nestling at the very foot of +Nanos, its white houses seeming to cling to the rocks. In a few minutes +we had reached it, and after driving along a street too narrow for more +than one vehicle, turned into the gateway of a large building, before +which a tall pole supported a sign whereon a golden grape vine declared +it to be the inn recommended to me before I left Adelsberg. + +The carriage stopped beneath the dim gateway before a door opening +directly into a spacious kitchen, where in the huge chimney-piece a +bright fire was blazing. Through the door I could see several men, some +standing, some seated upon low benches, about the fire, all of whom +regarded the newcomer with curiosity. A plainly clad but spotlessly +clean dame busied herself on the hearth, moved a steaming pot to one +side, and hurried out to receive me, opening the carriage door to help +me to alight. + +"Can I have a room!" + +"Certainly! If the gentleman will kindly go upstairs," was the reply, +delivered in excellent German, although with a strong accent. "Mizka, +show the gentleman up to Number Two." + +Mizka, a pretty slender girl, tripped lightly before me up the stairs +leading up two flights directly from the kitchen to a wide entry, where +she threw open the door of Number Two, and courteously held it open for +me to precede her. + +The room was large, low, and square, with two small windows, looking +out upon the street. It probably looked larger than it really was from +the absence of much furniture along its walls. Between the two windows +there was an old-fashioned sofa covered with gay chintz, and above its +high back hung an oval mirror in a black varnished frame, while before +it stood an extension table, which if pulled out to its fullest +capacity would have accommodated twenty-four persons. A tall cedar +clothes press, a washstand, six chintz-covered cushioned chairs, and a +huge bed which had to be clambered into by the help of a chair, +completed the furniture of the room. The walls, painted light green, +were adorned with four gaily colored prints, each portraying a quarter +of the earth in the guise of a very ugly and scantily clothed dame, +whose distorted limbs reclined upon a fantastically shaped couch. + +This was Number Two, my room. It certainly did not look inviting for a +long stay; it was too bare, but it as certainly possessed the +unexpected attraction of perfect cleanliness. Not a speck of dust lay +upon the few articles of furniture, the bare floor was spotless, and +the creases in the white bed linen bore testimony to its freshness. + +"Will the gentleman take his supper here, or below in the dining-room?" +Mizka asked me in very good German. + +"I will come down as soon as I have washed," was my reply. + +"I will bring fresh water immediately;" and she hurried away, returning +presently with a can of crystal-clear water, and a supply of fresh +towels, and followed closely by two gigantic porters, each of whom bore +upon his shoulders one of my heavy trunks. Assuredly thus far I could +not complain of lack of promptitude in the service of a Slav inn. + +When I had freed myself from the dust of travel, and had changed my +coat, I went down to the dining-room; the way led through the kitchen, +where several men were sitting or standing around the hearth, talking +familiarly with the hostess, who was busy meanwhile with her cooking. +All greeted me politely as I passed through the room. + +When Mizka showed me into the spacious dining-room, I took it all in +with a rapid glance. Its arrangement could not be called elegant, but +the cleanliness of the scoured tables atoned for its simplicity. There +were but a few persons present. At a table near a window a young man +sat alone, apparently absorbed in a newspaper. He looked up for a +moment as I entered, disclosing a singularly handsome face, which was +immediately hidden behind his paper. The face was thoroughly German. +Such deep blue eyes, such fair, close curls are to be found nowhere +save in Germany. He was certainly handsome, but his expression was too +grave, perhaps even too stern and hard to allow of his being thoroughly +attractive. + +As far from this young man as the size of the room would permit, at a +large round table near the tall stove, sat six or eight men, smoking +long cigars, with glasses of wine before them. They evidently saw me +enter and look about for a seat, and one of them instantly rose and +motioned courteously with his hand, placing a chair at the table, while +the others moved aside to give it room. + +I was amazed at so polite a reception in this notoriously hostile Slav +country, and I was not quite pleased. I should have liked to observe +the magnates of Luttach, who were apparently here assembled, from a +distance, at my leisure, before making their acquaintance, whereas now, +when I accepted their invitation, and introduced myself as a German, a +Prussian, and worse than all, from Berlin, whose citizens are never +popular, their amiability might decrease. "Permit me to present myself +to you, gentlemen," I said, "as Professor Dollnitz from Berlin, who +hopes to spend some weeks with you here in your beautiful country, +collecting plants and butterflies, beetles and chrysalids. I am an old +naturalist who looks forward to much gratification here in your richly +endowed Southern Ukraine." + +I observed a fleeting smile pass around the circle upon hearing that I, +so old a man, was running after butterflies and beetles, but I am used +to that; all sensible men regard us old entomologists as cranks, and +sometimes jest rather rudely at our expense; but this was not the case +here; the gentlemen, as I could see, suppressed their smiles at my +butterfly mania; they rose very politely and formally introduced +themselves as the District Judge Foligno, his Assistant Herr Einern, +Burgomaster Pollenz, a retired Captain Pollenz, a landed proprietor, +Gunther by name, Herr Weber, a merchant, and Herr Dietrich, a notary. +Strange! All German names save that of the district judge. + +Chance had surely brought me among Germans. I was strengthened in this +belief by finding that they all spoke excellent German, not merely with +me, but among themselves; only now and then was there heard a brief +remark in Slavonic. I soon found out my mistake, however, when in the +course of conversation I mentioned that I had been warned in Vienna and +in Görz not to visit the Ukraine on account of the hostility of the +Slavs to Germans. The Burgomaster Pollenz, a reverend old man, made +reply, speaking with emphasis, and so loudly that even the young man +sitting by the window at the other end of the room could hear every +word distinctly: "That is unfortunately a widespread error which has +brought our good Ukraine into ill-repute. We are all Slavs, and are +proud of being so. Our ancestors were Germans, but we are not. The +Ukraine is our home. Whoever is born here and lives here must feel +himself a genuine Slav. Those only do we hate among us who are disloyal +sons of their native land, who would rob us of our language, our +customs, and make Germans of us; we have no hatred for Germans born. +There are none of them dwelling among us; our entire population is +Slavonic, and you will soon find that as a native-born German you will +be kindly received everywhere. It is not so in Laibach, or where, as +there, the population is mixed, and national prejudice has free sway, +causing constant strife, but even there the Slavs are seldom the +aggressive party." + +"Then you think I can chase my butterflies alone among your woods and +mountains without fear of insult? I was expressly warned in Vienna not +to leave the house here without a loaded revolver in my pocket to +protect me from robbers." + +I was answered by a burst of laughter. "I assure you there is no tract +of country in the realm of Austria as perfectly safe as ours," the +Burgomaster replied. "We have had no robbery here for many years and I +will guarantee you as a German against any insult, unless, indeed," he +raised his voice again, and spoke very loud, "you should consort with +the only Slav among us who is disloyal to his country; friendship with +him would cause you to be suspected of hostility to our nation." + +The young man by the window had hitherto seemed heedless of our +conversation; now he arose and approached us. His flashing eyes seemed +to defy each member of the circle, but their expression grew gentler as +he addressed the Burgomaster. "I cannot be angry with you, Herr +Burgomaster," he said gravely, but not unkindly. "Your words were +offensive, but I know that you mean well by me and by the strange +gentleman. You have called me a disloyal son of my country, which I am +not! I am a whole-souled Austrian, but one also who can never forget +that he is sprung from German and Austrian blood. You have all of you +forgotten this; I am true to the German tongue and to German customs. +You are the faithless ones, not I!" + +"Do you want to pick a quarrel with us all, Franz?" asked the +Burgomaster, regarding the young man disapprovingly. + +"No, but I cannot allow you to give the strange gentleman a false +idea of me. Moreover, you need not fear that I shall force my +friendship upon him. I know too well that it might cause him annoyance. +Good-night!" He turned upon his heel and left the room without +bestowing a further glance upon the company. + +When the door had closed behind him, the District Judge said: "Franz +Schorn always was and always will be a most disagreeable fellow. He +deserves a thrashing for his insolence in calling us all faithless." + +"Your cane is just beside you in the corner; why did you not use it!" +the Captain asked with a sneer. "In fact, Franz is not altogether +wrong. My brother irritated him unnecessarily; he would never have +forced his company upon the Herr Professor. He lives so quietly and is +so reserved that he cannot be accused of officiousness." + +"'Tis natural that you should espouse the cause of your future cousin," +remarked the District Judge with a contemptuous emphasis upon the word +"cousin." + +"I should be glad to have him for my cousin; he is a thoroughly brave, +honest fellow." + +"But a German." + +"I am half German myself, and at all events I should prefer a German to +an Italian cousin. The Italians are always squinting over at Italy, and +Franz is, as he says, a German-Austrian at least." + +"Leave off bickering," the Burgomaster admonished his brother. "What +will the Herr Professor think of us, if we quarrel so before him over +our wine?" + +During this short skirmish of words I took occasion to observe the two +antagonists narrowly. I liked the Captain's frank, manly face and +bearing, but the District Judge Foligno produced a very unpleasant +impression upon me. He was a man of about forty, with a worn, sallow +countenance. His features were regular; he might have been accounted +handsome but for some ugly lines about his mouth, half hidden though +they were by a glossy black moustache, and a false, unsteady expression +in his piercing black eyes. Before his war of words with the Captain he +had taken no part in the conversation, but had sat gloomily silent, +with downcast eyes, smoking his long cigar and drinking far more than +the others. In the short time that I had been present Mizka had twice +filled his tall glass. + +The Burgomaster's efforts to restore peace were unavailing; the +District Judge renewed the quarrel by a malicious remark about old army +officers who no longer knew what nation they belonged to. The Captain +retorted angrily, more bitter words ensued, the other gentlemen +presently took part in the dispute, which principally concerned the +character of young Franz Schorn. The Burgomaster alone was silent; of +the rest only the County Clerk, Herr Einern, sided with the Captain. +While the others all agreed with the District Judge's abuse of Franz +Schorn as a rough, arrogant fellow, a recreant Slav, who was detested +and despised all through the countryside, and were unanimous in +declaring that "old Pollenz" was perfectly right in forbidding Franz to +hang around the Lonely House watching for pretty Anna, that it was the +old man's patriotic duty to shield his charming daughter from Schorn's +advances, the Clerk and the Captain warmly espoused his cause. The +Clerk, in fact, did not mince matters, but frankly characterized as +exaggerated and unjust his chief's tirade against Franz. The boldness +that he showed in doing this without in the least overstepping the +bounds of civility impressed me very favourably. + +I was soon tired, however, of listening to a discussion which became +more and more heated as time went on, concerning people of whom I had +no knowledge, and therefore when I had finished my supper--an excellent +one, by the way--and had emptied my glass of wine, I rose to retire, +pleading fatigue from my journey. + +The gentlemen probably suspected that their quarrel had driven me away, +and they fell silent in some confusion while the Burgomaster said +kindly: "You have chanced upon an unfortunate evening, Herr Professor. +Do not suppose that such a disturbance is frequent in our little +circle, and I pray you pardon any harsh words you may have heard with +regard to Germans. I can assure you that we have no quarrel with any +Germans, save those who should be Slavs. That we have no dislike for +Germans or Germany you may see for yourself, since you hear us all +speak your language among ourselves, and pray do not let this evening's +experience prevent you from joining our circle in future. You will +always be an honoured and welcome guest." + +I pressed the good man's hand cordially and followed Mizka, who stood +with lighted candle ready to show me to my room. + +I thought it not indiscreet to gossip a little with pretty Mizka while +she was arranging my bed, and to learn from her something regarding the +gentlemen whose acquaintance I had made below, and with whom I should +probably have daily intercourse during some weeks to come. I could not +have sought information from a better source. + +Mizka had been born in Luttach; she knew all about every inhabitant of +the town, and she felt highly honored by "the gentleman's" desire to +converse with her. In her gratitude she detailed all that I wished to +know. I learned that the Burgomaster, Herr Pollenz, was the owner of +the "Golden Grapevine," which Mizka's aunt, Frau Franzka, or rather, +her husband, rented from him; he was now a guest in his own house, +occupying with his brother, a pensioned captain, the entire second +story. + +Mizka was eloquent in praise of the two brothers, whom she described as +the best and truest of men. No one could be as thoroughly kind as the +Burgomaster; he was, in fact, too kind, for he was sometimes really +pinched for money himself, because he could not refuse to give or to +lend to the poor, and there were evil-disposed people who abused his +benevolence. He was very wise, too, and learned. Whoever in all Luttach +stood in need of good counsel could be sure of finding it from the +Burgomaster. He and the Captain were much respected, not only in +Luttach, but throughout the countryside. + +Mizka gave unstinted praise also to the County Clerk, Herr von Einern, +for whom every one in Luttach had a good word, regretting that he was +not District Judge and Foligno the Clerk; he was too young for a Judge +as yet, but he was sure of promotion, for he belonged to a very old +Luttach family--his father was a general--although he never prided +himself upon his position, but was kind and courteous to the very +poorest, whereas the Judge was often rude and harsh to poor people in +court. + +Mizka had nothing pleasant to say of the Judge. He was out-and-out +Italian although his grandfather had settled in Luttach and he himself +could not speak Italian fluently; but an Italian was always an Italian; +he never could be a true Slav. Yet he was not temperate, like most +Italians; he drank too much, and was not content with the good Luttach +wine, but always wanted some special kind for himself. That was why he +was always needing money. Eighteen hundred gulden was a good salary; +many a Judge could live comfortably upon it with a wife and children, +whereas he, though a bachelor, was always in debt. He already owed Frau +Franzka nearly five hundred gulden, and Mizka could not understand why +her aunt would go on lending to him. He had the best two rooms in the +upper story--Number Twelve, just above the Herr Professor's Number Two, +and Number Thirteen--but he had paid nothing for them for a year, and +yet he behaved as if he was the greatest guest in the house; nothing +was good enough for him. He often drove to Görz, where he consorted +with the officers, and 'twas said that he had sometimes lost at play +more than a hundred gulden in one evening. He had long since squandered +all the property he inherited from his father; he had a house in +Luttach, but not a stone of it really belonged to him; he had mortgaged +it all to the wealthy old Pollenz, the Burgomaster's cousin, and +whoever got into the clutches of that old man never got free until he +had lost his last penny; for old Pollenz, who lived in the last house +on the mountainside--it was called "the Lonely House"--was a +hardhearted usurer. + +Old Pollenz now owned forests, vineyards, meadows, and farmlands, for +which he exacted the highest rents; all his money had been made by +usury, and woe to the peasant to whom he had lent any--he was sure to +be obliged to sell all that he possessed to satisfy his creditor's +demands. The man was a hateful old miser; in spite of his wealth he +hardly dared to eat, and never entered an inn to drink a glass of good +wine. He lived with his daughter, pretty Anna, and an old servant maid, +apart from everybody, in the Lonely House; its windows barred with +iron, because he was constantly in dread of robbers, although there had +never been a robbery or burglary in all the countryside within the +memory of man. But the old fellow was so afraid of thieves that he +would let no one enter the house whom he did not know well, and he +always went armed with a couple of pistols and a big knife. + +He was most afraid of Franz Schorn, and had often said of him: "If he +should meet me alone, he'd be sure to do me a mischief, but I'll be +even with him. I'll shoot him like a mad dog sooner than let him attack +me." The old man's dread in this case was not quite without cause, for +Franz was a rough fellow, who might well assault a mortal enemy, and +the two had been mortal enemies ever since two years before, when old +Pollenz drove Franz from his door with curses. + +The old man was a bitter foe of the Germans, and had fallen into a +terrible rage when some one had told him that Franz was sneaking around +his house courting pretty Anna. And so, when one day Franz did not +sneak around the house, but boldly entered it and asked for pretty Anna +for his wife, the old man became almost insane with fury; he drove the +young fellow out of doors with blows and curses, although Anna wept and +entreated, saying that she would rather die than give up her Franz. + +Just at that time the Judge, who certainly had need of a rich wife, +asked old Pollenz to take him for his son-in-law. The old miser said +"yes," thinking to make an end of pretty Anna's love affair with Franz. +He told his daughter that she must marry the Judge, but Anna refused. +To all her father's threats she answered, "I'd rather die! You may drag +me to the altar, but you cannot compel me to utter a 'yes'!" And so the +Judge got the mitten in spite of the father's consent. Ever since then +he had been a deadly enemy to Franz Schorn; every child knew how he had +got the mitten in the Lonely House; he had often been teased about it, +and the malicious Italian would never forgive Franz Schorn because of +it. + +Such, in brief, was the sum of Mizka's information; she would gladly +have talked on, but I was afraid she might be wanted in the room below, +so I dismissed her with a "Goodnight." + +I admit that she had interested me much with her gossip. I now +understood many words and phrases that had escaped the gentlemen below +in the heat of their quarrel, and I perfectly comprehended the +bitterness of the Judge's hostility to Franz Schorn. A love story in a +Slav village! But what did it all matter to me? What possible interest +could an old naturalist, sixty years of age, take in the love affairs +of a young fellow whom he did not know, and the disappointment and lack +of money of a very disagreeable District Judge? There was absolutely no +reason why I should mix myself up with such matters, or even bestow a +thought upon them. That was not why I was in Luttach, but for the +purpose of collecting plants, butterflies, and beetles, which I +resolved to begin to do the next morning, oblivious of all love +affairs, German or Slav. + +I undressed, mounted a chair and made a bold leap which landed me in +the midst of the maize straw with which the bed had been stuffed. It +was not a luxurious couch, but fatigue sleeps well even upon a poor +one. I had scarcely extinguished the candle on the table beside my bed +when I fell into a deep and dreamless sleep. + + + + + CHAPTER II. + THE PROFESSOR'S FIRST EXCURSION. + + +The sun shining brightly into my room awoke me about five o'clock. I +got up, dressed myself quickly, and went down to the kitchen, where +Mizka had already kindled a bright fire on the hearth. She assured me +that my coffee would be ready in a quarter of an hour and that she +would bring it out to me in the garden. There I met the Captain, who, +enjoying his morning pipe, was walking to and fro between the flower +beds. Now and then he would stop before an opening rose, regarding it +with eyes really full of affection. He greeted me cordially. + +"You are an early riser, Herr Professor," he said with a smile. "I +thought all those who lived in large cities never rose before eight +o'clock, but I am glad that you are an exception, for the mornings and +evenings with us are the most delightful time of the day. At noon the +sun is far too hot and glowing to enable us to enjoy the beauty that +lies about us here. Only look at these rosebuds, how beautiful they +are, each one with a diamond dewdrop in its breast! Are they not +enchantingly lovely?" + +He chattered on, pointing out to me every blossom that delighted him, +and taking positive joy in all. He conducted me through the garden, +which was not very large, and at the end of it he unlatched a gate that +was not locked. + +"Now I must show you the only thing perhaps that we have worth showing +in Luttach. Pray follow me," and he walked before me through the open +garden gate. After a few steps we reached the banks of a broad, +brawling brook, which seemed in all its breadth and force to come +directly from out the rocky wall before us. The rock must certainly +have been thoroughly undermined. From countless smaller and larger +openings the crystal-clear water streamed with such power that the +numerous jets instantly formed a broad deep brook. + +"This is the Luttach. On the north side of Nanos the raging Voyna +rushes through a savage rocky vale, suddenly vanishing without a trace; +the mountain engulfs it. They say that the Voyna in the interior of +Nanos forms a deep unfathomable lake and from this lake in the interior +of the mountain it flows on, breaking through the rocks, to come to +light again here as the Luttach brook. This may be possible, for Nanos, +like the whole Karst range, is absolutely riddled with caves. The +famous Adelsberg Grotto would not be the unparalleled wonder that it +is, if our population were not too indolent to explore the hollow +openings and grottoes in our side of the mountain. Why, in the +immediate neighbourhood of Luttach there are two caves, the depth of +which is known to none, for no one has ever taken the trouble to +explore them, except for a few yards." + +"What absolutely unconscionable neglect!" I rejoined. "If you could +succeed in finding here a spring, a mineral spring as wonderful with +its grottoes as that of Adelsberg, think of how it would attract +travellers and what a goal it would be for all tourists." + +The Captain shrugged his shoulders. "I really do not know whether our +Luttach population would desire this. They certainly feel no wish for +it at present. Besides, it is questionable if our grottoes are really +very large in extent, and it is probable that their exploration would +be attended with some difficulty and perhaps indeed danger. I have +never thought of making an attempt to explore one or the other of +these, but, if you desire to do so, Herr Professor, I shall be very +glad to accompany you." + +I joyfully accepted the Captain's offer. Under all circumstances the +exploration of a cave, hitherto unknown, possesses for me extraordinary +interest; in the depths of these caves in the Karst range are found +rare cave beetles, the species is confined entirely to such places. It +might well be possible to discover in the Luttach grotto a species +hitherto unknown. Such a prospect made me forget the threatened +difficulty and danger. + +The Captain smiled when he heard the reason for my interest. That a +human being should be ready to subject himself to inconvenience and +even to danger that he might discover a new beetle appeared to him +extremely ridiculous, but he was too polite to make this evident. He +promised to look about for some strong, courageous men, who, armed with +torches, ladders, and ropes, should accompany us into the caves. + +"I hope," he said, "that you will reap a rich harvest of rare cave +beetles, but even if you do not succeed you will be abundantly repaid +by the beetles and butterflies which you will find on the slopes of +Nanos. A naturalist from Vienna, who was here about ten years ago and +spent six weeks in Luttach, was thoroughly enraptured by the richness +of his discoveries. I was then at home on leave and frequently talked +with him. His best and rarest caterpillars he found near the Chapel of +St. Nikolas, I believe, upon the leaves of beeches and oaks." + +Here was an important piece of news! The caterpillars of the _Saturnia +cćcigena_, the rare Dalmatian butterfly which had lured me to Luttach, +lived upon beech and oak leaves. I immediately determined to seek the +neighbourhood of the Chapel of St. Nikolas this very day. To St. +Nikolas my first excursion should be made. + +I asked the Captain the way thither. "You cannot miss it," he answered; +"there are two paths, each very easy to find. The first, which is +perhaps fifteen minutes the nearer, is steep in its beginning, and even +dangerous for unaccustomed mountain climbers. Part of it you can see +from here. It begins there at that elder bush and leads directly up the +rocks by steps partly natural and partly artificial, most of them, +however, giving space only for one foot. A false step, a slip, might be +disastrous, therefore I can hardly advise you to take this nearer path +over the rocks. It is not long; in five minutes you would reach a very +pleasant, gently ascending footpath, which in fifteen minutes more +would lead you past the Lonely House, to reach in another quarter of an +hour the Chapel of St. Nikolas in a direct line. The second path, just +as easy to find, is very charming, beginning at the last house of +Luttach and leading to the left from the road to Adelsberg, winding +through meadows and through oak forests, and ascending gently, past the +scattered houses of the village of Oberberg. After perhaps half an hour +you reach a large crucifix at a fork of the pathway. The path to the +left leads to the Lonely House, that to the right directly to the +Chapel of St. Nikolas without going near the Lonely House; you cannot +miss it. I advise you to take the longer path. The shorter is seldom +used even by the inhabitants of Luttach, because it is certainly +dangerous in descending. The District Judge alone, who is very fond of +flowers, often climbs up the steep rocks, in search of rare, beautiful +plants." + +The advice was well meant, and I determined to follow it, although the +mention of the rare and beautiful plants allured me. Still, I do not +willingly expose myself to danger. We returned to the garden, where our +coffee awaited us in a pretty arbour covered with wild grapevine. + +I hurried my breakfast, for I was burning with impatience to find near +St. Nikolas my entomological treasures. Scarcely a quarter of an hour +had passed before I started on my way thither, supplied with a cane and +a large umbrella, my tin box upon my back, my pockets filled with +glasses for beetles and boxes for caterpillars and butterflies. + +The Captain had described the path to me so exactly that I really could +not miss it. He had called it charming, but it was more than that. It +was wondrously beautiful. It was a joy to ascend the mountain quietly, +while fresh beauties of the landscape revealed themselves at every +step. At my feet lay the pretty little town of Luttach, framed in +emerald green meadows, bounded by the steep rocky wall against which it +leaned. On the summit of this bare rock, majestically enthroned, were +the remains of a ruined old castle, whose knightly possessor had in +former times probably ruled over the rich valley of the Luttach. + +Wherever the eye turned, whether downward to the houses and cottages in +the valley, surrounded with blooming orchards, or to the distant view +where the mighty mountain range bounded the horizon, its rocky peaks +glowing in the sunlight--everywhere, it filled me with rapture. + +And then, the fresh, delicious morning! It was a joy indeed to wander +thus in the mountains. + +The crucifix on the path was very quickly reached. I turned to the +right, and soon the little Church of St. Nikolas lay before me. + +Hitherto I had sturdily strode on without being detained by my desire +to collect. But now, when the goal of my wanderings was reached, I +began to search. Once more I turned on the steps of the church to feast +upon the wonderful view above the tops of the oaks growing in the +valley below, and then I began my work. I could have scarcely found a +piece of ground more adapted for my purpose than this around St. +Nikolas. The church lay in the midst of a forest of tall oaks; around +them there was a rich undergrowth, and where their trunks were more +rare, there spread a carpet of charming wildflowers, above which +countless butterflies fluttered from one blossom to another. The wood +above the chapel consisted partly of ancient trees and shrubbery, +climbing the gentle slope of Nanos until it reached the bald rock which +showed no trace of vegetation. + +My first attempts at collection were rewarded by an astonishing result. +I found upon the leaves of an oak a caterpillar entirely unknown to me. +When I examined it more closely, it recalled to me the description +which I had seen of the _Saturnia cćcigena_. My dearest wish was +fulfilled. + +Only a naturalist can form an idea of my joyful emotion, my delight, +and the passion for collecting which this first specimen aroused in me. +I forgot everything: the beauty of the landscape, to which I now paid +no attention; the difficulty of finding my way in the forest without a +guide, the danger of treading upon one of the poisonous reptiles native +to the Karst range--in short, I wandered about animated only by the +desire to procure more specimens of this rare and beautiful insect, and +the more I found, the more the desire increased. I never noticed that +hours had passed, that the refreshing morning had given place to an +intensely hot noon, and that the exertion of climbing and searching had +caused the perspiration to stream from my forehead. But at last my +sixty years asserted their right. I began to be tired and to feel very +thirsty, as the sound of church bells ascended from the valley. I +looked at my watch; twelve o'clock! More than six hours had I passed in +unbroken labour, and surely a man of sixty had the right to be a little +tired and to think of home, especially since all my boxes were well +filled. + +I found myself in a dense forest at a considerable height above the +little Church of St. Nikolas, but whether to the right or to the left +of it I could not say, since I had walked along searching here and +there, without a thought of the direction in which I was going. I might +have informed myself as to this if I could have obtained a view of the +valley, but the tall undergrowth made this impossible. There was +nothing for it but to walk in the direction of Luttach, keeping to the +right, down the mountain, and endeavouring to avoid any precipices, +hoping thus to find the path in a roundabout way. + +If it were not so oppressively hot! The oaks, covered with the early +foliage of spring, hardly afforded any depth of shade. They could not +protect me from the burning rays of the midday sun. The thirst which +tormented me grew more intense with every minute, and almost +intolerable. I longed for one swallow of water. Surely I could not be +far from some cottage. Fortunately, in the morning the Captain had +taught me the most important word in the Slavonic tongue, _woda_, +"water." This word formed my entire Slavonic vocabulary, but it would +suffice to inform any Slav of my need. + +I strode on sturdily, keeping to the right down the mountain, and by +good fortune encountered no precipice. After a little more than a +quarter of an hour, I struck a footpath which wound about gently in the +direction of Luttach. I pursued it, and I had proceeded but a few steps +when in a little turn of the way I perceived a solitary pedestrian +coming towards me. I immediately recognized the young man about whom +there had been so lively a discussion in the Golden Grapevine, Franz +Schorn. He was ascending the mountain path slowly, with eyes fixed +gloomily on the ground. He did not see me until, when I was scarcely +thirty steps from him, he suddenly raised his head as if listening. +Then he started violently upon perceiving me. For a moment he seemed +undetermined as to what he should do. He paused, regarded me darkly, +then turned away, without a greeting, and in a moment more had vanished +in the thick undergrowth of the forest. + +A very strange fellow! He need not have considered himself so strictly +bound by his promise not to press his friendship upon me. He need not +have grudged me a kindly greeting and a word or two. I should have +liked to ask him about the nearest cottage where I could perhaps get a +drink of water, but there was no help for it; I could not run after him +and must find my way for myself. + +I pursued the footpath further. To my joy I soon found myself in the +neighbourhood of a house, but as I approached it my joy turned to +disappointment. All the windows--not only those of the ground floor, +but those of the first story--were provided with strong iron bars, and +I made sure that I had reached the _Lonely House_, whose possessor, old +Pollenz, according to all that I had heard of him, could hardly be +expected to show any civility to a hated German. Should I ask him for a +drink of water? It would not be pleasant to be rudely refused so modest +a request. If I had not been tortured with thirst, I would rather have +continued upon my path to Luttach instead of asking any favour of the +old usurer; but he could at most only return me a surly "No," so I +determined to try it. On reaching the house, contrary to my expectation +I found the front door wide open, although Mizka had told me that old +Pollenz almost always kept it locked and would not open it until +continued knocking had removed all suspicion of thieves. + +Uncertain whether or not to enter, I stood before the open door; it +looked into a spacious hall running through the entire house, ending in +another door which probably led into the courtyard. That I confronted +the Lonely House was made certain by the huge iron bolts with which the +door towards the courtyard was secured. A steep staircase leading to +the upper story led from one side of the hall. Opposite the staircase +was a door; and two other doors, one to the right, one to the left of +the entrance, led into the inner rooms of the house; they were all +closed. + +I entered and knocked modestly at the door on my left. No reply; no +"Come in." I listened; there was not a sound to be heard; an uncanny +stillness reigned throughout the house. I knocked again, more loudly, +and then, after a pause, more loudly still for the third time. The +sound of my knocking was so loud that it surely must have been heard +within, but it met with no response. I waited in vain. + +A strange and uncomfortable sensation overcame me. I dreaded the Lonely +House, where everything seemed dead. What folly! An old man should have +more sense. I was ashamed of this strange and disagreeable sensation +and turned towards the door on the right of the entrance. Perhaps my +knock here might have a better result. No longer as modestly as before, +I knocked loudly, and the door, which happened to be only ajar, opened +slowly of itself. I cast one look into a spacious room, and staggered +back, overcome by intense horror. + +There, almost in the centre of the apartment, a motionless figure lay +upon the floor in a pool of blood, which had stained the white boards +dark red. Such horror, such intense dread, seized me that my first +thought was of flight as swift as my feet could carry me from this +terrible sight; but the next moment I was ashamed of such cowardly +fear. Perhaps the unfortunate man who lay there in his blood still +lived. Perhaps I might help him. I overcame the paralyzing terror and +entered the room. + +All that I saw there only increased my horror. No mortal help could +avail the unfortunate man whose stiffened corpse lay before me. He had +either killed himself, or had been horribly murdered. His throat was +cut, and from the gaping wound dark drops of blood were still +trickling. The pale, bloodless, distorted countenance was that of a +dead man. + +Had there been a murder here! Had the old man's foreboding, always +dwelling upon burglars and murderers, been fulfilled! Perhaps the +murderer was still in the house. The horrible crime could not have been +committed for long, for the blood had not yet congealed; some drops +were still trickling from the wound. + +Horror seized me afresh. I looked timidly about me. It seemed to me the +murderer might be near. Hastily I drew from my breast pocket my loaded +revolver; I was safe from any attack and could look about me with less +agitation. + +There was no doubt that a horrible crime had been committed here. There +upon the floor, at some distance from the dead man, lay a bloody knife, +near a large cabinet, the folding doors of which stood wide open. +Several drawers had been drawn out and papers lay scattered upon the +floor. The murderer had apparently been searching the cabinet for money +or valuables, and had scattered about these papers. + +Had he been startled by my knocking and escaped! If so, he must have +passed through the door which led on the left to an adjoining room, for +the windows here were barred. + +I summoned all my courage to follow him, but there was no need, for the +door leading outside was bolted and no one could have left the room by +it. He must have escaped before I entered; he might be concealed +somewhere near; but, again, he might have left the house, and, in his +hasty flight, have forgotten to close the front door. + +What should I do? Ought I not to search the place? Yet if he were not +there, all search would be unavailing, and if I found him, it would be +foolhardy to wander about these unfamiliar rooms merely to expose +myself to an attack. The murderer might deal a blow from behind which +would make me and my revolver useless. + +It suddenly occurred to me that old Pollenz did not live alone in the +house; that he had a daughter. Where was she! And where was the old +servant of whom Mizka had told me? They had not heard my knocking, and +yet it had been loud enough to resound through the entire building. Had +they, in their endeavour to escape from the murderer, concealed +themselves? Or--oh, horrible thought!--had they also fallen victims to +the monster! On this point I must have certainty. If the assassin were +still in the house, I could not leave the two women unprotected. My +cowardly fear must be overcome; I must pursue the wretch. Humanity made +my duty clear. With my revolver held ready and with a beating heart, I +turned back to the bolted door, which I opened easily. I entered a +spacious, dreary room. A bed against the wall, a table, a couple of +wooden chairs, and two large closed wardrobes formed its entire +furniture. Evidently it was the old man's sleeping room--a sordid +apartment. Here I found nobody, and I continued my search. A second +door in the room was unlocked. Through it I again entered the hall. +Beneath the staircase was a door which evidently led to the cellar; it +was closed by a massive bolt. Two other doors led from the hall to +rooms on the left. I went to the first of these--the one at which I had +knocked so loudly--opened it, and entered a large apartment much better +furnished than the rooms which I had hitherto explored. It gave an +impression of more comfort, and I was struck by its great cleanliness. +By the window there was a work-table, upon which lay some sewing. A +couple of flowers blooming in earthen pots stood on the window sill. A +bed with snowy curtains stood against the wall opposite the window. + +Undoubtedly this was the sitting-room and bedchamber of the fair Anna, +the daughter of the murdered man. Without delay I continued my search. +A door opposite the bed was unlocked. Through it I entered the kitchen. +Here also I found no one, and I returned to the hall. + +The four rooms of the ground floor had now been searched without +result. With a calmer mind I mounted the steep staircase to the second +story. Here I found rooms similar to those below. They were all +unlocked and appeared to be used partly for old rubbish. In one of them +there was a bed, probably that of the old servant. + +I had found nothing. It seemed useless to ascend to the garret, so I +went down to the room in which the murdered man lay, to consider what +steps I should take next. + +My fear lest the daughter and the maid had been the murderer's victims +had proved groundless. Neither of them was in the house. The monster +had probably profited by their absence to kill and rob the old man, +whom he knew to be alone. Any longer stay in this terrible abode seemed +useless. Of course I must inform the proper authorities of the murder, +and it was my plain duty to do this as soon as possible. I ought not to +linger longer in the Lonely House. Everything must be left lying as it +was to await the legal investigation. I could do no good to the dead +man by remaining. I ought to proceed to Luttach as quickly as my feet +could carry me to inform the District Judge of my terrible discovery. +On, then, to Luttach and the District Judge! Suddenly, by a strange +chain of ideas, the memory awoke in me of Franz Schorn as he was coming +from the Lonely House, with eyes gloomily downcast, in the forest path; +of how he started when he saw me before he fled away through the +undergrowth. Franz Schorn came from the house of his mortal enemy. I +shuddered. Had I met the murderer fresh from the cruel deed? Had not +the old man who lay there in his blood always feared him? Had not Mizka +yesterday evening told me that Franz was a rough, morose fellow, who +might be readily suspected of taking the life of his mortal enemy? + +This was a dreadful suspicion, but not without foundation; and, at all +events, it seemed to be my duty to inform the Judge as quickly as +possible of my meeting with Franz Schorn. I hastily left the scene of +the crime, not casting another glance behind me. I breathed more freely +when I emerged from the gloomy hall into the brilliant sunshine. No +longer under the spell of the ghastly spectacle, I could consider more +calmly what was to be done. My first determination, however, remained +unaltered. It was my plain duty to hasten to Luttach by the nearest way +and there report to the District Judge. The nearest way, as the Captain +had told me in the morning, was by the rocks. I could not miss it; I +saw it clearly before me. A broad, well-worn path went directly from +the Lonely House probably to the outlying cottages of the village of +Oberberg. Another, narrow and overgrown, led in the direction of +Luttach, and, at first, in a gentle incline down the mountain. This +must be the footpath, then, which further on became the narrow way, +over the rocks leading directly to the inn, which the Captain had +described to me as perilous. Ought I to expose myself to the danger of +a fall! The descent was more difficult than the ascent. The rocky way +was at least the nearer by fifteen minutes. I had certainly climbed up +and down more dangerous places among rocks in order to procure a rare +caterpillar. I was now upon a far more important errand, and ought to +reach Luttach quickly. It is foolish to expose oneself to unnecessary +danger, but the man who shuns it when something important is at stake +is a miserable coward. I delayed no longer. One glance over my shoulder +I cast. The door of the Lonely House was wide open. Any passer-by might +enter. Surely it was wrong to leave it open for more than an hour +without any guard. Could I lock it! The key might still be in the lock. +I approached it once more, I confess with great reluctance. The silence +as of the grave which reigned within filled me with horror, but I +overcame this weakness. My expectation was confirmed; the large house +key was still there. I locked the door, and taking the key could now +pursue my way, sure that for the next hour no passer-by could enter. I +hurried down the narrow way leading to the rocky abyss; it was a +charming path. The view of the valley was enchanting; I had no eyes for +it; I saw nothing of the wealth of rare mountain plants blooming on +either side, nothing of the gorgeous peonies which now and then +projected their red blossoms almost from the very rock. My thoughts +still clung to the Lonely House and the gloomy room where lay the dead +man. I encountered not a single human being as I hurried along. At +length the little town lay directly below me. I must descend over the +dangerous rocks. I looked about me searchingly; it was not easy to find +the narrow, untrodden footway, but it soon became plain to my practised +eye. Without hesitation I strode down from stone to stone, partly +leaping, knowing that a false step would cost me my life; but my +training among the mountains made my footing sure, and after a few +minutes I stood at the garden gate of the inn. + + + + + CHAPTER III. + THE PROFESSOR'S RETURN. + + +"Dinner has been waiting for you ever so long, Herr Professor," called +Frau Franzka to me as I entered the kitchen, but hardly had I +approached her before she clasped her hands above her head with "Holy +Virgin, how you look! How pale! How distressed, and how dripping with +perspiration! Why, large drops are falling from your hair; no one can +climb about the mountains in the hottest part of the day. The District +Judge----" + +"Is the District Judge at home!" I broke in. + +"Yes; he came home about a quarter of an hour ago. I did not see him, +but I heard him going upstairs. He is in his room and is probably +dressing. The Herr Professor ought also to go to his room and dress. +You will take cold in your damp clothes." + +I scarcely heard the last words. I hurried up the three flights of +stairs and in the passage looked about me for the door marked No. +12--the District Judge's sitting room. I knocked at the door; no +answer. I knocked more loudly; there came from within, as from an +adjoining room, "Who's there?" + +"Professor Dollnitz. I must see you with regard to a matter of great +importance, Herr Foligno." + +"I pray you just wait for a few minutes. I am dressing, but I'll be +ready immediately." + +I had to wait. Whilst I stood motionless before the door I suddenly +became conscious of the intolerable thirst which, more than half an +hour before, had driven me to the Lonely House. During my great +excitement I had not been conscious of any physical need, but now in +the first moments of quiet it attacked me with double violence. I was +perfectly exhausted--almost fainting. Fortunately on the table in the +passage there stood a carafe half filled with water. It must have been +there for hours; the water was lukewarm, but I drank it eagerly and it +gave me the refreshment of which I stood in need. I was as one new +born. + +I had to wait at least five minutes. The time seemed very long to me. +At last the door opened and the District Judge appeared in a new and +very elegant summer suit. His thin, sallow face had not attracted me on +the previous evening, and now as he received me with a forced friendly +smile I liked it still less. + +"Forgive me for keeping you so long, Herr Professor," he said, "but I +could not open the door before; I was, to speak frankly, entirely +undressed when you knocked. I was obliged to change my clothes because, +in your interest, I have had quite a fatiguing walk on the mountain. I +am a little of a botanist--only a layman--but I am interested in +botany, and I was desirous to surprise the learned Herr Professor with +some rare plants whose habitat I knew. It cost me an effort to obtain +them, and even a little danger; I had a fall which gave me a slight +wound in my hand, but it is very insignificant, scarcely worth +mentioning, since I have procured what I desired. Here they are." With +his left hand (his right was wrapped in a white handkerchief) he took +some orchids from the table before the sofa and handed them to me. They +were of a beautiful and rare species, and at any other time would have +given me the keenest delight, but at this moment I scarcely looked at +them. + +"I must reserve my thanks for a time," I said gravely, "the terrible +intelligence which I bring to you, Herr Foligno, as the foremost +official in the town, will admit of no delay. I come directly from the +Lonely House--the scene of a horrible murder and robbery." + +The District Judge recoiled as from a sudden blow. Pallor as of death +overspread his sallow face. His mouth twitched; his eyes became glazed +and fixed on me with a look wherein gleamed downright fear and absolute +dismay. + +"You came from the Lonely House--a murder and robbery! Incredible!" he +stammered. Terror so mastered him that he could scarcely utter these +few words. + +"What I tell you is only too true," I replied, and then in the fewest +words I related what I had seen and how I had closed the open door and +hurried to Luttach in order to make him, as the chief authority of the +place, acquainted with the fearful crime. + +During my short narrative he was struggling to regain his composure and +succeeded. He listened with his gaze fixed gloomily upon the floor. +When I finished, he cast upon me a searching, piercing glance, and his +voice trembled as he said, "Did you find no trace of the murderer! Did +you see no one in the neighbourhood of the Lonely House!" + +On my way down the mountain it had been clear to me that it was my duty +to report my meeting with Franz Schorn, but when the District Judge put +this question to me, I suddenly felt a decided reluctance to inform him +of it. This man was Schorn's mortal enemy. Ought I to make him a sharer +of my suspicion, which had been aroused by nothing but a chance +encounter? + +Still more searching and still more penetrating was the glance the +District Judge bestowed upon me as I hesitated to reply. + +"Did you see no one in the neighbourhood of the house, or upon the path +towards it!" he asked once more. + +As Judge he had a right to put the question and I ought to tell him the +truth. As I reflected thus, I overcame my reluctance and replied. + +"I did encounter a man not far from the Lonely House in the forest, but +I cannot think myself justified in suspecting him of evil." I then +described accurately my meeting with Franz Schorn. + +He listened in silence, his eyes still fixed on the floor. When I +finished, he said with emotion, extending his left hand to me: "I thank +you, Herr Professor; your report may be of the first importance for the +discovery of the murderer, but it may also subject an innocent man to a +horrible suspicion. As long as there is no evidence against a man +except that he was seen in the neighbourhood of the scene of a murder, +nothing would justify his being suspected of what, even as a mere +suspicion, might darken his whole future life. Therefore, let me +request you to allow me to consider your account of your meeting with +Herr Franz Schorn as a matter personal to myself and confidential, not +official. I shall then not be forced to include it in a short account +which I must write out of your information." + +"You surprise me, Herr Foligno." + +"I suppose so, and I owe you an explanation of my request. Herr Franz +Schorn is my bitter enemy and I have never concealed my dislike of him. +You were a witness yesterday evening of my quarrel with Captain Pollenz +and my clerk. Precisely on this account I do not wish to include in my +official paper a suspicion which I myself hold to be entirely +groundless. I promise you that I will neglect nothing that will lead to +the discovery of the murderer, that I will investigate every step which +Herr Schorn has taken to-day, and will have him watched by a thoroughly +competent detective. If he is guilty, I shall discover his guilt; but I +do not believe he is so, and because I am his foe I will not attach any +suspicion to him which, while the true murderer remains undiscovered, +might ruin his life, merely because at the time of the murder he had +been seen near the scene of the crime. Promise me, Herr Professor, that +you will tell no one at present of your meeting with Franz Schorn. +Should there be other and more important grounds for suspecting him, I +shall request you to give me your account officially." + +I pressed the Judge's hand cordially, and joyfully gave him the promise +for which he asked. How unjustly I had judged this man! How I had +misunderstood him! I was ashamed of the reluctance I had felt to tell +him of my meeting with Franz Schorn. + +"I must now make out a short official account of your information," the +District Judge continued. "You can hardly believe how difficult this is +for me. Your account has agitated me so profoundly that I can scarcely +control myself. I was very familiar with old Pollenz. He had indeed +many disagreeable qualities. Toward others he was often hard and +unyielding, but I never had anything to complain of in his behaviour to +me. He has often shown me favours. He was indeed almost a friend, and +now I must prepare a paper which shall show him to be the victim of a +horrible crime, which I must take the first steps to investigate. It +must be done. It is my duty. In spite of the pain which my right hand +gives me in writing, I will do it immediately." + +He took a sheet of paper; pens and ink were at hand, and seated himself +on the sofa behind the large table to write. His hand could not have +been very painful, for it did not prevent his writing swiftly and +clearly. Now and then, without interrupting his writing, he addressed +some brief, leading question to me, and in scarcely ten minutes the +paper was finished. He read it aloud to me. It was wonderfully concise +and clear, without saying one word too much or too little, and I signed +it without an alteration. After he had added his own signature, he +said, "I must now beg you, Herr Professor, to accompany me to the +Lonely House. I shall immediately summon my assistant, as well as the +District Physician and the captain of gendarmes, to inspect the +premises. You, too, Herr Professor, must be present. You must testify +that nothing in the house has been altered in your absence. This is +important for further investigation. Can I count upon you!" + +"Most certainly." + +"Then pray hold yourself in readiness. In half an hour, at the latest, +I shall have notified the other gentlemen. The time of waiting, if I +may advise you, should be employed by you in strengthening yourself +with food and drink. Yon may not feel the need of refreshment at +present, but we have some sad hours before us." + +How kind and thoughtful! I certainly had cause to ask pardon in my +heart of the District Judge for the prejudice he had created. + + + + + CHAPTER IV. + THE INVESTIGATION. + + +It was four o'clock in the afternoon when Herr Foligno called for me in +the dining-room, where I was sitting with the Captain. It had taken him +almost an hour to assemble those who were to inspect the scene of the +murder in the Lonely House. I had informed the Captain, a near relative +of the murdered man, of my terrible discovery, and he had been deeply +moved. He said: + +"I was never intimate with old Pollenz, although he was my first +cousin. He was a hard usurer and a miser. He loved no one in the world +save his daughter, but that his end has been so horrible is certainly +very sad. Poor child, my dear little Anna! How will she bear this +fearful shock! I saw her about twelve o'clock here in Luttach with her +old maid, Johanna. She had been paying a visit to an aged aunt, and she +is probably still there. I must see if it be so. I do not willingly +visit the malicious old gossip, but if Anna is still with her, I must +go to prepare the poor child for the sad news that awaits her." + +He sent Mizka to old Frau Lancic's, and in a few minutes she returned +to say that Fräulein Anna had been with the widow, but that she had +left about a quarter of an hour before to make some purchases in the +village and then to return home. + +Upon hearing this, the Captain determined to accompany the officials to +the Lonely House, for which he received permission from the District +Judge. + +Soon after four o'clock we began our walk; not by the steep rocky path, +which was rather too difficult for the old District Physician, and +might prove dangerous, but in accordance with the Judge's directions, +by the longer way past the village of Oberberg. + +We could make but slow progress, for the heat was still oppressive. The +old physician gasped and panted as we ascended the mountain. The Judge +with kindly consideration, begged him to walk slowly, although he +himself was trembling with impatience to reach our goal. + +We met various people on the way. They greeted us politely and looked +after us with surprise. Intelligence of the murder had not yet reached +the village of Oberberg, and people could not imagine what so many +persons, accompanied by the captain of gendarmes, could have to do in +the little village. I walked first with the Captain. The Judge and his +clerk followed, and, naturally, very little was said as we pursued our +way; all were oppressed by a sense of what lay before them. + +We had turned into the path by the crucifix leading on the left to the +Lonely House, and were but a short distance from the spot to which we +were tending, when the Captain suddenly stood still and said in a +faltering voice, "There comes my poor little Anna." + +She came towards us hurriedly from the Lonely House. She was called +pretty Anna in the country round, and indeed she deserved the name. I +have scarcely ever in my long life seen so beautiful a girl. Even her +expression of intense anxiety could not distort her charming face. When +she recognized the Captain she flew towards him. + +"Oh, uncle, my dear kind uncle, thank God you are here!" she cried. "I +am dying with anxiety; my father will not open the door. For a quarter +of an hour Johanna and I have been knocking in vain. Something must +have happened to him, or he would hear us and open the door for us." + +The Captain put his arm round the lovely child and pressed a kiss upon +her white forehead. "My poor little girl!" he murmured. His voice +failed him; he could say no more; his eyes filled with tears; he tried +to control himself, but the compassion which he felt for the girl in +his arms was too intense; it mastered him; he could hardly utter a +word. + +"Good heavens! What has happened?" cried Anna, extricating herself from +the Captain's embrace and gazing at him, her large black eyes dilated +with horror. "You call me your poor girl? There are tears in your eyes. +For God's sake tell me what it means! Has anything happened to my +father? Oh, answer me, uncle! I would rather hear the worst than suffer +such suspense." + +The Judge answered instead of the Captain, who could not control his +voice. "Compose yourself, Fräulein Anna," he said with grave +kindliness, "you need all your courage, all your self-control to endure +the misfortune which God has sent to you. Unfortunately your anxiety is +justified. Something has indeed happened to your father, my lifelong +friend." + +"He is dead!" the girl cried, with what was almost a shriek; overcome +with grief, she tottered and would have fallen to the ground if the +Captain had not thrown his arms about her. The Judge took her hand with +deep sympathy, but she snatched it away and pushed him from her with a +gesture expressive of the most profound aversion. + +"Do not touch me; I hate, I despise you!" she cried, as she cast +herself again into the Captain's arms. "Uncle, my dear kind uncle, you +tell me what has happened. I can hear the worst from you, but not from +that man." + +The Judge, thus rudely repulsed, was deeply offended, but was too +magnanimous--his pity for the unfortunate girl was too profound to +admit of his expressing his resentment by a harsh word. + +"You do me bitter wrong, Fräulein Anna," he said gently. "I sympathize +sincerely with your pain, but I will not thrust my pity upon you. I +pray you, Captain, to inform her as mercifully as possible of what has +happened." + +It was a hard task for the Captain, but it was his duty to fulfil it. +He motioned to the Judge and to myself to withdraw for a few steps, and +then took Anna's arm in his and, walking on before us, spoke to her in +the most sympathetic and loving way. He told me afterwards that in all +his life he had never had so hard a duty to perform. He searched in +vain for kindly words to soften the horror; he feared that the delicate +girl could hardly endure the frightful truth which he was forced to +tell her; but to his great surprise Anna showed a remarkable degree of +composure. She had not succumbed, he said, to pain and grief; she had +become ghastly pale and her dark eyes had gleamed with a strange +flickering fire, as, almost in a whisper, not to him, but to herself, +she had murmured, "Foully murdered and robbed; murdered for the sake of +his wretched money. He sacrificed his soul and now has given his +life for money." She shed no tear; her grief was too great, too +heart-breaking; but she trembled violently; her little hand shook as it +rested on her uncle's arm, and as he put his arm round her and tenderly +drew her to him, he could feel the violent beating of her heart. He +told her everything that he had heard from me. When he had finished, +she looked at him with flaming eyes. + +"The vile murderer will be discovered," she said in a hoarse voice; "I +trust in God's justice." + +Her composure was really remarkable, and gave great cause for anxiety. +I had lingered behind with the Judge and his clerk. We slowly followed +the Captain and Anna about twenty steps in the rear. + +"I certainly am most unfortunately situated," said the Judge, turning +to me confidentially. "You heard the harsh words which the poor girl, +half crazed with pain and horror, spoke to me. I know what those words +mean. I am well aware that Fräulein Anna is prejudiced against me. She +thinks that the hostility which her father showed to Herr Franz Schorn +was partly my fault. That she does so is well known in Luttach, and I +commit no indiscretion in telling you that there is an attachment +between Fräulein Anna and Herr Schorn, of which old Pollenz +disapproved. Fräulein Anna knows that Herr Schorn is my bitter enemy. +She has sided with him against me, but that her prejudice is as intense +as the words she has just spoken testify, I confess surprises me. Never +before have I seen in her the least sign of dislike. Imagine my +position. My official duty compels me to play the part of a +disinterested investigator. I cannot spare her pain, but I shall have +to subject her, with her old maid, to an examination. I must inquire +how it happened that the Lonely House was left unlocked, perhaps by +herself; every child in Luttach knows that old Pollenz always locked +the front door securely. I would give much, very much, to spare the +young lady this examination." + +"If you would depute me to make it, Judge, such an act on your part +would be entirely justified by the peculiar relations in which you +stand to Fräulein Anna Pollenz." The Clerk uttered these words very +quietly and in a businesslike tone, but the District Judge was not +pleased. He cast a sinister glance at the Clerk and asked, "What do you +mean by peculiar relations, sir?" + +"Nothing but what you yourself indicated, and what, to use your own +words, every child in Luttach is familiar with," was the quiet reply. + +"You allude to the foolish gossip which makes me the young girl's +rejected suitor? There is not one word of truth in it." + +"Then old Pollenz lied, for he stated this, not as a secret, but quite +openly, in Luttach. At all events, such a report does exist, and it +will be confirmed unless you make use of your right to depute to me the +examination of the young lady." + +"No, that I will not do. My standard of official duty is too exalted to +permit my neglecting it out of regard for my own feelings. I might +perhaps take your advice if I were forced to play the part of examiner +during the entire legal process, which must ensue upon this murder, +but, fortunately, that is not so; only the preliminaries are our duty. +Capital crimes," the Judge said turning to me, "do not come within the +domain of the District Judge. They are the business of the tribunal of +the country. Subsequent investigations will take place in Laibach. The +preliminary examination alone is my task, which, whatever it may cost +me, I will fulfil." + +The Clerk made no reply; he simply bowed in sign that he had no further +remarks to offer. We now reached the goal of our wanderings. The Lonely +House stood before us. The Captain and Anna were standing near the +locked door, and upon a wooden bench beside it sat an old woman, old +Johanna, "The only servant of the house," the Judge whispered to me. +The Captain had just told her of the murder of her master. Paralyzed +with horror, incapable of speech, she was gazing up at him. When she +tried to rise, she sank back helplessly. The Judge opened the front +door with the key which I had given him. + +Scarcely had he done so when Anna released herself from the Captain's +arm and would have been the first to rush into the house, had not the +Judge barred her way. + +"Let me go," cried Anna. "I must go to my poor father. You dare not +hold me back." + +She would have pressed past him, but he prevented her from doing so, +and with quiet resolve, in a perfectly judicial manner, said, "You must +not see your father yet, Fräulein Anna. My official duty compels me to +exclude you from the room in which the crime has been committed until +it has been thoroughly searched. The traces which the murderer has +perhaps left behind must not be interfered with. You must either stay +here outside, or, if you wish, wait in your own room until it is +permitted you to see your father. Captain Pollenz, I pray you to remain +with your relative and to prevent Fräulein Anna from making an attempt +to disturb the investigation by going into the murdered man's room. I +cannot permit it." + +Anna retired. As the Judge forbade our entrance into the house, her +eyes seemed to flash with anger, but she controlled herself, only +bestowing upon Herr Foligno a glance of dislike and antipathy. + +"I obey," she said, recovering her composure wonderfully. "I will wait +in my room with Johanna and my uncle. You shall have nothing to +reproach me with. I pray _you_, sir," she said, turning to the Clerk; +"I entreat _you_ to search, investigate. The blood of my poor father +cries to heaven. I must doubt its justice should you not succeed in +discovering the ruthless murderer." + +"Rest assured, Fräulein Anna, that I shall leave nothing undone----" + +"I did not address you," Anna interrupted the Judge; "I entreat _you_, +the assistant, to fulfil your duty; search for the murderer, whoever he +may be, deliver him to the vengeance of the law. I trust you. You will +not be influenced by fear or considerations of any kind. Do not answer +me; I trust you; I know you will do everything to discover the +criminal, even though you do not promise me. Come uncle, come Johanna, +we will wait in my room." + +While Anna was speaking, Herr Foligno's expression was, strangely +enough, that of timidity and embarrassment; his lips moved; he seemed +to wish to reply but could not. He retreated silently, as Anna, without +looking in his direction, passed him. She entered the room at the left +of the hall, her own apartment, and the Captain and the old maid, still +half paralyzed with terror, followed her silently. + +The Clerk also made no reply to Anna's strange words; he had been much +astonished by them, as were all who heard them. With a keen searching +look he regarded the Judge. Not until the door had closed behind Anna +and the Captain did he say, whispering so softly that only I and the +Judge could hear, "If you do not feel sufficiently well, Herr Foligno, +to undertake the examination and will delegate me to conduct it, I am +quite ready to do so." + +"No, no," the Judge replied in as low a tone. Aloud he said, "Follow +me, gentlemen. We must begin our melancholy task." + + + + + CHAPTER V. + THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUED. + + +Among all the tragic and even terrible recollections which live in my +memory, and of which my life has perhaps had more than its share, the +most terrible is that of the first few days of my stay in Luttach. Even +now they sometimes disturb my sleep at night. In dreams, I am once more +in the spacious, dreary room of the Lonely House, with the stiffened +corpse of the murdered man before me on the floor. The sunlight through +the window falls upon his pale face with its distorted features. I see +the terrible wound, and the hard, rasping voice of the District +Physician strikes upon my ear as with professional calmness he examines +the wound and with all the indifference with which he would discuss the +commonest affair of business, explains that any suspicion of suicide is +out of the question, coldly pointing out to us bystanders, grouped +about the body, our faces pale and awed, the numerous wounds of which +any one would have been mortal, and endeavouring with perfect calmness +to prove that the murderer had first attacked his victim from behind, +and had finally cut the throat to make sure that the deed was complete. +I still hear in dreams the clear, incisive words showing that the +murderer must certainly have been intimately acquainted with the +murdered man's ways, and that in order to avoid any possibility of the +old man's divulging his name with his dying breath, he had inflicted +the last gaping wound. + +Fearful as had been the impression made upon me in the morning by my +discovery, it had not so curdled my blood with horror as did this +examination of the body. The necessity for action, the danger which +possibly threatened me from the murderer concealed in the house, had +strengthened and quickened me in the morning; but now, when I was +forced to stand by, an inactive spectator of this terrible scene, the +whole horror of the affair for the first time presented itself to my +consciousness. + +The absence of all emotion, the inflexible indifference of the District +Physician, who, as I learned from the Clerk, had been the friend and +physician of old Pollenz, deepened the impression which rendered me +almost incapable of connected thought. + +I was a prey during the entire investigation to intense nervous +agitation. I saw and heard everything that went on around me so clearly +that the smallest detail remains stamped upon my memory, but I was +incapable of connected thought, of drawing conclusions from what I +heard and saw. This I was able to do only later when removed from the +spell thus thrown around me. The investigation produced a most +agitating effect upon the Clerk also, and in especial upon the Judge, +but they could not leave, and were obliged to fulfil their official +duty. The Clerk was very pale, but quiet and composed throughout; but +the Judge was obliged to exert all his self-control to conquer his +excitement, while the physician, still handling the body, demonstrated +with great clearness, almost as if he had been a witness of it, the +manner in which the murder had been committed. + +But however intense his emotion, the Judge proved himself equal to the +task his office imposed upon him. When the time came to search the room +he displayed the greatest care and circumspection. The bloody knife +lying upon the floor at some distance from the body was, of course, the +first object of his notice. + +"There lies the weapon with which the deed was committed," he cried. +"Fortunately, the murderer has left it behind. It may afford a clue in +his detection." + +But this hope proved to be unfounded. The Clerk testified that the +knife was the same which old Pollenz had always carried as a weapon of +defense. Whereupon the Judge confirmed what he said; he had seen the +knife in his friend's possession, and recognized it, but doubtless it +was the weapon with which the crime was committed. "Most certainly," +the Judge added, with keen observation, "the murderer must have +snatched it from the old man as he tried to defend himself, and in so +doing caused a struggle; the knife must have wounded the murderer in +the hand, since its handle is stained with blood. We shall undoubtedly +find further traces of his bleeding hand there in the cabinet which he +broke open, and from which he scattered the papers lying about." + +The Judged supposition proved correct. Inside the cabinet, as well as +upon the open drawers, there were distinct traces of bloody fingers, +and they were also found upon some of the papers strewn on the floor, +which the murderer had taken from the cabinet but tossed aside as +useless. + +It was in this cabinet, as the Judge and the physician both testified, +that old Pollenz had kept his money and papers of value. The murderer +must have been familiar with this place of deposit, for he had opened +only those drawers used for the purpose. The others, which contained +receipted bills and worthless papers, had not been opened. The closest +search failed to discover either money or papers of value, such as +promissory notes or similar documents. All such had been abstracted. On +the other hand, an old gold watch, a heavy gold snuffbox, both articles +of value, remained untouched. + +"The murderer is no common thief or burglar," the Judge said calmly. +"Such an one would not have despised valuable articles like these." + +"Certainly not," the physician added; "my firm belief is that he was an +intimate acquaintance of old Pollenz. None other would have opened +those drawers unless they knew they would reward a search." + +"Unfortunately, this is the only hint we have to put us upon the trace +of the criminal," the Judge said in a tone of disappointment. "Our +melancholy investigation has had no result of value." + +This was indeed so. The murderer had left the Lonely House without +leaving any traces except those of his bleeding hand. In spite of the +most careful search, nothing further was discovered. The Judge set down +in his deposition all that had been done. It was as clear and well +composed as that which he had written previously in his room. I +confirmed his report that I had found the Lonely House and in especial +the room in which the crime had been committed in the same condition in +which I had left it. It now remained for the Judge to fulfil the +hardest part of his task. He was obliged to examine the daughter and +the old servant of the murdered man. He evidently feared to meet with +difficulties caused by the aversion to him which the fair Anna had so +openly expressed, but it was necessary to make this examination in +order to find some explanation of the surprising fact that the Lonely +House, usually so carefully locked, should have been left wide open at +midday. + +The Judge's fear, however, proved to be groundless. He found Anna in +her room, wonderfully quiet and composed. She immediately declared +herself ready to be examined, and only asked that the Captain, the +Clerk and myself should be the sole witnesses present. The Judge +willingly granted this request, and every difficulty was removed. She +testified that she had that day had her breakfast as usual with her +father at eleven o'clock, and, close upon twelve, had left the Lonely +House with Johanna to make some purchases in Luttach, and at the same +time to visit her old aunt. Her father, as usual, accompanied her to +the front door and locked and bolted it behind her. It was his custom +when left alone in the house to bolt himself into his sitting-room. +Whenever any one knocked at the front door, he always first made sure +of his visitor by looking out of the window, and, when he was alone, +never allowed a stranger to cross his threshold. Even acquaintances in +whom perchance he did not repose entire confidence were always +dismissed by him from the window. He did not even open the door for +them. As to her father's property in papers of value and money, Anna +knew nothing. Her father had never talked with her about his pecuniary +circumstances. She could not possibly tell of how much he had been +robbed. + +With perfect composure Anna gave her testimony, but, when in conclusion +the Judge asked her if she had met any one upon her way to Luttach, the +colour suddenly mounted to her cheek and as quickly left it, and her +"no" was by no means so clear and decided as had been her earlier +report. She blushed still more deeply when the Judge asked if her +father had any special mistrust of any of his acquaintances, and +assured her that what she should say would be entirely confidential, +even if there should be nothing in her reply to arouse suspicion. + +"I will not answer this question," Anna replied, after she had stood +for a moment with downcast eyes. "No one in the world has a right to +ask such a question, and you least of all." + +To this declaration she adhered, and the Judge was obliged to finish +his deposition without learning anything further from her. The +examination of old Johanna also produced no further result. + +Thus the examination ended, and the Judge could no longer refuse to +allow the daughter to see her father's body. Conducted by Captain +Pollenz, Anna entered the old man's sleeping-room, where the captain of +gendarmes and the physician had laid the murdered man upon the bed. The +Captain afterwards told me that the composure shown by the young girl +at the terrible sight had filled him with genuine admiration. She +kneeled beside the bed on which the corpse had been laid. She took the +cold, stiff hand in hers and kissed it, while tears rolled over her +cheeks. The Captain would have said a few words to comfort her, but she +interrupted him. + +"Let my grief have way, uncle," she said sadly; "you do not know what I +have lost in him. He was harsh to every one else, but he loved me with +all his heart, me only in the world, and I am perhaps the cause of his +death. This it is that fills me almost with despair. The thought that I +may be guilty of his death is almost unendurable." + +"How can you think such a thing, my child?" the Captain asked, much +startled. + +"I cannot explain it to you, uncle," Anna continued, kissing the dead +man's hand again and again. "It is perhaps only a foolish thought, but +it arose in my mind when I heard how cruelly my father had been +murdered, and I cannot banish it. I dare not share it with any one, not +even with you, my dear, kind uncle. I commit an injustice perhaps in +not being able to banish it. I know nothing, nothing which gives me the +right to entertain it. It is only a vague, fearful foreboding, +oppressing my heart all the more because I must bear it all alone and +can share it with no one in the world." + +The girl refused all explanation of her mysterious words. For a long +while she silently knelt by the bed, holding the dead man's hand in +hers, but at last she rose and followed the Captain to her room, +in which we--that is, the Clerk, the Judge, the physician, and +myself--were awaiting her. During Anna's absence with the Captain we +had been discussing the future of the young girl. It was impossible +that she should remain with the old servant and the murdered man alone +in the Lonely House. We had therefore determined to take her back with +us to Luttach. The physician had kindly offered to give her an asylum +as a guest in his house. His wife, he told us, was very fond of the +fair Anna; she would rejoice most heartily to show any loving service +to the unfortunate child. Anna could not possibly live with her old, +peevish Aunt Laucic, who was even a greater miser than old Pollenz. She +would find none of the sympathy and love of which she stood in such +need with that old dragon. + +The kindness and friendliness for the unfortunate young girl which +prompted the words of the physician reconciled me to him. His +businesslike indifference during the investigation had made me almost +hate him, but now I acknowledged to myself that I had been unjust and +that he was no cold and heartless man, but, on the contrary, a very +kindly, benevolent old doctor. + +We had arranged everything as we thought for the best, but when Anna +returned to us we found that our wise arrangements were entirely +useless. She declared, with a decision remarkable in so young a girl, +that she would not leave her father, but would stay beside him. + +In vain did we all entreat her, the Judge alone prudently refraining +from doing so. We used our most eloquent powers of persuasion. + +In vain did the Captain add his voice, and in vain did the physician +explain to her what an insufficient protection old Johanna would be in +the Lonely House during the next night. + +"If Johanna is afraid, she can go with you to Luttach," she said. "I am +not afraid to remain alone with my beloved dead." + +As she was immovable, we were obliged to comply. We could not force her +to go with us to Luttach, but we did not leave her alone in the Lonely +House, for the Captain declared he would not leave her; if she stayed, +he would stay also; they could make up a bed quite comfortable enough +for an old soldier. + +Anna was reluctant to accept this offer, but the Captain refused to +withdraw it. He said he could be quite as obstinate as Anna herself, +and thus he remained in the Lonely House, while we returned to Luttach. + + + + + CHAPTER VI. + TWO WOUNDED HANDS. + + +Both kitchen and dining-room in the "Golden Vine" were crowded with +guests--a very unusual thing of a week-day. The report of the murder in +the Lonely House had spread quickly, not only in the little town, but +also in the surrounding villages, and, naturally, all were eager to +hear further particulars, and could find no better place for gratifying +this desire than in the inn, the home of the Judge, who was sure to be +there in the evening. + +In the spacious kitchen, which was the gathering place of guests of the +lower classes, peasants and small tradesmen, there was quite a crowd. +Some were even obliged to drink their wine standing; all the benches +and chairs were occupied. Here not a German word was to be heard; the +talk was entirely in Slavonic; even around the hearth where Frau +Franzka received her intimate friends, all spoke in that tongue. + +Nearly twenty men, principally petty tradesmen from Luttach, were +sitting and standing around the huge hearth listening respectfully to +Frau Franzka's words, who, as she cooked and broiled, was obliged +to give all the details of the terrible deed which the "German +fly-catcher"--such was the name that had already been bestowed upon me +in Luttach--had discovered. When I passed through the kitchen to go to +the dining-room, I was most politely and kindly greeted by all present, +while they looked at me with undisguised curiosity. + +In the dining-room there was a far larger assembly than usual. All the +tables were occupied, but principally the great round one at which the +Burgomaster presided. All the gentlemen to whom I had been presented on +the previous evening were present, with the exception of the Captain. +The District Physician, two gentlemen (strangers to me), and, oddly +enough, Franz Schorn, were also there; the last sat next the Judge's +assistant. + +I had evidently been expected. A chair beside the District Judge had +been reserved for me, and when I appeared--quite too late to suit the +impatience of those present--I was cordially received. Even Franz +Schorn rose from his seat, and when the other gentlemen offered me +their hands, he held out his--not the right hand, but the left, like +the Judge, who had protected his wounded hand with a black glove. I +remarked that Franz Schorn did not use his right hand, but kept it +concealed in the breast of his coat, which was closely buttoned. + +The conversation was hardly interrupted by my arrival. Naturally it had +been concerning the murder in the Lonely House, and it so continued +after I had taken my place at the table. It was to me that all +inquisitive inquiries were now addressed--to me instead of to the Judge +or his assistant or to the physician. I was obliged to relate all that +I had seen. I was questioned about the smallest details; the most +insignificant interested every one. + +The Judge, the assistant and Franz Schorn alone were silent. I could +inform the two first of nothing new; there was no need for them to +question me, and Franz Schorn probably did not wish to thrust himself +forward with inquiries. + +It was evident, however, that he listened with intense interest to +everything that I related. As I spoke I narrowly observed the behaviour +of the Judge and of Franz Schorn, the two rivals. Herr Foligno appeared +scarcely to hear what I was saying. His eyes were fixed gloomily on his +wineglass, and he seemed to take no part in what was going on, but from +time to time as he looked up I could see that he heard every word that +I said. Franz Schorn kept his eyes riveted upon me as I spoke. The +description of my first discovery of the murdered man evidently +horrified him; he was more agitated by it than any of my other hearers. + +After I had ended my narrative, and it had been completed by the +physician, the question of course was discussed as to who the murderer +could be, whence he had come, how he had entered the locked house, +whither he had fled, and what had been the amount of his robbery. In +this discussion, however, the Judge and his assistant and Franz Schorn +took no part, although they listened with close attention. + +The physician defended with much acuteness his own theory that only an +intimate acquaintance of old Pollenz could have committed the crime; on +the other hand, many present maintained that the murderer must be some +Italian from Trieste, for neither in Luttach nor in the surrounding +country was there a man capable of such a deed. + +During this discussion, to which Franz Schorn listened very +attentively, the physician accidentally pushed aside the left arm of +his neighbour--Franz Schorn--who dropped the cigar which he was holding +in his hand and stooped to pick it up. As he did so, he instinctively +drew from his bosom his right hand, which had hitherto been concealed +by his coat. It was bound about with a white bandage, upon which were +several spots of blood. He thrust it quickly into his breast again, but +not before the physician had noticed the spots on the white linen. + +"Ah, Franz! What is the matter with your hand?" he asked kindly. + +"Nothing," Franz replied curtly; "a slight cut." + +"Slight! That can hardly be; if you have a bandaged hand and don't use +it, it must be a tolerably deep cut. Of course, you have done nothing, +as usual, but wrap a rag about it. You young people are incorrigible. +You never reflect that the neglect of such cuts, which you consider +insignificant, may cost you the hand itself. Take off the bandage; I +want to see what it is." + +"It is nothing; a trifle, not worth mentioning." + +"All the more readily should you show it to me. You owe obedience to an +old friend of your father's, you obstinate fellow; so off with your +bandage; I wish to see the wound." + +"Certainly, if you insist," Franz replied, holding out his hand and +unwinding the bandage. It did not come off easily, but adhered to the +wound and a few drops of blood followed its removal. + +"A couple of good cuts," said the physician, examining the hand; "not +dangerous; they will heal without any particular care if you spare your +hand a little for a couple of days; but how did you get such strange +cuts! Four fingers implicated, and another gash in the palm. It looks +as if you had done it with a knife." + +"And so I did," Franz replied. "I was using a large knife in the +vineyard to-day and laid it down upon a high wall; it fell and would +have pierced my foot, if instead of shifting it, I had not foolishly +grasped at the falling knife and seized the sharp blade instead of the +handle. That is the whole story. Such slight cuts are not worth +mentioning." He wrapped the bandage around his hand again and concealed +it as before in the breast of his coat. + +"Such slight cuts are not worth mentioning," the young man had said, +and it was true; they were insignificant. Nevertheless they aroused in +me a chain of thought which filled me with dread. Involuntarily I +thought of the bloody, dagger-like knife which I had seen in the Lonely +House. If the murderer in his contest with the old man had endeavoured +to take the knife from him and had accidentally seized it by the blade, +his hand would have been wounded precisely as was that of Franz Schorn. +Schorn had hitherto kept his right hand concealed. Why so? Did he wish +to conceal the wound? An involuntary motion, an accident, had compelled +him to show the bandaged hand, and it was with great reluctance that he +had acceded to the physician's request. + +I looked at the District Judge. The same suspicion which had made me +shudder had been aroused also in him. I could read it in the lowering, +searching glance which he gave to the hand as Franz was wrapping it in +the bandage again. When he looked up afterwards and his gaze met mine, +his eyes were more eloquent than his tongue could have been. He slowly +raised his hand in its black glove as if in token of our understanding +each other. Strangely enough, his motion and his look had the effect of +instantly banishing the dark suspicion that had been awakened within +me. I had no right to entertain it. Had not the Judge himself also +accidentally wounded his right hand this very day? Might I not have +seen him also near the Lonely House, since he had been climbing among +the rocks in search of flowers? No, it would be rank folly to found a +suspicion with regard to Franz Schorn upon such accidental +circumstances. That the young man seemed even more gloomy and +preoccupied than on the previous evening, and that he scarcely uttered +a word, furnished no grounds for any suspicion with regard to him. Must +he not be deeply agitated by the terrible death of an old man with whom +he stood in such close, although hostile, relations? I blamed myself +for being so carried away by my indignation as to be ready to find in +insignificant trifles an undue importance. Besides, with the exception +of the Judge, whose duty it was to investigate all grounds of +suspicion, no other member of the company had thought of connecting +Franz Schorn's wounded hand with the murder. They all continued to +converse freely; even the physician, so acute in piecing out evidence, +who might have entertained some vague suspicion, had none at all; he +had thought no possible evil of Franz, and continued to address him now +from time to time as kindly and unreservedly as before. Still, this +evening I was very uncomfortable among them all. Their continued talk, +always of the same details, always of the horrible crime, increased my +nervous agitation to an intolerable degree. It was impossible to change +the subject of the conversation; it always reverted to the murder in +the Lonely House. + +This perpetual return to the same horrible subject stretched me upon +the rack; I could no longer endure it. As soon as I had finished my +trout and my wine, I rose to withdraw to my room. The Judge followed my +example, and rose also. After emptying his tall glass at a draught, he +said he was tired and unhinged and needed to go to bed early after so +terrible a day. His clerk and the physician, with several other +gentlemen, courteously entreated me to stay at least for half an hour +longer, it was so early. Without positive discourtesy I could not +refuse their request, and ordered myself another glass of wine. The +Judge followed my example, although no one had requested him to remain. +In the short time that I stayed, barely half an hour, he drank two full +glasses of wine, the last at a draught just as I arose and declined to +remain longer. + +Together we ascended the stairs. Mizka preceded us with a candle. When +we reached the landing in the first story, the Judge offered me his +left hand in farewell. + +"Good-night, Herr Professor," he said aloud, adding in a whisper, "I +fear I shall be obliged to ask you to-morrow to give me officially an +account of your meeting with Herr Franz Schorn in the neighbourhood of +the Lonely House." He looked around at Mizka, who was opening the door +of my room, and as she entered it he continued, "A ground of suspicion +such as the wound in his right hand compels me to abandon all personal +considerations." + +Greatly startled, I replied, "Mere chance, Herr Foligno; you, too, have +wounded your right hand to-day." + +My innocent words made him start as if I had struck him a blow in the +face. I could not see his features, it was too dark on the landing; a +weak ray of light coming from the open door of my room was the only +illumination; but the quiver in his voice as he answered me after a +pause of a second, betrayed the disastrous effect of my words. + +"You are perfectly right, Herr Professor; it may be 'mere chance.' I +shall not proceed against Herr Schorn. I will even try to combat my +suspicion of evil in him, my enemy, but it is my duty to search for +further grounds of suspicion against him. That must be done in spite of +my hostile feeling towards him. Good-night, Herr Professor." + +He pressed my hand once more, and we parted. + +Mizka was already busy in my room putting everything in order for the +night. She was obliged to do this as quickly as possible, for the +number of guests below in the dining-room and in the kitchen depended +upon her services; but she could not forego a little gossip. She told +me that before I had entered the dining-room this evening there had +been quite a quarrel between the Judge and his assistant. They had been +seated at the round table when Franz Schorn entered the room and looked +around for a place. All the tables were full, and the Clerk had invited +Schorn to sit beside him at the round table. This made the Judge +violently angry, but the Clerk declared that the Judge had no more +authority than any other guest in the dining-room of the inn. Franz +Schorn would have retired, but the Clerk detained him, and the +physician, who had been an old friend of Franz's dead father, had +declared that he himself would stay only on condition of Franz's +remaining, and would never again take his place at the round table if +Herr Foligno denied a seat there to Franz. The Burgomaster, too, and +the other gentlemen, who were not always friendly to Franz, now took +his part, so that the Judge was obliged to yield, and Franz, induced by +their persuasions, took his seat; but neither the Judge nor Franz after +the quarrel had exchanged a word. + +What strange occurrences were these in this little country town! Even +here, the few cultivated people, so circumscribed in their social +relations, were divided by hatred and prejudice. I undressed myself +and, with a memory of the gymnastic feats of my boyhood, clambered into +my lofty bed. I was sadly in need of repose. The agitations of the day +had been too much for my old body. They had exhausted my strength, and +yet excitement of mind conquered bodily weariness. I could not sleep. I +tried in vain to banish the memory of the dreadful scenes through which +I had passed. I tried to think of it all with indifference; but what I +had seen in the Lonely House scared away sleep, of which I had such +sore need. Hours and hours passed. The time seemed eternal before at +last I closed my weary eyes. + +And the Judge had the same experience; he could not sleep that night. +As long as I lay awake in bed I heard the sound of his footsteps above +me, as he paced his room to and fro restlessly. Surely the same +memories were agitating him which denied me the blessing of slumber. +The investigation at the Lonely House had not been the mere fulfilment +of a duty for him, any more than it had been for the physician. The +horror of it all had impressed him as profoundly as it had myself. It +did not lessen my opinion of him that he should thus have preserved in +the midst of his official duties a warm, sensitive heart. + + + + + CHAPTER VII. + THE TWO REQUESTS. + + +Again I awoke early in the morning. I did not need much sleep for +physical refreshment, and although it had lasted but a few hours, I +felt quite fresh and well. The beautiful morning should serve me for +another expedition, and I wished to start as early as possible; in +Southern Ukraine only the early morning hours are suitable for mountain +walks and climbing. As long as the dew still glitters on the grass, +wandering in the Ukraine mountains is indescribably delightful, but +when the glowing sun has absorbed the last dewdrops, when its direct +rays are reflected from gray rocks, when no breath of air fans the +climber's cheek, mountain-climbing becomes altogether too hard a task +for an old man. I finished my breakfast before six o'clock and was all +ready for a start. Whither should I turn my steps! The forest above the +Chapel of St. Nikolas allured me. I had found such entomological +treasures there on the previous day that I surely could do nothing +better than go thither again. I could not collect too many specimens of +the grub of the _Saturnia cćcigena_, for, unfortunately, I could not be +sure that each larva would produce a butterfly. To St. Nikolas, then, I +took my way and by the narrow path. I had succeeded in descending it +without accident the day before, and it was surely not too dangerous +for me to ascend it. I set out. The path certainly was better than its +reputation. It had no danger for a climber not subject to dizziness, +and was quite firm beneath the foot. I had often ascended far more +steep and dangerous pathways in my search for some rare plant. + +The easy footpath leading to the Lonely House was soon reached, and I +strode forward sturdily. On the previous day I had hurried along it, +only desirous to reach Luttach as quickly as possible. To-day I feasted +my eyes with the view of the charming country upon which I looked down, +while at the same time I scrutinized with the keenness of a collector +the gentle ascent on my left where I might perhaps discover some +treasure growing among the rocks. Not far from the Lonely House I +perceived to my great joy in a spot which could be reached without +difficulty many beautiful specimens of the very orchid _Ophrys +Bertolini_ which the Judge had brought to me yesterday. This was an +unexpected delight. In yesterday's excitement I had neglected to put +the charming flowers in water, and when I returned from the +investigation they were so withered that they were not worth preserving +for my herbarium. Now I could gather many glorious specimens without +any trouble. + +I left the path and easily climbed the rocks soon reaching the spot +where the orchids grew. But no sooner had I arrived there than to my +astonishment several trampled flowers showed me that another had been +before me, who was also a collector, and had plucked many blossoms of +the rare _Ophrys_. + +One spot showed me that whoever he was, he had been no true botanist; a +true botanist would have taken the plants, roots and all, not the +blossoms only. He who collected the flowers here must have been in a +hurry; he had dropped several blossoms which lay wilted on the ground +and had evidently been plucked yesterday. + +Was this the spot where the Judge had collected the beautiful _Ophrys_ +for me! The specimens which he had brought me were without roots. I now +recalled this circumstance, which had escaped my notice on the previous +day; but he had said that it had cost him some trouble and even danger +to reach the rare plants with the habitat of which he was acquainted. +He had fallen in doing so and had lacerated his hand. It was impossible +that he could have done so here; for here was no possible danger; no +flowers on the mountains could be plucked with more facility than +these. + +And yet here the Judge had been. He had certainly gathered the _Ophrys_ +for me here. I found one unmistakable proof of his presence. On the +ground lay a red and yellow silk pocket handkerchief, just exactly such +a handkerchief as the Judge had carried the day before yesterday. I +remembered it perfectly. Of course he had lost it here while plucking +the flowers. + +Involuntarily I smiled at the good man's boast; in order to give his +gift a higher value, he had talked of danger in procuring it. I would +tease him a little for his bragging. When I returned his handkerchief I +would expatiate on the terrible danger of the place where the _Ophrys +Bertolini_ was to be found. + +Still the plucking of the flowers had not been entirely without danger +for him. I could not comprehend how he could have fallen on this smooth +spot and wounded his hand, but that he had done so the handkerchief +testified. On the yellow silk there were several brown stains, which I +recognized as blood. The hackneyed old saying, "No fall so slight but +may kill you quite," occurred to me. With a smile I put the +handkerchief in my pocket to return it to its owner when I got back to +the inn. I dug up a number of the beautiful _Ophrys Bertolini_ growing +here by hundreds, and then, walking on quickly, in scarcely five +minutes I reached the Lonely House. I was going to pass it, but from a +window of the upper story the Captain called, begging me to wait a +moment and he would join me. + +He came and greeted me with great cordiality. He had passed a +melancholy night. Old Johanna had been half crazy with fear and was +absolutely useless. He had tried to persuade her to occupy one of the +two rooms on the right of the hall, but she had fled to her bed in the +upper story and locked herself in. Therefore the Captain had earnestly +entreated Anna to leave the Lonely House, but all his words had been in +vain. Anna displayed wonderful composure in her profound grief, but at +the same time a firmness of purpose bordering on obstinacy. She had +declared that she would not leave the Lonely House as long as it +sheltered her father's body. She could not leave it all alone there. +She would stay with him until he was buried, and she watched beside the +corpse for half the night. Morning had dawned before she betook herself +to rest. + +"Anna is a strange child," said the Captain. "There are odd +contradictions in her character. She is gentle and yielding and at the +same time absolutely firm, open to no persuasion; sometimes frank and +confiding; at others reserved and almost suspicious even of me, +although she has repeatedly assured me that she trusts no human being +as she does me and my brother, the Burgomaster. With entire frankness +she has given me a detailed account of all the misery and wretchedness +which has existed here in the house ever since the day when Franz +Schorn asked her in marriage of her father. Towards herself the old man +was kind and caressing, although she declared to him that she never +would forsake Franz Schorn, that she never would marry the Judge; but +to every other human being, and particularly to Franz, he displayed +positive hatred, regarding all with profound suspicion, even old +Johanna. He was completely dominated by the fear that some day he +should be attacked and murdered. Wherefore he always bolted himself +into his room, and if he admitted any one was armed with a dagger-like +knife. He kept this terrible knife in his hand even whilst old Johanna +arranged his room; even from her he feared some secret attack. No +entreaty of Anna's could induce him to moderate his savage hatred of +Franz. She, on her part, declared that she never would forsake Franz as +long as she lived. This had led to continual strife between herself and +her father, for she had told him frankly that he must shut her up in a +close prison if he wished to prevent her from seeing Franz, and she had +seen him almost daily; when her father locked himself up in his room +after the midday meal to sleep for an hour, she always left the house +to see Franz, who awaited her beneath the large oak not far away. Her +father knew this, but had done nothing to prevent it, after she had +declared to him that she should continue to do it, and if he locked her +in the house, she would try to break the locks. The strange girl told +me all this with reckless frankness, while at the same time she refused +me any explanation, although I begged her to give it, of what she meant +yesterday when she declared that she perhaps was guilty of her father's +death. My little Anna is a riddle to me," the Captain thus closed his +long account, "but I love her none the less and I shall stay here to +protect her. I will not leave her all by herself in the Lonely House. +Now you can do me a favour, Herr Professor. When you return at midday +from your excursion to St. Nikolas, stop here before the Lonely House +once more, and I will give you some directions to take to Luttach for +my brother, the Burgomaster. He must provide a suitable home for Anna +in Luttach if she refuses to accept the doctor's invitation after her +father's funeral, for which he must also give directions. I will put +all this down in a letter, which you will have the kindness to give to +my brother yourself." + +I at once promised what he asked, and we parted the best of friends. +The Captain returned to the Lonely House to write his letter, which, as +he said, was quite a task for an old soldier unaccustomed for many +years to hold a pen. + +I continued my walk and soon reached the little Church of St. Nikolas. +Again I fed my eyes on the charming prospect and then proceeded to +collect. I scrambled about in the forest, hither and thither, for some +hours; then up on the bald rocky side of Nanos, and not until my +bottles and boxes were so full that I could accommodate no more +treasures, and the heat had become oppressive, did I take my way back +towards noon by the same path which I had followed yesterday. In a +little while I reached the footpath leading to the Lonely House, and on +the very same spot where I had yesterday encountered Franz Schorn I +found him again to-day, but he did not avoid me; he awaited me. He was +not alone; beside him, with his arm around her waist, stood pretty +Anna. They were a charming pair. I delighted in the sight of the two +beautiful young people. Franz was certainly a handsome fellow. Now, as +he looked down on his lovely companion, with eyes full of the tenderest +affection, the beauty of his features, which a gloomy expression had +hitherto concealed, was plainly visible. + +When the young man observed me, a shadow crossed his brow. Without +releasing his companion, with his left hand he took off his straw hat +in greeting. Then Anna, too, saw me, and with a blush beckoned to me +kindly. She made no attempt to release herself from the embracing arm +of the young man. + +"We were awaiting you here, Herr Professor," said Franz, as I reached +them. "Captain Pollenz informed my betrothed that you, in coming from +St. Nikolas, had promised to stop, towards noon, at the Lonely House; +therefore we came to meet you to make a request of you." + +"Which I shall certainly comply with if possible," I replied, regarding +the young girl with genuine delight. She blushed, but looked up with +kindling eyes at Franz as he uttered the word "betrothed." + +"It is a request that may seem strange to you, Herr Professor," Franz +continued, "but, nevertheless, I will make it; I am convinced that you +would not wish to cause annoyance either to myself or to my dear +betrothed." + +"Most certainly not. Pray tell me quite frankly what you wish." + +"It is not much. I would only ask you not to mention to any one our +meeting yesterday here in this place." + +The request in itself seemed trivial enough, but the look which +accompanied it was far from meaningless. It betokened intense anxiety +as to whether or not I would accede to what he asked. + +In truth, the young man's request was a strange one. Involuntarily my +eyes turned to his wounded right hand. All diverse thoughts ran riot in +my brain. I remembered the large double-edged knife with its bloody +handle lying on the floor of the room in the Lonely House, and then +came the memory of the cut on a brown hand and the doctor's voice +saying, "That looks as if you had grasped a knife by the blade." Again +I saw Franz turn from me to hurry through the undergrowth, and again I +saw him with eyes gloomily cast down as he listened to the physician's +words. I recalled his bitter hostility to old Pollenz, and the old +man's words, "That fellow will kill me one of these days." Hitherto I +had entertained no downright suspicion of the young fellow, but it +suddenly stirred within me. + +"Why do you wish me not to mention our meeting?" I asked in reply. + +"Because I begged Franz to ask you this," Anna replied for the young +man, whose features as I spoke resumed their wonted gloomy expression. +"Franz told me that yesterday he turned away from you because he wished +to avoid any meeting with you. He feared it might cause you annoyance, +if you had happened to be seen by any chance passer-by walking with +him. He had been waiting for me a long time in vain beneath the old oak +where we are used to meet every day at noon. I could not come because +my father had sent me down to Luttach. Franz was in a very bad humour +when he met you, and so, to avoid greeting you, he turned away into the +forest." + +Anna's words had a peculiar effect upon me. They strengthened my +suspicions. If he were not guilty, would Franz have thought it +necessary to have the young girl explain to me why he was in the +neighbourhood of the Lonely House at noon, and why he had turned away +from me with such sullen looks? + +"You have not yet told me why I should not mention my meeting with Herr +Schorn," I replied. + +"I will explain that to you myself," Franz said hurriedly, "my +betrothed thinks that if Foligno should learn that I was seen yesterday +here in the neighbourhood of the Lonely House, the malice and hatred +with which he regards me would find expression in vile suspicion of +me." + +"It would certainly be so. I entreat you, dear Herr Professor, do not +tell a human being that you met Franz yesterday." + +As she spoke the young girl looked up at me with such entreaty in her +beautiful eyes that my heart was softened. I was in an awkward +position. Ought I to tell her that I could not comply with her request, +because I had already informed the Judge of my meeting Franz? This I +could not do. I could not warn Franz without perhaps injuring the +investigation; but, on the other hand, I certainly could not make a +promise which it was already impossible to keep. + +"I can promise nothing," I replied guardedly; "in an official +examination one is bound to conceal nothing." + +"Oh, Herr Professor, I beg, I entreat you----" + +Franz interrupted her, and, casting at me a look which was almost +menacing, exclaimed, "Do not say another word, Anna; the Herr Professor +is right; it was folly, yes, wrong, for me to yield to your desire and +make this request of the Herr Professor, who ought not to comply with +it. If that scoundrel, Foligno, suspects me, I know how to meet his +suspicion. Come, Anna, we ought not to detain the gentleman any +longer." + +He lifted his hat by way of farewell, and walked towards the forest +with the young girl. My mind was filled with contradictory thoughts. +Can that proud, self-assertive young man be a miserable criminal! I +would so gladly have banished all suspicion of him, but--how terrible +it was that so lovely and charming a girl had perhaps bestowed the +wealth of her affection upon her father's murderer! + +I walked slowly towards the Lonely House, where the Captain, sitting +before the door, was awaiting me. He handed me the letter for his +brother, gave me various verbal commissions, and I left with a promise +to visit him shortly in the Lonely House. + +"Shall I bring the Herr Professor's lunch into the garden?" Mizka asked +me as I entered the kitchen of the Golden Vine on my return from my +excursion. "The Judge has been lunching in the garden, and is sitting +with his coffee beneath the great linden." + +The _Ophrys Bertolini_ occurred to me. I smiled at the remembrance of +the Judge's boast and was pleased at the idea of teasing him. Of course +I ordered my lunch in the garden and betook myself thither. + +The Judge was sipping his coffee and smoking his long cigar at the +round table beneath the spreading linden. He seemed sunk in a profound +reverie, leaning his head upon his hand and with downcast eyes. I was +struck with his pallor and with the sallowness and the drawn look of +his features. At my first words he started violently, and for a moment +gazed at me with terror, almost as if awaking from an oppressive dream, +but in an instant he recovered his self-control, and greeted me with a +smile. + +"I think I was dozing," he said; "the terrible heat makes me sleepy." + +Why should he have told such an untruth? He had not been dozing; just +before he started he had raised his hand to his cigar and had taken a +long whiff. + +"I admire you, Herr Professor," he said, "for being able to climb about +in such heat. I suffer from it even here in the shade of the linden. I +trust you were richly rewarded for your trouble." + +"I was indeed," I replied smiling. "I have had great luck. I have been +so fortunate as even to discover the place where, yesterday, you +plucked for me the charming _Ophrys Bertolini_." + +My jesting words produced a strange effect. Herr Foligno stared +at me blankly; his sallow face grew ashy pale; his mouth twitched +convulsively as he said brokenly, "No, impossible! How--how--could +you--how could you get there?" + +"In the easiest way in the world," I replied, tickled that the +discovery of his boast had so startled the worthy gentleman. "The spot, +so difficult and even dangerous to attain, in reaching which you fell +on the rocks and wounded your hand, I found right on the road to the +Lonely House and most easy of attainment. From the path I saw the +_Ophrys_ blooming, and mounted without any difficulty to where it +grew." + +"Then you have had the good fortune to discover a new home for it +which I had not known," Herr Foligno replied, having regained his +self-control with surprising celerity. "I found the orchid on an +overhanging rock in quite a distant part of the country." + +"Indeed, that is very remarkable. Did you, by chance, lose your pocket +handkerchief there? I found it in my spot--or is it not yours? Look, +the yellow silk shows some spots of blood, probably from a wounded +hand." + +With a laugh I drew out the handkerchief and handed it to him; the +black gloved hand with which he took it trembled. He examined it quite +attentively for some time, and then said quietly, "This certainly is a +remarkable coincidence. The handkerchief actually belongs to me, and I +probably lost it yesterday in climbing about the rocks, but certainly +not where you found it, for I was not even in the neighbourhood of the +Lonely House. Probably one of the young goatherds here who scramble +about everywhere in the mountains found it, and lost it again where you +discovered it." + +With the greatest calmness he put the handkerchief in his pocket. I +could not refuse him my admiration, for his barefaced explanation +struck me as quite brilliant. Whether I believed him or not, I must +pretend to do so. Laughing heartily, I replied: "I congratulate you, +Herr Foligno, on the happy chance which led the little goatherd and the +old Professor to the same place, one losing, the other finding your +handkerchief to restore it to you." + +The Judge probably felt the irony in my words, but he took no notice of +it. He offered me his hand cordially. + +"It certainly is a very strange coincidence," he said. "If my +acquaintances here should hear of it, it might give them material for +teasing me quite unpleasantly. You will oblige me, Herr Professor, if +you will not mention this little occurrence. May I rely upon you?" + +"Certainly; I will be silent as the grave," I replied, still laughing, +but the suspicious and evil glance which he cast at me quickly silenced +my laughter. He said nothing further about the handkerchief or the +_Ophrys_; he only made a few remarks about the unusual heat of the +weather so late in the season, and then arose, saying that he was +obliged to return to his office, and, therefore, to his regret, must +leave me. + + + + + CHAPTER VIII. + QUIET WEEKS. + + +The first eventful days which I passed in Luttach were followed by +weeks that were more serene. Favoured by the beautiful weather, I made +daily excursions in every direction, reaping a rich harvest everywhere. +I grew more and more familiar with the peculiar features of the +country, and every day I grew more in sympathy with the smiling, +charming valley shut in by mountains crowned with bald summits. The +contrast between the barren gray rocks and the luxuriant valley at +their feet particularly charmed me, and I especially delighted in the +view when the sun sank behind the mountains, which were quickly +enveloped in a soft twilight mist, the noble outlines of their peaks +showing clear against the sky in the light of the setting sun. + +The character of the inhabitants of Southern Ukraine soon grew familiar +to me. Intercourse with the country folk whom I met on my excursions +was, of course, very limited; we could not understand each other's +language. Here and there a man who had served in the army could speak +German, but only brokenly. The women for the most part spoke scarcely a +German word, and they found it very difficult to understand the few +Slavonic words which I had learned from Mizka and which I certainly +pronounced very badly. There could be no attempt at conversation, but +nevertheless the Slavonic country folk tried to testify kindness and +cordiality for the stranger. + +The peasants evidently held it their duty to offer the hospitality of +their fields to the "flycatcher," as they dubbed me, although sometimes +they found the grass trodden down where he had been. Unlike the Swiss +peasantry, who load with abuse any stranger venturing to trespass in +their fields, these Slavonic country folk seemed glad to have me pluck +flowers and pursue butterflies wherever I would; nay, they would at +times even point out places among the rocks most easy of access and +would assist in my search, never asking for money, accepting at most, +with many Slavonic words of thanks, a cheap cigar. Scarcely ever in all +my travels have I met a peasantry so amiable and kindly as these much +slandered Slavonic country folk. I never heard a harsh word or found a +trace of that hatred of Germans against which I had been cautioned. + +And yet it was none the less there at the bottom of all their hearts; +but it was not for the German proper, as the Burgomaster had told me on +that first evening, but for those Ukrainers who in a Slavonic country +aimed at remaining faithful to Germany. Of this I had daily proof in +the expressions which I heard with regard to Franz Schorn. + +The young man interested me greatly and I took every opportunity to +inform myself as to his circumstances, his earlier life, and everything +regarding him. What I learned was not of a nature either to weaken or +strengthen my suspicion, and, besides, I could not but acknowledge to +myself that all the sources from which I could gain information were +unfit to give me a true, distinct picture of a young fellow living in +brooding seclusion, as it were, in a community rife with party hatred. +The Clerk, the Captain, and the Burgomaster were the only men who could +sufficiently rid themselves of prejudice to speak really well of the +young man. + +All acknowledged that Franz Schorn was an industrious, capable farmer, +who took admirable care of the estate inherited from his father; that +he was well educated, to a degree above his station; but no praise was +accorded to his character; he was said to be an obstinate, sullen +fellow, ready for deeds of violence, filled with party hatred, +maltreating his Slavonic labourers, covetous and hard-hearted. He had +no pity for the poor; his only desire was to gain money and increase +his patrimony, which was the reason why he had cast his eye on the rich +and pretty Anna Pollenz, not because he loved her, but from greed of +gain. This was the verdict of his enemies concerning him. The Captain +and the Clerk alone maintained that he was a man of honour, incapable +of mean or avaricious conduct; that he was reserved and defiant, +willing to defend himself with some violence against all party hatred, +and in other respects the victim of slander and low suspicion. How +could I find the truth in these conflicting descriptions? I pondered +the question in vain. It was certainly remarkable that a handsome, +well-to-do, educated young man should be so generally detested, and it +was hard to believe that such widespread hatred was entirely without +foundation. + +I now had many opportunities of observing him. He came almost regularly +every evening to the Golden Vine and took the place at the round table +which the Clerk always reserved for him. It seemed to me that this was +done in order to establish a more kindly social feeling between Franz +and the rest of the company who nightly assembled in the inn. The Clerk +evidently endeavoured in the kindest way to draw him into the +conversation, which he knew how to conduct so that Schorn would have an +opportunity to be heard to the very best advantage in displaying his +clear judgment and admirable intelligence. + +The Captain, the Burgomaster, and the doctor aided the Clerk in his +endeavour to establish peace between Franz and the rest of the company, +who, out of regard for these gentlemen, became less antagonistic, to be +sure, but still remained decidedly indifferent. They were content to do +what was required of them socially, greeting the young man when he +entered, but in conversation they avoided all direct talk with him, and +since he addressed all that he said to the three above-named members of +the party, he rarely exchanged a word with the others. The antipathy +existing between Franz and the Judge was especially observable. Between +these two there was an insurmountable barrier of profound dislike. They +never exchanged either a greeting or a word. Franz never even looked at +the Judge, although Herr Foligno watched him narrowly. + +As soon as Franz appeared among the company in the evening, the Judge +fell silent. Even though he might before have talked continually, and +at times had even attempted to monopolize the conversation, from the +time when Franz appeared he confined himself to monosyllables or a word +thrown in here and there. He listened to all that was going on and with +special interest when the talk turned upon the failure to discover the +perpetrator of the crime committed in the Lonely House. At such times +his gaze would be riveted with a strange intensity upon Franz Schorn. +No word that the young man spoke, no expression of his countenance, +escaped him then. It was the gaze of the serpent upon the bird which he +is about to devour. This is perhaps an unsuitable simile, but it +occurred to me involuntarily as I saw the Judge watching Franz. I knew +his suspicions of the young man, and knew that he was secretly trying +to accumulate fresh grounds for it. I knew also that his desire was +great to gather from Franz some word that could be used against him, +and I fervently thanked my Creator that after going through two terms +as a student of law, I had given up all legal aspirations and devoted +myself to natural science. There is something positively detestable to +me in the thought of a man like the Judge sacrificing all humanity in +an eagerness to discover the traces of a crime. My discomfort increased +from day to day as I observed the stealthy manner in which he watched +Franz's every word and motion. + +Sometimes I actually hated the Judge, but I reflected that I had no +right to do so. He was simply fulfilling the duty of his office, and +probably such fulfilment was most obnoxious to him; he certainly had +before him a most unpleasant and arduous task. + +As yet there had been no light thrown upon the mysterious crime in the +Lonely House. The necessary papers had been sent to the court at +Laibach, and there the matter rested for the present. The investigating +Judge and the Attorney General had come to Luttach in person to +convince themselves that there was no trace of the criminal. The stolen +bonds and banknotes had not been found, and, in fact, identification of +these would have been impossible, as there had been no registration of +them. + +Nor could the minutest search among the papers of the murdered man give +any evidence as to the amount of his property. The Judge and the +tradesman Weber, each of whom had formerly had dealings with old +Pollenz and occasion to speak with him about his money affairs, +maintained that the old man had kept a list of all bonds in his +possession, and of his outstanding investments, in order that he might +always be fully conscious of the amount of his wealth, but such a list +was not among the papers left behind by the thief. The miserly old man +had speculated with a kind of passion. He was in correspondence with +several bankers in Vienna; no one could tell with how many. These +bankers he commissioned partly by letter and partly through a Luttach +firm of tradesmen, Weber & Meyer, as to the purchase and sale of +various stocks. He excluded every one from all knowledge of his +speculations, and never sold his stock through the same banking house +that had purchased it for him. As no one knew how many banking houses +he employed, it seemed quite hopeless to discover what stock and +government bonds he had possessed, and this, of course, diminished the +chances of the discovery of the murderer should he attempt to sell the +papers. + +It must have been a really humiliating reflection for Herr Foligno that +within his district a crime should have been committed without any +possibility of the discovery of the criminal. He might well fear that +those above him would accuse him of a want of acuteness, or of activity +in the performance of his duties. His clear, excellently composed +deposition had evidently not brought him the credit that it should have +done in higher places. When the two officials from Laibach had made +their visit to Luttach, they had put all their questions to the Clerk +and not to himself. + +"Perhaps I have been wrong," he said to me after the visit of the two +men from Laibach, "I ought to have required you to give me a sworn +report of your encounter with Herr Franz Schorn in the forest near the +Lonely House. I thought of doing so, but the same feeling which forbade +me to do it upon the first discovery of the murder actuated me to-day +and with renewed strength. Your meeting with him, and the wound in his +hand, now entirely healed, are the only grounds of suspicion against +him, and you yourself proved to me how insignificant they are by your +simple remark that I, too, might be subjected to suspicion from the +same causes. I assure you, Herr Professor, that I cannot be +sufficiently grateful to you for preventing me from taking a step which +I might have repented forever. I do not deny that my suspicion of the +man is even more deeply rooted now than it was then, but it behooves me +to be all the more strict with myself, for hitherto I have discovered +nothing which could justify me in accusing the man whom, nevertheless, +I detest profoundly. Should I do so, all the world would believe that I +was endeavouring to be rid of a hated rival." + +I could not but admit that he was right. Circumstances were really most +unfortunate for him. The Lonely House deserved its name now still more +than formerly. It was utterly lonely. After the body of its owner had +been interred in the graveyard of the village of Oberberg, the Captain +had closed it. Anna and her old maid had come to Luttach; she had at +last yielded to the persuasions of the Captain, the Burgomaster, and +the doctor, and had accepted an asylum in the doctor's house. A couple +of unused rooms were quickly furnished for herself and old Johanna. +They did not live there as guests of the owner, but as lodgers. It was +only with the stipulation that there should be no restriction of her +freedom that she had yielded to the wishes of her relatives, and the +first use which she made of this freedom was to declare that Franz +Schorn was her future husband, who should lead her to the altar at the +expiration of her year of mourning. In vain did the Burgomaster, the +Captain, and the doctor entreat the young girl to reserve for a time +such a declaration. Anna was not to be persuaded. + +"It is just because all are against him; just because all seem to hate +him in spite of his noble, lofty nature, that I will be true to him. I +have been betrothed to him for two years. As long as my father lived I +could not declare this boldly against his will, but now I can do so." + +Anna's declaration produced a disagreeable impression in Luttach. The +little social circle there was greatly scandalized, but even the +loudest scandalmonger had to be silent, since Anna with delicate tact +avoided all occasion for calumny. Her lover never visited her; her only +times for seeing him were when he was invited to the house by its +owner, the doctor, who had at first been really provoked at the girl's +obstinacy, but who now found it impossible to say enough of her truly +enchanting disposition. He had always loved her, ever since she had +been a little child, but had never dreamed of her becoming so charming, +so tender and caressing. His wife, too, was perfectly delighted to have +the lovely girl beneath her roof. He now comprehended perfectly how +that stony-hearted miser, old Pollenz, had yielded to the charm of this +girl, and, being quite unable to resist her, had not ventured to oppose +her meeting Franz beneath the oak daily at noon, for fear of her +forsaking him entirely. But, docile and amiable as Anna showed herself +among her relatives and friends, the Burgomaster, the Captain, the +doctor and his wife, she was correspondingly hard and repellent towards +the Judge. From the Captain, with whom I had a daily gossip in the +early morning in the garden, I learned that Herr Foligno still +entertained a foolish hope of conquering the dislike which Anna felt +for him. Several times since she had taken up her dwelling at the +doctor's he had made an attempt to approach her, but had always been +repulsed with signs of the greatest aversion. The Captain and the +doctor had represented to her that she should at least treat him with +conventional courtesy, but she had declared that for him she had no +courteous, kindly word; she detested and despised him, not only because +her father had once wished to force her to marry him, but because she +had a firm conviction that he was at heart a wicked man. She would give +no grounds for this belief, but she was quite sure it was justified. + +The Captain and the doctor must have mentioned to others Anna's +behaviour in this respect; it was known throughout Luttach. There was +much laughing gossip in the little town about the Judge's unfortunate +love. Every evening Mizka detailed to me some town tattle, which was +sure to have for its subject pretty Anna and her two adorers. Perhaps +it was not quite right that I should lend an ear to such downright +gossip, but I do not deny that it interested me, and I could not make +up my mind to interrupt the garrulous maid as she told me of all that +was discussed in the town. + +Though I had but very little sympathy for the Judge, I felt rather +sorry for him; he apparently suffered from the unfortunate +circumstances in which he was placed. He had proved, too, that at +bottom he was not a bad man by the consideration which he had shown for +his inveterate enemy, against whom he endeavoured to harbour no +suspicion. It was most unfortunate that he should bestow his affection +upon a young girl who detested him. I could not excuse him for +continuing to sue for her favour after she had shown him her dislike, +and he exposed himself to the ridicule of the townfolk and fell in my +esteem when every evening he sought to drown his woes by drinking +immoderately. + +Nevertheless I pitied him. To me he was all amiability and courtesy. He +usually postponed his midday meal until I returned from my excursions +and could partake of it with him. He took much interest in my +collections, particularly in my botanical treasures, and really showed, +for a layman, no little knowledge of the subject. If I had lit upon +some rare plant, he would learn from me its locality, and in the +afternoon would scramble about among the rocks and boast to me in the +evening as he displayed the plucked flowers of the result of his +labours, and that he had discovered another spot rich in such +treasures. If on the following morning I endeavoured to find according +to his directions the place he had described, I became aware that it +could be attained only by what was almost dangerous climbing. The +ascent to a place where he told me I should find quantities of the +_Ophrys Bertolini_ was so hazardous that I might easily have come to +grief had I not been a practised mountaineer. On returning, although I +strictly followed his directions, I could not have rightly understood +them, for I entered a perfect labyrinth of dangerous ravines. It was +almost by a miracle that at last I found my way out of it and succeeded +in descending by an unused breakneck path. + +Exhausted beyond measure by such unexpected exertion, I returned to +Luttach at noon and rehearsed to the Judge the danger through which I +had passed. + +He replied with a smile, "You must have missed the path in descending +which I described to you. It is not without danger, but still not very +bad. I am glad, however, that you are now convinced of the difficulty +which I had two weeks ago in plucking the _Ophrys Bertolini_. That is +the spot where I found the flowers that I brought you. I still do not +understand how you found the charming plants in a place easy of +access." + +So he had sent me upon this dangerous excursion just to rid himself of +the imputation of bragging. This was very clear. I really did not thank +him for it. I said nothing, but determined in future not to explore any +of his wonderful localities. I am not such a passionate enthusiast for +botany as to expose myself, for the sake of a beautiful flower, to the +risk of breaking my neck. + + + + + CHAPTER IX. + AN EXPLORING PARTY. + + +One evening there was so full an assembly round the table in the inn +that all the gentlemen with whom I had become acquainted in Luttach +were present, with the exception of Franz Schorn. He, as the +Burgomaster told us, had driven in the early morning to Görz to bring +thence some expensive agricultural machines which he wished to employ +on his farm. He had promised the Burgomaster to come to the inn late in +the evening to give an account of his purchases, and he was expected to +appear any minute. + +Since the young man had of late been a constant attendant at the round +table, the conversation which had formerly been quite lively with +regard to him had ceased. It was all the more lively on this evening, +and the subject of it was the purchases he had gone to Görz to make. +Several of the men present were the owners of large estates. They at +least knew something of agriculture, and yet they were the very ones +who expressed themselves as disapproving of the novelties which Franz +was trying to introduce. + +"He is always endeavouring to use something new-fangled and peculiar," +Herr Gunther, one of the richest of the land-owners in the county, +declared. "These machines are probably useful enough in Germany, in +countries where labour is perhaps very expensive, but they do not suit +us here, where they are a ruinous innovation. We have so many poor +people about us who want work, that it is a positive crime to deprive +them of it by the use of machinery." + +"That is just why Schorn buys the machines," another interposed, a man +by the name of Mosic. "He hates our poor Slavonic labourers and would +like to be independent of them. He has probably heard that many of our +best labourers have combined against him and will not work for the +German. Where does he get the money he is spending upon such expensive +machines?" + +"The harvests for several years have not been so plentiful as to enable +a farmer to accumulate much cash," said another. + +"Perhaps he buys on credit," said the notary, Dietrich. + +"Not at all," rejoined the merchant, Meyer. "I have often offered him +credit, but he has never accepted it. 'What I cannot buy with ready +money I will go without; I will not burden myself with debt,' has +always been his reply to me." + +"He does not need to do so; he is always economical, and has money +enough," remarked the shopkeeper, Weber. "As he was paying me yesterday +for his clover seed, I saw that his pocket-book contained a roll of +hundred-gulden notes." + +"He has certainly spent a deal of money lately; he has purchased two +splendid horses, and they were really not necessary, for the two which +he gave in part payment to Schmelzigsohn were good enough. He is +squandering money at present. People whisper queer things of him. In +fact, they are beginning to whisper no longer, but to talk loudly, and +before long what they say will be proclaimed in the market place." + +"It certainly is strange that Schorn has so much money at his command. +Before old Pollenz was murdered he seemed to have very little." + +For an instant profound silence followed the last remark of Mosic's. A +strange expression spread over the countenances of those present. The +innuendo in the words just spoken made a most painful impression upon +all. The Clerk was the first to recover himself. With an angry look at +Mosic, he said in a tone of harsh reproof: + +"How dare you, Herr Mosic, utter such an accusation against an absent +member of our circle? I shall inform Herr Schorn of what you have said +that he may call you to account for it." + +Herr Mosic changed color. + +"Oh, pardon me, sir," he said, and his voice trembled; "you entirely +misunderstood me. I have no idea of uttering an accusation against Herr +Schorn. I only repeated the stupid talk of the townsfolk. Of course I +attach no importance to it; it is not my fault if people will talk." + +"You ought not to repeat such nonsensical gossip," the Clerk said +angrily. + +Hitherto the Judge had taken no part in the conversation. He had sat +silent drinking glass after glass of wine, but now he turned to the +Clerk, and in a very odd tone said, with a glance toward me: + +"You judge rather hastily, sir; you should remember that the voice of +the people is the voice of God." + +"Pardon me, Judge," cried the doctor; "in this case the despicable +gossip is the voice of the devil; no honest man should repeat or defend +it." + +"So say I. 'Tis a cowardly, unworthy accusation!" exclaimed the +Captain, and the Burgomaster nodded assent. "Franz is a rough, morose +fellow, but a man of honour through and through, incapable of +committing a crime." + +"Besides," added the doctor, "very little understanding is necessary to +perceive that he never could have committed the murder. Even if he had +been a hard-hearted wretch quite capable of it, no suspicion of _this_ +crime could attach to him." + +"Indeed!" said the Judge, contemptuously; "I really am curious to learn +why no possible suspicion in this case could attach to Schorn." + +"Upon my word, it is sad to think that I, an old doctor, understanding +nothing of criminal law, should have to instruct a learned Judge as to +what his simple, sound, good sense should teach him, but since it is +so, since such ridiculous gossip has found no one in this circle to +expose it as such, it must be. The murderer was certainly a man with +whom old Pollenz was very intimate; Franz he hated like sin and held +him to be his mortal enemy. + +"When little Anna went to Luttach with old Johanna, her father locked +the front door behind them, and, as always when resting at noon, +withdrew to his own room and bolted himself in. Whoever wished to enter +the house or to see its owner would be obliged either to break down the +door or be admitted by old Pollenz himself. Now, no sensible human +being could believe that the old man would have opened his door for +Schorn, to allow himself to be murdered--for Franz Schorn, of whom he +was afraid, of whom he always said, 'Schorn will kill me one of these +days.' He would have drawn a double bolt on every door if Franz had +asked for admittance, but on this occasion he drew back the bolt and +opened the door. There is no trace of any violence used in opening it, +and a bolted door cannot be opened unless from within, or with +violence; therefore I maintain that the murderer must have been an +intimate friend of old Pollenz, and in no case can the slightest +suspicion attach to Franz Schorn. I think I have now proved this +clearly." + +"Clear as sunlight; the legal profession loses a shining light in you, +doctor," the Judge rejoined, his thin lips curled in a contemptuous +smile. "After your lucid defense," he continued, "it seems to me +incumbent upon us all to say not one word to Franz Schorn of our +previous conversation; he would surely be deeply offended and insulted +if he could believe that any one of us entertained the smallest doubt +of his innocence. We must take it upon ourselves to discountenance the +town gossip wherever we hear it, always taking care that the young man +learns nothing of the rumours concerning him. The object of such +rumours can never combat them himself. Should he try to do so, it would +but strengthen belief in them; but we can have many opportunities to +silence slander. I hope you all agree with me, gentlemen." + +All agreed. The doctor offered the Judge his hand in token of +acknowledgment, and said with a kindly nod: + +"You are a good fellow, after all, Judge, and I beg your pardon. It is +fine of you to stand up so bravely for Franz, although you cannot +endure him. I will not forget it of you." + +That the Judge's words had produced their effect upon all present, even +upon those most opposed to Schorn, was evident when the young man soon +afterward entered the room; he was received with more cordiality and +kindness than ever before; it really seemed as if Herr Gunther and Herr +Mosic were trying by their courtesy to atone for the words spoken in +his absence. + +Franz was so pleasantly surprised by this friendly reception that he +became far more amiable and genial than ever before. At the +Burgomaster's request, he explained the new machines which he had +bought in Görz and the use to which he intended to put them, not only +for his own advantage, but hoping to improve the agriculture of the +entire Luttach valley by introducing them generally. + +This excited a little war of words between him and the two land-owners, +who declared themselves opposed to the introduction of new methods, but +their opposition was expressed with so much moderation that Franz could +not take offense. + +And the Captain, who, as a good Conservative, was strongly opposed to +the introduction of machinery in agricultural operations, sided with +the land-owners. + +"You mean well, Franz," he said; "you would like to increase the +prosperity of our valley; but with your cursed innovations you put the +cart before the horse. You will never improve the labourer's condition +by depriving him of his means of subsistence." + +"These machines will not deprive the labourer of his work. On the +contrary, they will give him an opportunity of working more effectually +than has been possible for him hitherto. A more thorough cultivation of +our fields and vineyards will create a fresh demand of labour, which +will be better paid than ever." + +"Dreams, dreams, in which I have no faith," replied the Captain. "The +manufacturers of these machines and the people who sell them have +started these tales. When a machine undertakes the labour hitherto +performed by man, the man sinks to the machine's level. In all great +manufacturing towns the labouring class, with very few exceptions, is +poverty-stricken and starving. Don't tell me of such innovations. We +should count ourselves happy that here in the country we have hitherto +been free from machinery." + +"Nevertheless, perhaps because of this, our labourers here suffer the +bitterest poverty." + +"That is because the last few years have been poor ones. If the +peasant's harvest fails and the vineyards do not flourish, the labourer +can earn nothing. Your machines cannot improve his condition; they can +only make it worse. The Herr Professor has given me an idea of what +would improve the condition of our people here more than ought else." + +I gazed at the Captain in surprise. I did not remember that I had ever +said a word to him about the poverty of the labouring class in the +Luttach valley, or had ever mentioned any means whatever of improving +their condition. He nodded to me with a gentle smile, and then +continued: + +"Yes, yes, Herr Professor, you do not recall how on the very first +morning after your arrival among us we had a conversation which I +remember well. Our valley should be opened to tourists; we are situated +just between two important railways, not more than a league distant +from each; we could be visited with the greatest facility, and where +tourists are gathered together money is sure to circulate; all will be +the gainers; the inns, the tradesfolk, those owning horses, who will +hire out carriages; the laundresses, and even the labourers, who will +be employed either as drivers or as guides for excursions among the +mountains." + +"What talk is this, old friend?" the Burgomaster interrupted him with a +laugh. "What have we here to attract tourists? They can make the ascent +of Nanos very easily from Prayvalt, and our valley has really nothing +more to show. It is quite wonderful that a naturalist, our Herr +Professor, should have visited us. Certainly none of those who travel +for pleasure would ever contemplate coming hither." + +"Therefore we must try to find something that will attract them. The +Herr Professor called my attention to the fact that we live on from day +to day without regard to our ignorance as to whether we do not possess +a greater attraction for travellers than the Adelsberg Grotto. Does any +one of us here present know how extensive are the caves which we +possess, and whether they may not perhaps be finer than the grotto at +Adelsberg? The only one among us who has interested himself about them +is, if I do not mistake, Franz Schorn, and he has done very little in +the way of exploration. How is it, Franz; am I not right?" + +"It is true that I have done very little in the way of exploration. I +penetrated furthest into the cave in the grove of the Rusina. It is a +laborious piece of work. I lost all desire to penetrate further; it +seemed useless." + +"The Herr Professor thinks differently. Do you still desire to attempt +to explore one of these caves, Herr Professor? I was anxious to offer +you my assistance in so doing some time ago, but this horrible murder +has occupied our minds to the exclusion of every other thought." + +The Captain's proposal was very welcome to me. In my excursion on the +forenoon of this very day I had gazed with much interest in the grove +of the Rusina, at the dark opening among gigantic blocks of granite. I +had an intense desire to explore it, but prudence called a halt. +Overheated as I was in climbing about the mountains, I would not expose +myself to the danger to which the cold, damp interior of the cave would +expose me, and, besides, it would have been very foolish to attempt any +exploration without companions, for the slightest slip might prove +fatal. No one would ever have looked for me in the cave; if not killed, +I might have starved before I was discovered. + +Such considerations at the time forbade gratifying my desire to explore +the cave, but it awoke again within me at the Captain's offer; it +pleased me that it should be so entirely voluntary. I thanked him and +declared that I would gladly take part in an exploration of the cave +whenever he should arrange it. + +"Bravo! Then let us set to work early tomorrow morning and begin with +the cave in the grove of the Rusina. You will join us, Franz!" + +"Gladly. I only fear that we shall not get far. There is a deep abyss +not many yards from the entrance." + +"How deep is it!" + +"I do not know. I threw a lighted match into it, but it was quickly +extinguished; and a stone which I cast down soon struck some rock and I +could not see where it lay. I took no pains to explore further." + +"Then we will try to do so to-morrow. Let us take with us a couple of +sturdy fellows, who can carry torches, some lanterns and a sufficient +length of strong rope, with perhaps a ladder or two. I will take with +me some magnesium wire, which will give us a brilliant light in the +depths." + +Franz agreed. We discussed the interesting expedition further, and +decided that we would start at seven o'clock the next morning. + +"May I make one of your party?" the Judge asked, when we had completed +our arrangements. Franz Schorn started and regarded the speaker with a +searching glance. Evidently he was about to refuse decidedly, but +thought better of it, bit his lip, and, with a slight gesture of his +hand, referred the matter to me. I cannot say that the proposal was +agreeable to me. I was surprised that the Judge should be willing to +take part in an expedition to which Franz Schorn was, to a certain +degree, the guide. I feared some unpleasant encounter between the two +men and I should have liked to refuse. This, however, courtesy forbade. +The Judge had always been so amiable and obliging in his behaviour to +me that it was impossible for me to decline his company. + +He noticed that I hesitated a moment, and, probably guessing whence +such hesitation proceeded, continued with a smiling look at Franz +Schorn: + +"I am very much interested in our Ukraine caves, and I have already +visited a number of them. The cave in the grove of the Rusina is not +unfamiliar to me. I have not explored it to the extent of which Herr +Schorn tells us, but I am familiar with the entrance and would like to +penetrate its depths. Of course, I voluntarily acquiesce in the +intelligent guidance of Herr Schorn, who will take command of our +expedition. You would oblige me very much, Herr Professor, by your +permission to accompany you." + +I could not but accord it. It was impossible to do otherwise. The Judge +thanked me, as he did Schorn and the Captain, so courteously that I was +half inclined to suspect his sincerity. The prospect of this expedition +seemed to delight him. He suddenly became talkative and showed an +uncommon amiability to Schorn, although the young man met his advances +with monosyllabic replies. His attempt to make himself acceptable to +him was not happy; his cheerfulness seemed forced; his friendliness +assumed; his gaiety feverish. In his usual attitude at the table, +looking gloomily into his wineglass, he impressed me very unfavourably, +but to-day, when he was talkative and gay, I was still more +unfavourably impressed. + +I had a very strange feeling with regard to the Judge. I could not but +acknowledge that he was a good, honourable man. He had shown this +abundantly; but I felt a vague, instinctive aversion to him, which, +however I struggled against it, increased the more I knew him. + +I was uncomfortable in his society that evening; therefore I rose from +my place earlier than usual and called Mizka to light me to my room. To +my surprise, the Judge followed my example, although he had just +ordered another measure of wine. + +"I will go with you, Herr Professor," he said, and he accompanied me +without drinking his wine. "To-morrow, then, at seven o'clock, Herr +Schorn." + +As he spoke he offered his hand to Schorn, but the young man ignored +it. + +"It is to the Herr Professor or to the Captain that you owe permission +to accompany us," Schorn said, with cool contempt. "I have not agreed +to it. You and I have nothing in common." + +"Perhaps you are wrong, Herr Schorn. I may convince you of this +to-morrow. I willingly submit myself to your guidance. Good-night." + +His features wore a detestable sneer as he uttered these words, and, +bowing to the rest of the company, he followed me. + +Upstairs on the landing I would have bidden him good-night, but he +said: + +"I followed you, Herr Professor, because I want to speak a few words +with you alone. Allow me to go into your room with you. I'll not detain +you long." + +Of course I invited him to enter and to take a place on the old +straight-backed sofa, curious to learn what he could have to say to me. +When Mizka, after having lighted the candles, left the room, he sprang +up, went to the door and opened it to convince himself that she was not +listening, and then opened the door leading to the adjoining room to +make sure that no one was there. Then he returned to me, and in a voice +trembling with agitation said: + +"I pray you, Herr Professor, to give me at once, now, your report of +meeting Franz Schorn in the neighbourhood of the Lonely House." + +I was startled. I had not expected this demand. Surprise made me +speechless for a moment. I could only ejaculate "Herr Foligno!" + +"I understand your surprise, your dismay," he continued. "Believe me, +it has cost me a struggle to resolve to make this request, but it must +be. I may have neglected my duty in postponing it so long. Now, when my +suspicions have become almost a certainty, I can wait no longer. I am +compelled to collect all the grounds for it that I possess, and among +them belongs your meeting with him near the Lonely House. The paper +must be sent to the Attorney General at Laibach. It must be, Herr +Professor; you cannot refuse me. Every man of honour is bound to +support the authorities in the investigation of crime. You could not +wish to shield a criminal from the rigour of the law." + +"Most certainly not; but I am more than firmly convinced that Franz +Schorn is no murderer. You yourself, scarcely an hour ago, admitted the +proofs of his innocence adduced by the doctor." + +"Did you not perceive that my words were ironical? I was obliged to +change the subject of the conversation. Franz Schorn must not be warned +by his friends. He must believe himself safe from discovery, or he will +betake himself to flight, for which the money gained by his crime gives +him abundant opportunity. Trieste is not far off, and a guide thither +is quickly found. I was obliged to conceal from him the knowledge that +I have discovered his crime. I put force upon myself to control my +abhorrence of him. This very night I must complete the full report +showing forth all the evidence against him, and in this I must include +your meeting with him near the Lonely House. An official will take the +paper to Laibach and deliver it in person; then the Attorney General +must decide whether the evidence it contains be sufficient to warrant +Schorn's arrest. I am myself perfectly convinced of his guilt. I ought +perhaps to arrest him on my own responsibility, but I will not expose +myself to the reproach of acting from personal hostility. I shall watch +him narrowly to prevent his flight, and therefore I begged to be +allowed to join your cave exploration. His arrest I will leave to the +Attorney General in Laibach. Thus I have explained to you frankly the +grounds for my action, and I pray you to give me the report for the +protocol, which you promised me a week ago. This report should consist, +in order to save yourself and myself unpleasant after inquiries, of the +declaration that to your meeting with Schorn you attached no importance +in the beginning, but since you have learned that the voice of the +people pronounce him the murderer you hold it to be your duty to +mention seeing him in the forest. You might add that you hold this +meeting to be of no importance and that you are most unwilling to +arouse a suspicion of the young man, but that, nevertheless, you feel +it your duty to tell of your encounter with him. I think such a report +cannot outrage your sense of justice." + +"It does not accord with my sense of justice to admit a suspicion which +I think false. If I make my report now, it will look as though I shared +this suspicion. The Attorney General would so interpret it, even though +I declared the contrary. I ought to have made the report immediately +after the discovery of the murder. You prevented my doing so then, and +now I will not make it until I see at least the possibility of other +grounds for it." + +"It is the duty of the Attorney General, not yourself, to judge of the +importance of your evidence," Herr Foligno replied sternly. "It is the +duty of the private individual to impart to the proper authorities +every circumstance that may be connected with a crime. Of course you +know that." + +"It is not his duty," I said angrily, "if his inmost conviction is that +the circumstance he relates has no connection whatever with the crime, +although it may serve to arouse suspicion. If what you maintain be +correct, I ought also to advise the Attorney General that you yourself +were in the neighbourhood of the Lonely House on that morning and that +I found your pocket handkerchief where you had been plucking _Ophrys +Bertolini_." + +Herr Foligno shot such a look of rage at me from beneath his black +brows that I started in terror. I had no idea of affecting him so +deeply by my words. In a voice trembling with anger, which he vainly +strove to control, he said: + +"Then you would tell the Attorney General a falsehood. I have told you +that I did not pluck the flowers in the neighbourhood of the Lonely +House, but at a great distance from it, and in a spot difficult to +find, and that my handkerchief was by accident where you picked it up. +Is it possible that you do not believe me, although I have told you all +this distinctly?" + +He probably read in my face that I was not convinced of the truth of +this statement, for he continued in a sharp, angry tone: + +"You doubt, in spite of my words. Perhaps you entertain the possibility +of my having some connection with the crime----" + +"What folly, Herr Foligno!" I cried, interrupting him. "I mentioned you +and your pocket handkerchief only to contradict your assertion that it +was my duty to tell of an insignificant experience. If I ought to +report having seen Franz Schorn near the Lonely House, I also ought to +report the finding of your handkerchief under the same circumstances." + +"If you really consider this your duty, I shall not gainsay you," he +replied darkly, not lifting his eyes from the ground. "It is no affair +of mine. My task is to send this very night my deposition, containing +an account of your meeting with Franz Schorn, to the proper authorities +either with or against your consent. I may find myself in a very +unpleasant position and even imperil my office when I relate that I +myself advised you to withhold your report concerning Schorn, but +personal considerations must yield to my sense of duty. I had thought, +Herr Professor," he continued, in a more friendly tone, finding me +still silent, "that you would not willingly thus embarrass me. Believe +me, I would not so insist upon your evidence were I not thoroughly and +firmly convinced of the young man's guilt. To show you how highly I +esteem you, what implicit confidence I place in your honour and +silence, I will tell you, although scarcely warranted in so doing, of +the results of my laborious investigations during the last few weeks. +You yourself will then be convinced of your duty. It is a hard task for +me to make these revelations to you, for not only do they militate +against Franz Schorn, but against one who has been very dear to my +heart, and for whom to-day, in spite of my better judgment, I feel warm +affection; but it must be; you shall hear all." + +"Proceed; you may rely upon my discretion." + +I waited for what he had to say with intense eagerness. For a few +moments he sat silent, with downcast looks; then he began, not once +looking at me as he spoke: + +"It is difficult to indicate the precise moment at which suspicions of +Schorn were aroused within me. You yourself know of his bitter enmity +towards old Pollenz, whose death he could not but desire, since it +alone would bring him the fulfilment of his dearest wish. You know of +his being near the Lonely House immediately after the murder. You know +also of the wound in his hand, to account for which he told of having +grasped a double-edged knife as it fell from where he had left it. His +reluctance to show the wound to the doctor, and, more than all else, +his sudden accession of wealth after the crime, accuses him loudly. He +has made purchases which would have been impossible with his own +unassisted means. All these grounds of suspicion the doctor thought to +annihilate by his acute reasoning, showing that old Pollenz himself +could not possibly have admitted Schorn and that the murderer had +evidently entered the house without any violent breaking in of the +door. How is this to be accounted for? Unfortunately, the explanation +is only too clear. Fräulein Anna Pollenz, when officially examined, as +well as in her words to the Captain and to the doctor, portrayed a life +in her father's house absolutely opposed to reality. She maintained +that her father loved her most tenderly; that he was always kind and +gentle to her, and that even her connection with the hated Schorn and +her refusal to give me her hand had produced no change in his demeanour +toward her. Anna's words were universally believed. Who could doubt who +looked into her eyes and acknowledged their spell? To see her is to +love her. She wins all hearts at once. Every one believes her; every +one trusts her; and nevertheless every word that she spoke is false. +For years the Lonely House has witnessed terrible scenes between father +and daughter. The old man abused the lovely child outrageously because +she would not obey him. Unfortunately I myself was often the cause of +this abuse, although I declared continually to old Pollenz that I never +would claim Anna's hand unless she bestowed it upon me voluntarily; +unless I succeeded in winning the young girl's love. The old fellow was +a rough, heartless, violent man; a coward to those stronger than +himself, brutal to those who were weaker. He locked his daughter up; he +half starved her; he beat her so that she escaped from him bleeding. +For years he never spoke a kind word to her. He had unbounded +confidence in me; he even angrily complained to me of her disobedience. +I myself have witnessed frightful scenes, and on several occasions +prevented him with all my physical strength from maltreating the +beautiful, unfortunate child in my presence." + +"Frightful!" I exclaimed. The dreadful picture which the narrator +unfolded before me filled me with horror. + +"Beside myself, there is one other human being who is aware of the +family life in the Lonely House. Old Johanna was a witness of the +maltreatment which the unhappy girl suffered daily in our presence; in +the presence of others the old man assumed a kind, mild demeanour +toward his child; old Johanna suffered almost as much as Anna from the +brutality of her master. She would long ago have left him if she had +not been detained by tender affection for her mistress. After what you +have just heard you may judge with what amazement I was filled upon +learning after the death of old Pollenz that Anna had described her +relations with her father as happy, peaceful, and loving, and that old +Johanna in the final examination, had confirmed all that Anna said. I +pondered long to discover what grounds Anna could have for such a false +representation of the actual circumstances and why she should suddenly +develop such inconceivable hatred for me, who had so often protected +her from ill treatment. When at last I suspected the true cause I found +it difficult of belief. I alone can expose the tissue of lies which she +has woven around herself. I alone cannot be won over to testify to her +truth, as she has won over old Johanna, who would perjure herself +willingly for her darling, and Anna needs such falsehoods. It is almost +impossible to believe that the daughter, driven to madness and despair +by daily ill treatment, herself opened the locked doors for her lover. +Spare me further words, Herr Professor. My reason becomes confused when +I reflect on a deed so horrible. Ever since this solution became clear +to me, sleep is banished. I toss restlessly throughout the night. My +thoughts dwell perpetually in the Lonely House. At times I have feared +that I should become insane. The struggle raging within me during these +last few days is indescribable. I loved Anna with all my heart. I love +her still, and, although it is madness, I shall love her to my last +breath. Neither her crime nor the hatred which she displays towards me +can kill this insane love within me, and fate has ordained that I +should be the inexorable judge, the dread accuser of her lover, in +ruining whom I ruin her also; but I must do my duty, let my heart bleed +as it may." + +He had finished. The narrative had agitated him fearfully; he trembled +in every limb; his eyes glowed as with fever. I was scarcely less moved +than he. His words had torn the veil from my eyes; I could now see the +fearful scenes in the Lonely House clearly, and how they had led to the +final deed. I was ineffably sad. Great as was my detestation of the +horrible crime, I could not but pity deeply the unfortunate child whom +despair had maddened. Detestation, horror and pity by turns filled my +heart. I could put myself in the place of the unhappy man who had just +revealed to me his innermost soul. + +How long we confronted each other in silence I cannot say. We were both +too deeply moved to give expression in words to our feelings. Herr +Foligno recovered himself first. His voice no longer trembled as he +asked, after a long pause: + +"Will you now sign the report which I will write out for you?" + +"Yes." + +I brought him paper, pen and ink. He quickly took down the evidence I +had to give, as he had before required that I should give it, and then +read aloud what he had written. I had no objection to offer, and signed +it. + +He arose and held out his hand in farewell. + +"I have another terrible night before me," he said. "To-morrow a +messenger must take this early to Laibach, and a hard day will follow a +weary night for both of us. It will not be easy for you, Herr +Professor, to make one to-morrow of Franz Schorn's party to the cave +without allowing him to perceive your detestation of him." + +"I cannot; I shall excuse myself on the plea of illness." + +"No, Herr Professor, you must not do this. Schorn will surely learn +through Mizka that I came with you to your room; he might suspect +something. A criminal of his calibre is on the watch for the merest +trifle which can arouse suspicion of his discovery. You, too, Herr +Professor, have a hard duty to perform, but it must be done. You must +be one of the party, as I shall be. Neither the Captain nor Schorn must +dream of what the near future will bring forth. I trust to your honour, +and I know that I do not trust in vain." + +"You may rely upon me; I will control myself." + +With another pressure of the hand we separated. + + + + + CHAPTER X. + AN ACCIDENT? + + +As I tossed restlessly in bed I heard above me, as on the first night +after the murder, the pacing to and fro of the Judge. A magnetic +connection seemed to exist between us, causing me to think what he +thought, and to feel what he felt. The same terrible images which +banished sleep from his eyes were present before mine. I heard the +church clock strike hour after hour, and only with the first glimmer of +dawn did I enjoy a short slumber. + +At five o'clock I awakened. My first thoughts dwelt upon what the Judge +had told me the evening before. It now appeared to me in quite a +different light. I was more composed. The nervous agitation which had +then possessed me had vanished. I could reflect upon what I had heard. +As the Judge had spoken in his excitement, what he said had such an +effect upon me that it all seemed to me absolute verity without need of +proof, but now doubts sprang up, and a clearer understanding demanded +its rights. + +Had Herr Foligno really divulged to me unvarnished facts, which +convinced me of the guilt of Schorn and of his betrothed, as his +accomplice? No! He had accumulated evidence as the doctor had done. The +only fact was that Anna had not adhered to the truth in describing her +relations with her father, and was it not natural that the daughter +should try to clear her father's memory of all evil! It was very +natural that her filial affection should awaken after her father's +terrible death; that she should forget everything that had distressed +her in their relations--his harshness, even his maltreatment--and +remember only his love. And for this was she to be accused as an +accomplice in an accursed crime! + +I was ashamed of my credulity. Might not Herr Foligno be governed by +prejudice even to misunderstanding the relations between father and +daughter! A harsh word spoken by the father to Anna in his presence +might appear to him an intolerable offence, while Anna might scarcely +notice it. + +I really could not comprehend my credulity of the previous evening, or +how I could have been led by the Judge's excitement to regard as facts +the arguments he had adduced. + +And if Anna were not guilty, where were there grounds for suspicion of +Franz Schorn? I repented having signed the deposition and having +promised to be silent with regard to it; but I had given my promise, +and it must be kept. Perhaps, after all, it was as well, for my report +would elicit a judicial investigation of all grounds for suspicion of +Franz Schorn, who could be acquitted of all imputations only by a +thorough examination which could clear him from every suspicion +entertained of him by his fellow-townsmen. + +All these considerations soothed me. I could contemplate the expedition +which I had arranged with Franz Schorn for to-day without aversion. It +was rather disagreeable to know that the report signed by me was +already on its way to Laibach, while I was one of a party of pleasure, +all friends of the young man; but I would not ponder on this; it was +irrevocable. + +Soon after six o'clock I went down to the garden to take my morning cup +of coffee, and there I found the Captain and Franz awaiting me to +discuss the details for our excursion. Franz was full of life and +animation. I had never seen him so gay, so happy. There was no trace of +the sullen expression which sometimes clouded his handsome face. His +morning greeting was so cordial that I felt ashamed indeed as I shook +his proffered hand. This pleasant, happy young man guilty of a murder? +It was folly, nay, it was wicked to hold any such idea for a minute. + +He had early completed every necessary preparation for the excursion we +were about to make. The Captain and I had really nothing to provide; +even the magnesium wire had been bought at the druggist's. Two stout +labourers, who could speak German, were ready to accompany us, each of +them provided with a thick, pointed staff and a long rope, not too +thick, but very strong. Half a dozen pitch torches Schorn had procured +from the fire department, and a lantern for every member of the party. +In addition, the men carried after us two short, strong ladders. + +On the stroke of seven Herr Foligno entered the garden. He greeted +Schorn politely; the Captain and myself cordially. He looked ill and +worn. I had never seen his sallow features so expressionless, but his +dark eyes shone with feverish excitement. + +We began our walk. The people who met us looked after us in surprise as +we strode through the streets of Luttach. Apparently they could not +understand how two men, known to be such bitter enemies as Herr Foligno +and Franz Schorn, should be walking so peaceably side by side. + +At the furthest end of the town we descended to the bed of the Rusina. +In early spring, when the snow melts quickly upon Nanos and when heavy +rainfalls create hundreds of little brooks from the mountains, the +Rusina dashes along in wild fury; but after a drought it is almost +dried up, and is only a shallow rill of water trickling between the +stones of its rocky bed. We could walk along it without wetting our +feet. It was not very agreeable walking, but it was the nearest way to +the grove, which we reached after scarcely ten minutes. + +Here, in the centre of this grove, consisting of scarcely a hundred +huge oaks, there is a pile of mighty rocks; large blocks, covered with +luxuriant green moss, are heaped together in a confused mass, in which +is an opening, black and forbidding, about the height of a man, which +forms the entrance to the cave we were to explore. Here we halted and +consulted. It was decided that we should enter in single file, Franz +Schorn first as our guide. I was to follow him. Herr Foligno came after +me, and the Captain was last. Our two porters closed the little +procession. The lanterns were lighted and each of us took one. + +We entered the cave, which was at first tolerably spacious; into it +daylight penetrated, making a dim twilight. About four or five yards +above us arched a roof of black, moist stone. The ground beneath, +descending rather precipitously, was covered with small fragments of +rock which had apparently fallen from the roof, loosened by the +dampness. There was no trace of the beautiful stalactites for which the +Adelsberg Grotto is so famous. The light of our lanterns was quite +sufficient to reveal clearly the part of the cave where we stood and +the path leading down to the depths. A few yards from the entrance the +cave narrowed. There was room between the walls of rock for only two +men to walk abreast; and indeed the walking was extremely difficult, +because of the slippery scales of rock with which the floor was strewn. + +Forward! We walked, or, rather, we scuffled, downwards, in danger at +every step of falling on the slippery stones. After a few minutes our +path grew easier; it no longer descended; although still strewn with +fragments of rock, the danger of slipping was less. We had more room. +The walls retreated and vanished beyond the circle of light cast by our +lanterns, which could no longer illumine the roof of the cave arching +above us. + +"'Here it resembles a cathedral,' the Adelsberger guides would say, if +they were here," said Franz Schorn with a laugh, stopping and raising +his lantern. "How high this dome is I have never before with my +insufficient light been able to discover, and just because I had +insufficient light I ventured but little further into the cave." + +"You reached an abyss which prevented your further progress; at least +you told us so yesterday," said the Judge. + +"True. It is only a few minutes' walk from here. If we go through the +cathedral and turn a little to the left, we shall reach the only outlet +which leads further among the rocks. It is a very narrow, rocky way, +suddenly ending in a sheer abyss. It is for us to discover to-day +whether it is possible to be lowered by a rope into its depths and to +find sufficient foothold below to enable us to continue our +exploration. When, four or five years ago, I last entered the cave, +quite alone, I could go no further, and so I returned from this spot." + +"Must we turn to the left!" asked the Judge. "You are mistaken; we must +turn to the right; to the left the cave is completely blocked by a heap +of rocky fragments." + +Franz Schorn regarded the speaker with surprise, bethought himself a +moment, and then exclaimed: + +"True, you are right. I remember now that I found a heap of rocks on my +left, and then turned to the right to find an outlet. But how did you +know this, Herr Foligno?" + +One of the two porters laughed aloud, and answered in the Judge's stead +with some words in Slavonic, which seemed to surprise the Captain as +well as Schorn. + +"What, Herr Foligno, you were here in the cave a week ago, with Rassak, +and ventured as far as the abyss, and never told us anything about it +yesterday?" exclaimed the Captain. + +"I told you that I had entered the cave, but had not gone far. I do not +talk much of such trifles," he replied irritably, adding: + +"Shall we not light a couple of torches to see how high the roof is?" + +The torches were lighted, but did not suffice to reveal the height of +the cave. Only when the magnesium light flamed up and cast its dazzling +radiance upwards did we perceive for a few moments the rocky roof some +twenty yards above us. + +"This is gruesome," said the Captain, with a long breath, as the +brilliant light was extinguished and the darkness around us seemed +deeper and blacker than before. "We can now understand how the floor +beneath our feet is so covered with fragments of rock. Evidently large +pieces fall from the roof and are broken into a hundred bits below. +Look, Herr Foligno; the stones just here show traces of having been but +lately broken. At any minute another fragment might fall and be the +death of us." + +"Yes, such an exploration is not without danger," the Judge replied +with a sneer. "But let us proceed, gentlemen. The shorter the time +spent here beneath this roof the less danger is there that we shall be +injured by a falling rock. Let us go on, in the same order as hitherto. +You go first, Herr Schorn." + +"Since you visited the cave only a week ago, you had better act as +guide, Herr Foligno." + +"No, I refuse. I expressly stated yesterday that I should be entirely +guided by you, and I repeat it. Therefore, pray, Herr Schorn, go before +us; I will follow with the Herr Professor." + +Schorn made no further objection. We pursued our way, keeping to the +right, and entered the narrow opening between the rocks, which seemed +the only means by which to penetrate further into the cave. It was +narrower than any path hitherto. It would have been impossible for two +men to walk in it abreast, but there was more than enough room, when in +single file. Our lanterns and the torches of the porters cast +sufficient light to show us a gentle ascent in front and to enable us +to proceed free from all risk of danger. + +"We have reached the abyss," Schorn said, halting after a few moments. +"Here we can go no further, and if we cannot find, after being lowered +by a rope, another opening, our exploration party has reached its +limits. The abyss appears to be not only sheer, but the rock upon which +we stand overhangs it somewhat. I will lie flat on the ground and look +down. Perhaps I shall succeed in finding an outlet, but I must have a +brighter light than that of the lanterns. Give me one of the torches, +Herr Professor." + +A torch was passed from hand to hand; I gave it to Schorn, who laid +himself flat on the ground, and, leaning over the abyss as far as +possible, endeavoured to cast into it the light of the torch. As he lay +there I had a view of the depths, but it gave me little hope for the +continuance of our exploration. The red light of the torch was +sufficient to show me a black wall rising twelve or fifteen feet on the +opposite side of the abyss. It seemed to bar all progress, giving no +hint of any outlet. A few feet above our heads the smoke of the torches +hung in a cloud, which found no egress from the cave. + +"Beneath us, scarcely twenty feet below, there is firm footing," cried +Schorn, "and, if I do not mistake, the cave then leads to the right +among the rocks; but I must have a brighter light." + +He handed the torch back to me and took a piece of magnesium wire from +his pocket. The next moment the cave as far as we could overlook it was +illumined as by an electric light. + +"A happy discovery; we can go on," cried Schorn, delighted, as the +light was extinguished. "I can assure you, gentlemen," he said, rising, +"that the first difficulty is almost without danger, and easy to +overcome." + +We crowded about him; even the two porters were determined not to lose +a word of his description. + +Beneath the overhanging rock, at a depth of scarcely fifteen or twenty +feet, there was a firm footing, a platform of stone quite broad enough +to give standing room for at least five or six men, and from this +platform a way was distinguishable on the right through a narrow +opening in the rocks. + +"Now you see, Herr Foligno, I was right a week ago. You would not +believe me, but so it is," exclaimed Rassak, one of the porters, +exultantly, speaking German. + +"Who asked your opinion!" the Judge said harshly. + +"Did Rassak, then, discover the continuance of the cave?" said the +Captain. + +"Well, yes," the Judge replied irritably. "It seems at present that he +was probably right. He lay down on the ground and let down a lantern by +a rope, and then declared that the cave had a further outlet. I lay +down after him and looked down, but I could see no opening. I did not +believe him, and it was partly to convince myself whether or not he was +correct that I offered to accompany you to-day. I could not explore it +myself then; I had no rope strong enough to lower me to the platform +below, which might have been done without danger." + +"Not quite without danger, at least for the first to attempt it," +Schorn remarked calmly, "but it is not great. It needs a little swing +on the rope to reach the platform, but when one man obtains firm +footing there, the rest is easy. I will be let down first, and can draw +the rest toward me. The porters must stay here, that they may pull us +up when we return." + +"But it seems to me a very perilous undertaking," said the Captain +anxiously. "We cannot expose our Herr Professor to such danger. If the +rope breaks before he reaches the platform, or if he should be seized +with giddiness, he would fall into a bottomless abyss." + +"I will guarantee the strength of the rope," said Franz Schorn. + +"And I that I shall suffer no dizziness; I do not know the sensation." +I was so keen for the continuance of our exploration that I was almost +irritated by the Captain's anxiety on my behalf. The danger would have +to be far greater than it was to deter me from further progress. +Hitherto I had found no trace of a cave beetle; there had been nothing +living among the bald black rocks. Only at a greater depth could I hope +to satisfy my passion for collecting. + +"If the Captain thinks the danger too great, he can remain with the +porters. I shall be glad to follow the Herr Professor," said the Judge; +whereupon the Captain turned upon him angrily, declaring that he was +not thinking of danger for himself, but for the old gentleman who was +their guest in Luttach; since, however, the Herr Professor wished to +go, he himself should surely not remain behind. + +Thus we determined to proceed. Franz Schorn gave us the necessary +directions. He wished us to put the rope around us and to hold it +firmly when we were lowered. These directions were not necessary in my +case; I have made use of rope so often with my guides among the +glaciers, and have so frequently been let down from the rocks to obtain +some rare plant, that I was quite familiar with its use. There seemed +to be no possible peril here, even for Franz Schorn, for four of us +would hold the rope and we could lower him very gradually for the short +distance to the platform below, making any great swing of the rope +impossible. The two porters could easily lower the Captain, who was to +be the last of us to follow. + +Schorn arranged the rope so that he could place himself in the loop; he +fastened a lantern to it, and then advanced to the edge of the rocks, +seated himself, and, still holding to the irregular surface he slowly +lowered himself, while we, holding the rope, paid it out inch by inch. +I followed him to the edge, but I did not look down, because I +concentrated all my attention upon the paying out of the rope. + +After scarcely a minute we heard him call from below: + +"Halt! I am all right. Draw the rope up again." + +I laid myself flat on the ground and looked over the edge of the +platform, which was now illuminated by the lantern which Schorn held. +It was light enough for me to see the young man distinctly as he stood +quite comfortably not far below me. I could also discern the black +opening to the right, the continuation of the cave. + +"Follow me, Herr Professor," Schorn called up. "Do just as I did; there +is no danger; seat yourself in the loop and as soon as you are lowered, +I will drag you to me. A dozen men beside us could find room on this +platform." + +I did as he directed and seated myself in the loop, but as I was about +to swing clear of the outer edge of the rock to follow Schorn's +example, my heart suddenly gave a leap. For a moment horror overcame me +as I looked into the depths below; I hesitated to cast myself loose. + +"Are you afraid, Herr Professor!" The Judge stood immediately behind +me, regarding me with a sneer. His eyes gleamed strangely as he leaned +over me. + +There is no greater folly than to expose oneself to a danger out of +fear of being called a coward. I have often declared this, but at that +moment, old man as I am, I committed this folly. + +"Hold the rope firmly; I will let myself down," I replied. + +"Have no fear, we will hold it fast." + +I hovered above the abyss and was slowly lowered. I had almost reached +the platform when I heard above me a strange creaking; at the next +moment I knew I was falling, but a strong arm was thrown around me and +Franz Schorn and I staggered and fell on the platform. Just then I +heard a scream from above. + +"Great God!" exclaimed the voice of the Judge. "The rope has broken; +the Professor has fallen into the abyss!" + +This was all the work of a moment. I tried to stand up, but I could +not; my right ankle was terribly painful. Franz Schorn, who had fallen +with me, was quickly on his feet. + +"I never will believe that the rope broke," he whispered. He seized it +and examined it by the light of his lantern on the ground; mine had +been broken and extinguished in my fall. + +"It was half cut through before it broke," he said in a dull tone. +"That scoundrel, Foligno, has tried to plunge you into the abyss." + +Hastily taking a knife from his breast pocket he cut off the end of the +rope and handed it to me. + +"Keep this," he whispered. "You may perhaps need it for proof that the +rascal tried to murder you." + +I heard his words, but I did not understand him. My thoughts were in +wild confusion; I was still half stunned by my fall. Mechanically I +followed his directions and put the piece of rope in my pocket. Only +gradually did I clearly understand in what danger I had been, and that +Franz Schorn had ventured his own life to rescue mine. It was almost a +certainty that I should drag him down to the abyss, but he had seized +me as I fell, and at the risk of his life had pulled me back to the +platform. + +"You have saved my life----" + +He interrupted me. "Don't speak of it. We all help one another as well +as we can. What we have to think of now is how to reach the rock above +us without injury." + +He suddenly paused, as from above came the voice of the Judge: + +"Thank God! The accident is not so bad as I feared. I can see the Herr +Professor and Herr Schorn on the platform below. Are you hurt, Herr +Professor?" + +"I believe my right ankle is broken," I called back. + +"Good heavens! What shall we do?" + +"Why, of course," Schorn replied, "you must lower the second rope to +pull us up. I beg, however, that Rassak may be the first man, Bela the +second, the Captain the third, and that you, Herr Foligno, do not touch +the rope. It might break in your hands a second time. I will not trust +you with the Herr Professor's life or my own." + +The Judge made no reply. For a moment all was silent, and then the +Captain called down to us: + +"What nonsense you are talking, Franz! You have mortally offended the +Judge. He had nothing to do with the accident. He is in despair that +the Herr Professor should be injured." + +"His anger is of no consequence," Franz answered. "He promised me to +submit to my orders, and I insist upon his not touching the rope +again." + +A long discussion began. The Captain was seriously angry at the offence +Franz had given to the Judge, whom he attempted to soothe, but Franz +declared positively that he would wait with me on the platform for +hours until Rassak could procure two other men rather than trust +himself and me to a rope passing through the hands of the Judge. He +said nothing of his suspicion that the rope had been partly cut +through, and, therefore, the Captain thought his demand unjustifiable +and prompted solely by hatred of his foe. He was indignant, but he was +obliged to comply with the young man's demand, in order that I might be +relieved from my most unpleasant situation as soon as possible. He +promised that Rassak should be stationed close to the edge and that the +Judge should take no part in the pulling up of the rope. While the +Captain and Franz were discussing the matter I had examined my ankle, +and, to my great joy, found that it was not broken, but had been +severely sprained by my fall. It was excessively painful, but I could +move it; I could even stand with Franz's assistance. Some moments +passed, and then Schorn's name was called from above. + +"Is that you, Rassak?" + +"Yes." + +"Where is the Judge?" + +"Herr Foligno has gone back to the dome alone. He is to wait there +until we come." + +"Lower the second rope to me; I wish to examine it." + +After a minute the rope hovered above us; Franz seized it, unfastened +it from the other rope to which it was tied and examined it narrowly by +the light of the lantern. + +"It is sound and uninjured. I feared the rascal might have cut this +through secretly; but he has not dared to do so. Now we can allow +ourselves to be pulled up without delay." + +Rassak was ordered to pull the rope up again and then to throw down to +us the broken one. This was done. Franz cut a piece from the broken end +with his knife and gave it to me, saying: + +"Keep it with the one you have, Herr Professor." + +After which he busied himself with preparations for my rescue. These he +made with great care, trying the strength of the rope which he tied +about me and of the loop in which I seated myself. Although I protested +and declared that I could now care for myself perfectly, he used the +piece of old rope to keep me steady as I ascended, holding it firmly +below to prevent any swaying of the other. Thus I reached the top of +the rock in safety, although my short ascent had caused almost +intolerable pain in my sprained ankle, and when Rassak received me in +his powerful arms above, I could not move the injured foot. I tried to +stand up and to walk, but it was quite impossible. Rassak was forced to +take me on his broad shoulders and carry me back to the dome. The +Captain and Bela carried their lanterns in advance; without their light +he could scarcely have made his way along the narrow path through the +rocks. Franz was obliged to wait on the platform for some minutes +before being drawn up. + +We found the Judge seated on a block of stone at the entrance of the +rocky way beneath the dome. He sprang up as we approached. + +"Thank God, Herr Professor!" he cried, throwing his arm kindly about me +for my support, as Rassak placed me on the ground. He pushed aside +several large stones to make a comfortable bed for me. He even took off +his coat and put it upon the rock that I might have a softer resting +place. He was full of kind attention, far exceeding the Captain, who +congratulated me in a few simple words and expressed his joy upon my +escape; nevertheless I had a strange sensation, akin to fear, when he, +with Rassak and Bela, returned through the narrow way to rescue Franz +and I was left alone in the vault with the Judge. Involuntarily I put +my hand in my breast pocket where was the trusty companion of all my +excursions, my revolver. I could not but recall Franz Schorn's words on +the platform, and the impression which they had made upon me was +deepened when my hand met the small pieces of rope. I dreaded to see +the fading light of the last lantern disappear in the narrow pathway. I +was miserably uncomfortable in the spacious dark vault, where the light +of a single lantern cast a ray of light so weak as only to enhance the +black darkness of the place. + +The Judge seated himself close beside me, and when the Captain vanished +in the narrow path he seized my hand. + +"Herr Professor," he said, modulating his voice to the lowest whisper, +"I have been assailed by a horrible suspicion as I sat here. I feared I +never should see you again. Was the accident which befell you +occasioned by chance? If the rope was strong enough to sustain the +heavy weight of Schorn, how could it break with the much lesser strain +of your weight? Tell me, Herr Professor, does Franz Schorn know that +you have told me of his meeting you in the forest on the day of the +murder?" + +"No." + +"Then what I feared is but too certain. You saw him in the +neighbourhood of the Lonely House on that day. The only witness against +him must die. While he stood beneath us on the rocky platform he +loosened the rope and cut it so that it parted as we were lowering you. +We will examine the rope; there must be traces of a cut in it." + +Schorn had brought against this man the very accusation which was now +brought against himself. He could have had no cause for his +supposition, whilst the reason adduced by the Judge was not without +probability. + +"Perhaps you will object," the Judge continued, "that he has saved your +life; that without his aid you must have fallen into the chasm. He need +not have stretched out his hand if he had wished to murder you. This +thought also occurred to me, but, upon reflection, I find that my +suspicion is only strengthened by your rescue. Perhaps his movement was +involuntary--an impulse of the moment to seize a falling man--but, +again, perhaps your rescue is only part of a cunning scheme. He makes +sure that you never could decide to speak a word against the saviour of +your life; he does not know that this word is already spoken. He +thought, therefore, that he could save your life and yet attain his +purpose without burdening his soul with a second murder. Indeed, should +suspicion arise that the rope did not break accidentally, he might +easily cast it upon another. Why else did he demand that I should take +no part in drawing you up? He wished to arouse suspicion of me in your +mind and in the Captain's. None could attach to him, were it discovered +later that the rope had actually been cut, if he saved your life, and +he will not fail to remind you that it was at the risk of his own. He +is a thorough villain and incredibly cunning. I fear I shall have many +difficulties to overcome before establishing the proof of his guilt and +revealing him as the murderer of old Pollenz." + +The Judge's words produced a deep impression on me. Had not everything +that he set forth actually happened? One thing was certain--the rope +had been cut. Whose was the blame? The Judge's--who could have no +interest in plunging me into the abyss? Why should he attempt to take +my life? Franz Schorn's--who had saved my life at the risk of his own? +However the Judge might endeavour to disparage the danger to which he +had exposed himself, I knew better. I had felt him stagger as he leaned +over beyond the rock and dragged me toward him. The success of this +hazardous action was due to his physical strength and good luck; it was +little short of a miracle that he had not been dragged down to the +depths with me. Where lay the truth? In vain I pondered; I could not +fathom it. + +Voices were heard coming through the narrow pathway, and the Captain, +Rassak, Bela, and last of all, Schorn, appeared. Franz gave me a kindly +nod; of the Judge he took not the smallest notice, but resumed his +command and the guidance of the expedition. He directed the porters to +strap together the ladders, of which we had hitherto made no use, and +upon them placed the jackets of the men of the party, forming a litter +for me. Rassak and Bela then bore me from beneath the vault to the +entrance of the cave. I suffered intolerably; only when we had again +entered the forest and my kind companions were able to make my litter +softer with boughs and branches of trees did I find any relief from the +torture I was enduring. + +In this melancholy wise we returned to Luttach, and thus ended my +investigation of an unexplored Ukraine cave. + + + + + CHAPTER XI. + FORCED SECLUSION. + + +I was confined to my lofty bed in my chamber in the inn for three days. +The doctor insisted I must stay there with cold compresses upon my foot +until the inflammation had entirely disappeared, and then a week at +least must be spent in my room with the injured leg stretched out +before me, nor could I dream of undertaking any further excursions +until two weeks at least had elapsed. + +This was a melancholy prospect. Two weeks of imprisonment in the bare, +low-ceiled guest-chamber No. 2; while out of doors the sun was shining +and calling me to wanderings in the forest and on the mountains. But +what cannot be cured must be endured. + +I could not complain of ennui. Of society I had more than enough; I +sometimes longed to be alone for an hour to reflect upon my remarkable +adventures, but I had visitors in unbroken succession, and until late +in the evening I was not left for a moment to myself. + +All the gentlemen whom I had met about the round table in the +dining-room came to testify in the friendliest manner their sympathy, +and to beg me to relate my adventures, while Mizka and Frau Franzka by +turns saw to my comfort, attending most carefully to the compresses +upon my ankle. I could not have been more kindly and attentively cared +for than in the Slavonic inn in Ukraine. But it was almost too much of +a good thing. Their perpetual attention became burdensome, and the +constant stream of visitors wearied me. To tell the same thing over +and over again was not very amusing, especially as a number of my +auditors--Weber, Gunther, Meyer, Mosic, and the notary, Deitrich--did +not seem to give full credence to my story; that is, with regard to my +rescue by Franz Schorn. They put all sorts of questions to me with +regard to what had passed on the platform of rock, questions which I +could not or would not answer, for, of course, I said not a word of the +rope's bearing traces of having been cut, although this seemed to be +just the very point to which they wished to lead me. + +Through the Clerk, Herr Von Einern, I at last learned the reason for +their persistent questions. He expressed his indignation at the account +which Herr Foligno had given on the evening of our adventure. It was +eminently devised to arouse in his hearers a suspicion that in some +manner Franz Schorn was to blame for my accident. He did not speak +explicitly, but as unwilling to blame Schorn; he would leave that to +me, who had sustained the injury; but in speaking thus he had contrived +to increase the desire of those present to hear more. + +The Captain confirmed his statement, but was indignant not only with +Franz Schorn, but with the conduct of the Judge himself. He would not +forgive Schorn for accusing Herr Foligno to me, apparently without any +reason, while he found the revenge taken by the Judge unworthy and +mean. In his opinion there had simply been an unfortunate accident; the +rope had been cut by some sharp projection in the rocks; Franz had +certainly risked his life to save mine, but this did not justify him in +what he had said of the Judge, which made Herr Foligno the direct cause +of the fall. + +In the end I positively could not tell what to think of the affair. My +harassing doubt was corroborated by a visit in the evening from the +Judge. He had seen me during the day, but only for a few minutes at a +time, to express his sympathy and to ask after my welfare, saying +nothing during these short visits concerning my adventure; but in the +evening he paid me a longer call, begging permission to bestow his +society upon me for a while and to drink his wine in my room instead of +in the dining-room below. He settled himself comfortably beside me, +informing Mizka and Frau Franzka that he would assume the care of me +during the evening and change my compresses. I tried to prevent this, +but he would take no refusal, and rendered his services with assiduous +precision. It was quite touching to see how careful he was to avoid +giving me the least pain, and how he anticipated my every wish. + +I could not but be grateful, but I was not comfortable in his society, +for as soon as Mizka and Frau Franzka had left the room he took the +opportunity to express himself most clearly with regard to our +adventure and Franz Schorn. He informed me that he had received a +telegram from Laibach announcing that the investigating Judge and the +Attorney General would visit Luttach on the morrow to conduct +personally further inquiries, desirous of hearing from my own lips the +manner of my meeting with Franz Schorn on the day of the murder. He +coupled this information with the desire that I should not withhold +from the gentlemen what I thought with regard to Franz Schorn's +connection with my accident. + +When I refused point blank to do this and declared that I suspected +Franz of nothing, that I was convinced that accident only had caused +the breaking of the rope, he became very indignant at such ill-judged +forbearance. + +"I cannot understand you, Herr Professor," he said angrily. "Suspicion +is almost become certainty. Schorn has betrayed himself by superfluous +caution. It is a common experience among lawyers that the criminal +often furnishes the clue to his discovery by excess of caution, and +this has been Schorn's case. To destroy all traces of a cut in the rope +he has cut off both ends of the break and thrown them away in the cave. +Perhaps they can still be found; but should this not be the case, the +fact of his so disposing of them tells against him. What other aim +could he have in thus destroying all traces of the cut?" + +"But he did not throw them away. He cut them off in my presence and +gave them to me. Here they are," I replied, taking the ends of rope +from my breast pocket. + +I spoke and acted without thought, as I felt the moment the words were +out of my mouth and I perceived their effect upon my hearer. He started +from his chair as if from an electric shock and took instant possession +of the ends of rope. + +"He gave them to you," he cried, "and why? Ah! now I understand it all. +Conscious of his guilt, he feared discovery, and bethought himself, in +his over-caution, to inform you of what had been done. Suspicion must +be thrown upon another, and I was that other. Tell me frankly, Herr +Professor--I have a right to ask it--tell me, did he not hint to you +that I had cut the rope?" + +I had acted like a fool and was now painfully embarrassed. I was +obliged to confess to him that his suspicion was correct. He instantly +grew excessively angry. + +"What doubly detestable villainy," he cried, "refinement of +rascality--to throw suspicion on me and to adduce as proof the cut +which his own knife had made, and which, of course, he knew well enough +where to find! Of course I know that his words did not make the +smallest impression on you. Nevertheless they anger me beyond +expression. I did not credit even the villain that he is with such +rascality, but it shall react upon himself. These two fragments shall +bear witness against him. I shall give them to the Attorney General +to-morrow." + +"Indeed you will not," I replied firmly. "I owe my life to Franz +Schorn. Without his aid I should now be lying dead in the depths of the +cave. I do not know whether a knife or a sharp stone worked the +mischief, but I do know that Schorn risked his own life for mine. This +is solely my affair. My life was imperilled and I surely have the right +to demand that no evil shall be said of him who preserved it." + +"Will you deny me the right to clear myself from all suspicion? This +can be done only by proving that Schorn himself cut the rope." + +"No one has suspected you except Franz Schorn, and to me alone has he +expressed his suspicion. I am sure that the breaking of the rope was an +accident. I shall not allow suspicion to attach to any one, either to +you or to Schorn. I require of you to return to me the pieces of rope +and to be silent to the Attorney General concerning the whole matter; +the affair concerns myself alone." + +Herr Foligno made many objections to my demand. I found it difficult to +soothe him; he was so indignant with Schorn for showing me the ends as +proof against him. He burned with the desire for revenge for such an +insult, and I succeeded only with great trouble and much entreaty in +persuading him to be silent and to return to me the ends of rope. + +He remained until far into the night--a civility I could easily have +dispensed with. I was not comfortable in his society. I tried in vain +to talk on indifferent subjects; he persisted in returning to the +adventure in the cave and always with an attempt to cast further +suspicion upon Schorn. His hatred for Franz and his indignation at what +Franz had said to me was so great that he could think of nothing else. +He would have tormented me, I believe, until daybreak with his +accusations and his discussions of the matter; but at last I frankly +told him that I had need of repose, and then he bade me good-night. + + + + + CHAPTER XII. + AN ARREST. + + +I had to undergo a long examination. The investigating Judge and the +Attorney General came from Laibach. Immediately after receiving Herr +Foligno's deposition, they determined to take the very uncomfortable +journey to Luttach to hear for themselves from witnesses on the spot +all that was known regarding Franz Schorn's actions and whereabouts +during the last few weeks. The investigating Judge told me of this with +all the courtesy of an Austrian official. With entire lack of reserve, +he informed me that although Herr Foligno's carefully prepared paper +was quite sufficient to attach suspicion to Schorn, it did not at all +suffice to convince him of the young man's guilt. He requested me to +tell everything that I knew of Schorn and to hold back nothing out of +regard for the man who, as he had already heard in Adelsberg, had saved +my life. It was my duty to tell not only the truth, but the whole +truth. + +The Judge was a handsome, kindly man, so courteous that he would not +have me summoned for my examination to the court house, but took down +my deposition in my room. Yet with all his amiability and in spite of +the sympathy which he apparently felt for Franz Schorn, his inquiries +were frightfully searching; he forced me to tell him more than I wished +to. + +I had intended at this hearing to confine myself to what I had dictated +in the Judge's deposition, but I could not keep my resolution. When the +Judge asked me if Franz Schorn, of whom I had seen much in the last few +weeks, had never told me his reason for avoiding me in the forest, I +could not reply in the negative, and I was forced to assent, and to +relate the conversation I had had with Franz and his betrothed. I could +not conceal that each had requested me to say nothing of the meeting in +the forest. Such an interview as this of mine with the Judge is very +curious. The witness knows that every word he utters is upon his oath, +and also that it may decide the fate of a fellow mortal. Every +consideration vanishes before such a responsibility, and I could have +none for the Judge. I had to acknowledge to my examiner that Anna and +Franz had given as a reason of the request for my silence that the +Judge's hatred of the young man was so intense that he would surely use +my meeting with Franz as evidence against him. + +The Judge shook his head thoughtfully on hearing this; he evidently did +not credit their explanation. Had I cherished no suspicion? Had it +never occurred to me as odd that Franz Schorn should have wounded his +hand? I could not deny that such a suspicion had occurred to me, but I +could declare with a good conscience that it had vanished entirely +after I had come to know Schorn better. + +What was the reason that after this first awakening of suspicion I had +not informed the authorities of my meeting with the young man in the +neighborhood? Why had I withheld this information until the day before +yesterday? This keen questioning forced me to an exact reply. I told of +how I had desired to give information immediately of my meeting with +Schorn, and I gave Herr Foligno's reason for begging me not to insert +it in an official deposition, and as a natural consequence I related +the reasoning by which he had induced me to render to him my official +statement. + +"Strange; very strange," said the Judge, more to himself than to me. +"Herr Foligno has allowed personal considerations, personal feelings to +influence his official action. Very unjustifiable!" + +He was silent for a while and then questioned me further with continued +and frightful thoroughness. I did not wish to speak of the adventure in +the cave, but when the interview was over, I had told everything that I +knew about my fall, my rescue, and the accusations made by Schorn and +the Judge with regard to the cut ends of rope. After the official paper +had been read to me and I had signed it, the Judge offered me his hand. + +"Your testimony has been of the greatest importance, Herr Professor," +he said gravely. "You have so far confirmed suspicion against Schorn +that the young man's arrest is an unavoidable necessity, but at the +same time you have proved to me that an influence has been at work in +this unfortunate affair which I must investigate further. Whatever may +be the true history of the strange adventure in the cave, Schorn +undoubtedly saved your life and you owe him gratitude for it. If you +wish to testify this, you can do so by preserving profound silence with +regard to your testimony of to-day as well towards the friends as to +the foes of Herr Schorn, and, of course, to Judge Foligno. He has +nothing to do further with the official investigation; he must in his +turn appear as a witness, and it is especially desirable for the +establishment of the truth that your testimony with regard to him +should remain unknown. May I hope that you will promise me inviolable +secrecy towards Herr Foligno, Herr Professor?" + +"Certainly, most willingly; but what am I to reply when Herr Foligno +questions me? He wanted to send you an account of the adventure in the +cave, and only desisted at my express desire." + +"Do not let this consideration influence you. It is of the greatest +importance in the investigation that the Judge should know nothing of +your testimony with regard to the adventure in the cave. If he asks +you, tell him the simple truth; it is unlawful for witnesses to discuss +together their testimony, and he is henceforth a witness like yourself. +Tell him that I told you this, and that I enjoined it upon you to +refuse even the slightest information with regard to your testimony." + +With this counsel, which I determined to follow implicitly, the Judge +took his leave. He left me in an indescribable agitation, which +increased when the District Judge paid me a visit immediately after. He +came, as he told me frankly, to learn how the investigating Judge had +received my testimony. When I told him of the promise which I had +given, he was greatly surprised. + +"I! A witness like all the rest?" he cried indignantly. "These +government officials are so puffed up with pride and self-conceit that +they don't know what they are about. They owe to me, to my activity, to +my research, every ray of light cast upon the darkness of the crime, +and now they push me aside, rob me of the reward of my discovery, and +regard me as a simple witness; but they shall not succeed; I will not +submit; and you, too, Herr Professor, you need not feel yourself bound +by a promise which no one had a right to exact from you; you may +without fear tell me anything that you desire." + +"I do not know whether I should be justified in doing so or not," I +replied, shrugging my shoulders. "I do not know the Austrian laws, but +I am well aware that if I have undertaken no legal responsibility, a +moral one rests upon me not to speak of my testimony after the promise +which I have given. You must pardon me, Herr Foligno, if I preserve +absolute silence." + +He looked at me angrily and evilly. "As you please; I shall make no +further request of you," he said after a little pause. "One thing I +have a right to demand of you in a matter which concerns me personally. +Have you----" + +"I regret that I can make no reply to any question, whatever it may be. +My promise to be silent was given unconditionally." + +He cast at me a glance full of rage and left the room without saying +farewell. I had deeply offended him by my persistent refusal. I sat +alone with a heavy heart, discontented with myself. I had offended the +man who had been so kind and courteous to me during my stay in Luttach, +and I had also placed him in a perilous position by my testimony to his +superior. This was a very disagreeable thought. He was not aware of it, +but when he learned it, would he not have a right to be angry with me +and to accuse me of a breach of confidence? I had strengthened +suspicion against Franz Schorn, the saviour of my life. It was my fault +that the young man was now threatened with the loss of his liberty. I +was provoked with myself for my imprudent and frank expressions, and +yet again, when I reflected on the late examination and the questioning +I had undergone, I could not have answered differently in accordance +with the truth. I had surely only fulfilled my duty as a witness. In +the deepest anxiety and with torturing impatience I awaited further +developments. It was desperately hard to lie there and have cold +bandages on my sprained ankle. I would have given anything to be able +to do something, or that the visitors whom I had found so tiresome +yesterday would return to-day, but I was, and remained, alone, confined +to my bed. + +Two hours passed. At last quick footsteps approached my door. Mizka +entered breathless, her cheeks crimson, her eyes glowing, to tell me of +what was the talk at present of all Luttach. Franz Schorn was the +murderer of old Pollenz. The gentlemen from Laibach had been searching +Schorn's house at his farm outside the town, and had found quantities +of money, banknotes, and stock, and government bonds and other papers +of value, all the wealth of the murdered man. Nevertheless Franz had +denied everything, declaring that he was innocent, but his brazen +falsehood had done him no good; he had been arrested, his hands +fettered, and thus manacled had been brought between two gendarmes to +Luttach. As he passed the house of the doctor, his betrothed was +sitting at the window. She had seen him and had rushed down into the +street. She had embraced him before everybody--he, the murderer of her +father! The gendarmes were obliged to unclasp her arms. She had not +wept a tear; she had looked up at him with sparkling eyes when the +gendarmes bore him away. + +"Do not despair, Franz," she had called after him. "God will not suffer +the innocent to be condemned." + +Then she had quietly gone with the doctor, who led her back into the +house. Franz, however, had walked on between the gendarmes, his eyes +cast gloomily on the ground. He had replied not a word to the abuse +which was showered on him from all sides. + +"Murderer!" "Dog of a German!" and other insulting epithets had been +hurled after him by an increasing crowd of common people. He did not +seem even to hear them. The people were so excited against him, so +infuriated that the gendarmes had the greatest trouble in shielding him +from their attack, and could hardly have succeeded in doing so if the +Judge himself had not protected him from a couple of savage fellows, +two labourers who had been dismissed from Schorn's farm and would +gladly have revenged themselves upon their former master for their +dismissal. By earnest admonition and threats of punishment the Judge +had succeeded in quieting the mob, assuring the people that the +murderer would not escape justice. He accompanied the prisoner to the +court house, receiving no thanks from him for his protection. Not a +word did Franz address to him. + +Upon an order from Herr Foligno, Herr Gunther provided a vehicle and +horses, and, accompanied by the two gendarmes, bore off the manacled +prisoner. The Judge said he would be taken to prison in Laibach and +kept there until the court assembled, when he would be certainly tried +as a murderer and hanged. + +All this Mizka detailed to me in the greatest agitation. Evidently she +felt much satisfaction in the discovery of the murderer, and that it +should be precisely Franz Schorn, whom every one hated, who was now +delivered over to the law. Not a word of sympathy did the girl, usually +so good-humoured, have for the unfortunate man; not a doubt of his +guilt stirred within her; with a triumphant smile she left me after she +had told her news. + +"The voice of the people is the voice of God," the Judge had once said. +The doctor had replied, "The people's gossip is the voice of the +devil." Was the Judge now proved to be right? The proof of Schorn's +guilt seemed to grow clearer, and yet, strangely enough, my doubt of it +grew stronger with every hour. My reason told me that there could be no +room for doubt, now that upon searching his house the booty had been +discovered, but my heart rebelled against even this proof. I felt for +the first time that I had taken more than a fleeting interest in the +young man, that there had been between us a heartfelt sympathy which +forbade me in the face of all proof yet adduced, to believe in the +possibility of his guilt. + +I was not long left to my melancholy reflections. A visitor interrupted +them. The Burgomaster came, not only to inquire after my welfare, but +to tell me of the discoveries made with regard to Schorn and of all +that had been going on in the town while I lay bedridden. He had not +yet left me before another visitor appeared, and he was followed by a +third and a fourth. All the evening cronies of the round table made up +for their absence in the morning, and through the entire afternoon I +was not again alone. All my visitors brought melancholy confirmation of +what Mizka had told me. Even the Captain and the Burgomaster were now +convinced of Schorn's guilt, and acknowledged their conviction openly. +The search in his house had brought much to light; so much money had +been found that it was impossible to believe Franz had come by it +honestly. His very conduct told against him--his bare-faced denial, as +well as his unbroken silence when no credit was given to his words. +There was but one opinion as to his guilt, and also as to the behaviour +of the Judge. Even the Judge's opponents declared that Franz owed his +escape from the indignant mob to his magnanimous protection. There was +also but one voice with regard to the conduct of the Laibach court. It +had been admirable, particularly that of the investigating Judge, who +in a single day had discovered every particular concerning Schorn's +life during the last few weeks. Almost all the gentlemen and a number +of other people besides, as well as Bela and Rassak, had been examined +by him. The officials had said nothing of the result of their evidence, +and had enjoined the strictest silence upon the witnesses, who, +however, were at liberty to declare that they considered Franz Schorn +guilty, and they did so. The Clerk alone, Herr von Einern, prudently +withheld his opinion in the matter. + +Did the doctor also believe in Franz Schorn's guilt? He and the Judge +were the only ones who paid me no visit on this day. The Judge probably +could not forget my refusal to answer his questions, and was still +offended. I was at heart very glad that he did not come. His visit +could have given rise only to unpleasant discussions; but the doctor I +should like to have seen, partly to obtain medical advice for the +night, and partly to learn his opinion of the discoveries concerning +Schorn. My wish was fulfilled late in the evening, when it was nearly +nine o'clock. The doctor came, but he was not alone. To my great +surprise he was accompanied by Anna Pollenz. My astonishment when I saw +the lovely Anna enter the room on the arm of her old friend must have +been mirrored in my face, for Anna blushed, and the doctor, with his +characteristic short laugh, which I was always glad to hear, said: + +"You wonder at this strange visit so late in the evening, Herr +Professor. Well, you are right. This little girl might as well have +come to you to-morrow morning, at a more fitting time; but she gave me +no rest until I complied with her wish and brought her to you. If I had +not consented she might perhaps have come all alone, and have given +occasion for all sorts of gossip in Luttach. The entire population of +the town has run mad; even the most sensible are infected with the +nonsense which is heard on all sides. I could not have believed it, but +since Franz's arrest and removal to Laibach, even the Captain and the +Burgomaster have lost faith in him and consider him guilty, and yet +everything adduced against him is thorough, unmitigated bosh. Not a +word of it is true. The gentlemen from Laibach are principally to +blame, with their arrest. They would hardly have proceeded to such +extremities if the Judge had not taken care that they should hear from +all sides the falsehoods invented by himself. This poor little girl has +had a frightful day. Not only has her Franz been arrested--that is not +the worst, for he will very soon be free again--but all the world, with +the exception of the Clerk and myself, believe in Franz's guilt, and +people are not ashamed to declare this openly. This makes my little +Anna desperate. 'The Herr Professor, who loves Franz so much, cannot +think him guilty,' she said, and insisted upon coming to you. I could +not but do as she asked, and here we are. Well, perhaps it is all +right; the poor child will not speak here to deaf ears, and will be +soothed to see that every one does not consider Franz a murderer and +thief. Sit down, my child, here in this chair, and pour out your heart +to the Herr Professor. He will listen to you kindly." + +I had been observing Anna during this long introduction. Her colour +changed from red to pale and then to red again as the old doctor +continued. Her eyes sparkled as she turned to me, and she gazed at me +with an imploring expression in them. She was wonderfully lovely. My +heart gave a throb. Was I altogether free from blame? + +Anna seated herself at her old friend's bidding beside my bed and gazed +at me with a long, searching look in her dark eyes, as if to read in my +face the possibility of my thinking her Franz guilty. + +"You cannot mistrust him, Herr Professor," she said, "he has such a +regard for you, and he saved your life." + +There was not much logic in these words, but they made me ashamed of +myself nevertheless. Franz could not be guilty unless she were his +accomplice, and I had almost believed in his guilt. I could not endure +the look of those pure, clear eyes; my own dropped before them. I was +ashamed. + +"If all the rest think him guilty," she continued in a tone of firm +conviction, "you cannot. You believe in him, and you must feel it your +duty to do everything you can to prove his innocence, for he saved +your life. Therefore I come to you; I wished to speak to you before +to-morrow. I shall sleep quietly, for I know that you will stand by me. +Franz told me yesterday evening that the Judge had tried to take your +life; that he is your worst enemy. You will counsel me truly when I +have confided to you a secret which I have kept until now, a suspicion +which I have not ventured to utter even to my dearest friend and +relative." + +"Speak, dear child," I replied, taking her hand and pressing it +cordially. "I assure you that I have no dearer wish than to establish +the innocence of the saviour of my life." + +"I know it and will trust you," she replied frankly. "You and my kind +friend, the doctor, both of you shall counsel me," she continued, +clasping my hand in one of hers and extending the other to the doctor. + +"What do you mean, you strange child?" the doctor cried. "If you have a +secret upon your soul, you ought to have told me of it long ago. If you +needed counsel, you could always have had it from me." + +"I did not dare to. Franz forbade me. Franz himself did not believe me +until yesterday evening. He is innocent. He always said that my fear of +Herr Foligno and my detestation of him misled me." + +"Of whom are you speaking, child!" asked the doctor. + +Instead of answering, Anna turned to me. + +"When you reached the Lonely House on that terrible day, Herr +Professor, did you not see in its neighbourhood another man beside +Franz?" she asked. + +"No. No one." + +"I did not mean near the house itself, but on the upper path, the one +leading along the rocks to Luttach?" + +"I saw no one there either." + +"You did not see him? I am sorry. Franz was sure yesterday that you +did." + +"But who in all the world should the Professor have seen!" asked the +doctor curiously. + +"The Judge," Anna replied. "I was sure I saw him, but I would not say +so decidedly, and Franz, until yesterday, thought I might be mistaken +and would not allow me to found an unjust suspicion upon an uncertain +fact." + +The doctor was as astonished and startled as was I by Anna's words. He +desired to know more from her, and when I begged the young girl to give +us her full confidence and to tell us all that she knew and believed, +she yielded to our request and related what had lain so long upon her +heart. + +When on that dreadful day Anna had left home and was going down the +path with her old Johanna to Luttach, she looked up by chance where the +oaks grew thin and saw on the upper pathway a man approaching the +Lonely House. She thought she recognized the Judge, but she could not +be certain, for she had seen the figure only for a moment and had taken +no trouble to recognize it, since she attached no importance to what +she saw. The Judge had often gone to her father and had usually taken +the upper pathway, wherefore she did not think of it again. Only upon +hearing the terrible news of the murder of her father was the strange +suspicion suddenly aroused within her that the Judge was the murderer, +and this suspicion had been gradually confirmed. To hardly one other +human being except to his friend the Judge, would her father have +opened the locked front door. While he was alone he would have admitted +no other. The Judge had known that her father had large sums of money +in the house and was quite familiar with the place where they would be +found. + +"But had I a right upon such slight grounds to found a suspicion of a +respectable man? I asked myself," Anna proceeded. "I answered no, but +in spite of this 'no' I could not combat my thoughts, and it was most +terrible for me that I myself was partly to blame for my father's death +if my suspicion were correct. The day before the Judge had come to +visit my father, and had not found him at home. My father had left +word, however, that he would soon return, and I thought I ought to tell +this to the visitor because it might have provoked my father to know +that I had turned away his friend. The Judge then begged my permission +to wait, and when I gave it reluctantly, he sat down by me in my room +and began a conversation. During this conversation I told him that my +father had gone to Luttach to get papers of value from the post. He +would not send old Johanna because the sum in question was too large to +be entrusted to so old a woman. The Judge knew also from me that my +father had much money in the house, and that I was going on the +following day to visit my Aunt Laucic in Luttach, when Johanna would +accompany me, so that after eleven o'clock he might see my father +alone. All this I told him, and it all recurred to my mind. I had +myself told the murderer when his victim would be alone and when he +could commit the deed." + +In her distress Anna went on to say that she did not venture to mention +her suspicion to the Captain--he was a friend of the Judge's--and only +to her betrothed, from whom she kept no secrets, did she tell what was +in her mind. He begged her, however, not to confide in any other human +being. Franz declared that the Judge was not capable of such villainy. +He tried to prove to her that her suspicions were groundless. "Does not +he often climb about the rocks?" he asked. "Even had he been in the +neighbourhood of the Lonely House, that ought to be no ground of +suspicion against him, for I myself was met by the Herr Professor in +the forest, as I was prowling about in hopes of meeting you." When her +lover said this, Anna was seized with a dreadful anxiety lest he might +really be suspected, and Franz, too, could understand that he was in +peril. He knew how he was disliked, and how any opportunity would be +seized to do him harm. + +Franz had insisted, however, that the Judge was incapable of the +murder, and he had forbidden Anna to say one word further upon the +subject. "Because he is my enemy," he told her; "because he is always +circulating damaging reports of me behind my back, we must take care +not to be unjust towards him." He had spoken thus until yesterday, but +when he returned from the expedition to the cave and told Anna of his +adventure there, he had suddenly changed his opinion with regard to +what she had always thought. "It is beyond doubt," he said, "that the +Judge cut the rope. What reason could he have for such an act! He +wished to plunge the Professor into the abyss. I am now convinced that +the Professor saw him also in the neighbourhood of the Lonely House. +You were not deceived when you recognized him on the upper pathway. He +fears that the Professor may betray him, and wishes to put so dangerous +a witness out of the way. There could be no other reason for his +infamous attempt upon the life of the kind old man, whose friend he +pretends to be. He planned a murder, and now I can believe also that he +is the murderer of your father. Let him take care; I shall speak to the +Professor. I will tell him of your suspicion; he will tell me whether +he saw the Judge that day." But Franz soon after was arrested and Anna +felt it her duty to do what he had wished to do. + +"That is why I am come to you, Herr Professor," she concluded; "you +must counsel me. You must help me to discover the real criminal and to +set an innocent man at liberty." + +While Anna had been speaking, the doctor, who had also seated himself +beside my bed, had been continually getting up and sitting down again, +possessed by a feverish restlessness, although listening in silence to +every word spoken by the young girl. Now that Anna had finished, he +exclaimed: + +"Do you want to drive two old men crazy with your deuce of a story? +Child, have you had such thoughts in your head and heart for weeks and +never said a word of them? Think of what might have been done in those +weeks! Think of how suspicion might have been turned in other +directions! You are sure, Herr Professor, that you did not see the +Judge on the rocky pathway?" + +"I am sure of it." + +"But may he not have been there without your seeing him, or are you +sure that he was not there?" + +"I believe that he was there." + +[Illustration: "You must help me!"] + +"And what reason have you for your belief? Out with it, Herr Professor! +The scales are falling from my eyes. I begin to see clearly. This deuce +of a girl has enlightened my stupidity, but what is the use of my +seeing? Franz and the child have both shown confidence in you, and you +must justify it. Out with what you know without any reserve!" + +He was right; I could not be silent. The half promise which I had once +given to the Judge to protect him from any chaffing to which he might +be subjected with regard to the pocket handkerchief found where it had +been could not bind me. I told of my finding the bloody handkerchief +and of the Judge's explanation. + +"It is he! It is he and no other!" exclaimed the doctor, quite beside +himself. "Did I not always say that the murderer must have been an +intimate friend of the old man? Oh, blind fool that I have been! Why +did I not think of him, when for two weeks he wore a black glove on his +right hand? He had good reason to wish to see you vanish in the abyss. +You, who could bring such evidence against him. And you fell into his +trap, and have been silent all this while, without harbouring any +suspicion of him! For shame, Herr Professor! No, you need not be +ashamed of yourself, you kind, old, unsuspicious man; but I could tear +my hair for being such a fool and letting him lead me by the nose as he +has done." + +"Are you sure now that you are not deceiving yourself?" I asked very +gravely. My heart was beating violently. There is something fearful in +such a suspicion. Suddenly as it had arisen, it had now entire +possession of me; but had I not entertained the same, and perhaps with +more reason, of Franz Schorn? Could I trust myself since I had once +deceived myself? + +No such reflections troubled the doctor: + +"I am so convinced," he said, clapping his hands as if in triumph, +"that I would myself condemn the fellow to be hanged, if it lay in my +province to do so. Hanged he shall be, I promise you, little girl, and +we will take your Franz in triumph from the prison in Laibach and carry +him home. How it is to be done, I do not see at present; but, rely upon +it, I will do it. I will follow the murderer's tracks like a +bloodhound. He has no idea that he is suspected, and that I have +discovered his plots. He shall find it out, but only when we are taking +Franz from prison in Laibach. Until then not a word to anybody, Herr +Professor." + +"Is it not our duty to inform the court in Laibach of what we suspect +and of our grounds for doing so?" + +"Not a word in that quarter. With all due reverence for the gentlemen +in Laibach, the Judges and the Attorney General; before they can make +up their minds to believe that a colleague, a District Judge, is a +common murderer and thief, the proofs must be as clear as daylight. +Only when we deliver him over to them, and they must do their part, can +we be sure of them. I would sooner confide in our Clerk; he would throw +all forbearance to the winds; but should we admit him to our confidence +now, we should be placing him in a very embarrassing position, for the +District Judge is, after all, his chief. Therefore, not a word, Herr +Professor, until we have further proofs against the scoundrel. Now that +we are on the scent, it will, I hope, not be long." + +I was obliged to admit that the doctor's plan was the right one, and my +admission flattered him. + +"Do you not remember how day before yesterday evening the Judge said +with a sneer, 'A great criminal lawyer is lost in you, doctor'? I will +prove to him that he was right. Only trust me, Herr Professor; you +shall not repent it. But be sure to follow a piece of advice which I +must give you. Remember that it is to the Judge's interest to be rid of +you; therefore, beware of him. It will do no harm to have your revolver +where you can reach it in a moment, day or night." + +I promised to follow his advice. We talked on for half an hour very +pleasantly. The doctor was in the best humour in the world, and the +charming little Anna was now so full of hope for a speedy reunion with +her Franz that she almost forgot her grief at his imprisonment. She was +indeed a lovely child, and as she talked on so heart-free and +confidentially with us two old men, I was really in love with her +myself. Upon their departure the doctor promised me that he would allow +me to leave my bed on the following day, and Anna promised to pay me +repeated visits so long as I was confined to my room. Thus we parted in +the most friendly manner. The doctor turned as he was about to close +the door behind him and said: + +"Do you know, Herr Professor, what comforts me in this cursed affair?" + +"What?" + +"That Foligno is no Slav, but an Italian. Believe me, a Slav would be +incapable of such villainy. Good-night, Herr Professor." + + + + + CHAPTER XIII. + AN OLD CHEST. + + +Three very wearisome days ensued. To be sure, I was allowed to leave my +bed and was no longer forced to apply cold bandages to my sprained +ankle, but I was a prisoner on a very uncomfortable sofa, whereon my +leg was stretched out, and therefore condemned to intolerable, +tedious idleness. I could not even move sufficiently to prepare my +treasures--the butterflies and beetles--for my collection. My beautiful +_Cćcigena_ caterpillars had to be fed by Mizka, and I was obliged to +congratulate myself that she undertook what must have been a very +humdrum task with amiable readiness. + +For three days the doctor had decreed that I must keep a recumbent +position; thereafter I might sit up on the sofa and move about the room +a little. I looked forward to the expiration of this time with +unfeigned longing, for such enforced idleness is intolerable for a +healthy man. Visitors were not lacking during those endless three days. +The gentlemen of Luttach took pains to entertain me, but their visits +were more of a pain than a pleasure, for the subject of their +conversation was forever the same--the assured guilt of Franz Schorn. +No one had the least doubt that he was the criminal. The Judge had +shown them so many proofs of it that they were almost provoked with me +because I would not join in the universal condemnation of the man, but +declared that it was our duty to believe in the possibility of his +innocence as long as he was not officially condemned. More than this I +could not say, after my promise to the doctor, therefore I was +compelled to listen silently when the alleged proofs of Schorn's guilt +were discussed, which were downright fabrications. I looked forward +with some dread to a visit from the Judge. It would have been almost +impossible for me to appear unembarrassed in his presence. But the duty +of playing the hypocrite and feigning friendship was fortunately not +enforced upon me. He not only did not call upon me, but sent an excuse +by Mizka. He was forced to go to Görz for a few days, and had so much +to do before his departure that he had not a quarter of an hour to call +his own. Upon his return he hoped to find me entirely recovered. + +The doctor was irritated by this journey. It deranged his schemes. He +wished to have an opportunity to watch the man narrowly, which it would +be impossible for him to do in Görz, the doctor was not, therefore, in +a very good humour, and his visits would have contributed but little to +my enlivenment had not the charming little Anna always accompanied him. +The lovely young girl crept further and further into my heart with +every visit. While we two old men were feverish with impatience to act, +she bore this state of anxiety with angelic patience and admirable +serenity. She was firm in her pious faith in Divine justice; she was +sure that we should succeed in rescuing the innocent and in bringing +the guilty to punishment. This conviction made it possible for her to +wait patiently. + +At last the tiresome three days were over. On the fourth day the doctor +gave me permission to sit up on the sofa, and as long as my foot did +not pain me, to take several steps about my room. I breathed more +freely. Now I could occupy myself. Before my accident I had collected a +wealth of material which had all to be arranged. My _Lepidoptera_ were +to be mounted, my _Coleoptera_ prepared, some doubtful species named, +etc. Thus I had an abundance of work for several days and need fear no +ennui. + +Of course, I wished to begin work immediately, when an obstacle +presented itself which I had never thought of. I had no place to spread +out my entomological treasures, or where I could put my boards for +mounting the butterflies, which were now packed together in my trunk, +but would take considerable room when spread out to receive the +precious insects. Hitherto I had found the lack of furniture in my +simple room not inconvenient, but now it became so. If I could only +have a bureau with two or three drawers in which I could lay the boards +for the accommodation of my spoils, all would be well and I should be +quite content. + +Perhaps Frau Franzka could help me. There must be some such bureau in +Luttach. Frau Franzka was summoned. The word "bureau" she did not +understand, but when I described to her the piece of furniture that I +wished, she exclaimed joyfully: + +"Ah, the Herr Professor means a chest! That is easily procured. +Upstairs in the Judge's sleeping-room there is a large old chest with +four drawers. It is not beautiful, but very roomy. If the Herr +Professor would like it, I will gladly have it brought down." + +Its lack of beauty was of no consequence to me, in consideration of the +space it afforded, but I did not like to take the chest from the +chamber of the Judge. I preferred not to ask of him the smallest +favour. I said so to Frau Franzka, but she made light of my scruples, +saying: + +"The Herr Foligno never uses the old chest. He used to put his linen in +it, but now he keeps it in a very fine new chest which I bought for +him, and which stands in his parlour. The old chest is empty; the Judge +will be glad to have it taken out of his room." + +"But Herr Foligno is still away. You cannot ask his permission." + +"It is not necessary. The chest belongs to me. Herr Foligno, besides, +owes me a great deal of money, and he cannot object to my bringing down +for the Herr Professor an old chest which he does not use." + +I tried to make objection, but Frau Franzka was a resolute lady, and +persisted in what she had once decided upon. She called her husband and +a servant, and sent them up into the Judge's sleeping-room to bring +down the chest, and in a few minutes, against the long bare wall of my +room there stood a large, old-fashioned bureau, not elegant, indeed, +but painted black, and with four drawers which gave abundant room for +my requirements. + +"There is the old chest," Frau Franzka said with satisfaction. "The +Herr Professor need not fear; I will take it upon myself to settle +matters with the Judge; but I must see if he has left anything in the +drawers. I don't think so, but if it should be the case, I can easily +transfer them to his new chest." + +She tried to draw out the topmost drawer by its metal handles, but it +would not open. + +"That is strange," she said. "The wood must have swelled so that the +drawer sticks." + +"Perhaps it is locked," I remarked. + +"Oh, no, certainly not. The Judge never locks his chests; he always +leaves them open, and, besides, I do not know whether he had any +key, but we can soon see. There is just such another chest in our +sleeping-room; my husband has the key and we can see if it will open +it." + +She said several words in Slavonic to her husband, and he took a queer +little key out of his pocket and handed it to her. + +The key fitted in the lock and turned. Frau Franzka then opened the +topmost drawer without difficulty. She glanced inside it and recoiled +with a slight scream. + +"Oh, Holy Virgin!" she cried, clasping her hands. "What is all this? A +shirt, a summer suit, a silk pocket handkerchief, all spotted with +blood, and oh, blessed Maria, who would have thought that Herr Foligno +had so much money hid away in this old chest!" + +Instantly I was possessed by a strange foreboding. There lay the money +which the murderer had stolen from his victim. I sprang up from the +sofa without thinking of my sprained ankle and walked hastily across +the room, never heeding the pain. + +Yes, there lay the stolen money. Several packages of banknotes of a +hundred gulden each, and beside them a bundle of papers of value, the +topmost of these showing the same dark spots, traces of the blood from +the wounded hand of the murderer, who had taken no care to avoid +staining them. Here, hidden away in the old chest, were the proofs of +the murderer's guilt; the bloodstained clothing which he had worn when +he committed the deed; and the handkerchief which I had given to him +was there also. If there had been any doubt until now as to the +identity of the criminal, it vanished on the instant. Link by link in +an indestructible chain the proofs were clearly here for the conviction +of the District Judge. In fancy I saw him contemplating his murderous +scheme, walking up the rocky path towards the Lonely House. He knew +that he should find the old man alone there; he had been told this on +the day before. Anna had thoughtlessly informed him that her father +would be alone in the afternoon. Her account of the considerable amount +of money which the old man had received by the morning's post had +begotten the murderous scheme. He reaches the house, no one having seen +him on the rocky pathway. He looks about him. No human being is near +who could observe him. He does not dream that Anna has seen him. He +knocks. The old man opens the door and conducts him to his room, where +a struggle ensues, a struggle in which the murderer wounds his hand, +but from which he comes forth victorious. The crime is committed. The +murderer with his bleeding hand has taken the banknotes and papers from +the desk which he knew so well; in his excitement he has hardly noticed +that he was wounded. He is suddenly conscious of pain in his hand, and +the thought occurs to him that his wound might betray him. With terror +he perceives that his dress, his shirt, his waistcoat and trousers, all +wear bloody traces of the struggle. He tries to remove them with his +handkerchief, but in vain. How can he explain these stains when he +returns to Luttach? He devises one means--to declare that he fell among +the rocks and wounded his hand. Every one knows that he frequently +climbs about among the rocks and how easily such an accident might +occur. If he can bring back to the old naturalist a rare plant which +usually grows upon almost inaccessible rocks, his story of a fall will +be all the more credible. The _Ophrys Bertolini_ grows in the +neighbourhood; except himself no one knows the locality. It is easily +reached; he hastily plucks the beautiful flowers, losing his +handkerchief as he does so, but without noticing it he hurries away +from the neighbourhood of the Lonely House. + +Fortune favours him. No one meets him; no one sees him when he reaches +the inn and hastens to his chamber. There he locks himself in; he must +change his clothes; but what shall he do with his bloodstained apparel? +Suddenly the old bureau occurs to him; it stands unused in his +sleeping-room. He could not have a better, a more secure hiding place. +He conceals the clothes and his plunder in the top drawer, locks it, +and puts the key in his pocket. Now he is safe; no suspicion can +possibly fall upon him, the Judge, the most prominent official in the +town. There can be no searching of his room. He himself would +superintend whatever search there might be. The bloodstained clothing, +the banknotes and the papers could be nowhere more safe from discovery +than in the locked drawer of the old bureau. He breathes more freely. +There is a knock at the door. The old Professor asks for admission. He +is obliged to receive him. This will give him an opportunity of +relating the story of his fall among the rocks. He is dismayed at +learning that the murder has been discovered sooner than he +anticipated, but he composes himself, and when he hears that Franz +Schorn has been seen in the vicinity of the Lonely House, he devises a +plan for throwing suspicion upon him, his mortal enemy, and with +vindictive cunning proceeds to carry it out, using every circumstance +that could lead step by step to the consummation of the crime without +exposing himself at any point. Thus he feels perfectly safe, when +suddenly he makes the terrible discovery that there exists a witness +against him. The old Professor has found his bloody handkerchief near +the Lonely House. He finds it easy to deceive the unsuspicious old man. +He succeeds in convincing him that Franz Schorn is the murderer, but as +long as the Professor lives, the danger of detection hangs over his +head. He induces the foolish old man to undertake expeditions among the +most dangerous rocks, in the hope of his falling a victim to some +accident, but when this scheme fails, he determines to efface all trace +of the first murder by a second. The exploration of the cave, in which +he asks to join, furnishes a means to do so. The Professor must die, +but before his death he must send the official deposition which is so +essential for Schorn's conviction. + +Here also his murderous design fails, but he manages to cast suspicion +upon Franz Schorn in the matter of cutting the rope, and the young man +is arrested. The murderer triumphs. + +Then by a marvellous chance the old chest is opened during his absence +from home, and the clear proofs of his guilt are discovered by the very +man whom he wished, as the only witness against him, to remove from his +path. + +I stood paralyzed before the open drawer. All the past, which it has +taken minutes to relate, flashed upon my mind with the speed of +lightning. The proofs of the murderer's guilt which the doctor had been +so anxious to obtain were now before me. Chance had placed them in my +hands. What was I to make of this chance was the next question. + +"We must not touch these things," I said to Frau Franzka, who with her +old husband stood speechless with astonishment, gazing at the money in +the drawer. They had never in their lives seen so much at a time. "The +Judge might suspect us of having taken some of his heap of money. Lock +the drawer again, Frau Franzka; we will give the key to the Clerk, and +the doctor shall be witness that we do so. We three, you, your husband +and I, will stay here until Mizka fetches the doctor and the Clerk, and +we can each testify that none of the money has been taken." + +"So much money! And he owes me over five hundred gulden, with all that +pile in his drawer!" exclaimed Frau Franzka, who was reluctant to lose +sight of the banknotes, but on my reiterated request, she locked it up, +and then called Mizka, telling her to go immediately for the Herr +Einern and the doctor, begging them to come as quick as possible to the +Herr Professor in the "Golden Vine." + +We had not long to wait. The doctor came first. Mizka met him in the +street near the house. I drew him aside and told him in a whisper of +the contents of the upper drawer of the bureau. He was beside himself +with joy. + +"We have him! We have him!" he exclaimed aloud, with what was almost a +leap in the air. Only when he saw the stare with which Frau Franzka and +her husband regarded him--they might well have supposed he had lost his +wits--he grew calmer, and I told him that I had sent also for the +Clerk. + +"Quite right," he said. "We must tell him everything. Now that we have +such positive proof of the Judge's guilt, he can act, and he must act. +He is a brave and honourable man. He will fulfil the promise he once +made to our little Anna. Here he comes. I hear his step on the stair." + +The Clerk entered the room. He seemed surprised on finding the doctor +and my host and hostess. Frau Franzka hurried towards him. She had been +silent so long that she was eager to pour out her heart. In a burst of +Slavonic, of which I did not understand one syllable, she talked away +to the Clerk, who listened with the deepest attention. I would not +interrupt her, for I could easily perceive from her gestures what she +was relating. The Clerk's face grew darker and darker as Frau Franzka +continued. At last she paused and delivered to him the key of the +bureau. He then turned to me and said very gravely: + +"Frau Franzka has told me of the remarkable discovery which she has +made in that bureau. Before I examine its contents I wish to hear what +you have to say, Herr Professor. I assume that you have summoned me +hither, not as your friend of the evenings about the round table, but +as the Clerk, the only representative of the law in the Judge's +absence. I shall therefore receive what you have to say, not as the +testimony of a friend, but officially. Frau Franzka, you will retire to +another room with your husband, while I hear what the Herr Professor +has to tell. I warn you to say not one word to any one--I repeat, to +_any one_--of what you have discovered in the drawer there. You will +expose yourself to grave penalties if you should refuse to follow my +direction. Wait quietly until I send for you. Very shortly I will +summon you and your husband to swear to whatever you have to say. Now +go. Do you desire, Herr Professor, that the doctor should withdraw +also?" + +"No. On the contrary, I desire his presence during my deposition, which +I must make to you. He can complete what I have to say." + +I waited until the host and hostess had obediently withdrawn, and then +I addressed the Clerk. + +"On the day on which the miserable old Pollenz was murdered, it was to +you that his daughter turned, enjoining upon you the duty of +discovering the murderer and delivering him to justice. I heard the +young girl's moving appeal and was a witness of your silent promise to +her. I now desire from you the fulfilment of that promise." + +"I will fulfil my duty. The guilty man, whosoever he may be, shall not +escape punishment if proof sufficient can be adduced of his guilt." + +"This proof I am prepared to give, and so clearly that no doubt can +remain in your mind. Listen." + +I had imposed a hard task upon myself--that of succinctly informing the +Clerk of all the facts which sufficed to weld a chain of proof against +the murderer; the part he had played towards me, arousing in me +suspicions not only of Franz Schorn, but of the lovely Anna, in order +to procure my signature to the deposition which he made out and sent to +Laibach. I recalled as well as I could the words which the murderer had +dictated to me; every one of those words seemed to form a link in the +chain of proof; and, in conclusion, I described to him the contents of +the old bureau, saying: + +"This is the accumulated evidence which I hand over to you, and I +demand that in virtue of your office the true criminal shall be +delivered to the authorities in Laibach, so that an innocent man may +not wear disgraceful fetters an hour longer than is absolutely +necessary." + +"You impose a fearful responsibility upon me, but I shall not refuse to +accept it," the Clerk replied with a profound sigh. "What you have just +told me confirms a horrible suspicion which I have had ever since the +day of the murder. I never believed in Schorn's guilt. I always had a +secret doubt of the Judge, but I dared not give expression to it; it +was impossible to gather the smallest evidence against him. I take upon +myself great responsibility in proceeding against my chief, in +arresting him, and transferring him to Laibach, but it must be +done as soon as he returns from Görz. I will employ this day in +examining all the testimony you have here given me, as well as the +witnesses--yourself, Fräulein Anna Pollenz, Frau Franzka and her +husband--and then I will send to Laibach all the material I have +collected, with the bloodstained clothing and the banknotes. The +Attorney General there will do his duty. I transcend my powers perhaps +in thus forestalling my chief. I will----" he paused, listening. + +A vehicle rolled through the narrow street and stopped before the +house. The doctor hurried to the window. + +"The Judge," he cried, "has just descended from the carriage and has +entered the house." + +The Clerk started and grew pale. + +"He comes too early," he said. "I have no officially confirmed evidence +against him. I have no right to arrest him." + +"Will you give him time to escape?" cried the doctor. "If he goes to +his chamber and misses the old bureau, he will know that he is found +out." + +"You are right. I will dare all. Let me have paper, pen and ink, Herr +Professor, as quickly as possible, for at this moment I am the +representative of the law in Luttach. The Judge has not yet exhausted +his leave of absence; he has not yet resumed the duties of his office." +He wrote a few lines hurriedly. "This order must go immediately to the +captain of the gendarmes. Will you undertake to carry it, Herr Doctor?" + +"With all the pleasure in life. In five minutes I will be here again +with the gendarmes. The bird shall not escape," cried the doctor, as he +snatched the order from the Clerk's hand and rushed away without a +moment's delay. He could hardly have reached the front door, when from +above came the voice of the Judge, calling: + +"Mizka! Mizka!" + +Mizka replied from below in a few Slavonic words, and a loud, brief +conversation ensued in that language. + +"He has missed the bureau and Mizka is telling him that it has been +taken down to your room because you needed it, Herr Professor," the +Clerk whispered to me. + +The Judge overhead uttered a wild Slavonic curse. We heard his +resounding tread as he rushed down the stairs and then, without +knocking, threw open the door of my room and entered. When he found +that I was not alone, but that the Clerk was with me, he started back, +and remained for a moment on the threshold gazing at the Clerk and +myself with a keen, searching look, which afterwards flashed round the +room as if in quest of something. When it rested on the blackened, old +bureau, he fell into a rage, and, coming up to me, demanded in a +furious tone: + +"How dared you have my furniture removed from my room in my absence and +placed here for your own use?" + +As he spoke these words he was ghastly to look upon; his pale lips +quivered, his dark eyes glittered in his sallow face, and were again +riveted with an indescribable expression upon the old bureau. + +His insolence aroused my indignation, but I forced myself to reply to +him calmly. + +"I must beg you to speak more courteously," I answered, suppressing my +detestation. "If you conceive that there has been an infringement of +your rights, it is not to me that you must appeal, but to Frau Franzka. +She told me that this old bureau was never used by you, and that you +would be glad to have so superfluous a piece of furniture removed from +your room. Only upon her assurance that this was the case did I consent +to have it brought hither." + +My reply seemed to quiet him somewhat. He lowered his voice as he +continued: + +"You see that I do use it. The upper drawer is locked." + +He went up to the bureau and pulled the metal handles of the upper +drawer. Upon finding that it would not open, he breathed more freely +and turned to me again, with a wholly different expression of +countenance. + +"Excuse my rude manner," he suddenly said, in a very friendly way; "I +was angry. It irritated me that the furniture of my room should be +meddled with. The old bureau serves me as a receptacle for old clothes. +I must therefore beg that it be returned to me." + +"It was delivered to me by its owner, Frau Franzka. I have no authority +over its removal." + +"You refuse?" he said, flaming up again; but he mastered himself, only +giving me a sinister look, as he opened the door and called loudly into +the hall: + +"Frau Franzka! Frau Franzka!" + +The host and hostess had been waiting in another room for the summons +of the Clerk. They now appeared, Frau Franzka with a very embarrassed +countenance, where the consciousness of guilt was openly to be seen. +Now that the Judge was present, any command of the Clerk would avail +nothing with her. She must reply to whatever the Judge should ask. + +"How dare you have that chest taken from my room! It must be carried up +again immediately." + +Shyly and trembling with fear Frau Franzka gazed at the angry man. + +"Do not be so angry, Herr Foligno," she said. "I thought the chest was +quite empty. I should not have brought it down here if I had known that +you had so much money in it. But we did not touch it. Herr von Einern +has the key." + +The effect of these words upon the man was terrible. He staggered back +as if struck by a sudden blow, staring from Frau Franzka to the Clerk. +He bit his lips without feeling that he drew blood and that a drop +trickled down his chin. Frau Franzka's simple words had revealed all; +his secret was betrayed; his guilt discovered. + +Only for a second did terror paralyze him. He quickly collected +himself, seeing that the only possibility of escape lay in maintaining +absolute calmness, and with wonderful self-control he said in a +menacing tone: + +"You presumed to open the chest with a master key, and you, Herr von +Einern, have this master key in your possession. I demand that it be +instantly delivered to me." + +Hitherto the Clerk had stood with folded arms, a motionless spectator +of the scene before him. A contemptuous smile played about his lips. He +made no reply to the Judge's demand. + +"You do not answer me. You refuse to obey my orders?" the Judge +continued. "I shall hold you accountable for this. Do not forget, sir, +that this forcible breaking open of my property with a master key is a +crime for which I hold you responsible. I leave you now to take instant +steps for the enforcement of my right." + +He turned towards the door, but before he had advanced a step the Clerk +laid his hand upon his shoulder and said with grave decision: + +"You can leave this room only as a prisoner, Herr Foligno. You are +arrested." + +[Illustration: Then Began a Struggle, a Fight for Life and Death] + +The Judge's eyes flashed fire. His right hand sought his breast pocket +and he drew from it a knife, but before he could use it the Clerk had +seized him by the wrist, and then began a struggle, a fight for life +and death between these two powerful men. + +Frau Franzka screamed with terror; her husband stood trembling beside +her, not venturing to come to the help of the wrestling pair; but I +summoned all the physical force that I possessed--my foot pained me +terribly as I sprang up, but I did not heed the pain--and I was just in +the nick of time; the Judge had torn his hand loose and had raised it +for a deadly lunge with the knife. I seized his wrist from behind; the +Clerk clutched him by the throat, and our united strength succeeded in +overpowering him, throwing him on the ground, and holding tight his +right hand, which still held the knife. It was a terrible moment; my +strength was all but gone, for the desperate wretch made frantic +efforts to tear himself loose, but help was at hand. The doctor rushed +into the room with three gendarmes following him. Without a thought the +active little man threw himself upon the Judge, kneeled upon his chest +and helped me to hold down the hand that held the knife. + +"Seize and bind the monster!" he cried to the gendarmes, "or he will do +more mischief with his knife." + +The Judge could not but see that all further resistance was vain. He +dropped the knife, which I seized and hurled to the end of the room. + +"Let me go," he said sullenly. "You see that I can no longer defend +myself." + +We arose; first the Clerk, then I; I limped back in positive agony to +my sofa; my help was no longer required. The Judge, too, arose, and, +panting, stood between the Clerk and the doctor. He had given up all +hope of escape, for the three gendarmes blocked all egress from the +room, but his feverishly active mind devised new food for hope. + +"Captain," he cried to the captain of the gendarmes, "captain, I call +you to bear witness to the maltreatment I have received from these +madmen, who have attacked me. I command you to stand by me--me, the +District Judge. I order you to arrest these people, the Clerk, the +doctor and the German Professor. I take all the responsibility upon +myself." + +The captain's martial countenance betrayed embarrassment. He looked +dubiously, first at the Judge, then at the Clerk. + +"I do not know what I ought to do," he said, turning to the Clerk. "You +command me to arrest Herr Foligno; he commands me to arrest you. After +all, he is the District Judge." + +The Clerk hastily approached the old, dingy bureau, took a key from his +pocket and opened the upper drawer. + +"I command you to arrest a murderer," he said. "He, and not Franz +Schorn, committed the murder in the Lonely House. Here are the +proofs--his bloodstained clothing and the banknotes which he stole. The +responsibility is yours if the murderer escapes and you disobey my +commands." + +One look into the drawer, and the captain hesitated no longer. An hour +afterwards, between two gendarmes, the murderer was driven to Laibach. +Half the entire population of Luttach crowded about the court house to +see him driven away. The report had circulated throughout the little +town with incredible swiftness that not Franz Schorn, but the District +Judge was the criminal. When the prisoner was led from the court house +to the carriage a fierce shout of rage greeted him. The gendarmes were +obliged with their weapons to keep off the indignant populace in order +to shield the prisoner from their violence. He, on his part, was now +pale and trembling with cowardly fear; curses and execrations followed +him as the carriage drove through the crowd. + +But at that moment the lovely little Anna was seated on my sofa, +thanking me over and over again, her eyes shining with joy--and what, +after all, had I done to deserve her thanks? + + + + + CHAPTER XIV. + THE END OF THE PROFESSOR'S HOLIDAY. + + +The doctor, the Burgomaster and the Captain had driven to Laibach to +require personally the instant liberation of Franz Schorn, whose +innocence no one longer doubted. The doctor had promised to inform me +by letter of the result of his efforts, and he kept his word. On the +second day I received a long letter from him. There had been a +tremendous commotion in Laibach when the District Judge of Luttach, +manacled like a common criminal, had been received at the prison. The +ultra Slavonic newspapers had hitherto triumphed in the announcement +that the only German agitator in Luttach was nothing more or less than +a miserable, ordinary criminal, and now they suffered a terrible blow +in that the German agitator was no murderer; the criminal was a man +who, although of Italian descent, had always laboured in the Slavonic +cause. The Slav party, on the other hand, were half-inclined to swear +to the innocence of the Judge and to stake all on the guilt of the +hated German. But the doctor took good care that every scrap of +evidence against the true murderer should be well known; he was himself +a zealous Slav, but so conscientious and honest a man, and so well +known as prizing justice far above national prejudice, that he forced +the newspapers of his party, by his truthful declarations, to advocate +the cause of Franz Schorn, which they reluctantly did, although not +very enthusiastically. They, as well as the doctor, found consolation, +however, in the fact that District Judge Foligno was no true Slav, but +in fact an Italian. Of course all national prejudices were powerless to +influence the court at Laibach. The doctor wrote with real enthusiasm +in regard to his reception by the investigating Judge, who had frankly +informed him that suspicion of the District Judge had arisen in his +mind while he was investigating the matter in Luttach, suspicion which +was now substantiated by the admirable report of the Clerk, and that +the evidence had created conviction. A most disagreeable task lay +before him in having to investigate the actions of his superior in +office, but he would unflinchingly follow his duty. The Attorney +General, who had hitherto been firmly convinced of Schorn's guilt, +could not but admit the evidence of his innocence and the proof of the +Judge's criminality, and the honourable liberation of Schorn from +imprisonment must take place immediately. It depended only upon certain +formalities. If the Judge could be brought to confess, Schorn's freedom +would be on the instant. + +This hope, however, of bringing the criminal to an open confession was +not destined to be fulfilled. He maintained his innocence with brazen +effrontery until his hearing before the court, asserting that he was +the victim of shameful intrigue. All the evidence which I, the German +Professor, had brought against him was founded, he declared, partly on +lies, partly on prejudice. It was not true that I had found his +bloodstained handkerchief in the neighbourhood of the Lonely House, for +the handkerchief found in the drawer he had never lost. The blood on +his handkerchief, his waistcoat, and his trousers came from the wound +in his hand due to a fall among the rocks on the morning of the day of +the murder, and of which he had innocently informed the Professor. He +declared that I had found him changing his dress when I came to inform +him of the discovery of the murdered man in the Lonely House. He had +locked up the bloody clothing in the upper drawer of the chest in his +sleeping apartment in my presence, and, of course, I knew where it was. +How the money and banknotes came in the drawer he did not know, but he +suspected that during his absence I had placed them there myself, or +had bribed Frau Franzka to put them into the chest in order that the +farce might be played of the removal of the chest to my room and the +discovery of the bloody articles, which would clear Franz Schorn of the +guilt of the murder and throw it upon himself, the District Judge. He +would not venture to assert that I was Schorn's accomplice in the +crime, although it was possible, but I was certainly his accomplice in +the theft of the money. Either to be rid of this accomplice, or to +ensure his silence by saving his life, Schorn had cut the rope in the +cave. + +When the investigating Judge pointed out to him the improbability, nay +the evident falsehood of this clumsy invention, the prisoner stoutly +maintained its truth, and even asserted that I had come to Luttach, on +the pretense of pursuing natural history researches in Ukraine, in the +interest of the German clique there, and to this end I had entered into +close relations with Schorn, having as their result this scheme to ruin +him. The Judge displayed an eloquence and keenness of intellect in +proving the truth of his statements which the investigating Judge could +not but admire; but, upon perceiving that he failed entirely in making +any impression upon the impartial official, who was himself a Slav, he +lost courage, and, declaring that he was too exhausted to endure +further questioning, begged to be again conducted to prison. + +An hour later the investigating Judge was informed that the prisoner +had committed suicide in his cell. How he had contrived to procure the +knife with which he stabbed himself to the heart could not be +discovered. The bitter opponents of the government and of the court in +Laibach maintained that it had been conveyed to him for the purpose of +suicide, in order that the court might be relieved from the necessity +of presenting before a jury a Slavonic patriot and fellow-countryman as +a murderer. + +"Since the Judge's suicide may be regarded as a confession," the +doctor wrote, "we are momentarily awaiting the liberation of our Franz. +We--the good Burgomaster, the Captain and myself--are burning with +eagerness to conduct the liberated man in triumph to Luttach. I will +tell you by telegram when we may be expected." + +The lovely little Anna was paying me a visit when I received the +doctor's letter. We read it together. Tears of joy filled her eyes as +we came to the end. + +"I would rather," she said, "have Franz come back quietly, without any +public demonstration; but the good doctor is right; there ought to be +some atonement for the unjust disgrace of his arrest, and this must be +made by an honourable reception." + +All the men of the round table in the "Golden Vine" were of the same +opinion. + +In the evening, more carried than supported by Mizka and Frau Franzka, +I ventured to leave my room and to take my place once more at the round +table. I was received with extravagant delight. When I read aloud to +the company there assembled the letter from the doctor, they declared +unanimously that all Luttach must combine in making brilliant amends to +Franz. It was remarkable how one single day had changed the mood of +every one. Mosic, Weber, Meyer, Gunther, and Dietrich, hitherto the +most violent opponents of "the German," were now the most zealous to +obliterate all remembrance of their opposition. They could not praise +Franz sufficiently, and gravely maintained that they never had believed +in his guilt. + +The telegram arrived on the morning of the next day, announcing that +our friends would arrive in Luttach towards noon. I sent it to the +Vice-Burgomaster, who had begged me to give him the earliest +intelligence, that he might spread it through the town. + +The time for festal preparation was short, but it was used diligently +in bringing loads of oaken boughs from the grove on the Rusina, in +making wreaths and garlands wherewith Schorn's house and the "Golden +Vine" were decorated, for Franz was to be conducted first to the +"Golden Vine," where in the garden a cask of the best wine was to be +broached, and the Vice-Burgomaster was to welcome him in the name of +his Luttach fellow-citizens and to express the joy that all felt in his +return, as they drank to his health and welfare. And thus it verily +happened. All Luttach was astir by ten o'clock. There were crowds on +the road to Adelsberg and on the square before the court house and +in the street before the "Golden Vine." When the carriages--two of +them--at last came in sight, Franz was sitting in the first with the +Burgomaster, while in the second the doctor drove with the Captain. +They were greeted with deafening applause and the crowd rushed towards +them, all striving to be the first to extend a welcome to Franz Schorn. +It was impossible for the carriage to proceed through the crowded +streets, when suddenly a stentorian voice exclaimed: + +"Make way!" + +It was the voice of the gigantic Rassak. He dextrously unharnessed the +horses, and, seizing the pole himself, assisted by two savage-looking +fellows--the very ones who, a couple of days before, would have been +willing to kill the "murderer" and the "German dog"--on they went to +the "Golden Vine." A dozen men helped to pull and push the vehicle, +while Franz kept bowing and smiling in grateful acknowledgment of the +shouts of welcome. The carriage stopped before the gateway of the +hotel. Franz would have descended, but strong arms lifted him to +Rassak's shoulders, and thus he was carried into the garden. The +doctor, the Burgomaster and the Captain followed, laughing. The festal +programme was carried out in the garden, except that the Burgomaster's +speech and one cask of wine did not suffice. Speech followed speech, +and I should have had a fine opportunity of admiring the Slavonic +eloquence, if I could have understood a word of it all, but, +unfortunately, the words were all Slavonic, even those in which Franz +thanked the assembly for its sympathetic welcome. I could only guess at +what he said from the shouts of applause. It was a stormy occasion and, +after a fashion, a brilliant one, but it was not exactly a comfortable +festival. This we had in the evening at the house of the doctor. My +presence there, pretty little Anna declared, was quite indispensable, +and so Rassak carried me thither on his burly shoulders. I could not +possibly have walked. The doctor had invited only the Burgomaster, the +Captain, the Clerk and myself to share in the joy of this first evening +of the reunion of the betrothed pair and to be the witnesses of their +happiness. + +I certainly never passed a more delightful evening. It was a positive +delight to me, old man that I am. It warmed my heart to behold the +handsome couple so full of bright anticipations for the future. The +merriment in our small circle was not loud; we were all somewhat under +the influence of the very recent events, but we all quietly rejoiced in +being delivered from our depressing anxiety. The doctor himself +proposed the health of the young couple, and in a short speech +congratulated us all upon the happy chance which had terminated the +fearful episode. I noticed that as he spoke the beautiful young girl +shook her head as if in disapproval. The toast was drunk with +enthusiasm, and Anna joined in it; but, turning to the doctor and +looking at him very gravely, she said: + +"It was no chance that saved my Franz. It was God's own doing. In order +to hide his first crime, the Judge attempted a second; he cut through +the rope in the cave and, as a result, Franz saved the Professor's +life. If Franz had not thus ventured his own life, he would have been +lost. The truth would never have come to light. If the Judge had not +cut the rope, the Herr Professor would not have sprained his foot, and +he would not have been forced thereby to keep his room, nor would Frau +Franzka have tried to procure him space for his collection. Was this +chance! No; it was an answer to my prayer. God ordained that Franz +should risk his life to find his life." + +"There is logic in your words, child," the doctor said with a smile; +"it is the logic of pious, grateful faith, of which I would in nowise +deprive you. But you need not frown, little girl, if I speak of a +chance which we must all bless. Chance or Providence, the words express +the same idea, that of strangely combined circumstances leading to a +certain end. Was it chance or Providence that brought our dear Herr +Professor to Luttach to catch butterflies, and that the Captain sent +him on the very first day up to St. Nikolas, whence he returned, +thirsty, to the Lonely House? Keep your pious belief, child; it will be +a source of hope and happiness for you while life lasts." + + * * * * * + +Two weeks after this delightful evening, I left Luttach to return to my +northern home. I should have liked to have stayed longer in the +charming little town, with people who had grown so dear to me, but my +holidays were at an end, and the summer heat is so enervating at my +age, that I did not dare to stay longer. I took leave of my dear ones +there, but I have promised to return next spring, for I would not have +the marriage of the happy couple celebrated without me. + + + + THE END. + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Lonely House, by Adolph Streckfuss + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LONELY HOUSE *** + +***** This file should be named 34917-8.txt or 34917-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/4/9/1/34917/ + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by the Web Archive + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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B. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Lonely House + +Author: Adolph Streckfuss + +Illustrator: Charlotte Weber-Ditzler + +Translator: A. L. Wister + +Release Date: January 11, 2011 [EBook #34917] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LONELY HOUSE *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by the Web Archive + + + + + +</pre> + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<p class="hang1">Transcriber's Note:<br> +1. Page scan source: http://www.archive.org/details/lonelyhousefrom00wistgoog</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>The Lonely House</h2> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<p class="center"><a name="div3_01"> +<img border="0" src="images/lonely01.png" alt="Franz and Anna"></a><br>Franz and Anna</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h1><i>The</i><br> +Lonely House</h1> +<br> +<br> +<h4>From the German of</h4> +<h3>ADOLF STRECKFUSS</h3> +<h4>Author of "Too Rich," "Castle Hohenwald," etc.</h4> +<br> +<br> +<h4><i>By</i></h4> +<h3>MRS. A. L. WISTER</h3> +<h4>Translator of "The Old Mam'selle's Secret," "Gold Elsie," "The<br> +Second Wife," "The Happy-Go-Lucky," etc.</h4> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3><i>WITH ILLUSTRATIONS IN COLOR BY</i><br> +CHARLOTTE WEBER-DITZLER</h3> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>PHILADELPHIA & LONDON<br> +J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY</h3> +<h4>1907</h4> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h5>Copyright, 1907 +<span class="sc">By J. B. Lippincott Company</span></h5> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h5>Published October, 1907</h5> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<p class="center"><i>Electrotyped and printed by J. B. Lippincott Company</i><br> +<i>The Washington Square Press, Philadelphia, U. S. A</i>.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<div style="margin-left:30%; margin-right:30%"> +<p class="continue">I TAKE PLEASURE IN INSCRIBING THIS TRANSLATION--THE LAST I SHALL EVER +COMPLETE--TO THE CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN OF THOSE WHO SO KINDLY +WELCOMED THE FIRST, PUBLISHED A LIFE-TIME AGO.</p> + +<p style="text-indent:20%">ANNIS LEE WISTER</p> +</div> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<p style="margin-left:8px; text-indent:-8px; font-size:80%">"Lindenshade,"<br> +Walungford, Pa.<br> +September, 1907</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>Contents</h2> +<br> +<table cellpadding="10" style="width:80%; margin-left:10%"> +<colgroup><col style="text-align:right"></colgroup> +<tr> +<td>CHAP.</td> +<td></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>I.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_01" href="#div1_01">The Professor's Persistence</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>II.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_02" href="#div1_02">The Professor's First Excursion</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>III.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_03" href="#div1_03">The Professor's Return</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>IV.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_04" href="#div1_04">The Investigation</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>V.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_05" href="#div1_05">The Investigation Continued</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>VI.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_06" href="#div1_06">Two Wounded Hands</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>VII.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_07" href="#div1_07">The Two Requests</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>VIII.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_08" href="#div1_08">Quiet Weeks</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>IX.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_09" href="#div1_09">An Exploring Party</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>X.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_10" href="#div1_10">An Accident?</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>XI.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_11" href="#div1_11">Forced Seclusion</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>XII.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_12" href="#div1_12">An Arrest</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>XIII.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_13" href="#div1_13">An Old Chest</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>XIV.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_14" href="#div1_14">The End of the Professor's Holiday</a></td> +</tr></table> + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>Illustrations</h2> +<br> +<table cellpadding="10" style="width:80%; margin-left:10%"> + +<tr> +<td><a href="#div3_01">Franz and Anna </a><i>Frontispiece</i></td> +</tr><tr> +<td><a href="#div3_02">"You Must Help Me!"</a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td><a href="#div3_03">Then Began a Struggle, a Fight for Life and Death</a></td> +</tr></table> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h1>The<br> +Lonely House</h1> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> +<h3><a name="div1_01" href="#div1Ref_01">THE PROFESSOR'S PERSISTENCE</a>.</h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Ukraine! Ukraine! For years I had longed to spend some weeks in +Southern Ukraine. The descriptions I had read of its wonderful +mountains had greatly attracted me; I was certain of adding there +many valuable specimens to my collection; that section of country had +been so rarely visited by entomologists that I might even hope to +enrich our German fauna with a new species. Some years before a +butterfly-collector from Vienna had discovered there the caterpillar of +the beautiful <i>Saturnia cćcigena</i>, found previously only in Dalmatia. +Why might I not hope for something equally interesting!</p> + +<p class="normal">The scenery of Southern Ukraine is not thought to be very fine: the +mountains are much less imposing than in other Alpine districts, but +the Carpathian range is said to have many very interesting caves, and +strange formations of rock, while for the naturalist its fauna and +flora offer a rich field for investigation in its mountain fastnesses +and deep valleys.</p> + +<p class="normal">If travel in that section of the country were only not attended with +such risk and inconvenience! Travellers who seemed thoroughly familiar +with its political and social condition warned me seriously not to +attempt going thither. The only tolerable accommodation for strangers, +they said, is to be found in the larger towns--Laibach, Adelsberg, +etc., and on the high road followed by tourists; as soon as the +traveller attempts to penetrate the interior he finds only wretched +inns, no comfort of any description, and a poverty-stricken peasantry, +speaking the dialect of the country, and understanding not one word of +German. All expeditions into the valleys are fraught with discomfort +and even hardships. Nevertheless, little alluring as were the accounts +given me of the country, the prospect of adding to my collections--I am +a naturalist--an entomologist--was so tempting that when I had a longer +vacation than usual I determined to fulfil a long cherished desire and +to pass a spring in Southern Ukraine.</p> + +<p class="normal">And then the question arose as to what place I should make my +headquarters. A naturalist cannot travel hither and thither like an +ordinary tourist; he must establish himself somewhere, and make +excursions into the surrounding country, which he must investigate +thoroughly or he can hope for no results from his labours; moreover, +the paraphernalia of his profession are too bulky to be moved easily +from place to place.</p> + +<p class="normal">Unfortunately all the guide books were too incomplete to give me the +least assistance; I had recourse to the admirable maps of the Austrian +Government, and in them I found a small town--Luttach--which seemed +well fitted for my purpose. It is situated in a deep valley in the +midst of the Carpathians, at the foot of a long spur of Mt. Nanos on +the road from Adelsberg to Görz--a road once much travelled, but fallen +into disrepair since the intrusion of the railroad. From Luttach the +topmost peak of Mt. Nanos could be reached in a few hours, and in the +valley itself there was sure to be a mingling of the southern fauna and +flora with those of the Alps proper. I might promise myself rich +additions to my collections. Moreover the many German names of the +surrounding villages, and indeed the German name of the town itself, +were very attractive for me, giving me hopes that there might be German +elements mingling with the Slavonic civilization.</p> + +<p class="normal">Luttach it should be then. My two huge travelling trunks were duly +packed and I was provided with every requisite for collecting. The last +of April I left Berlin full of pleasant anticipations.</p> + +<p class="normal">In Vienna, where I stopped for a day as I passed through, I called on a +friend; he gravely shook his head when he heard that I had chosen +Luttach for a stay of some weeks. "I never heard before of this +God-forsaken hole," said he; "I should not risk going there, but since +you are determined to go, provide yourself at least with a good +revolver, for without it you never ought to venture among the dreary +deserts of the Carpathians, or to wander in those primeval woods and +forests. It is dangerous for an elderly man like yourself. You know +besides that there are still bears and wildcats in the forest on Mt. +Nanos, not to mention those two venomous reptiles native to the rocky +retreats of the Karst range--the cross-adder and the sand-viper. More +to be feared than all these, moreover, is the human beast of prey whom +you will surely meet in your wanderings there. You had really best +relinquish your plan of visiting so inhospitable a region. But if you +insist upon it, pray be cautious. Go well armed, and do not venture too +far among those desert fastnesses."</p> + +<p class="normal">I cannot say that I was agreeably impressed by my friend's warning. I +was not formed in an heroic mould and I do not willingly court danger. +At sixty, after a life spent principally in study, there is small +desire for perilous adventure. Although I am not deficient in personal +bravery, as I had opportunity to prove in my student-days, and +afterwards in political embroglios, it is not my nature to seek for +perils. Bears and wildcats, and even venomous serpents, caused me no +alarm--the beasts are rarely dangerous in summer, and I knew well how +to manage the reptiles; I had frequently encountered them in my +excursions in the Swiss Alps and even in Northern Germany. The danger +from human beasts of prey appeared to me far more serious, but even +this could not deter me from carrying out the plan I had contemplated +for so long. In Vienna I purchased an excellent revolver with the +necessary ammunition and started the next morning for Görz, where I +wished to visit an old friend and fellow-student, who, dwelling so near +the frontier, would, I hoped, give me a less alarming account of the +country I wished to explore. But my hope was vain; he was even more +emphatic than my Vienna friend had been, although he laughed at the +story of bears, wildcats, and snakes. He shook his head and said: "I +know nothing of Luttach and the surrounding country, except that on +Nanos the <i>Saturnia cćcigena</i> was formerly to be found. You will +probably make some good additions to your collections, although I doubt +your making as many as you hope, since in the rocky parts of the +mountains insect life is sparse, and where the mountain sides are +clothed with trees, they form an impenetrable primeval forest. I doubt +also whether the richest harvest you can reap will compensate you for +the hardships, the discomforts--yes, the dangers to which you will +expose yourself. The greatest of these lies in the fact of your being a +German. The unhappy strife between nationalities in Ukraine has so +embittered the inhabitants there that all kindly feeling is extinct. +The Slav considers hatred of the German his first duty; it is his +greatest delight to annoy--even to maltreat--a German. Whether you can +defend yourself with your revolver from such maltreatment is more than +doubtful. You could not use it against any single peasant who should +meet you in the forest, and insult you, or even against three or four, +who might amuse themselves by annoying you in countless ways. There +certainly is danger of encountering robbers in those wilds; your +revolver might serve you there--to me danger from the determined +hostility towards Germans seems far greater."</p> + +<p class="normal">This was encouraging! I almost wonder now that I was not deterred from +my undertaking. If my respected colleague had not expressly stated that +I should find <i>Saturnia cćcigena</i> on Mt. Nanos, I should probably have +followed his advice not to go to Luttach, but my passion for collecting +outweighed every other consideration. I refused to be intimidated, and +started upon my journey the very next day, arriving at four o 'clock in +the afternoon at Adelsberg, whence I could reach Luttach in four hours +by a carriage road. So desirous was I to attain this goal of my wishes +that I resisted the temptation to visit the world-renowned Grotto at +Adelsberg, postponing this pleasure until my return. I hired a vehicle, +large enough to accommodate myself and my two huge travelling trunks, +and in half an hour I was on my way to Luttach.</p> + +<p class="normal">The road was excellent, leading through an attractive mountain region +among low hills, although loftier eminences bounded the horizon. I +should have liked to know the names of those giant mountains, but my +driver was a genuine Slav, who could not understand a word of German, +and who was too stupid to comprehend signs, so all intercourse with +him was impossible. We drove swiftly, almost as swiftly up-hill as +down-hill, through a charmingly varied landscape, through forests, past +meadows and cornfields, with only a glimpse of the desolate Karst range +now and then in the distance, until we rapidly approached the bare gray +rocks of Mt. Nanos--which, as we descended by a winding road to the +valley of Luttach, stood out boldly against the sky.</p> + +<p class="normal">Time passed rapidly during the long drive; there was so much to see, +and everything that I saw was distinctly in contrast with what I had +been led to expect in Southern Ukraine. The numerous villages through +which the road ran were entirely different from the ruinous Polish +hamlets with which I was familiar in Upper Silesia; they consisted +mostly of flourishing farms, with very few straw-thatched cottages. The +peasants whom we met greeted me as we passed along with friendly +courtesy--they could not recognize me as a hated German--and the inns +as we drove by them, so far from presenting pictures of dirt and decay, +were most attractive, and invitingly clean.</p> + +<p class="normal">And when in the valley we drove among meadows bright with the luxuriant +growth of spring--past vineyards where each vine showed careful culture +and was just putting forth its tender leaves--along a road bordered on +the left by hillsides under full cultivation, where countless white +cottages in the midst of blossoming orchards betokened a numerous +population, I could hardly fancy that I was in the midst of the +ill-reputed desolate Karst range, in a corner of the world of which +scarce a hint was to be found in the guide books. The bald rocky mass +of Mt. Nanos alone, clothed at its feet only with a forest of oaks, and +the bare peaks of the high range that seemed to close in the valley in +the distant west, showed that vegetation was not as luxuriant +everywhere in the Karst range as I found it on the hills to the left +and in the valley itself.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Luttava!" my driver called out, nodding to me and pointing with his +whip towards a little town near at hand, nestling at the very foot of +Nanos, its white houses seeming to cling to the rocks. In a few minutes +we had reached it, and after driving along a street too narrow for more +than one vehicle, turned into the gateway of a large building, before +which a tall pole supported a sign whereon a golden grape vine declared +it to be the inn recommended to me before I left Adelsberg.</p> + +<p class="normal">The carriage stopped beneath the dim gateway before a door opening +directly into a spacious kitchen, where in the huge chimney-piece a +bright fire was blazing. Through the door I could see several men, some +standing, some seated upon low benches, about the fire, all of whom +regarded the newcomer with curiosity. A plainly clad but spotlessly +clean dame busied herself on the hearth, moved a steaming pot to one +side, and hurried out to receive me, opening the carriage door to help +me to alight.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Can I have a room!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly! If the gentleman will kindly go upstairs," was the reply, +delivered in excellent German, although with a strong accent. "Mizka, +show the gentleman up to Number Two."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mizka, a pretty slender girl, tripped lightly before me up the stairs +leading up two flights directly from the kitchen to a wide entry, where +she threw open the door of Number Two, and courteously held it open for +me to precede her.</p> + +<p class="normal">The room was large, low, and square, with two small windows, looking +out upon the street. It probably looked larger than it really was from +the absence of much furniture along its walls. Between the two windows +there was an old-fashioned sofa covered with gay chintz, and above its +high back hung an oval mirror in a black varnished frame, while before +it stood an extension table, which if pulled out to its fullest +capacity would have accommodated twenty-four persons. A tall cedar +clothes press, a washstand, six chintz-covered cushioned chairs, and a +huge bed which had to be clambered into by the help of a chair, +completed the furniture of the room. The walls, painted light green, +were adorned with four gaily colored prints, each portraying a quarter +of the earth in the guise of a very ugly and scantily clothed dame, +whose distorted limbs reclined upon a fantastically shaped couch.</p> + +<p class="normal">This was Number Two, my room. It certainly did not look inviting for a +long stay; it was too bare, but it as certainly possessed the +unexpected attraction of perfect cleanliness. Not a speck of dust lay +upon the few articles of furniture, the bare floor was spotless, and +the creases in the white bed linen bore testimony to its freshness.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will the gentleman take his supper here, or below in the dining-room?" +Mizka asked me in very good German.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will come down as soon as I have washed," was my reply.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will bring fresh water immediately;" and she hurried away, returning +presently with a can of crystal-clear water, and a supply of fresh +towels, and followed closely by two gigantic porters, each of whom bore +upon his shoulders one of my heavy trunks. Assuredly thus far I could +not complain of lack of promptitude in the service of a Slav inn.</p> + +<p class="normal">When I had freed myself from the dust of travel, and had changed my +coat, I went down to the dining-room; the way led through the kitchen, +where several men were sitting or standing around the hearth, talking +familiarly with the hostess, who was busy meanwhile with her cooking. +All greeted me politely as I passed through the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">When Mizka showed me into the spacious dining-room, I took it all in +with a rapid glance. Its arrangement could not be called elegant, but +the cleanliness of the scoured tables atoned for its simplicity. There +were but a few persons present. At a table near a window a young man +sat alone, apparently absorbed in a newspaper. He looked up for a +moment as I entered, disclosing a singularly handsome face, which was +immediately hidden behind his paper. The face was thoroughly German. +Such deep blue eyes, such fair, close curls are to be found nowhere +save in Germany. He was certainly handsome, but his expression was too +grave, perhaps even too stern and hard to allow of his being thoroughly +attractive.</p> + +<p class="normal">As far from this young man as the size of the room would permit, at a +large round table near the tall stove, sat six or eight men, smoking +long cigars, with glasses of wine before them. They evidently saw me +enter and look about for a seat, and one of them instantly rose and +motioned courteously with his hand, placing a chair at the table, while +the others moved aside to give it room.</p> + +<p class="normal">I was amazed at so polite a reception in this notoriously hostile Slav +country, and I was not quite pleased. I should have liked to observe +the magnates of Luttach, who were apparently here assembled, from a +distance, at my leisure, before making their acquaintance, whereas now, +when I accepted their invitation, and introduced myself as a German, a +Prussian, and worse than all, from Berlin, whose citizens are never +popular, their amiability might decrease. "Permit me to present myself +to you, gentlemen," I said, "as Professor Dollnitz from Berlin, who +hopes to spend some weeks with you here in your beautiful country, +collecting plants and butterflies, beetles and chrysalids. I am an old +naturalist who looks forward to much gratification here in your richly +endowed Southern Ukraine."</p> + +<p class="normal">I observed a fleeting smile pass around the circle upon hearing that I, +so old a man, was running after butterflies and beetles, but I am used +to that; all sensible men regard us old entomologists as cranks, and +sometimes jest rather rudely at our expense; but this was not the case +here; the gentlemen, as I could see, suppressed their smiles at my +butterfly mania; they rose very politely and formally introduced +themselves as the District Judge Foligno, his Assistant Herr Einern, +Burgomaster Pollenz, a retired Captain Pollenz, a landed proprietor, +Gunther by name, Herr Weber, a merchant, and Herr Dietrich, a notary. +Strange! All German names save that of the district judge.</p> + +<p class="normal">Chance had surely brought me among Germans. I was strengthened in this +belief by finding that they all spoke excellent German, not merely with +me, but among themselves; only now and then was there heard a brief +remark in Slavonic. I soon found out my mistake, however, when in the +course of conversation I mentioned that I had been warned in Vienna and +in Görz not to visit the Ukraine on account of the hostility of the +Slavs to Germans. The Burgomaster Pollenz, a reverend old man, made +reply, speaking with emphasis, and so loudly that even the young man +sitting by the window at the other end of the room could hear every +word distinctly: "That is unfortunately a widespread error which has +brought our good Ukraine into ill-repute. We are all Slavs, and are +proud of being so. Our ancestors were Germans, but we are not. The +Ukraine is our home. Whoever is born here and lives here must feel +himself a genuine Slav. Those only do we hate among us who are disloyal +sons of their native land, who would rob us of our language, our +customs, and make Germans of us; we have no hatred for Germans born. +There are none of them dwelling among us; our entire population is +Slavonic, and you will soon find that as a native-born German you will +be kindly received everywhere. It is not so in Laibach, or where, as +there, the population is mixed, and national prejudice has free sway, +causing constant strife, but even there the Slavs are seldom the +aggressive party."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then you think I can chase my butterflies alone among your woods and +mountains without fear of insult? I was expressly warned in Vienna not +to leave the house here without a loaded revolver in my pocket to +protect me from robbers."</p> + +<p class="normal">I was answered by a burst of laughter. "I assure you there is no tract +of country in the realm of Austria as perfectly safe as ours," the +Burgomaster replied. "We have had no robbery here for many years and I +will guarantee you as a German against any insult, unless, indeed," he +raised his voice again, and spoke very loud, "you should consort with +the only Slav among us who is disloyal to his country; friendship with +him would cause you to be suspected of hostility to our nation."</p> + +<p class="normal">The young man by the window had hitherto seemed heedless of our +conversation; now he arose and approached us. His flashing eyes seemed +to defy each member of the circle, but their expression grew gentler as +he addressed the Burgomaster. "I cannot be angry with you, Herr +Burgomaster," he said gravely, but not unkindly. "Your words were +offensive, but I know that you mean well by me and by the strange +gentleman. You have called me a disloyal son of my country, which I am +not! I am a whole-souled Austrian, but one also who can never forget +that he is sprung from German and Austrian blood. You have all of you +forgotten this; I am true to the German tongue and to German customs. +You are the faithless ones, not I!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you want to pick a quarrel with us all, Franz?" asked the +Burgomaster, regarding the young man disapprovingly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, but I cannot allow you to give the strange gentleman a false +idea of me. Moreover, you need not fear that I shall force my +friendship upon him. I know too well that it might cause him annoyance. +Good-night!" He turned upon his heel and left the room without +bestowing a further glance upon the company.</p> + +<p class="normal">When the door had closed behind him, the District Judge said: "Franz +Schorn always was and always will be a most disagreeable fellow. He +deserves a thrashing for his insolence in calling us all faithless."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your cane is just beside you in the corner; why did you not use it!" +the Captain asked with a sneer. "In fact, Franz is not altogether +wrong. My brother irritated him unnecessarily; he would never have +forced his company upon the Herr Professor. He lives so quietly and is +so reserved that he cannot be accused of officiousness."</p> + +<p class="normal">"'Tis natural that you should espouse the cause of your future cousin," +remarked the District Judge with a contemptuous emphasis upon the word +"cousin."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I should be glad to have him for my cousin; he is a thoroughly brave, +honest fellow."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But a German."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am half German myself, and at all events I should prefer a German to +an Italian cousin. The Italians are always squinting over at Italy, and +Franz is, as he says, a German-Austrian at least."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Leave off bickering," the Burgomaster admonished his brother. "What +will the Herr Professor think of us, if we quarrel so before him over +our wine?"</p> + +<p class="normal">During this short skirmish of words I took occasion to observe the two +antagonists narrowly. I liked the Captain's frank, manly face and +bearing, but the District Judge Foligno produced a very unpleasant +impression upon me. He was a man of about forty, with a worn, sallow +countenance. His features were regular; he might have been accounted +handsome but for some ugly lines about his mouth, half hidden though +they were by a glossy black moustache, and a false, unsteady expression +in his piercing black eyes. Before his war of words with the Captain he +had taken no part in the conversation, but had sat gloomily silent, +with downcast eyes, smoking his long cigar and drinking far more than +the others. In the short time that I had been present Mizka had twice +filled his tall glass.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Burgomaster's efforts to restore peace were unavailing; the +District Judge renewed the quarrel by a malicious remark about old army +officers who no longer knew what nation they belonged to. The Captain +retorted angrily, more bitter words ensued, the other gentlemen +presently took part in the dispute, which principally concerned the +character of young Franz Schorn. The Burgomaster alone was silent; of +the rest only the County Clerk, Herr Einern, sided with the Captain. +While the others all agreed with the District Judge's abuse of Franz +Schorn as a rough, arrogant fellow, a recreant Slav, who was detested +and despised all through the countryside, and were unanimous in +declaring that "old Pollenz" was perfectly right in forbidding Franz to +hang around the Lonely House watching for pretty Anna, that it was the +old man's patriotic duty to shield his charming daughter from Schorn's +advances, the Clerk and the Captain warmly espoused his cause. The +Clerk, in fact, did not mince matters, but frankly characterized as +exaggerated and unjust his chief's tirade against Franz. The boldness +that he showed in doing this without in the least overstepping the +bounds of civility impressed me very favourably.</p> + +<p class="normal">I was soon tired, however, of listening to a discussion which became +more and more heated as time went on, concerning people of whom I had +no knowledge, and therefore when I had finished my supper--an excellent +one, by the way--and had emptied my glass of wine, I rose to retire, +pleading fatigue from my journey.</p> + +<p class="normal">The gentlemen probably suspected that their quarrel had driven me away, +and they fell silent in some confusion while the Burgomaster said +kindly: "You have chanced upon an unfortunate evening, Herr Professor. +Do not suppose that such a disturbance is frequent in our little +circle, and I pray you pardon any harsh words you may have heard with +regard to Germans. I can assure you that we have no quarrel with any +Germans, save those who should be Slavs. That we have no dislike for +Germans or Germany you may see for yourself, since you hear us all +speak your language among ourselves, and pray do not let this evening's +experience prevent you from joining our circle in future. You will +always be an honoured and welcome guest."</p> + +<p class="normal">I pressed the good man's hand cordially and followed Mizka, who stood +with lighted candle ready to show me to my room.</p> + +<p class="normal">I thought it not indiscreet to gossip a little with pretty Mizka while +she was arranging my bed, and to learn from her something regarding the +gentlemen whose acquaintance I had made below, and with whom I should +probably have daily intercourse during some weeks to come. I could not +have sought information from a better source.</p> + +<p class="normal">Mizka had been born in Luttach; she knew all about every inhabitant of +the town, and she felt highly honored by "the gentleman's" desire to +converse with her. In her gratitude she detailed all that I wished to +know. I learned that the Burgomaster, Herr Pollenz, was the owner of +the "Golden Grapevine," which Mizka's aunt, Frau Franzka, or rather, +her husband, rented from him; he was now a guest in his own house, +occupying with his brother, a pensioned captain, the entire second +story.</p> + +<p class="normal">Mizka was eloquent in praise of the two brothers, whom she described as +the best and truest of men. No one could be as thoroughly kind as the +Burgomaster; he was, in fact, too kind, for he was sometimes really +pinched for money himself, because he could not refuse to give or to +lend to the poor, and there were evil-disposed people who abused his +benevolence. He was very wise, too, and learned. Whoever in all Luttach +stood in need of good counsel could be sure of finding it from the +Burgomaster. He and the Captain were much respected, not only in +Luttach, but throughout the countryside.</p> + +<p class="normal">Mizka gave unstinted praise also to the County Clerk, Herr von Einern, +for whom every one in Luttach had a good word, regretting that he was +not District Judge and Foligno the Clerk; he was too young for a Judge +as yet, but he was sure of promotion, for he belonged to a very old +Luttach family--his father was a general--although he never prided +himself upon his position, but was kind and courteous to the very +poorest, whereas the Judge was often rude and harsh to poor people in +court.</p> + +<p class="normal">Mizka had nothing pleasant to say of the Judge. He was out-and-out +Italian although his grandfather had settled in Luttach and he himself +could not speak Italian fluently; but an Italian was always an Italian; +he never could be a true Slav. Yet he was not temperate, like most +Italians; he drank too much, and was not content with the good Luttach +wine, but always wanted some special kind for himself. That was why he +was always needing money. Eighteen hundred gulden was a good salary; +many a Judge could live comfortably upon it with a wife and children, +whereas he, though a bachelor, was always in debt. He already owed Frau +Franzka nearly five hundred gulden, and Mizka could not understand why +her aunt would go on lending to him. He had the best two rooms in the +upper story--Number Twelve, just above the Herr Professor's Number Two, +and Number Thirteen--but he had paid nothing for them for a year, and +yet he behaved as if he was the greatest guest in the house; nothing +was good enough for him. He often drove to Görz, where he consorted +with the officers, and 'twas said that he had sometimes lost at play +more than a hundred gulden in one evening. He had long since squandered +all the property he inherited from his father; he had a house in +Luttach, but not a stone of it really belonged to him; he had mortgaged +it all to the wealthy old Pollenz, the Burgomaster's cousin, and +whoever got into the clutches of that old man never got free until he +had lost his last penny; for old Pollenz, who lived in the last house +on the mountainside--it was called "the Lonely House"--was a +hardhearted usurer.</p> + +<p class="normal">Old Pollenz now owned forests, vineyards, meadows, and farmlands, for +which he exacted the highest rents; all his money had been made by +usury, and woe to the peasant to whom he had lent any--he was sure to +be obliged to sell all that he possessed to satisfy his creditor's +demands. The man was a hateful old miser; in spite of his wealth he +hardly dared to eat, and never entered an inn to drink a glass of good +wine. He lived with his daughter, pretty Anna, and an old servant maid, +apart from everybody, in the Lonely House; its windows barred with +iron, because he was constantly in dread of robbers, although there had +never been a robbery or burglary in all the countryside within the +memory of man. But the old fellow was so afraid of thieves that he +would let no one enter the house whom he did not know well, and he +always went armed with a couple of pistols and a big knife.</p> + +<p class="normal">He was most afraid of Franz Schorn, and had often said of him: "If he +should meet me alone, he'd be sure to do me a mischief, but I'll be +even with him. I'll shoot him like a mad dog sooner than let him attack +me." The old man's dread in this case was not quite without cause, for +Franz was a rough fellow, who might well assault a mortal enemy, and +the two had been mortal enemies ever since two years before, when old +Pollenz drove Franz from his door with curses.</p> + +<p class="normal">The old man was a bitter foe of the Germans, and had fallen into a +terrible rage when some one had told him that Franz was sneaking around +his house courting pretty Anna. And so, when one day Franz did not +sneak around the house, but boldly entered it and asked for pretty Anna +for his wife, the old man became almost insane with fury; he drove the +young fellow out of doors with blows and curses, although Anna wept and +entreated, saying that she would rather die than give up her Franz.</p> + +<p class="normal">Just at that time the Judge, who certainly had need of a rich wife, +asked old Pollenz to take him for his son-in-law. The old miser said +"yes," thinking to make an end of pretty Anna's love affair with Franz. +He told his daughter that she must marry the Judge, but Anna refused. +To all her father's threats she answered, "I'd rather die! You may drag +me to the altar, but you cannot compel me to utter a 'yes'!" And so the +Judge got the mitten in spite of the father's consent. Ever since then +he had been a deadly enemy to Franz Schorn; every child knew how he had +got the mitten in the Lonely House; he had often been teased about it, +and the malicious Italian would never forgive Franz Schorn because of +it.</p> + +<p class="normal">Such, in brief, was the sum of Mizka's information; she would gladly +have talked on, but I was afraid she might be wanted in the room below, +so I dismissed her with a "Goodnight."</p> + +<p class="normal">I admit that she had interested me much with her gossip. I now +understood many words and phrases that had escaped the gentlemen below +in the heat of their quarrel, and I perfectly comprehended the +bitterness of the Judge's hostility to Franz Schorn. A love story in a +Slav village! But what did it all matter to me? What possible interest +could an old naturalist, sixty years of age, take in the love affairs +of a young fellow whom he did not know, and the disappointment and lack +of money of a very disagreeable District Judge? There was absolutely no +reason why I should mix myself up with such matters, or even bestow a +thought upon them. That was not why I was in Luttach, but for the +purpose of collecting plants, butterflies, and beetles, which I +resolved to begin to do the next morning, oblivious of all love +affairs, German or Slav.</p> + +<p class="normal">I undressed, mounted a chair and made a bold leap which landed me in +the midst of the maize straw with which the bed had been stuffed. It +was not a luxurious couch, but fatigue sleeps well even upon a poor +one. I had scarcely extinguished the candle on the table beside my bed +when I fell into a deep and dreamless sleep.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> +<h3><a name="div1_02" href="#div1Ref_02">THE PROFESSOR'S FIRST EXCURSION</a>.</h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">The sun shining brightly into my room awoke me about five o'clock. I +got up, dressed myself quickly, and went down to the kitchen, where +Mizka had already kindled a bright fire on the hearth. She assured me +that my coffee would be ready in a quarter of an hour and that she +would bring it out to me in the garden. There I met the Captain, who, +enjoying his morning pipe, was walking to and fro between the flower +beds. Now and then he would stop before an opening rose, regarding it +with eyes really full of affection. He greeted me cordially.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are an early riser, Herr Professor," he said with a smile. "I +thought all those who lived in large cities never rose before eight +o'clock, but I am glad that you are an exception, for the mornings and +evenings with us are the most delightful time of the day. At noon the +sun is far too hot and glowing to enable us to enjoy the beauty that +lies about us here. Only look at these rosebuds, how beautiful they +are, each one with a diamond dewdrop in its breast! Are they not +enchantingly lovely?"</p> + +<p class="normal">He chattered on, pointing out to me every blossom that delighted him, +and taking positive joy in all. He conducted me through the garden, +which was not very large, and at the end of it he unlatched a gate that +was not locked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now I must show you the only thing perhaps that we have worth showing +in Luttach. Pray follow me," and he walked before me through the open +garden gate. After a few steps we reached the banks of a broad, +brawling brook, which seemed in all its breadth and force to come +directly from out the rocky wall before us. The rock must certainly +have been thoroughly undermined. From countless smaller and larger +openings the crystal-clear water streamed with such power that the +numerous jets instantly formed a broad deep brook.</p> + +<p class="normal">"This is the Luttach. On the north side of Nanos the raging Voyna +rushes through a savage rocky vale, suddenly vanishing without a trace; +the mountain engulfs it. They say that the Voyna in the interior of +Nanos forms a deep unfathomable lake and from this lake in the interior +of the mountain it flows on, breaking through the rocks, to come to +light again here as the Luttach brook. This may be possible, for Nanos, +like the whole Karst range, is absolutely riddled with caves. The +famous Adelsberg Grotto would not be the unparalleled wonder that it +is, if our population were not too indolent to explore the hollow +openings and grottoes in our side of the mountain. Why, in the +immediate neighbourhood of Luttach there are two caves, the depth of +which is known to none, for no one has ever taken the trouble to +explore them, except for a few yards."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What absolutely unconscionable neglect!" I rejoined. "If you could +succeed in finding here a spring, a mineral spring as wonderful with +its grottoes as that of Adelsberg, think of how it would attract +travellers and what a goal it would be for all tourists."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Captain shrugged his shoulders. "I really do not know whether our +Luttach population would desire this. They certainly feel no wish for +it at present. Besides, it is questionable if our grottoes are really +very large in extent, and it is probable that their exploration would +be attended with some difficulty and perhaps indeed danger. I have +never thought of making an attempt to explore one or the other of +these, but, if you desire to do so, Herr Professor, I shall be very +glad to accompany you."</p> + +<p class="normal">I joyfully accepted the Captain's offer. Under all circumstances the +exploration of a cave, hitherto unknown, possesses for me extraordinary +interest; in the depths of these caves in the Karst range are found +rare cave beetles, the species is confined entirely to such places. It +might well be possible to discover in the Luttach grotto a species +hitherto unknown. Such a prospect made me forget the threatened +difficulty and danger.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Captain smiled when he heard the reason for my interest. That a +human being should be ready to subject himself to inconvenience and +even to danger that he might discover a new beetle appeared to him +extremely ridiculous, but he was too polite to make this evident. He +promised to look about for some strong, courageous men, who, armed with +torches, ladders, and ropes, should accompany us into the caves.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I hope," he said, "that you will reap a rich harvest of rare cave +beetles, but even if you do not succeed you will be abundantly repaid +by the beetles and butterflies which you will find on the slopes of +Nanos. A naturalist from Vienna, who was here about ten years ago and +spent six weeks in Luttach, was thoroughly enraptured by the richness +of his discoveries. I was then at home on leave and frequently talked +with him. His best and rarest caterpillars he found near the Chapel of +St. Nikolas, I believe, upon the leaves of beeches and oaks."</p> + +<p class="normal">Here was an important piece of news! The caterpillars of the <i>Saturnia +cćcigena</i>, the rare Dalmatian butterfly which had lured me to Luttach, +lived upon beech and oak leaves. I immediately determined to seek the +neighbourhood of the Chapel of St. Nikolas this very day. To St. +Nikolas my first excursion should be made.</p> + +<p class="normal">I asked the Captain the way thither. "You cannot miss it," he answered; +"there are two paths, each very easy to find. The first, which is +perhaps fifteen minutes the nearer, is steep in its beginning, and even +dangerous for unaccustomed mountain climbers. Part of it you can see +from here. It begins there at that elder bush and leads directly up the +rocks by steps partly natural and partly artificial, most of them, +however, giving space only for one foot. A false step, a slip, might be +disastrous, therefore I can hardly advise you to take this nearer path +over the rocks. It is not long; in five minutes you would reach a very +pleasant, gently ascending footpath, which in fifteen minutes more +would lead you past the Lonely House, to reach in another quarter of an +hour the Chapel of St. Nikolas in a direct line. The second path, just +as easy to find, is very charming, beginning at the last house of +Luttach and leading to the left from the road to Adelsberg, winding +through meadows and through oak forests, and ascending gently, past the +scattered houses of the village of Oberberg. After perhaps half an hour +you reach a large crucifix at a fork of the pathway. The path to the +left leads to the Lonely House, that to the right directly to the +Chapel of St. Nikolas without going near the Lonely House; you cannot +miss it. I advise you to take the longer path. The shorter is seldom +used even by the inhabitants of Luttach, because it is certainly +dangerous in descending. The District Judge alone, who is very fond of +flowers, often climbs up the steep rocks, in search of rare, beautiful +plants."</p> + +<p class="normal">The advice was well meant, and I determined to follow it, although the +mention of the rare and beautiful plants allured me. Still, I do not +willingly expose myself to danger. We returned to the garden, where our +coffee awaited us in a pretty arbour covered with wild grapevine.</p> + +<p class="normal">I hurried my breakfast, for I was burning with impatience to find near +St. Nikolas my entomological treasures. Scarcely a quarter of an hour +had passed before I started on my way thither, supplied with a cane and +a large umbrella, my tin box upon my back, my pockets filled with +glasses for beetles and boxes for caterpillars and butterflies.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Captain had described the path to me so exactly that I really could +not miss it. He had called it charming, but it was more than that. It +was wondrously beautiful. It was a joy to ascend the mountain quietly, +while fresh beauties of the landscape revealed themselves at every +step. At my feet lay the pretty little town of Luttach, framed in +emerald green meadows, bounded by the steep rocky wall against which it +leaned. On the summit of this bare rock, majestically enthroned, were +the remains of a ruined old castle, whose knightly possessor had in +former times probably ruled over the rich valley of the Luttach.</p> + +<p class="normal">Wherever the eye turned, whether downward to the houses and cottages in +the valley, surrounded with blooming orchards, or to the distant view +where the mighty mountain range bounded the horizon, its rocky peaks +glowing in the sunlight--everywhere, it filled me with rapture.</p> + +<p class="normal">And then, the fresh, delicious morning! It was a joy indeed to wander +thus in the mountains.</p> + +<p class="normal">The crucifix on the path was very quickly reached. I turned to the +right, and soon the little Church of St. Nikolas lay before me.</p> + +<p class="normal">Hitherto I had sturdily strode on without being detained by my desire +to collect. But now, when the goal of my wanderings was reached, I +began to search. Once more I turned on the steps of the church to feast +upon the wonderful view above the tops of the oaks growing in the +valley below, and then I began my work. I could have scarcely found a +piece of ground more adapted for my purpose than this around St. +Nikolas. The church lay in the midst of a forest of tall oaks; around +them there was a rich undergrowth, and where their trunks were more +rare, there spread a carpet of charming wildflowers, above which +countless butterflies fluttered from one blossom to another. The wood +above the chapel consisted partly of ancient trees and shrubbery, +climbing the gentle slope of Nanos until it reached the bald rock which +showed no trace of vegetation.</p> + +<p class="normal">My first attempts at collection were rewarded by an astonishing result. +I found upon the leaves of an oak a caterpillar entirely unknown to me. +When I examined it more closely, it recalled to me the description +which I had seen of the <i>Saturnia cćcigena</i>. My dearest wish was +fulfilled.</p> + +<p class="normal">Only a naturalist can form an idea of my joyful emotion, my delight, +and the passion for collecting which this first specimen aroused in me. +I forgot everything: the beauty of the landscape, to which I now paid +no attention; the difficulty of finding my way in the forest without a +guide, the danger of treading upon one of the poisonous reptiles native +to the Karst range--in short, I wandered about animated only by the +desire to procure more specimens of this rare and beautiful insect, and +the more I found, the more the desire increased. I never noticed that +hours had passed, that the refreshing morning had given place to an +intensely hot noon, and that the exertion of climbing and searching had +caused the perspiration to stream from my forehead. But at last my +sixty years asserted their right. I began to be tired and to feel very +thirsty, as the sound of church bells ascended from the valley. I +looked at my watch; twelve o'clock! More than six hours had I passed in +unbroken labour, and surely a man of sixty had the right to be a little +tired and to think of home, especially since all my boxes were well +filled.</p> + +<p class="normal">I found myself in a dense forest at a considerable height above the +little Church of St. Nikolas, but whether to the right or to the left +of it I could not say, since I had walked along searching here and +there, without a thought of the direction in which I was going. I might +have informed myself as to this if I could have obtained a view of the +valley, but the tall undergrowth made this impossible. There was +nothing for it but to walk in the direction of Luttach, keeping to the +right, down the mountain, and endeavouring to avoid any precipices, +hoping thus to find the path in a roundabout way.</p> + +<p class="normal">If it were not so oppressively hot! The oaks, covered with the early +foliage of spring, hardly afforded any depth of shade. They could not +protect me from the burning rays of the midday sun. The thirst which +tormented me grew more intense with every minute, and almost +intolerable. I longed for one swallow of water. Surely I could not be +far from some cottage. Fortunately, in the morning the Captain had +taught me the most important word in the Slavonic tongue, <i>woda</i>, +"water." This word formed my entire Slavonic vocabulary, but it would +suffice to inform any Slav of my need.</p> + +<p class="normal">I strode on sturdily, keeping to the right down the mountain, and by +good fortune encountered no precipice. After a little more than a +quarter of an hour, I struck a footpath which wound about gently in the +direction of Luttach. I pursued it, and I had proceeded but a few steps +when in a little turn of the way I perceived a solitary pedestrian +coming towards me. I immediately recognized the young man about whom +there had been so lively a discussion in the Golden Grapevine, Franz +Schorn. He was ascending the mountain path slowly, with eyes fixed +gloomily on the ground. He did not see me until, when I was scarcely +thirty steps from him, he suddenly raised his head as if listening. +Then he started violently upon perceiving me. For a moment he seemed +undetermined as to what he should do. He paused, regarded me darkly, +then turned away, without a greeting, and in a moment more had vanished +in the thick undergrowth of the forest.</p> + +<p class="normal">A very strange fellow! He need not have considered himself so strictly +bound by his promise not to press his friendship upon me. He need not +have grudged me a kindly greeting and a word or two. I should have +liked to ask him about the nearest cottage where I could perhaps get a +drink of water, but there was no help for it; I could not run after him +and must find my way for myself.</p> + +<p class="normal">I pursued the footpath further. To my joy I soon found myself in the +neighbourhood of a house, but as I approached it my joy turned to +disappointment. All the windows--not only those of the ground floor, +but those of the first story--were provided with strong iron bars, and +I made sure that I had reached the <i>Lonely House</i>, whose possessor, old +Pollenz, according to all that I had heard of him, could hardly be +expected to show any civility to a hated German. Should I ask him for a +drink of water? It would not be pleasant to be rudely refused so modest +a request. If I had not been tortured with thirst, I would rather have +continued upon my path to Luttach instead of asking any favour of the +old usurer; but he could at most only return me a surly "No," so I +determined to try it. On reaching the house, contrary to my expectation +I found the front door wide open, although Mizka had told me that old +Pollenz almost always kept it locked and would not open it until +continued knocking had removed all suspicion of thieves.</p> + +<p class="normal">Uncertain whether or not to enter, I stood before the open door; it +looked into a spacious hall running through the entire house, ending in +another door which probably led into the courtyard. That I confronted +the Lonely House was made certain by the huge iron bolts with which the +door towards the courtyard was secured. A steep staircase leading to +the upper story led from one side of the hall. Opposite the staircase +was a door; and two other doors, one to the right, one to the left of +the entrance, led into the inner rooms of the house; they were all +closed.</p> + +<p class="normal">I entered and knocked modestly at the door on my left. No reply; no +"Come in." I listened; there was not a sound to be heard; an uncanny +stillness reigned throughout the house. I knocked again, more loudly, +and then, after a pause, more loudly still for the third time. The +sound of my knocking was so loud that it surely must have been heard +within, but it met with no response. I waited in vain.</p> + +<p class="normal">A strange and uncomfortable sensation overcame me. I dreaded the Lonely +House, where everything seemed dead. What folly! An old man should have +more sense. I was ashamed of this strange and disagreeable sensation +and turned towards the door on the right of the entrance. Perhaps my +knock here might have a better result. No longer as modestly as before, +I knocked loudly, and the door, which happened to be only ajar, opened +slowly of itself. I cast one look into a spacious room, and staggered +back, overcome by intense horror.</p> + +<p class="normal">There, almost in the centre of the apartment, a motionless figure lay +upon the floor in a pool of blood, which had stained the white boards +dark red. Such horror, such intense dread, seized me that my first +thought was of flight as swift as my feet could carry me from this +terrible sight; but the next moment I was ashamed of such cowardly +fear. Perhaps the unfortunate man who lay there in his blood still +lived. Perhaps I might help him. I overcame the paralyzing terror and +entered the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">All that I saw there only increased my horror. No mortal help could +avail the unfortunate man whose stiffened corpse lay before me. He had +either killed himself, or had been horribly murdered. His throat was +cut, and from the gaping wound dark drops of blood were still +trickling. The pale, bloodless, distorted countenance was that of a +dead man.</p> + +<p class="normal">Had there been a murder here! Had the old man's foreboding, always +dwelling upon burglars and murderers, been fulfilled! Perhaps the +murderer was still in the house. The horrible crime could not have been +committed for long, for the blood had not yet congealed; some drops +were still trickling from the wound.</p> + +<p class="normal">Horror seized me afresh. I looked timidly about me. It seemed to me the +murderer might be near. Hastily I drew from my breast pocket my loaded +revolver; I was safe from any attack and could look about me with less +agitation.</p> + +<p class="normal">There was no doubt that a horrible crime had been committed here. There +upon the floor, at some distance from the dead man, lay a bloody knife, +near a large cabinet, the folding doors of which stood wide open. +Several drawers had been drawn out and papers lay scattered upon the +floor. The murderer had apparently been searching the cabinet for money +or valuables, and had scattered about these papers.</p> + +<p class="normal">Had he been startled by my knocking and escaped! If so, he must have +passed through the door which led on the left to an adjoining room, for +the windows here were barred.</p> + +<p class="normal">I summoned all my courage to follow him, but there was no need, for the +door leading outside was bolted and no one could have left the room by +it. He must have escaped before I entered; he might be concealed +somewhere near; but, again, he might have left the house, and, in his +hasty flight, have forgotten to close the front door.</p> + +<p class="normal">What should I do? Ought I not to search the place? Yet if he were not +there, all search would be unavailing, and if I found him, it would be +foolhardy to wander about these unfamiliar rooms merely to expose +myself to an attack. The murderer might deal a blow from behind which +would make me and my revolver useless.</p> + +<p class="normal">It suddenly occurred to me that old Pollenz did not live alone in the +house; that he had a daughter. Where was she! And where was the old +servant of whom Mizka had told me? They had not heard my knocking, and +yet it had been loud enough to resound through the entire building. Had +they, in their endeavour to escape from the murderer, concealed +themselves? Or--oh, horrible thought!--had they also fallen victims to +the monster! On this point I must have certainty. If the assassin were +still in the house, I could not leave the two women unprotected. My +cowardly fear must be overcome; I must pursue the wretch. Humanity made +my duty clear. With my revolver held ready and with a beating heart, I +turned back to the bolted door, which I opened easily. I entered a +spacious, dreary room. A bed against the wall, a table, a couple of +wooden chairs, and two large closed wardrobes formed its entire +furniture. Evidently it was the old man's sleeping room--a sordid +apartment. Here I found nobody, and I continued my search. A second +door in the room was unlocked. Through it I again entered the hall. +Beneath the staircase was a door which evidently led to the cellar; it +was closed by a massive bolt. Two other doors led from the hall to +rooms on the left. I went to the first of these--the one at which I had +knocked so loudly--opened it, and entered a large apartment much better +furnished than the rooms which I had hitherto explored. It gave an +impression of more comfort, and I was struck by its great cleanliness. +By the window there was a work-table, upon which lay some sewing. A +couple of flowers blooming in earthen pots stood on the window sill. A +bed with snowy curtains stood against the wall opposite the window.</p> + +<p class="normal">Undoubtedly this was the sitting-room and bedchamber of the fair Anna, +the daughter of the murdered man. Without delay I continued my search. +A door opposite the bed was unlocked. Through it I entered the kitchen. +Here also I found no one, and I returned to the hall.</p> + +<p class="normal">The four rooms of the ground floor had now been searched without +result. With a calmer mind I mounted the steep staircase to the second +story. Here I found rooms similar to those below. They were all +unlocked and appeared to be used partly for old rubbish. In one of them +there was a bed, probably that of the old servant.</p> + +<p class="normal">I had found nothing. It seemed useless to ascend to the garret, so I +went down to the room in which the murdered man lay, to consider what +steps I should take next.</p> + +<p class="normal">My fear lest the daughter and the maid had been the murderer's victims +had proved groundless. Neither of them was in the house. The monster +had probably profited by their absence to kill and rob the old man, +whom he knew to be alone. Any longer stay in this terrible abode seemed +useless. Of course I must inform the proper authorities of the murder, +and it was my plain duty to do this as soon as possible. I ought not to +linger longer in the Lonely House. Everything must be left lying as it +was to await the legal investigation. I could do no good to the dead +man by remaining. I ought to proceed to Luttach as quickly as my feet +could carry me to inform the District Judge of my terrible discovery. +On, then, to Luttach and the District Judge! Suddenly, by a strange +chain of ideas, the memory awoke in me of Franz Schorn as he was coming +from the Lonely House, with eyes gloomily downcast, in the forest path; +of how he started when he saw me before he fled away through the +undergrowth. Franz Schorn came from the house of his mortal enemy. I +shuddered. Had I met the murderer fresh from the cruel deed? Had not +the old man who lay there in his blood always feared him? Had not Mizka +yesterday evening told me that Franz was a rough, morose fellow, who +might be readily suspected of taking the life of his mortal enemy?</p> + +<p class="normal">This was a dreadful suspicion, but not without foundation; and, at all +events, it seemed to be my duty to inform the Judge as quickly as +possible of my meeting with Franz Schorn. I hastily left the scene of +the crime, not casting another glance behind me. I breathed more freely +when I emerged from the gloomy hall into the brilliant sunshine. No +longer under the spell of the ghastly spectacle, I could consider more +calmly what was to be done. My first determination, however, remained +unaltered. It was my plain duty to hasten to Luttach by the nearest way +and there report to the District Judge. The nearest way, as the Captain +had told me in the morning, was by the rocks. I could not miss it; I +saw it clearly before me. A broad, well-worn path went directly from +the Lonely House probably to the outlying cottages of the village of +Oberberg. Another, narrow and overgrown, led in the direction of +Luttach, and, at first, in a gentle incline down the mountain. This +must be the footpath, then, which further on became the narrow way, +over the rocks leading directly to the inn, which the Captain had +described to me as perilous. Ought I to expose myself to the danger of +a fall! The descent was more difficult than the ascent. The rocky way +was at least the nearer by fifteen minutes. I had certainly climbed up +and down more dangerous places among rocks in order to procure a rare +caterpillar. I was now upon a far more important errand, and ought to +reach Luttach quickly. It is foolish to expose oneself to unnecessary +danger, but the man who shuns it when something important is at stake +is a miserable coward. I delayed no longer. One glance over my shoulder +I cast. The door of the Lonely House was wide open. Any passer-by might +enter. Surely it was wrong to leave it open for more than an hour +without any guard. Could I lock it! The key might still be in the lock. +I approached it once more, I confess with great reluctance. The silence +as of the grave which reigned within filled me with horror, but I +overcame this weakness. My expectation was confirmed; the large house +key was still there. I locked the door, and taking the key could now +pursue my way, sure that for the next hour no passer-by could enter. I +hurried down the narrow way leading to the rocky abyss; it was a +charming path. The view of the valley was enchanting; I had no eyes for +it; I saw nothing of the wealth of rare mountain plants blooming on +either side, nothing of the gorgeous peonies which now and then +projected their red blossoms almost from the very rock. My thoughts +still clung to the Lonely House and the gloomy room where lay the dead +man. I encountered not a single human being as I hurried along. At +length the little town lay directly below me. I must descend over the +dangerous rocks. I looked about me searchingly; it was not easy to find +the narrow, untrodden footway, but it soon became plain to my practised +eye. Without hesitation I strode down from stone to stone, partly +leaping, knowing that a false step would cost me my life; but my +training among the mountains made my footing sure, and after a few +minutes I stood at the garden gate of the inn.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> +<h3><a name="div1_03" href="#div1Ref_03">THE PROFESSOR'S RETURN</a>.</h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">"Dinner has been waiting for you ever so long, Herr Professor," called +Frau Franzka to me as I entered the kitchen, but hardly had I +approached her before she clasped her hands above her head with "Holy +Virgin, how you look! How pale! How distressed, and how dripping with +perspiration! Why, large drops are falling from your hair; no one can +climb about the mountains in the hottest part of the day. The District +Judge----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is the District Judge at home!" I broke in.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes; he came home about a quarter of an hour ago. I did not see him, +but I heard him going upstairs. He is in his room and is probably +dressing. The Herr Professor ought also to go to his room and dress. +You will take cold in your damp clothes."</p> + +<p class="normal">I scarcely heard the last words. I hurried up the three flights of +stairs and in the passage looked about me for the door marked No. +12--the District Judge's sitting room. I knocked at the door; no +answer. I knocked more loudly; there came from within, as from an +adjoining room, "Who's there?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Professor Dollnitz. I must see you with regard to a matter of great +importance, Herr Foligno."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I pray you just wait for a few minutes. I am dressing, but I'll be +ready immediately."</p> + +<p class="normal">I had to wait. Whilst I stood motionless before the door I suddenly +became conscious of the intolerable thirst which, more than half an +hour before, had driven me to the Lonely House. During my great +excitement I had not been conscious of any physical need, but now in +the first moments of quiet it attacked me with double violence. I was +perfectly exhausted--almost fainting. Fortunately on the table in the +passage there stood a carafe half filled with water. It must have been +there for hours; the water was lukewarm, but I drank it eagerly and it +gave me the refreshment of which I stood in need. I was as one new +born.</p> + +<p class="normal">I had to wait at least five minutes. The time seemed very long to me. +At last the door opened and the District Judge appeared in a new and +very elegant summer suit. His thin, sallow face had not attracted me on +the previous evening, and now as he received me with a forced friendly +smile I liked it still less.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Forgive me for keeping you so long, Herr Professor," he said, "but I +could not open the door before; I was, to speak frankly, entirely +undressed when you knocked. I was obliged to change my clothes because, +in your interest, I have had quite a fatiguing walk on the mountain. I +am a little of a botanist--only a layman--but I am interested in +botany, and I was desirous to surprise the learned Herr Professor with +some rare plants whose habitat I knew. It cost me an effort to obtain +them, and even a little danger; I had a fall which gave me a slight +wound in my hand, but it is very insignificant, scarcely worth +mentioning, since I have procured what I desired. Here they are." With +his left hand (his right was wrapped in a white handkerchief) he took +some orchids from the table before the sofa and handed them to me. They +were of a beautiful and rare species, and at any other time would have +given me the keenest delight, but at this moment I scarcely looked at +them.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I must reserve my thanks for a time," I said gravely, "the terrible +intelligence which I bring to you, Herr Foligno, as the foremost +official in the town, will admit of no delay. I come directly from the +Lonely House--the scene of a horrible murder and robbery."</p> + +<p class="normal">The District Judge recoiled as from a sudden blow. Pallor as of death +overspread his sallow face. His mouth twitched; his eyes became glazed +and fixed on me with a look wherein gleamed downright fear and absolute +dismay.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You came from the Lonely House--a murder and robbery! Incredible!" he +stammered. Terror so mastered him that he could scarcely utter these +few words.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What I tell you is only too true," I replied, and then in the fewest +words I related what I had seen and how I had closed the open door and +hurried to Luttach in order to make him, as the chief authority of the +place, acquainted with the fearful crime.</p> + +<p class="normal">During my short narrative he was struggling to regain his composure and +succeeded. He listened with his gaze fixed gloomily upon the floor. +When I finished, he cast upon me a searching, piercing glance, and his +voice trembled as he said, "Did you find no trace of the murderer! Did +you see no one in the neighbourhood of the Lonely House!"</p> + +<p class="normal">On my way down the mountain it had been clear to me that it was my duty +to report my meeting with Franz Schorn, but when the District Judge put +this question to me, I suddenly felt a decided reluctance to inform him +of it. This man was Schorn's mortal enemy. Ought I to make him a sharer +of my suspicion, which had been aroused by nothing but a chance +encounter?</p> + +<p class="normal">Still more searching and still more penetrating was the glance the +District Judge bestowed upon me as I hesitated to reply.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did you see no one in the neighbourhood of the house, or upon the path +towards it!" he asked once more.</p> + +<p class="normal">As Judge he had a right to put the question and I ought to tell him the +truth. As I reflected thus, I overcame my reluctance and replied.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I did encounter a man not far from the Lonely House in the forest, but +I cannot think myself justified in suspecting him of evil." I then +described accurately my meeting with Franz Schorn.</p> + +<p class="normal">He listened in silence, his eyes still fixed on the floor. When I +finished, he said with emotion, extending his left hand to me: "I thank +you, Herr Professor; your report may be of the first importance for the +discovery of the murderer, but it may also subject an innocent man to a +horrible suspicion. As long as there is no evidence against a man +except that he was seen in the neighbourhood of the scene of a murder, +nothing would justify his being suspected of what, even as a mere +suspicion, might darken his whole future life. Therefore, let me +request you to allow me to consider your account of your meeting with +Herr Franz Schorn as a matter personal to myself and confidential, not +official. I shall then not be forced to include it in a short account +which I must write out of your information."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You surprise me, Herr Foligno."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I suppose so, and I owe you an explanation of my request. Herr Franz +Schorn is my bitter enemy and I have never concealed my dislike of him. +You were a witness yesterday evening of my quarrel with Captain Pollenz +and my clerk. Precisely on this account I do not wish to include in my +official paper a suspicion which I myself hold to be entirely +groundless. I promise you that I will neglect nothing that will lead to +the discovery of the murderer, that I will investigate every step which +Herr Schorn has taken to-day, and will have him watched by a thoroughly +competent detective. If he is guilty, I shall discover his guilt; but I +do not believe he is so, and because I am his foe I will not attach any +suspicion to him which, while the true murderer remains undiscovered, +might ruin his life, merely because at the time of the murder he had +been seen near the scene of the crime. Promise me, Herr Professor, that +you will tell no one at present of your meeting with Franz Schorn. +Should there be other and more important grounds for suspecting him, I +shall request you to give me your account officially."</p> + +<p class="normal">I pressed the Judge's hand cordially, and joyfully gave him the promise +for which he asked. How unjustly I had judged this man! How I had +misunderstood him! I was ashamed of the reluctance I had felt to tell +him of my meeting with Franz Schorn.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I must now make out a short official account of your information," the +District Judge continued. "You can hardly believe how difficult this is +for me. Your account has agitated me so profoundly that I can scarcely +control myself. I was very familiar with old Pollenz. He had indeed +many disagreeable qualities. Toward others he was often hard and +unyielding, but I never had anything to complain of in his behaviour to +me. He has often shown me favours. He was indeed almost a friend, and +now I must prepare a paper which shall show him to be the victim of a +horrible crime, which I must take the first steps to investigate. It +must be done. It is my duty. In spite of the pain which my right hand +gives me in writing, I will do it immediately."</p> + +<p class="normal">He took a sheet of paper; pens and ink were at hand, and seated himself +on the sofa behind the large table to write. His hand could not have +been very painful, for it did not prevent his writing swiftly and +clearly. Now and then, without interrupting his writing, he addressed +some brief, leading question to me, and in scarcely ten minutes the +paper was finished. He read it aloud to me. It was wonderfully concise +and clear, without saying one word too much or too little, and I signed +it without an alteration. After he had added his own signature, he +said, "I must now beg you, Herr Professor, to accompany me to the +Lonely House. I shall immediately summon my assistant, as well as the +District Physician and the captain of gendarmes, to inspect the +premises. You, too, Herr Professor, must be present. You must testify +that nothing in the house has been altered in your absence. This is +important for further investigation. Can I count upon you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Most certainly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then pray hold yourself in readiness. In half an hour, at the latest, +I shall have notified the other gentlemen. The time of waiting, if I +may advise you, should be employed by you in strengthening yourself +with food and drink. Yon may not feel the need of refreshment at +present, but we have some sad hours before us."</p> + +<p class="normal">How kind and thoughtful! I certainly had cause to ask pardon in my +heart of the District Judge for the prejudice he had created.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> +<h3><a name="div1_04" href="#div1Ref_04">THE INVESTIGATION</a>.</h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">It was four o'clock in the afternoon when Herr Foligno called for me in +the dining-room, where I was sitting with the Captain. It had taken him +almost an hour to assemble those who were to inspect the scene of the +murder in the Lonely House. I had informed the Captain, a near relative +of the murdered man, of my terrible discovery, and he had been deeply +moved. He said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I was never intimate with old Pollenz, although he was my first +cousin. He was a hard usurer and a miser. He loved no one in the world +save his daughter, but that his end has been so horrible is certainly +very sad. Poor child, my dear little Anna! How will she bear this +fearful shock! I saw her about twelve o'clock here in Luttach with her +old maid, Johanna. She had been paying a visit to an aged aunt, and she +is probably still there. I must see if it be so. I do not willingly +visit the malicious old gossip, but if Anna is still with her, I must +go to prepare the poor child for the sad news that awaits her."</p> + +<p class="normal">He sent Mizka to old Frau Lancic's, and in a few minutes she returned +to say that Fräulein Anna had been with the widow, but that she had +left about a quarter of an hour before to make some purchases in the +village and then to return home.</p> + +<p class="normal">Upon hearing this, the Captain determined to accompany the officials to +the Lonely House, for which he received permission from the District +Judge.</p> + +<p class="normal">Soon after four o'clock we began our walk; not by the steep rocky path, +which was rather too difficult for the old District Physician, and +might prove dangerous, but in accordance with the Judge's directions, +by the longer way past the village of Oberberg.</p> + +<p class="normal">We could make but slow progress, for the heat was still oppressive. The +old physician gasped and panted as we ascended the mountain. The Judge +with kindly consideration, begged him to walk slowly, although he +himself was trembling with impatience to reach our goal.</p> + +<p class="normal">We met various people on the way. They greeted us politely and looked +after us with surprise. Intelligence of the murder had not yet reached +the village of Oberberg, and people could not imagine what so many +persons, accompanied by the captain of gendarmes, could have to do in +the little village. I walked first with the Captain. The Judge and his +clerk followed, and, naturally, very little was said as we pursued our +way; all were oppressed by a sense of what lay before them.</p> + +<p class="normal">We had turned into the path by the crucifix leading on the left to the +Lonely House, and were but a short distance from the spot to which we +were tending, when the Captain suddenly stood still and said in a +faltering voice, "There comes my poor little Anna."</p> + +<p class="normal">She came towards us hurriedly from the Lonely House. She was called +pretty Anna in the country round, and indeed she deserved the name. I +have scarcely ever in my long life seen so beautiful a girl. Even her +expression of intense anxiety could not distort her charming face. When +she recognized the Captain she flew towards him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, uncle, my dear kind uncle, thank God you are here!" she cried. "I +am dying with anxiety; my father will not open the door. For a quarter +of an hour Johanna and I have been knocking in vain. Something must +have happened to him, or he would hear us and open the door for us."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Captain put his arm round the lovely child and pressed a kiss upon +her white forehead. "My poor little girl!" he murmured. His voice +failed him; he could say no more; his eyes filled with tears; he tried +to control himself, but the compassion which he felt for the girl in +his arms was too intense; it mastered him; he could hardly utter a +word.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good heavens! What has happened?" cried Anna, extricating herself from +the Captain's embrace and gazing at him, her large black eyes dilated +with horror. "You call me your poor girl? There are tears in your eyes. +For God's sake tell me what it means! Has anything happened to my +father? Oh, answer me, uncle! I would rather hear the worst than suffer +such suspense."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Judge answered instead of the Captain, who could not control his +voice. "Compose yourself, Fräulein Anna," he said with grave +kindliness, "you need all your courage, all your self-control to endure +the misfortune which God has sent to you. Unfortunately your anxiety is +justified. Something has indeed happened to your father, my lifelong +friend."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He is dead!" the girl cried, with what was almost a shriek; overcome +with grief, she tottered and would have fallen to the ground if the +Captain had not thrown his arms about her. The Judge took her hand with +deep sympathy, but she snatched it away and pushed him from her with a +gesture expressive of the most profound aversion.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do not touch me; I hate, I despise you!" she cried, as she cast +herself again into the Captain's arms. "Uncle, my dear kind uncle, you +tell me what has happened. I can hear the worst from you, but not from +that man."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Judge, thus rudely repulsed, was deeply offended, but was too +magnanimous--his pity for the unfortunate girl was too profound to +admit of his expressing his resentment by a harsh word.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You do me bitter wrong, Fräulein Anna," he said gently. "I sympathize +sincerely with your pain, but I will not thrust my pity upon you. I +pray you, Captain, to inform her as mercifully as possible of what has +happened."</p> + +<p class="normal">It was a hard task for the Captain, but it was his duty to fulfil it. +He motioned to the Judge and to myself to withdraw for a few steps, and +then took Anna's arm in his and, walking on before us, spoke to her in +the most sympathetic and loving way. He told me afterwards that in all +his life he had never had so hard a duty to perform. He searched in +vain for kindly words to soften the horror; he feared that the delicate +girl could hardly endure the frightful truth which he was forced to +tell her; but to his great surprise Anna showed a remarkable degree of +composure. She had not succumbed, he said, to pain and grief; she had +become ghastly pale and her dark eyes had gleamed with a strange +flickering fire, as, almost in a whisper, not to him, but to herself, +she had murmured, "Foully murdered and robbed; murdered for the sake of +his wretched money. He sacrificed his soul and now has given his +life for money." She shed no tear; her grief was too great, too +heart-breaking; but she trembled violently; her little hand shook as it +rested on her uncle's arm, and as he put his arm round her and tenderly +drew her to him, he could feel the violent beating of her heart. He +told her everything that he had heard from me. When he had finished, +she looked at him with flaming eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The vile murderer will be discovered," she said in a hoarse voice; "I +trust in God's justice."</p> + +<p class="normal">Her composure was really remarkable, and gave great cause for anxiety. +I had lingered behind with the Judge and his clerk. We slowly followed +the Captain and Anna about twenty steps in the rear.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I certainly am most unfortunately situated," said the Judge, turning +to me confidentially. "You heard the harsh words which the poor girl, +half crazed with pain and horror, spoke to me. I know what those words +mean. I am well aware that Fräulein Anna is prejudiced against me. She +thinks that the hostility which her father showed to Herr Franz Schorn +was partly my fault. That she does so is well known in Luttach, and I +commit no indiscretion in telling you that there is an attachment +between Fräulein Anna and Herr Schorn, of which old Pollenz +disapproved. Fräulein Anna knows that Herr Schorn is my bitter enemy. +She has sided with him against me, but that her prejudice is as intense +as the words she has just spoken testify, I confess surprises me. Never +before have I seen in her the least sign of dislike. Imagine my +position. My official duty compels me to play the part of a +disinterested investigator. I cannot spare her pain, but I shall have +to subject her, with her old maid, to an examination. I must inquire +how it happened that the Lonely House was left unlocked, perhaps by +herself; every child in Luttach knows that old Pollenz always locked +the front door securely. I would give much, very much, to spare the +young lady this examination."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you would depute me to make it, Judge, such an act on your part +would be entirely justified by the peculiar relations in which you +stand to Fräulein Anna Pollenz." The Clerk uttered these words very +quietly and in a businesslike tone, but the District Judge was not +pleased. He cast a sinister glance at the Clerk and asked, "What do you +mean by peculiar relations, sir?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nothing but what you yourself indicated, and what, to use your own +words, every child in Luttach is familiar with," was the quiet reply.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You allude to the foolish gossip which makes me the young girl's +rejected suitor? There is not one word of truth in it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then old Pollenz lied, for he stated this, not as a secret, but quite +openly, in Luttach. At all events, such a report does exist, and it +will be confirmed unless you make use of your right to depute to me the +examination of the young lady."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, that I will not do. My standard of official duty is too exalted to +permit my neglecting it out of regard for my own feelings. I might +perhaps take your advice if I were forced to play the part of examiner +during the entire legal process, which must ensue upon this murder, +but, fortunately, that is not so; only the preliminaries are our duty. +Capital crimes," the Judge said turning to me, "do not come within the +domain of the District Judge. They are the business of the tribunal of +the country. Subsequent investigations will take place in Laibach. The +preliminary examination alone is my task, which, whatever it may cost +me, I will fulfil."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Clerk made no reply; he simply bowed in sign that he had no further +remarks to offer. We now reached the goal of our wanderings. The Lonely +House stood before us. The Captain and Anna were standing near the +locked door, and upon a wooden bench beside it sat an old woman, old +Johanna, "The only servant of the house," the Judge whispered to me. +The Captain had just told her of the murder of her master. Paralyzed +with horror, incapable of speech, she was gazing up at him. When she +tried to rise, she sank back helplessly. The Judge opened the front +door with the key which I had given him.</p> + +<p class="normal">Scarcely had he done so when Anna released herself from the Captain's +arm and would have been the first to rush into the house, had not the +Judge barred her way.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let me go," cried Anna. "I must go to my poor father. You dare not +hold me back."</p> + +<p class="normal">She would have pressed past him, but he prevented her from doing so, +and with quiet resolve, in a perfectly judicial manner, said, "You must +not see your father yet, Fräulein Anna. My official duty compels me to +exclude you from the room in which the crime has been committed until +it has been thoroughly searched. The traces which the murderer has +perhaps left behind must not be interfered with. You must either stay +here outside, or, if you wish, wait in your own room until it is +permitted you to see your father. Captain Pollenz, I pray you to remain +with your relative and to prevent Fräulein Anna from making an attempt +to disturb the investigation by going into the murdered man's room. I +cannot permit it."</p> + +<p class="normal">Anna retired. As the Judge forbade our entrance into the house, her +eyes seemed to flash with anger, but she controlled herself, only +bestowing upon Herr Foligno a glance of dislike and antipathy.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I obey," she said, recovering her composure wonderfully. "I will wait +in my room with Johanna and my uncle. You shall have nothing to +reproach me with. I pray <i>you</i>, sir," she said, turning to the Clerk; +"I entreat <i>you</i> to search, investigate. The blood of my poor father +cries to heaven. I must doubt its justice should you not succeed in +discovering the ruthless murderer."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Rest assured, Fräulein Anna, that I shall leave nothing undone----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I did not address you," Anna interrupted the Judge; "I entreat <i>you</i>, +the assistant, to fulfil your duty; search for the murderer, whoever he +may be, deliver him to the vengeance of the law. I trust you. You will +not be influenced by fear or considerations of any kind. Do not answer +me; I trust you; I know you will do everything to discover the +criminal, even though you do not promise me. Come uncle, come Johanna, +we will wait in my room."</p> + +<p class="normal">While Anna was speaking, Herr Foligno's expression was, strangely +enough, that of timidity and embarrassment; his lips moved; he seemed +to wish to reply but could not. He retreated silently, as Anna, without +looking in his direction, passed him. She entered the room at the left +of the hall, her own apartment, and the Captain and the old maid, still +half paralyzed with terror, followed her silently.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Clerk also made no reply to Anna's strange words; he had been much +astonished by them, as were all who heard them. With a keen searching +look he regarded the Judge. Not until the door had closed behind Anna +and the Captain did he say, whispering so softly that only I and the +Judge could hear, "If you do not feel sufficiently well, Herr Foligno, +to undertake the examination and will delegate me to conduct it, I am +quite ready to do so."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, no," the Judge replied in as low a tone. Aloud he said, "Follow +me, gentlemen. We must begin our melancholy task."</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> +<h3><a name="div1_05" href="#div1Ref_05">THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUED</a>.</h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Among all the tragic and even terrible recollections which live in my +memory, and of which my life has perhaps had more than its share, the +most terrible is that of the first few days of my stay in Luttach. Even +now they sometimes disturb my sleep at night. In dreams, I am once more +in the spacious, dreary room of the Lonely House, with the stiffened +corpse of the murdered man before me on the floor. The sunlight through +the window falls upon his pale face with its distorted features. I see +the terrible wound, and the hard, rasping voice of the District +Physician strikes upon my ear as with professional calmness he examines +the wound and with all the indifference with which he would discuss the +commonest affair of business, explains that any suspicion of suicide is +out of the question, coldly pointing out to us bystanders, grouped +about the body, our faces pale and awed, the numerous wounds of which +any one would have been mortal, and endeavouring with perfect calmness +to prove that the murderer had first attacked his victim from behind, +and had finally cut the throat to make sure that the deed was complete. +I still hear in dreams the clear, incisive words showing that the +murderer must certainly have been intimately acquainted with the +murdered man's ways, and that in order to avoid any possibility of the +old man's divulging his name with his dying breath, he had inflicted +the last gaping wound.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fearful as had been the impression made upon me in the morning by my +discovery, it had not so curdled my blood with horror as did this +examination of the body. The necessity for action, the danger which +possibly threatened me from the murderer concealed in the house, had +strengthened and quickened me in the morning; but now, when I was +forced to stand by, an inactive spectator of this terrible scene, the +whole horror of the affair for the first time presented itself to my +consciousness.</p> + +<p class="normal">The absence of all emotion, the inflexible indifference of the District +Physician, who, as I learned from the Clerk, had been the friend and +physician of old Pollenz, deepened the impression which rendered me +almost incapable of connected thought.</p> + +<p class="normal">I was a prey during the entire investigation to intense nervous +agitation. I saw and heard everything that went on around me so clearly +that the smallest detail remains stamped upon my memory, but I was +incapable of connected thought, of drawing conclusions from what I +heard and saw. This I was able to do only later when removed from the +spell thus thrown around me. The investigation produced a most +agitating effect upon the Clerk also, and in especial upon the Judge, +but they could not leave, and were obliged to fulfil their official +duty. The Clerk was very pale, but quiet and composed throughout; but +the Judge was obliged to exert all his self-control to conquer his +excitement, while the physician, still handling the body, demonstrated +with great clearness, almost as if he had been a witness of it, the +manner in which the murder had been committed.</p> + +<p class="normal">But however intense his emotion, the Judge proved himself equal to the +task his office imposed upon him. When the time came to search the room +he displayed the greatest care and circumspection. The bloody knife +lying upon the floor at some distance from the body was, of course, the +first object of his notice.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There lies the weapon with which the deed was committed," he cried. +"Fortunately, the murderer has left it behind. It may afford a clue in +his detection."</p> + +<p class="normal">But this hope proved to be unfounded. The Clerk testified that the +knife was the same which old Pollenz had always carried as a weapon of +defense. Whereupon the Judge confirmed what he said; he had seen the +knife in his friend's possession, and recognized it, but doubtless it +was the weapon with which the crime was committed. "Most certainly," +the Judge added, with keen observation, "the murderer must have +snatched it from the old man as he tried to defend himself, and in so +doing caused a struggle; the knife must have wounded the murderer in +the hand, since its handle is stained with blood. We shall undoubtedly +find further traces of his bleeding hand there in the cabinet which he +broke open, and from which he scattered the papers lying about."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Judged supposition proved correct. Inside the cabinet, as well as +upon the open drawers, there were distinct traces of bloody fingers, +and they were also found upon some of the papers strewn on the floor, +which the murderer had taken from the cabinet but tossed aside as +useless.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was in this cabinet, as the Judge and the physician both testified, +that old Pollenz had kept his money and papers of value. The murderer +must have been familiar with this place of deposit, for he had opened +only those drawers used for the purpose. The others, which contained +receipted bills and worthless papers, had not been opened. The closest +search failed to discover either money or papers of value, such as +promissory notes or similar documents. All such had been abstracted. On +the other hand, an old gold watch, a heavy gold snuffbox, both articles +of value, remained untouched.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The murderer is no common thief or burglar," the Judge said calmly. +"Such an one would not have despised valuable articles like these."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly not," the physician added; "my firm belief is that he was an +intimate acquaintance of old Pollenz. None other would have opened +those drawers unless they knew they would reward a search."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Unfortunately, this is the only hint we have to put us upon the trace +of the criminal," the Judge said in a tone of disappointment. "Our +melancholy investigation has had no result of value."</p> + +<p class="normal">This was indeed so. The murderer had left the Lonely House without +leaving any traces except those of his bleeding hand. In spite of the +most careful search, nothing further was discovered. The Judge set down +in his deposition all that had been done. It was as clear and well +composed as that which he had written previously in his room. I +confirmed his report that I had found the Lonely House and in especial +the room in which the crime had been committed in the same condition in +which I had left it. It now remained for the Judge to fulfil the +hardest part of his task. He was obliged to examine the daughter and +the old servant of the murdered man. He evidently feared to meet with +difficulties caused by the aversion to him which the fair Anna had so +openly expressed, but it was necessary to make this examination in +order to find some explanation of the surprising fact that the Lonely +House, usually so carefully locked, should have been left wide open at +midday.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Judge's fear, however, proved to be groundless. He found Anna in +her room, wonderfully quiet and composed. She immediately declared +herself ready to be examined, and only asked that the Captain, the +Clerk and myself should be the sole witnesses present. The Judge +willingly granted this request, and every difficulty was removed. She +testified that she had that day had her breakfast as usual with her +father at eleven o'clock, and, close upon twelve, had left the Lonely +House with Johanna to make some purchases in Luttach, and at the same +time to visit her old aunt. Her father, as usual, accompanied her to +the front door and locked and bolted it behind her. It was his custom +when left alone in the house to bolt himself into his sitting-room. +Whenever any one knocked at the front door, he always first made sure +of his visitor by looking out of the window, and, when he was alone, +never allowed a stranger to cross his threshold. Even acquaintances in +whom perchance he did not repose entire confidence were always +dismissed by him from the window. He did not even open the door for +them. As to her father's property in papers of value and money, Anna +knew nothing. Her father had never talked with her about his pecuniary +circumstances. She could not possibly tell of how much he had been +robbed.</p> + +<p class="normal">With perfect composure Anna gave her testimony, but, when in conclusion +the Judge asked her if she had met any one upon her way to Luttach, the +colour suddenly mounted to her cheek and as quickly left it, and her +"no" was by no means so clear and decided as had been her earlier +report. She blushed still more deeply when the Judge asked if her +father had any special mistrust of any of his acquaintances, and +assured her that what she should say would be entirely confidential, +even if there should be nothing in her reply to arouse suspicion.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will not answer this question," Anna replied, after she had stood +for a moment with downcast eyes. "No one in the world has a right to +ask such a question, and you least of all."</p> + +<p class="normal">To this declaration she adhered, and the Judge was obliged to finish +his deposition without learning anything further from her. The +examination of old Johanna also produced no further result.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus the examination ended, and the Judge could no longer refuse to +allow the daughter to see her father's body. Conducted by Captain +Pollenz, Anna entered the old man's sleeping-room, where the captain of +gendarmes and the physician had laid the murdered man upon the bed. The +Captain afterwards told me that the composure shown by the young girl +at the terrible sight had filled him with genuine admiration. She +kneeled beside the bed on which the corpse had been laid. She took the +cold, stiff hand in hers and kissed it, while tears rolled over her +cheeks. The Captain would have said a few words to comfort her, but she +interrupted him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let my grief have way, uncle," she said sadly; "you do not know what I +have lost in him. He was harsh to every one else, but he loved me with +all his heart, me only in the world, and I am perhaps the cause of his +death. This it is that fills me almost with despair. The thought that I +may be guilty of his death is almost unendurable."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How can you think such a thing, my child?" the Captain asked, much +startled.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot explain it to you, uncle," Anna continued, kissing the dead +man's hand again and again. "It is perhaps only a foolish thought, but +it arose in my mind when I heard how cruelly my father had been +murdered, and I cannot banish it. I dare not share it with any one, not +even with you, my dear, kind uncle. I commit an injustice perhaps in +not being able to banish it. I know nothing, nothing which gives me the +right to entertain it. It is only a vague, fearful foreboding, +oppressing my heart all the more because I must bear it all alone and +can share it with no one in the world."</p> + +<p class="normal">The girl refused all explanation of her mysterious words. For a long +while she silently knelt by the bed, holding the dead man's hand in +hers, but at last she rose and followed the Captain to her room, +in which we--that is, the Clerk, the Judge, the physician, and +myself--were awaiting her. During Anna's absence with the Captain we +had been discussing the future of the young girl. It was impossible +that she should remain with the old servant and the murdered man alone +in the Lonely House. We had therefore determined to take her back with +us to Luttach. The physician had kindly offered to give her an asylum +as a guest in his house. His wife, he told us, was very fond of the +fair Anna; she would rejoice most heartily to show any loving service +to the unfortunate child. Anna could not possibly live with her old, +peevish Aunt Laucic, who was even a greater miser than old Pollenz. She +would find none of the sympathy and love of which she stood in such +need with that old dragon.</p> + +<p class="normal">The kindness and friendliness for the unfortunate young girl which +prompted the words of the physician reconciled me to him. His +businesslike indifference during the investigation had made me almost +hate him, but now I acknowledged to myself that I had been unjust and +that he was no cold and heartless man, but, on the contrary, a very +kindly, benevolent old doctor.</p> + +<p class="normal">We had arranged everything as we thought for the best, but when Anna +returned to us we found that our wise arrangements were entirely +useless. She declared, with a decision remarkable in so young a girl, +that she would not leave her father, but would stay beside him.</p> + +<p class="normal">In vain did we all entreat her, the Judge alone prudently refraining +from doing so. We used our most eloquent powers of persuasion.</p> + +<p class="normal">In vain did the Captain add his voice, and in vain did the physician +explain to her what an insufficient protection old Johanna would be in +the Lonely House during the next night.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If Johanna is afraid, she can go with you to Luttach," she said. "I am +not afraid to remain alone with my beloved dead."</p> + +<p class="normal">As she was immovable, we were obliged to comply. We could not force her +to go with us to Luttach, but we did not leave her alone in the Lonely +House, for the Captain declared he would not leave her; if she stayed, +he would stay also; they could make up a bed quite comfortable enough +for an old soldier.</p> + +<p class="normal">Anna was reluctant to accept this offer, but the Captain refused to +withdraw it. He said he could be quite as obstinate as Anna herself, +and thus he remained in the Lonely House, while we returned to Luttach.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> +<h3><a name="div1_06" href="#div1Ref_06">TWO WOUNDED HANDS</a>.</h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Both kitchen and dining-room in the "Golden Vine" were crowded with +guests--a very unusual thing of a week-day. The report of the murder in +the Lonely House had spread quickly, not only in the little town, but +also in the surrounding villages, and, naturally, all were eager to +hear further particulars, and could find no better place for gratifying +this desire than in the inn, the home of the Judge, who was sure to be +there in the evening.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the spacious kitchen, which was the gathering place of guests of the +lower classes, peasants and small tradesmen, there was quite a crowd. +Some were even obliged to drink their wine standing; all the benches +and chairs were occupied. Here not a German word was to be heard; the +talk was entirely in Slavonic; even around the hearth where Frau +Franzka received her intimate friends, all spoke in that tongue.</p> + +<p class="normal">Nearly twenty men, principally petty tradesmen from Luttach, were +sitting and standing around the huge hearth listening respectfully to +Frau Franzka's words, who, as she cooked and broiled, was obliged +to give all the details of the terrible deed which the "German +fly-catcher"--such was the name that had already been bestowed upon me +in Luttach--had discovered. When I passed through the kitchen to go to +the dining-room, I was most politely and kindly greeted by all present, +while they looked at me with undisguised curiosity.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the dining-room there was a far larger assembly than usual. All the +tables were occupied, but principally the great round one at which the +Burgomaster presided. All the gentlemen to whom I had been presented on +the previous evening were present, with the exception of the Captain. +The District Physician, two gentlemen (strangers to me), and, oddly +enough, Franz Schorn, were also there; the last sat next the Judge's +assistant.</p> + +<p class="normal">I had evidently been expected. A chair beside the District Judge had +been reserved for me, and when I appeared--quite too late to suit the +impatience of those present--I was cordially received. Even Franz +Schorn rose from his seat, and when the other gentlemen offered me +their hands, he held out his--not the right hand, but the left, like +the Judge, who had protected his wounded hand with a black glove. I +remarked that Franz Schorn did not use his right hand, but kept it +concealed in the breast of his coat, which was closely buttoned.</p> + +<p class="normal">The conversation was hardly interrupted by my arrival. Naturally it had +been concerning the murder in the Lonely House, and it so continued +after I had taken my place at the table. It was to me that all +inquisitive inquiries were now addressed--to me instead of to the Judge +or his assistant or to the physician. I was obliged to relate all that +I had seen. I was questioned about the smallest details; the most +insignificant interested every one.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Judge, the assistant and Franz Schorn alone were silent. I could +inform the two first of nothing new; there was no need for them to +question me, and Franz Schorn probably did not wish to thrust himself +forward with inquiries.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was evident, however, that he listened with intense interest to +everything that I related. As I spoke I narrowly observed the behaviour +of the Judge and of Franz Schorn, the two rivals. Herr Foligno appeared +scarcely to hear what I was saying. His eyes were fixed gloomily on his +wineglass, and he seemed to take no part in what was going on, but from +time to time as he looked up I could see that he heard every word that +I said. Franz Schorn kept his eyes riveted upon me as I spoke. The +description of my first discovery of the murdered man evidently +horrified him; he was more agitated by it than any of my other hearers.</p> + +<p class="normal">After I had ended my narrative, and it had been completed by the +physician, the question of course was discussed as to who the murderer +could be, whence he had come, how he had entered the locked house, +whither he had fled, and what had been the amount of his robbery. In +this discussion, however, the Judge and his assistant and Franz Schorn +took no part, although they listened with close attention.</p> + +<p class="normal">The physician defended with much acuteness his own theory that only an +intimate acquaintance of old Pollenz could have committed the crime; on +the other hand, many present maintained that the murderer must be some +Italian from Trieste, for neither in Luttach nor in the surrounding +country was there a man capable of such a deed.</p> + +<p class="normal">During this discussion, to which Franz Schorn listened very +attentively, the physician accidentally pushed aside the left arm of +his neighbour--Franz Schorn--who dropped the cigar which he was holding +in his hand and stooped to pick it up. As he did so, he instinctively +drew from his bosom his right hand, which had hitherto been concealed +by his coat. It was bound about with a white bandage, upon which were +several spots of blood. He thrust it quickly into his breast again, but +not before the physician had noticed the spots on the white linen.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, Franz! What is the matter with your hand?" he asked kindly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nothing," Franz replied curtly; "a slight cut."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Slight! That can hardly be; if you have a bandaged hand and don't use +it, it must be a tolerably deep cut. Of course, you have done nothing, +as usual, but wrap a rag about it. You young people are incorrigible. +You never reflect that the neglect of such cuts, which you consider +insignificant, may cost you the hand itself. Take off the bandage; I +want to see what it is."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is nothing; a trifle, not worth mentioning."</p> + +<p class="normal">"All the more readily should you show it to me. You owe obedience to an +old friend of your father's, you obstinate fellow; so off with your +bandage; I wish to see the wound."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly, if you insist," Franz replied, holding out his hand and +unwinding the bandage. It did not come off easily, but adhered to the +wound and a few drops of blood followed its removal.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A couple of good cuts," said the physician, examining the hand; "not +dangerous; they will heal without any particular care if you spare your +hand a little for a couple of days; but how did you get such strange +cuts! Four fingers implicated, and another gash in the palm. It looks +as if you had done it with a knife."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And so I did," Franz replied. "I was using a large knife in the +vineyard to-day and laid it down upon a high wall; it fell and would +have pierced my foot, if instead of shifting it, I had not foolishly +grasped at the falling knife and seized the sharp blade instead of the +handle. That is the whole story. Such slight cuts are not worth +mentioning." He wrapped the bandage around his hand again and concealed +it as before in the breast of his coat.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Such slight cuts are not worth mentioning," the young man had said, +and it was true; they were insignificant. Nevertheless they aroused in +me a chain of thought which filled me with dread. Involuntarily I +thought of the bloody, dagger-like knife which I had seen in the Lonely +House. If the murderer in his contest with the old man had endeavoured +to take the knife from him and had accidentally seized it by the blade, +his hand would have been wounded precisely as was that of Franz Schorn. +Schorn had hitherto kept his right hand concealed. Why so? Did he wish +to conceal the wound? An involuntary motion, an accident, had compelled +him to show the bandaged hand, and it was with great reluctance that he +had acceded to the physician's request.</p> + +<p class="normal">I looked at the District Judge. The same suspicion which had made me +shudder had been aroused also in him. I could read it in the lowering, +searching glance which he gave to the hand as Franz was wrapping it in +the bandage again. When he looked up afterwards and his gaze met mine, +his eyes were more eloquent than his tongue could have been. He slowly +raised his hand in its black glove as if in token of our understanding +each other. Strangely enough, his motion and his look had the effect of +instantly banishing the dark suspicion that had been awakened within +me. I had no right to entertain it. Had not the Judge himself also +accidentally wounded his right hand this very day? Might I not have +seen him also near the Lonely House, since he had been climbing among +the rocks in search of flowers? No, it would be rank folly to found a +suspicion with regard to Franz Schorn upon such accidental +circumstances. That the young man seemed even more gloomy and +preoccupied than on the previous evening, and that he scarcely uttered +a word, furnished no grounds for any suspicion with regard to him. Must +he not be deeply agitated by the terrible death of an old man with whom +he stood in such close, although hostile, relations? I blamed myself +for being so carried away by my indignation as to be ready to find in +insignificant trifles an undue importance. Besides, with the exception +of the Judge, whose duty it was to investigate all grounds of +suspicion, no other member of the company had thought of connecting +Franz Schorn's wounded hand with the murder. They all continued to +converse freely; even the physician, so acute in piecing out evidence, +who might have entertained some vague suspicion, had none at all; he +had thought no possible evil of Franz, and continued to address him now +from time to time as kindly and unreservedly as before. Still, this +evening I was very uncomfortable among them all. Their continued talk, +always of the same details, always of the horrible crime, increased my +nervous agitation to an intolerable degree. It was impossible to change +the subject of the conversation; it always reverted to the murder in +the Lonely House.</p> + +<p class="normal">This perpetual return to the same horrible subject stretched me upon +the rack; I could no longer endure it. As soon as I had finished my +trout and my wine, I rose to withdraw to my room. The Judge followed my +example, and rose also. After emptying his tall glass at a draught, he +said he was tired and unhinged and needed to go to bed early after so +terrible a day. His clerk and the physician, with several other +gentlemen, courteously entreated me to stay at least for half an hour +longer, it was so early. Without positive discourtesy I could not +refuse their request, and ordered myself another glass of wine. The +Judge followed my example, although no one had requested him to remain. +In the short time that I stayed, barely half an hour, he drank two full +glasses of wine, the last at a draught just as I arose and declined to +remain longer.</p> + +<p class="normal">Together we ascended the stairs. Mizka preceded us with a candle. When +we reached the landing in the first story, the Judge offered me his +left hand in farewell.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good-night, Herr Professor," he said aloud, adding in a whisper, "I +fear I shall be obliged to ask you to-morrow to give me officially an +account of your meeting with Herr Franz Schorn in the neighbourhood of +the Lonely House." He looked around at Mizka, who was opening the door +of my room, and as she entered it he continued, "A ground of suspicion +such as the wound in his right hand compels me to abandon all personal +considerations."</p> + +<p class="normal">Greatly startled, I replied, "Mere chance, Herr Foligno; you, too, have +wounded your right hand to-day."</p> + +<p class="normal">My innocent words made him start as if I had struck him a blow in the +face. I could not see his features, it was too dark on the landing; a +weak ray of light coming from the open door of my room was the only +illumination; but the quiver in his voice as he answered me after a +pause of a second, betrayed the disastrous effect of my words.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are perfectly right, Herr Professor; it may be 'mere chance.' I +shall not proceed against Herr Schorn. I will even try to combat my +suspicion of evil in him, my enemy, but it is my duty to search for +further grounds of suspicion against him. That must be done in spite of +my hostile feeling towards him. Good-night, Herr Professor."</p> + +<p class="normal">He pressed my hand once more, and we parted.</p> + +<p class="normal">Mizka was already busy in my room putting everything in order for the +night. She was obliged to do this as quickly as possible, for the +number of guests below in the dining-room and in the kitchen depended +upon her services; but she could not forego a little gossip. She told +me that before I had entered the dining-room this evening there had +been quite a quarrel between the Judge and his assistant. They had been +seated at the round table when Franz Schorn entered the room and looked +around for a place. All the tables were full, and the Clerk had invited +Schorn to sit beside him at the round table. This made the Judge +violently angry, but the Clerk declared that the Judge had no more +authority than any other guest in the dining-room of the inn. Franz +Schorn would have retired, but the Clerk detained him, and the +physician, who had been an old friend of Franz's dead father, had +declared that he himself would stay only on condition of Franz's +remaining, and would never again take his place at the round table if +Herr Foligno denied a seat there to Franz. The Burgomaster, too, and +the other gentlemen, who were not always friendly to Franz, now took +his part, so that the Judge was obliged to yield, and Franz, induced by +their persuasions, took his seat; but neither the Judge nor Franz after +the quarrel had exchanged a word.</p> + +<p class="normal">What strange occurrences were these in this little country town! Even +here, the few cultivated people, so circumscribed in their social +relations, were divided by hatred and prejudice. I undressed myself +and, with a memory of the gymnastic feats of my boyhood, clambered into +my lofty bed. I was sadly in need of repose. The agitations of the day +had been too much for my old body. They had exhausted my strength, and +yet excitement of mind conquered bodily weariness. I could not sleep. I +tried in vain to banish the memory of the dreadful scenes through which +I had passed. I tried to think of it all with indifference; but what I +had seen in the Lonely House scared away sleep, of which I had such +sore need. Hours and hours passed. The time seemed eternal before at +last I closed my weary eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">And the Judge had the same experience; he could not sleep that night. +As long as I lay awake in bed I heard the sound of his footsteps above +me, as he paced his room to and fro restlessly. Surely the same +memories were agitating him which denied me the blessing of slumber. +The investigation at the Lonely House had not been the mere fulfilment +of a duty for him, any more than it had been for the physician. The +horror of it all had impressed him as profoundly as it had myself. It +did not lessen my opinion of him that he should thus have preserved in +the midst of his official duties a warm, sensitive heart.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> +<h3><a name="div1_07" href="#div1Ref_07">THE TWO REQUESTS</a>.</h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Again I awoke early in the morning. I did not need much sleep for +physical refreshment, and although it had lasted but a few hours, I +felt quite fresh and well. The beautiful morning should serve me for +another expedition, and I wished to start as early as possible; in +Southern Ukraine only the early morning hours are suitable for mountain +walks and climbing. As long as the dew still glitters on the grass, +wandering in the Ukraine mountains is indescribably delightful, but +when the glowing sun has absorbed the last dewdrops, when its direct +rays are reflected from gray rocks, when no breath of air fans the +climber's cheek, mountain-climbing becomes altogether too hard a task +for an old man. I finished my breakfast before six o'clock and was all +ready for a start. Whither should I turn my steps! The forest above the +Chapel of St. Nikolas allured me. I had found such entomological +treasures there on the previous day that I surely could do nothing +better than go thither again. I could not collect too many specimens of +the grub of the <i>Saturnia cćcigena</i>, for, unfortunately, I could not be +sure that each larva would produce a butterfly. To St. Nikolas, then, I +took my way and by the narrow path. I had succeeded in descending it +without accident the day before, and it was surely not too dangerous +for me to ascend it. I set out. The path certainly was better than its +reputation. It had no danger for a climber not subject to dizziness, +and was quite firm beneath the foot. I had often ascended far more +steep and dangerous pathways in my search for some rare plant.</p> + +<p class="normal">The easy footpath leading to the Lonely House was soon reached, and I +strode forward sturdily. On the previous day I had hurried along it, +only desirous to reach Luttach as quickly as possible. To-day I feasted +my eyes with the view of the charming country upon which I looked down, +while at the same time I scrutinized with the keenness of a collector +the gentle ascent on my left where I might perhaps discover some +treasure growing among the rocks. Not far from the Lonely House I +perceived to my great joy in a spot which could be reached without +difficulty many beautiful specimens of the very orchid <i>Ophrys +Bertolini</i> which the Judge had brought to me yesterday. This was an +unexpected delight. In yesterday's excitement I had neglected to put +the charming flowers in water, and when I returned from the +investigation they were so withered that they were not worth preserving +for my herbarium. Now I could gather many glorious specimens without +any trouble.</p> + +<p class="normal">I left the path and easily climbed the rocks soon reaching the spot +where the orchids grew. But no sooner had I arrived there than to my +astonishment several trampled flowers showed me that another had been +before me, who was also a collector, and had plucked many blossoms of +the rare <i>Ophrys</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">One spot showed me that whoever he was, he had been no true botanist; a +true botanist would have taken the plants, roots and all, not the +blossoms only. He who collected the flowers here must have been in a +hurry; he had dropped several blossoms which lay wilted on the ground +and had evidently been plucked yesterday.</p> + +<p class="normal">Was this the spot where the Judge had collected the beautiful <i>Ophrys</i> +for me! The specimens which he had brought me were without roots. I now +recalled this circumstance, which had escaped my notice on the previous +day; but he had said that it had cost him some trouble and even danger +to reach the rare plants with the habitat of which he was acquainted. +He had fallen in doing so and had lacerated his hand. It was impossible +that he could have done so here; for here was no possible danger; no +flowers on the mountains could be plucked with more facility than +these.</p> + +<p class="normal">And yet here the Judge had been. He had certainly gathered the <i>Ophrys</i> +for me here. I found one unmistakable proof of his presence. On the +ground lay a red and yellow silk pocket handkerchief, just exactly such +a handkerchief as the Judge had carried the day before yesterday. I +remembered it perfectly. Of course he had lost it here while plucking +the flowers.</p> + +<p class="normal">Involuntarily I smiled at the good man's boast; in order to give his +gift a higher value, he had talked of danger in procuring it. I would +tease him a little for his bragging. When I returned his handkerchief I +would expatiate on the terrible danger of the place where the <i>Ophrys +Bertolini</i> was to be found.</p> + +<p class="normal">Still the plucking of the flowers had not been entirely without danger +for him. I could not comprehend how he could have fallen on this smooth +spot and wounded his hand, but that he had done so the handkerchief +testified. On the yellow silk there were several brown stains, which I +recognized as blood. The hackneyed old saying, "No fall so slight but +may kill you quite," occurred to me. With a smile I put the +handkerchief in my pocket to return it to its owner when I got back to +the inn. I dug up a number of the beautiful <i>Ophrys Bertolini</i> growing +here by hundreds, and then, walking on quickly, in scarcely five +minutes I reached the Lonely House. I was going to pass it, but from a +window of the upper story the Captain called, begging me to wait a +moment and he would join me.</p> + +<p class="normal">He came and greeted me with great cordiality. He had passed a +melancholy night. Old Johanna had been half crazy with fear and was +absolutely useless. He had tried to persuade her to occupy one of the +two rooms on the right of the hall, but she had fled to her bed in the +upper story and locked herself in. Therefore the Captain had earnestly +entreated Anna to leave the Lonely House, but all his words had been in +vain. Anna displayed wonderful composure in her profound grief, but at +the same time a firmness of purpose bordering on obstinacy. She had +declared that she would not leave the Lonely House as long as it +sheltered her father's body. She could not leave it all alone there. +She would stay with him until he was buried, and she watched beside the +corpse for half the night. Morning had dawned before she betook herself +to rest.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Anna is a strange child," said the Captain. "There are odd +contradictions in her character. She is gentle and yielding and at the +same time absolutely firm, open to no persuasion; sometimes frank and +confiding; at others reserved and almost suspicious even of me, +although she has repeatedly assured me that she trusts no human being +as she does me and my brother, the Burgomaster. With entire frankness +she has given me a detailed account of all the misery and wretchedness +which has existed here in the house ever since the day when Franz +Schorn asked her in marriage of her father. Towards herself the old man +was kind and caressing, although she declared to him that she never +would forsake Franz Schorn, that she never would marry the Judge; but +to every other human being, and particularly to Franz, he displayed +positive hatred, regarding all with profound suspicion, even old +Johanna. He was completely dominated by the fear that some day he +should be attacked and murdered. Wherefore he always bolted himself +into his room, and if he admitted any one was armed with a dagger-like +knife. He kept this terrible knife in his hand even whilst old Johanna +arranged his room; even from her he feared some secret attack. No +entreaty of Anna's could induce him to moderate his savage hatred of +Franz. She, on her part, declared that she never would forsake Franz as +long as she lived. This had led to continual strife between herself and +her father, for she had told him frankly that he must shut her up in a +close prison if he wished to prevent her from seeing Franz, and she had +seen him almost daily; when her father locked himself up in his room +after the midday meal to sleep for an hour, she always left the house +to see Franz, who awaited her beneath the large oak not far away. Her +father knew this, but had done nothing to prevent it, after she had +declared to him that she should continue to do it, and if he locked her +in the house, she would try to break the locks. The strange girl told +me all this with reckless frankness, while at the same time she refused +me any explanation, although I begged her to give it, of what she meant +yesterday when she declared that she perhaps was guilty of her father's +death. My little Anna is a riddle to me," the Captain thus closed his +long account, "but I love her none the less and I shall stay here to +protect her. I will not leave her all by herself in the Lonely House. +Now you can do me a favour, Herr Professor. When you return at midday +from your excursion to St. Nikolas, stop here before the Lonely House +once more, and I will give you some directions to take to Luttach for +my brother, the Burgomaster. He must provide a suitable home for Anna +in Luttach if she refuses to accept the doctor's invitation after her +father's funeral, for which he must also give directions. I will put +all this down in a letter, which you will have the kindness to give to +my brother yourself."</p> + +<p class="normal">I at once promised what he asked, and we parted the best of friends. +The Captain returned to the Lonely House to write his letter, which, as +he said, was quite a task for an old soldier unaccustomed for many +years to hold a pen.</p> + +<p class="normal">I continued my walk and soon reached the little Church of St. Nikolas. +Again I fed my eyes on the charming prospect and then proceeded to +collect. I scrambled about in the forest, hither and thither, for some +hours; then up on the bald rocky side of Nanos, and not until my +bottles and boxes were so full that I could accommodate no more +treasures, and the heat had become oppressive, did I take my way back +towards noon by the same path which I had followed yesterday. In a +little while I reached the footpath leading to the Lonely House, and on +the very same spot where I had yesterday encountered Franz Schorn I +found him again to-day, but he did not avoid me; he awaited me. He was +not alone; beside him, with his arm around her waist, stood pretty +Anna. They were a charming pair. I delighted in the sight of the two +beautiful young people. Franz was certainly a handsome fellow. Now, as +he looked down on his lovely companion, with eyes full of the tenderest +affection, the beauty of his features, which a gloomy expression had +hitherto concealed, was plainly visible.</p> + +<p class="normal">When the young man observed me, a shadow crossed his brow. Without +releasing his companion, with his left hand he took off his straw hat +in greeting. Then Anna, too, saw me, and with a blush beckoned to me +kindly. She made no attempt to release herself from the embracing arm +of the young man.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We were awaiting you here, Herr Professor," said Franz, as I reached +them. "Captain Pollenz informed my betrothed that you, in coming from +St. Nikolas, had promised to stop, towards noon, at the Lonely House; +therefore we came to meet you to make a request of you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Which I shall certainly comply with if possible," I replied, regarding +the young girl with genuine delight. She blushed, but looked up with +kindling eyes at Franz as he uttered the word "betrothed."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is a request that may seem strange to you, Herr Professor," Franz +continued, "but, nevertheless, I will make it; I am convinced that you +would not wish to cause annoyance either to myself or to my dear +betrothed."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Most certainly not. Pray tell me quite frankly what you wish."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is not much. I would only ask you not to mention to any one our +meeting yesterday here in this place."</p> + +<p class="normal">The request in itself seemed trivial enough, but the look which +accompanied it was far from meaningless. It betokened intense anxiety +as to whether or not I would accede to what he asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">In truth, the young man's request was a strange one. Involuntarily my +eyes turned to his wounded right hand. All diverse thoughts ran riot in +my brain. I remembered the large double-edged knife with its bloody +handle lying on the floor of the room in the Lonely House, and then +came the memory of the cut on a brown hand and the doctor's voice +saying, "That looks as if you had grasped a knife by the blade." Again +I saw Franz turn from me to hurry through the undergrowth, and again I +saw him with eyes gloomily cast down as he listened to the physician's +words. I recalled his bitter hostility to old Pollenz, and the old +man's words, "That fellow will kill me one of these days." Hitherto I +had entertained no downright suspicion of the young fellow, but it +suddenly stirred within me.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why do you wish me not to mention our meeting?" I asked in reply.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because I begged Franz to ask you this," Anna replied for the young +man, whose features as I spoke resumed their wonted gloomy expression. +"Franz told me that yesterday he turned away from you because he wished +to avoid any meeting with you. He feared it might cause you annoyance, +if you had happened to be seen by any chance passer-by walking with +him. He had been waiting for me a long time in vain beneath the old oak +where we are used to meet every day at noon. I could not come because +my father had sent me down to Luttach. Franz was in a very bad humour +when he met you, and so, to avoid greeting you, he turned away into the +forest."</p> + +<p class="normal">Anna's words had a peculiar effect upon me. They strengthened my +suspicions. If he were not guilty, would Franz have thought it +necessary to have the young girl explain to me why he was in the +neighbourhood of the Lonely House at noon, and why he had turned away +from me with such sullen looks?</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have not yet told me why I should not mention my meeting with Herr +Schorn," I replied.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will explain that to you myself," Franz said hurriedly, "my +betrothed thinks that if Foligno should learn that I was seen yesterday +here in the neighbourhood of the Lonely House, the malice and hatred +with which he regards me would find expression in vile suspicion of +me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It would certainly be so. I entreat you, dear Herr Professor, do not +tell a human being that you met Franz yesterday."</p> + +<p class="normal">As she spoke the young girl looked up at me with such entreaty in her +beautiful eyes that my heart was softened. I was in an awkward +position. Ought I to tell her that I could not comply with her request, +because I had already informed the Judge of my meeting Franz? This I +could not do. I could not warn Franz without perhaps injuring the +investigation; but, on the other hand, I certainly could not make a +promise which it was already impossible to keep.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I can promise nothing," I replied guardedly; "in an official +examination one is bound to conceal nothing."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, Herr Professor, I beg, I entreat you----"</p> + +<p class="normal">Franz interrupted her, and, casting at me a look which was almost +menacing, exclaimed, "Do not say another word, Anna; the Herr Professor +is right; it was folly, yes, wrong, for me to yield to your desire and +make this request of the Herr Professor, who ought not to comply with +it. If that scoundrel, Foligno, suspects me, I know how to meet his +suspicion. Come, Anna, we ought not to detain the gentleman any +longer."</p> + +<p class="normal">He lifted his hat by way of farewell, and walked towards the forest +with the young girl. My mind was filled with contradictory thoughts. +Can that proud, self-assertive young man be a miserable criminal! I +would so gladly have banished all suspicion of him, but--how terrible +it was that so lovely and charming a girl had perhaps bestowed the +wealth of her affection upon her father's murderer!</p> + +<p class="normal">I walked slowly towards the Lonely House, where the Captain, sitting +before the door, was awaiting me. He handed me the letter for his +brother, gave me various verbal commissions, and I left with a promise +to visit him shortly in the Lonely House.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Shall I bring the Herr Professor's lunch into the garden?" Mizka asked +me as I entered the kitchen of the Golden Vine on my return from my +excursion. "The Judge has been lunching in the garden, and is sitting +with his coffee beneath the great linden."</p> + +<p class="normal">The <i>Ophrys Bertolini</i> occurred to me. I smiled at the remembrance of +the Judge's boast and was pleased at the idea of teasing him. Of course +I ordered my lunch in the garden and betook myself thither.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Judge was sipping his coffee and smoking his long cigar at the +round table beneath the spreading linden. He seemed sunk in a profound +reverie, leaning his head upon his hand and with downcast eyes. I was +struck with his pallor and with the sallowness and the drawn look of +his features. At my first words he started violently, and for a moment +gazed at me with terror, almost as if awaking from an oppressive dream, +but in an instant he recovered his self-control, and greeted me with a +smile.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think I was dozing," he said; "the terrible heat makes me sleepy."</p> + +<p class="normal">Why should he have told such an untruth? He had not been dozing; just +before he started he had raised his hand to his cigar and had taken a +long whiff.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I admire you, Herr Professor," he said, "for being able to climb about +in such heat. I suffer from it even here in the shade of the linden. I +trust you were richly rewarded for your trouble."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I was indeed," I replied smiling. "I have had great luck. I have been +so fortunate as even to discover the place where, yesterday, you +plucked for me the charming <i>Ophrys Bertolini</i>."</p> + +<p class="normal">My jesting words produced a strange effect. Herr Foligno stared +at me blankly; his sallow face grew ashy pale; his mouth twitched +convulsively as he said brokenly, "No, impossible! How--how--could +you--how could you get there?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"In the easiest way in the world," I replied, tickled that the +discovery of his boast had so startled the worthy gentleman. "The spot, +so difficult and even dangerous to attain, in reaching which you fell +on the rocks and wounded your hand, I found right on the road to the +Lonely House and most easy of attainment. From the path I saw the +<i>Ophrys</i> blooming, and mounted without any difficulty to where it +grew."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then you have had the good fortune to discover a new home for it +which I had not known," Herr Foligno replied, having regained his +self-control with surprising celerity. "I found the orchid on an +overhanging rock in quite a distant part of the country."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed, that is very remarkable. Did you, by chance, lose your pocket +handkerchief there? I found it in my spot--or is it not yours? Look, +the yellow silk shows some spots of blood, probably from a wounded +hand."</p> + +<p class="normal">With a laugh I drew out the handkerchief and handed it to him; the +black gloved hand with which he took it trembled. He examined it quite +attentively for some time, and then said quietly, "This certainly is a +remarkable coincidence. The handkerchief actually belongs to me, and I +probably lost it yesterday in climbing about the rocks, but certainly +not where you found it, for I was not even in the neighbourhood of the +Lonely House. Probably one of the young goatherds here who scramble +about everywhere in the mountains found it, and lost it again where you +discovered it."</p> + +<p class="normal">With the greatest calmness he put the handkerchief in his pocket. I +could not refuse him my admiration, for his barefaced explanation +struck me as quite brilliant. Whether I believed him or not, I must +pretend to do so. Laughing heartily, I replied: "I congratulate you, +Herr Foligno, on the happy chance which led the little goatherd and the +old Professor to the same place, one losing, the other finding your +handkerchief to restore it to you."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Judge probably felt the irony in my words, but he took no notice of +it. He offered me his hand cordially.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It certainly is a very strange coincidence," he said. "If my +acquaintances here should hear of it, it might give them material for +teasing me quite unpleasantly. You will oblige me, Herr Professor, if +you will not mention this little occurrence. May I rely upon you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly; I will be silent as the grave," I replied, still laughing, +but the suspicious and evil glance which he cast at me quickly silenced +my laughter. He said nothing further about the handkerchief or the +<i>Ophrys</i>; he only made a few remarks about the unusual heat of the +weather so late in the season, and then arose, saying that he was +obliged to return to his office, and, therefore, to his regret, must +leave me.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> +<h3><a name="div1_08" href="#div1Ref_08">QUIET WEEKS</a>.</h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">The first eventful days which I passed in Luttach were followed by +weeks that were more serene. Favoured by the beautiful weather, I made +daily excursions in every direction, reaping a rich harvest everywhere. +I grew more and more familiar with the peculiar features of the +country, and every day I grew more in sympathy with the smiling, +charming valley shut in by mountains crowned with bald summits. The +contrast between the barren gray rocks and the luxuriant valley at +their feet particularly charmed me, and I especially delighted in the +view when the sun sank behind the mountains, which were quickly +enveloped in a soft twilight mist, the noble outlines of their peaks +showing clear against the sky in the light of the setting sun.</p> + +<p class="normal">The character of the inhabitants of Southern Ukraine soon grew familiar +to me. Intercourse with the country folk whom I met on my excursions +was, of course, very limited; we could not understand each other's +language. Here and there a man who had served in the army could speak +German, but only brokenly. The women for the most part spoke scarcely a +German word, and they found it very difficult to understand the few +Slavonic words which I had learned from Mizka and which I certainly +pronounced very badly. There could be no attempt at conversation, but +nevertheless the Slavonic country folk tried to testify kindness and +cordiality for the stranger.</p> + +<p class="normal">The peasants evidently held it their duty to offer the hospitality of +their fields to the "flycatcher," as they dubbed me, although sometimes +they found the grass trodden down where he had been. Unlike the Swiss +peasantry, who load with abuse any stranger venturing to trespass in +their fields, these Slavonic country folk seemed glad to have me pluck +flowers and pursue butterflies wherever I would; nay, they would at +times even point out places among the rocks most easy of access and +would assist in my search, never asking for money, accepting at most, +with many Slavonic words of thanks, a cheap cigar. Scarcely ever in all +my travels have I met a peasantry so amiable and kindly as these much +slandered Slavonic country folk. I never heard a harsh word or found a +trace of that hatred of Germans against which I had been cautioned.</p> + +<p class="normal">And yet it was none the less there at the bottom of all their hearts; +but it was not for the German proper, as the Burgomaster had told me on +that first evening, but for those Ukrainers who in a Slavonic country +aimed at remaining faithful to Germany. Of this I had daily proof in +the expressions which I heard with regard to Franz Schorn.</p> + +<p class="normal">The young man interested me greatly and I took every opportunity to +inform myself as to his circumstances, his earlier life, and everything +regarding him. What I learned was not of a nature either to weaken or +strengthen my suspicion, and, besides, I could not but acknowledge to +myself that all the sources from which I could gain information were +unfit to give me a true, distinct picture of a young fellow living in +brooding seclusion, as it were, in a community rife with party hatred. +The Clerk, the Captain, and the Burgomaster were the only men who could +sufficiently rid themselves of prejudice to speak really well of the +young man.</p> + +<p class="normal">All acknowledged that Franz Schorn was an industrious, capable farmer, +who took admirable care of the estate inherited from his father; that +he was well educated, to a degree above his station; but no praise was +accorded to his character; he was said to be an obstinate, sullen +fellow, ready for deeds of violence, filled with party hatred, +maltreating his Slavonic labourers, covetous and hard-hearted. He had +no pity for the poor; his only desire was to gain money and increase +his patrimony, which was the reason why he had cast his eye on the rich +and pretty Anna Pollenz, not because he loved her, but from greed of +gain. This was the verdict of his enemies concerning him. The Captain +and the Clerk alone maintained that he was a man of honour, incapable +of mean or avaricious conduct; that he was reserved and defiant, +willing to defend himself with some violence against all party hatred, +and in other respects the victim of slander and low suspicion. How +could I find the truth in these conflicting descriptions? I pondered +the question in vain. It was certainly remarkable that a handsome, +well-to-do, educated young man should be so generally detested, and it +was hard to believe that such widespread hatred was entirely without +foundation.</p> + +<p class="normal">I now had many opportunities of observing him. He came almost regularly +every evening to the Golden Vine and took the place at the round table +which the Clerk always reserved for him. It seemed to me that this was +done in order to establish a more kindly social feeling between Franz +and the rest of the company who nightly assembled in the inn. The Clerk +evidently endeavoured in the kindest way to draw him into the +conversation, which he knew how to conduct so that Schorn would have an +opportunity to be heard to the very best advantage in displaying his +clear judgment and admirable intelligence.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Captain, the Burgomaster, and the doctor aided the Clerk in his +endeavour to establish peace between Franz and the rest of the company, +who, out of regard for these gentlemen, became less antagonistic, to be +sure, but still remained decidedly indifferent. They were content to do +what was required of them socially, greeting the young man when he +entered, but in conversation they avoided all direct talk with him, and +since he addressed all that he said to the three above-named members of +the party, he rarely exchanged a word with the others. The antipathy +existing between Franz and the Judge was especially observable. Between +these two there was an insurmountable barrier of profound dislike. They +never exchanged either a greeting or a word. Franz never even looked at +the Judge, although Herr Foligno watched him narrowly.</p> + +<p class="normal">As soon as Franz appeared among the company in the evening, the Judge +fell silent. Even though he might before have talked continually, and +at times had even attempted to monopolize the conversation, from the +time when Franz appeared he confined himself to monosyllables or a word +thrown in here and there. He listened to all that was going on and with +special interest when the talk turned upon the failure to discover the +perpetrator of the crime committed in the Lonely House. At such times +his gaze would be riveted with a strange intensity upon Franz Schorn. +No word that the young man spoke, no expression of his countenance, +escaped him then. It was the gaze of the serpent upon the bird which he +is about to devour. This is perhaps an unsuitable simile, but it +occurred to me involuntarily as I saw the Judge watching Franz. I knew +his suspicions of the young man, and knew that he was secretly trying +to accumulate fresh grounds for it. I knew also that his desire was +great to gather from Franz some word that could be used against him, +and I fervently thanked my Creator that after going through two terms +as a student of law, I had given up all legal aspirations and devoted +myself to natural science. There is something positively detestable to +me in the thought of a man like the Judge sacrificing all humanity in +an eagerness to discover the traces of a crime. My discomfort increased +from day to day as I observed the stealthy manner in which he watched +Franz's every word and motion.</p> + +<p class="normal">Sometimes I actually hated the Judge, but I reflected that I had no +right to do so. He was simply fulfilling the duty of his office, and +probably such fulfilment was most obnoxious to him; he certainly had +before him a most unpleasant and arduous task.</p> + +<p class="normal">As yet there had been no light thrown upon the mysterious crime in the +Lonely House. The necessary papers had been sent to the court at +Laibach, and there the matter rested for the present. The investigating +Judge and the Attorney General had come to Luttach in person to +convince themselves that there was no trace of the criminal. The stolen +bonds and banknotes had not been found, and, in fact, identification of +these would have been impossible, as there had been no registration of +them.</p> + +<p class="normal">Nor could the minutest search among the papers of the murdered man give +any evidence as to the amount of his property. The Judge and the +tradesman Weber, each of whom had formerly had dealings with old +Pollenz and occasion to speak with him about his money affairs, +maintained that the old man had kept a list of all bonds in his +possession, and of his outstanding investments, in order that he might +always be fully conscious of the amount of his wealth, but such a list +was not among the papers left behind by the thief. The miserly old man +had speculated with a kind of passion. He was in correspondence with +several bankers in Vienna; no one could tell with how many. These +bankers he commissioned partly by letter and partly through a Luttach +firm of tradesmen, Weber & Meyer, as to the purchase and sale of +various stocks. He excluded every one from all knowledge of his +speculations, and never sold his stock through the same banking house +that had purchased it for him. As no one knew how many banking houses +he employed, it seemed quite hopeless to discover what stock and +government bonds he had possessed, and this, of course, diminished the +chances of the discovery of the murderer should he attempt to sell the +papers.</p> + +<p class="normal">It must have been a really humiliating reflection for Herr Foligno that +within his district a crime should have been committed without any +possibility of the discovery of the criminal. He might well fear that +those above him would accuse him of a want of acuteness, or of activity +in the performance of his duties. His clear, excellently composed +deposition had evidently not brought him the credit that it should have +done in higher places. When the two officials from Laibach had made +their visit to Luttach, they had put all their questions to the Clerk +and not to himself.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perhaps I have been wrong," he said to me after the visit of the two +men from Laibach, "I ought to have required you to give me a sworn +report of your encounter with Herr Franz Schorn in the forest near the +Lonely House. I thought of doing so, but the same feeling which forbade +me to do it upon the first discovery of the murder actuated me to-day +and with renewed strength. Your meeting with him, and the wound in his +hand, now entirely healed, are the only grounds of suspicion against +him, and you yourself proved to me how insignificant they are by your +simple remark that I, too, might be subjected to suspicion from the +same causes. I assure you, Herr Professor, that I cannot be +sufficiently grateful to you for preventing me from taking a step which +I might have repented forever. I do not deny that my suspicion of the +man is even more deeply rooted now than it was then, but it behooves me +to be all the more strict with myself, for hitherto I have discovered +nothing which could justify me in accusing the man whom, nevertheless, +I detest profoundly. Should I do so, all the world would believe that I +was endeavouring to be rid of a hated rival."</p> + +<p class="normal">I could not but admit that he was right. Circumstances were really most +unfortunate for him. The Lonely House deserved its name now still more +than formerly. It was utterly lonely. After the body of its owner had +been interred in the graveyard of the village of Oberberg, the Captain +had closed it. Anna and her old maid had come to Luttach; she had at +last yielded to the persuasions of the Captain, the Burgomaster, and +the doctor, and had accepted an asylum in the doctor's house. A couple +of unused rooms were quickly furnished for herself and old Johanna. +They did not live there as guests of the owner, but as lodgers. It was +only with the stipulation that there should be no restriction of her +freedom that she had yielded to the wishes of her relatives, and the +first use which she made of this freedom was to declare that Franz +Schorn was her future husband, who should lead her to the altar at the +expiration of her year of mourning. In vain did the Burgomaster, the +Captain, and the doctor entreat the young girl to reserve for a time +such a declaration. Anna was not to be persuaded.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is just because all are against him; just because all seem to hate +him in spite of his noble, lofty nature, that I will be true to him. I +have been betrothed to him for two years. As long as my father lived I +could not declare this boldly against his will, but now I can do so."</p> + +<p class="normal">Anna's declaration produced a disagreeable impression in Luttach. The +little social circle there was greatly scandalized, but even the +loudest scandalmonger had to be silent, since Anna with delicate tact +avoided all occasion for calumny. Her lover never visited her; her only +times for seeing him were when he was invited to the house by its +owner, the doctor, who had at first been really provoked at the girl's +obstinacy, but who now found it impossible to say enough of her truly +enchanting disposition. He had always loved her, ever since she had +been a little child, but had never dreamed of her becoming so charming, +so tender and caressing. His wife, too, was perfectly delighted to have +the lovely girl beneath her roof. He now comprehended perfectly how +that stony-hearted miser, old Pollenz, had yielded to the charm of this +girl, and, being quite unable to resist her, had not ventured to oppose +her meeting Franz beneath the oak daily at noon, for fear of her +forsaking him entirely. But, docile and amiable as Anna showed herself +among her relatives and friends, the Burgomaster, the Captain, the +doctor and his wife, she was correspondingly hard and repellent towards +the Judge. From the Captain, with whom I had a daily gossip in the +early morning in the garden, I learned that Herr Foligno still +entertained a foolish hope of conquering the dislike which Anna felt +for him. Several times since she had taken up her dwelling at the +doctor's he had made an attempt to approach her, but had always been +repulsed with signs of the greatest aversion. The Captain and the +doctor had represented to her that she should at least treat him with +conventional courtesy, but she had declared that for him she had no +courteous, kindly word; she detested and despised him, not only because +her father had once wished to force her to marry him, but because she +had a firm conviction that he was at heart a wicked man. She would give +no grounds for this belief, but she was quite sure it was justified.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Captain and the doctor must have mentioned to others Anna's +behaviour in this respect; it was known throughout Luttach. There was +much laughing gossip in the little town about the Judge's unfortunate +love. Every evening Mizka detailed to me some town tattle, which was +sure to have for its subject pretty Anna and her two adorers. Perhaps +it was not quite right that I should lend an ear to such downright +gossip, but I do not deny that it interested me, and I could not make +up my mind to interrupt the garrulous maid as she told me of all that +was discussed in the town.</p> + +<p class="normal">Though I had but very little sympathy for the Judge, I felt rather +sorry for him; he apparently suffered from the unfortunate +circumstances in which he was placed. He had proved, too, that at +bottom he was not a bad man by the consideration which he had shown for +his inveterate enemy, against whom he endeavoured to harbour no +suspicion. It was most unfortunate that he should bestow his affection +upon a young girl who detested him. I could not excuse him for +continuing to sue for her favour after she had shown him her dislike, +and he exposed himself to the ridicule of the townfolk and fell in my +esteem when every evening he sought to drown his woes by drinking +immoderately.</p> + +<p class="normal">Nevertheless I pitied him. To me he was all amiability and courtesy. He +usually postponed his midday meal until I returned from my excursions +and could partake of it with him. He took much interest in my +collections, particularly in my botanical treasures, and really showed, +for a layman, no little knowledge of the subject. If I had lit upon +some rare plant, he would learn from me its locality, and in the +afternoon would scramble about among the rocks and boast to me in the +evening as he displayed the plucked flowers of the result of his +labours, and that he had discovered another spot rich in such +treasures. If on the following morning I endeavoured to find according +to his directions the place he had described, I became aware that it +could be attained only by what was almost dangerous climbing. The +ascent to a place where he told me I should find quantities of the +<i>Ophrys Bertolini</i> was so hazardous that I might easily have come to +grief had I not been a practised mountaineer. On returning, although I +strictly followed his directions, I could not have rightly understood +them, for I entered a perfect labyrinth of dangerous ravines. It was +almost by a miracle that at last I found my way out of it and succeeded +in descending by an unused breakneck path.</p> + +<p class="normal">Exhausted beyond measure by such unexpected exertion, I returned to +Luttach at noon and rehearsed to the Judge the danger through which I +had passed.</p> + +<p class="normal">He replied with a smile, "You must have missed the path in descending +which I described to you. It is not without danger, but still not very +bad. I am glad, however, that you are now convinced of the difficulty +which I had two weeks ago in plucking the <i>Ophrys Bertolini</i>. That is +the spot where I found the flowers that I brought you. I still do not +understand how you found the charming plants in a place easy of +access."</p> + +<p class="normal">So he had sent me upon this dangerous excursion just to rid himself of +the imputation of bragging. This was very clear. I really did not thank +him for it. I said nothing, but determined in future not to explore any +of his wonderful localities. I am not such a passionate enthusiast for +botany as to expose myself, for the sake of a beautiful flower, to the +risk of breaking my neck.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> +<h3><a name="div1_09" href="#div1Ref_09">AN EXPLORING PARTY</a>.</h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">One evening there was so full an assembly round the table in the inn +that all the gentlemen with whom I had become acquainted in Luttach +were present, with the exception of Franz Schorn. He, as the +Burgomaster told us, had driven in the early morning to Görz to bring +thence some expensive agricultural machines which he wished to employ +on his farm. He had promised the Burgomaster to come to the inn late in +the evening to give an account of his purchases, and he was expected to +appear any minute.</p> + +<p class="normal">Since the young man had of late been a constant attendant at the round +table, the conversation which had formerly been quite lively with +regard to him had ceased. It was all the more lively on this evening, +and the subject of it was the purchases he had gone to Görz to make. +Several of the men present were the owners of large estates. They at +least knew something of agriculture, and yet they were the very ones +who expressed themselves as disapproving of the novelties which Franz +was trying to introduce.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He is always endeavouring to use something new-fangled and peculiar," +Herr Gunther, one of the richest of the land-owners in the county, +declared. "These machines are probably useful enough in Germany, in +countries where labour is perhaps very expensive, but they do not suit +us here, where they are a ruinous innovation. We have so many poor +people about us who want work, that it is a positive crime to deprive +them of it by the use of machinery."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is just why Schorn buys the machines," another interposed, a man +by the name of Mosic. "He hates our poor Slavonic labourers and would +like to be independent of them. He has probably heard that many of our +best labourers have combined against him and will not work for the +German. Where does he get the money he is spending upon such expensive +machines?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The harvests for several years have not been so plentiful as to enable +a farmer to accumulate much cash," said another.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perhaps he buys on credit," said the notary, Dietrich.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not at all," rejoined the merchant, Meyer. "I have often offered him +credit, but he has never accepted it. 'What I cannot buy with ready +money I will go without; I will not burden myself with debt,' has +always been his reply to me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He does not need to do so; he is always economical, and has money +enough," remarked the shopkeeper, Weber. "As he was paying me yesterday +for his clover seed, I saw that his pocket-book contained a roll of +hundred-gulden notes."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He has certainly spent a deal of money lately; he has purchased two +splendid horses, and they were really not necessary, for the two which +he gave in part payment to Schmelzigsohn were good enough. He is +squandering money at present. People whisper queer things of him. In +fact, they are beginning to whisper no longer, but to talk loudly, and +before long what they say will be proclaimed in the market place."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It certainly is strange that Schorn has so much money at his command. +Before old Pollenz was murdered he seemed to have very little."</p> + +<p class="normal">For an instant profound silence followed the last remark of Mosic's. A +strange expression spread over the countenances of those present. The +innuendo in the words just spoken made a most painful impression upon +all. The Clerk was the first to recover himself. With an angry look at +Mosic, he said in a tone of harsh reproof:</p> + +<p class="normal">"How dare you, Herr Mosic, utter such an accusation against an absent +member of our circle? I shall inform Herr Schorn of what you have said +that he may call you to account for it."</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr Mosic changed color.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, pardon me, sir," he said, and his voice trembled; "you entirely +misunderstood me. I have no idea of uttering an accusation against Herr +Schorn. I only repeated the stupid talk of the townsfolk. Of course I +attach no importance to it; it is not my fault if people will talk."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You ought not to repeat such nonsensical gossip," the Clerk said +angrily.</p> + +<p class="normal">Hitherto the Judge had taken no part in the conversation. He had sat +silent drinking glass after glass of wine, but now he turned to the +Clerk, and in a very odd tone said, with a glance toward me:</p> + +<p class="normal">"You judge rather hastily, sir; you should remember that the voice of +the people is the voice of God."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pardon me, Judge," cried the doctor; "in this case the despicable +gossip is the voice of the devil; no honest man should repeat or defend +it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So say I. 'Tis a cowardly, unworthy accusation!" exclaimed the +Captain, and the Burgomaster nodded assent. "Franz is a rough, morose +fellow, but a man of honour through and through, incapable of +committing a crime."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Besides," added the doctor, "very little understanding is necessary to +perceive that he never could have committed the murder. Even if he had +been a hard-hearted wretch quite capable of it, no suspicion of <i>this</i> +crime could attach to him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed!" said the Judge, contemptuously; "I really am curious to learn +why no possible suspicion in this case could attach to Schorn."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Upon my word, it is sad to think that I, an old doctor, understanding +nothing of criminal law, should have to instruct a learned Judge as to +what his simple, sound, good sense should teach him, but since it is +so, since such ridiculous gossip has found no one in this circle to +expose it as such, it must be. The murderer was certainly a man with +whom old Pollenz was very intimate; Franz he hated like sin and held +him to be his mortal enemy.</p> + +<p class="normal">"When little Anna went to Luttach with old Johanna, her father locked +the front door behind them, and, as always when resting at noon, +withdrew to his own room and bolted himself in. Whoever wished to enter +the house or to see its owner would be obliged either to break down the +door or be admitted by old Pollenz himself. Now, no sensible human +being could believe that the old man would have opened his door for +Schorn, to allow himself to be murdered--for Franz Schorn, of whom he +was afraid, of whom he always said, 'Schorn will kill me one of these +days.' He would have drawn a double bolt on every door if Franz had +asked for admittance, but on this occasion he drew back the bolt and +opened the door. There is no trace of any violence used in opening it, +and a bolted door cannot be opened unless from within, or with +violence; therefore I maintain that the murderer must have been an +intimate friend of old Pollenz, and in no case can the slightest +suspicion attach to Franz Schorn. I think I have now proved this +clearly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Clear as sunlight; the legal profession loses a shining light in you, +doctor," the Judge rejoined, his thin lips curled in a contemptuous +smile. "After your lucid defense," he continued, "it seems to me +incumbent upon us all to say not one word to Franz Schorn of our +previous conversation; he would surely be deeply offended and insulted +if he could believe that any one of us entertained the smallest doubt +of his innocence. We must take it upon ourselves to discountenance the +town gossip wherever we hear it, always taking care that the young man +learns nothing of the rumours concerning him. The object of such +rumours can never combat them himself. Should he try to do so, it would +but strengthen belief in them; but we can have many opportunities to +silence slander. I hope you all agree with me, gentlemen."</p> + +<p class="normal">All agreed. The doctor offered the Judge his hand in token of +acknowledgment, and said with a kindly nod:</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are a good fellow, after all, Judge, and I beg your pardon. It is +fine of you to stand up so bravely for Franz, although you cannot +endure him. I will not forget it of you."</p> + +<p class="normal">That the Judge's words had produced their effect upon all present, even +upon those most opposed to Schorn, was evident when the young man soon +afterward entered the room; he was received with more cordiality and +kindness than ever before; it really seemed as if Herr Gunther and Herr +Mosic were trying by their courtesy to atone for the words spoken in +his absence.</p> + +<p class="normal">Franz was so pleasantly surprised by this friendly reception that he +became far more amiable and genial than ever before. At the +Burgomaster's request, he explained the new machines which he had +bought in Görz and the use to which he intended to put them, not only +for his own advantage, but hoping to improve the agriculture of the +entire Luttach valley by introducing them generally.</p> + +<p class="normal">This excited a little war of words between him and the two land-owners, +who declared themselves opposed to the introduction of new methods, but +their opposition was expressed with so much moderation that Franz could +not take offense.</p> + +<p class="normal">And the Captain, who, as a good Conservative, was strongly opposed to +the introduction of machinery in agricultural operations, sided with +the land-owners.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You mean well, Franz," he said; "you would like to increase the +prosperity of our valley; but with your cursed innovations you put the +cart before the horse. You will never improve the labourer's condition +by depriving him of his means of subsistence."</p> + +<p class="normal">"These machines will not deprive the labourer of his work. On the +contrary, they will give him an opportunity of working more effectually +than has been possible for him hitherto. A more thorough cultivation of +our fields and vineyards will create a fresh demand of labour, which +will be better paid than ever."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Dreams, dreams, in which I have no faith," replied the Captain. "The +manufacturers of these machines and the people who sell them have +started these tales. When a machine undertakes the labour hitherto +performed by man, the man sinks to the machine's level. In all great +manufacturing towns the labouring class, with very few exceptions, is +poverty-stricken and starving. Don't tell me of such innovations. We +should count ourselves happy that here in the country we have hitherto +been free from machinery."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nevertheless, perhaps because of this, our labourers here suffer the +bitterest poverty."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is because the last few years have been poor ones. If the +peasant's harvest fails and the vineyards do not flourish, the labourer +can earn nothing. Your machines cannot improve his condition; they can +only make it worse. The Herr Professor has given me an idea of what +would improve the condition of our people here more than ought else."</p> + +<p class="normal">I gazed at the Captain in surprise. I did not remember that I had ever +said a word to him about the poverty of the labouring class in the +Luttach valley, or had ever mentioned any means whatever of improving +their condition. He nodded to me with a gentle smile, and then +continued:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, yes, Herr Professor, you do not recall how on the very first +morning after your arrival among us we had a conversation which I +remember well. Our valley should be opened to tourists; we are situated +just between two important railways, not more than a league distant +from each; we could be visited with the greatest facility, and where +tourists are gathered together money is sure to circulate; all will be +the gainers; the inns, the tradesfolk, those owning horses, who will +hire out carriages; the laundresses, and even the labourers, who will +be employed either as drivers or as guides for excursions among the +mountains."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What talk is this, old friend?" the Burgomaster interrupted him with a +laugh. "What have we here to attract tourists? They can make the ascent +of Nanos very easily from Prayvalt, and our valley has really nothing +more to show. It is quite wonderful that a naturalist, our Herr +Professor, should have visited us. Certainly none of those who travel +for pleasure would ever contemplate coming hither."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Therefore we must try to find something that will attract them. The +Herr Professor called my attention to the fact that we live on from day +to day without regard to our ignorance as to whether we do not possess +a greater attraction for travellers than the Adelsberg Grotto. Does any +one of us here present know how extensive are the caves which we +possess, and whether they may not perhaps be finer than the grotto at +Adelsberg? The only one among us who has interested himself about them +is, if I do not mistake, Franz Schorn, and he has done very little in +the way of exploration. How is it, Franz; am I not right?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is true that I have done very little in the way of exploration. I +penetrated furthest into the cave in the grove of the Rusina. It is a +laborious piece of work. I lost all desire to penetrate further; it +seemed useless."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The Herr Professor thinks differently. Do you still desire to attempt +to explore one of these caves, Herr Professor? I was anxious to offer +you my assistance in so doing some time ago, but this horrible murder +has occupied our minds to the exclusion of every other thought."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Captain's proposal was very welcome to me. In my excursion on the +forenoon of this very day I had gazed with much interest in the grove +of the Rusina, at the dark opening among gigantic blocks of granite. I +had an intense desire to explore it, but prudence called a halt. +Overheated as I was in climbing about the mountains, I would not expose +myself to the danger to which the cold, damp interior of the cave would +expose me, and, besides, it would have been very foolish to attempt any +exploration without companions, for the slightest slip might prove +fatal. No one would ever have looked for me in the cave; if not killed, +I might have starved before I was discovered.</p> + +<p class="normal">Such considerations at the time forbade gratifying my desire to explore +the cave, but it awoke again within me at the Captain's offer; it +pleased me that it should be so entirely voluntary. I thanked him and +declared that I would gladly take part in an exploration of the cave +whenever he should arrange it.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Bravo! Then let us set to work early tomorrow morning and begin with +the cave in the grove of the Rusina. You will join us, Franz!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Gladly. I only fear that we shall not get far. There is a deep abyss +not many yards from the entrance."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How deep is it!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not know. I threw a lighted match into it, but it was quickly +extinguished; and a stone which I cast down soon struck some rock and I +could not see where it lay. I took no pains to explore further."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then we will try to do so to-morrow. Let us take with us a couple of +sturdy fellows, who can carry torches, some lanterns and a sufficient +length of strong rope, with perhaps a ladder or two. I will take with +me some magnesium wire, which will give us a brilliant light in the +depths."</p> + +<p class="normal">Franz agreed. We discussed the interesting expedition further, and +decided that we would start at seven o'clock the next morning.</p> + +<p class="normal">"May I make one of your party?" the Judge asked, when we had completed +our arrangements. Franz Schorn started and regarded the speaker with a +searching glance. Evidently he was about to refuse decidedly, but +thought better of it, bit his lip, and, with a slight gesture of his +hand, referred the matter to me. I cannot say that the proposal was +agreeable to me. I was surprised that the Judge should be willing to +take part in an expedition to which Franz Schorn was, to a certain +degree, the guide. I feared some unpleasant encounter between the two +men and I should have liked to refuse. This, however, courtesy forbade. +The Judge had always been so amiable and obliging in his behaviour to +me that it was impossible for me to decline his company.</p> + +<p class="normal">He noticed that I hesitated a moment, and, probably guessing whence +such hesitation proceeded, continued with a smiling look at Franz +Schorn:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am very much interested in our Ukraine caves, and I have already +visited a number of them. The cave in the grove of the Rusina is not +unfamiliar to me. I have not explored it to the extent of which Herr +Schorn tells us, but I am familiar with the entrance and would like to +penetrate its depths. Of course, I voluntarily acquiesce in the +intelligent guidance of Herr Schorn, who will take command of our +expedition. You would oblige me very much, Herr Professor, by your +permission to accompany you."</p> + +<p class="normal">I could not but accord it. It was impossible to do otherwise. The Judge +thanked me, as he did Schorn and the Captain, so courteously that I was +half inclined to suspect his sincerity. The prospect of this expedition +seemed to delight him. He suddenly became talkative and showed an +uncommon amiability to Schorn, although the young man met his advances +with monosyllabic replies. His attempt to make himself acceptable to +him was not happy; his cheerfulness seemed forced; his friendliness +assumed; his gaiety feverish. In his usual attitude at the table, +looking gloomily into his wineglass, he impressed me very unfavourably, +but to-day, when he was talkative and gay, I was still more +unfavourably impressed.</p> + +<p class="normal">I had a very strange feeling with regard to the Judge. I could not but +acknowledge that he was a good, honourable man. He had shown this +abundantly; but I felt a vague, instinctive aversion to him, which, +however I struggled against it, increased the more I knew him.</p> + +<p class="normal">I was uncomfortable in his society that evening; therefore I rose from +my place earlier than usual and called Mizka to light me to my room. To +my surprise, the Judge followed my example, although he had just +ordered another measure of wine.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will go with you, Herr Professor," he said, and he accompanied me +without drinking his wine. "To-morrow, then, at seven o'clock, Herr +Schorn."</p> + +<p class="normal">As he spoke he offered his hand to Schorn, but the young man ignored +it.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is to the Herr Professor or to the Captain that you owe permission +to accompany us," Schorn said, with cool contempt. "I have not agreed +to it. You and I have nothing in common."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perhaps you are wrong, Herr Schorn. I may convince you of this +to-morrow. I willingly submit myself to your guidance. Good-night."</p> + +<p class="normal">His features wore a detestable sneer as he uttered these words, and, +bowing to the rest of the company, he followed me.</p> + +<p class="normal">Upstairs on the landing I would have bidden him good-night, but he +said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I followed you, Herr Professor, because I want to speak a few words +with you alone. Allow me to go into your room with you. I'll not detain +you long."</p> + +<p class="normal">Of course I invited him to enter and to take a place on the old +straight-backed sofa, curious to learn what he could have to say to me. +When Mizka, after having lighted the candles, left the room, he sprang +up, went to the door and opened it to convince himself that she was not +listening, and then opened the door leading to the adjoining room to +make sure that no one was there. Then he returned to me, and in a voice +trembling with agitation said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I pray you, Herr Professor, to give me at once, now, your report of +meeting Franz Schorn in the neighbourhood of the Lonely House."</p> + +<p class="normal">I was startled. I had not expected this demand. Surprise made me +speechless for a moment. I could only ejaculate "Herr Foligno!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I understand your surprise, your dismay," he continued. "Believe me, +it has cost me a struggle to resolve to make this request, but it must +be. I may have neglected my duty in postponing it so long. Now, when my +suspicions have become almost a certainty, I can wait no longer. I am +compelled to collect all the grounds for it that I possess, and among +them belongs your meeting with him near the Lonely House. The paper +must be sent to the Attorney General at Laibach. It must be, Herr +Professor; you cannot refuse me. Every man of honour is bound to +support the authorities in the investigation of crime. You could not +wish to shield a criminal from the rigour of the law."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Most certainly not; but I am more than firmly convinced that Franz +Schorn is no murderer. You yourself, scarcely an hour ago, admitted the +proofs of his innocence adduced by the doctor."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did you not perceive that my words were ironical? I was obliged to +change the subject of the conversation. Franz Schorn must not be warned +by his friends. He must believe himself safe from discovery, or he will +betake himself to flight, for which the money gained by his crime gives +him abundant opportunity. Trieste is not far off, and a guide thither +is quickly found. I was obliged to conceal from him the knowledge that +I have discovered his crime. I put force upon myself to control my +abhorrence of him. This very night I must complete the full report +showing forth all the evidence against him, and in this I must include +your meeting with him near the Lonely House. An official will take the +paper to Laibach and deliver it in person; then the Attorney General +must decide whether the evidence it contains be sufficient to warrant +Schorn's arrest. I am myself perfectly convinced of his guilt. I ought +perhaps to arrest him on my own responsibility, but I will not expose +myself to the reproach of acting from personal hostility. I shall watch +him narrowly to prevent his flight, and therefore I begged to be +allowed to join your cave exploration. His arrest I will leave to the +Attorney General in Laibach. Thus I have explained to you frankly the +grounds for my action, and I pray you to give me the report for the +protocol, which you promised me a week ago. This report should consist, +in order to save yourself and myself unpleasant after inquiries, of the +declaration that to your meeting with Schorn you attached no importance +in the beginning, but since you have learned that the voice of the +people pronounce him the murderer you hold it to be your duty to +mention seeing him in the forest. You might add that you hold this +meeting to be of no importance and that you are most unwilling to +arouse a suspicion of the young man, but that, nevertheless, you feel +it your duty to tell of your encounter with him. I think such a report +cannot outrage your sense of justice."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It does not accord with my sense of justice to admit a suspicion which +I think false. If I make my report now, it will look as though I shared +this suspicion. The Attorney General would so interpret it, even though +I declared the contrary. I ought to have made the report immediately +after the discovery of the murder. You prevented my doing so then, and +now I will not make it until I see at least the possibility of other +grounds for it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is the duty of the Attorney General, not yourself, to judge of the +importance of your evidence," Herr Foligno replied sternly. "It is the +duty of the private individual to impart to the proper authorities +every circumstance that may be connected with a crime. Of course you +know that."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is not his duty," I said angrily, "if his inmost conviction is that +the circumstance he relates has no connection whatever with the crime, +although it may serve to arouse suspicion. If what you maintain be +correct, I ought also to advise the Attorney General that you yourself +were in the neighbourhood of the Lonely House on that morning and that +I found your pocket handkerchief where you had been plucking <i>Ophrys +Bertolini</i>."</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr Foligno shot such a look of rage at me from beneath his black +brows that I started in terror. I had no idea of affecting him so +deeply by my words. In a voice trembling with anger, which he vainly +strove to control, he said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then you would tell the Attorney General a falsehood. I have told you +that I did not pluck the flowers in the neighbourhood of the Lonely +House, but at a great distance from it, and in a spot difficult to +find, and that my handkerchief was by accident where you picked it up. +Is it possible that you do not believe me, although I have told you all +this distinctly?"</p> + +<p class="normal">He probably read in my face that I was not convinced of the truth of +this statement, for he continued in a sharp, angry tone:</p> + +<p class="normal">"You doubt, in spite of my words. Perhaps you entertain the possibility +of my having some connection with the crime----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What folly, Herr Foligno!" I cried, interrupting him. "I mentioned you +and your pocket handkerchief only to contradict your assertion that it +was my duty to tell of an insignificant experience. If I ought to +report having seen Franz Schorn near the Lonely House, I also ought to +report the finding of your handkerchief under the same circumstances."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you really consider this your duty, I shall not gainsay you," he +replied darkly, not lifting his eyes from the ground. "It is no affair +of mine. My task is to send this very night my deposition, containing +an account of your meeting with Franz Schorn, to the proper authorities +either with or against your consent. I may find myself in a very +unpleasant position and even imperil my office when I relate that I +myself advised you to withhold your report concerning Schorn, but +personal considerations must yield to my sense of duty. I had thought, +Herr Professor," he continued, in a more friendly tone, finding me +still silent, "that you would not willingly thus embarrass me. Believe +me, I would not so insist upon your evidence were I not thoroughly and +firmly convinced of the young man's guilt. To show you how highly I +esteem you, what implicit confidence I place in your honour and +silence, I will tell you, although scarcely warranted in so doing, of +the results of my laborious investigations during the last few weeks. +You yourself will then be convinced of your duty. It is a hard task for +me to make these revelations to you, for not only do they militate +against Franz Schorn, but against one who has been very dear to my +heart, and for whom to-day, in spite of my better judgment, I feel warm +affection; but it must be; you shall hear all."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Proceed; you may rely upon my discretion."</p> + +<p class="normal">I waited for what he had to say with intense eagerness. For a few +moments he sat silent, with downcast looks; then he began, not once +looking at me as he spoke:</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is difficult to indicate the precise moment at which suspicions of +Schorn were aroused within me. You yourself know of his bitter enmity +towards old Pollenz, whose death he could not but desire, since it +alone would bring him the fulfilment of his dearest wish. You know of +his being near the Lonely House immediately after the murder. You know +also of the wound in his hand, to account for which he told of having +grasped a double-edged knife as it fell from where he had left it. His +reluctance to show the wound to the doctor, and, more than all else, +his sudden accession of wealth after the crime, accuses him loudly. He +has made purchases which would have been impossible with his own +unassisted means. All these grounds of suspicion the doctor thought to +annihilate by his acute reasoning, showing that old Pollenz himself +could not possibly have admitted Schorn and that the murderer had +evidently entered the house without any violent breaking in of the +door. How is this to be accounted for? Unfortunately, the explanation +is only too clear. Fräulein Anna Pollenz, when officially examined, as +well as in her words to the Captain and to the doctor, portrayed a life +in her father's house absolutely opposed to reality. She maintained +that her father loved her most tenderly; that he was always kind and +gentle to her, and that even her connection with the hated Schorn and +her refusal to give me her hand had produced no change in his demeanour +toward her. Anna's words were universally believed. Who could doubt who +looked into her eyes and acknowledged their spell? To see her is to +love her. She wins all hearts at once. Every one believes her; every +one trusts her; and nevertheless every word that she spoke is false. +For years the Lonely House has witnessed terrible scenes between father +and daughter. The old man abused the lovely child outrageously because +she would not obey him. Unfortunately I myself was often the cause of +this abuse, although I declared continually to old Pollenz that I never +would claim Anna's hand unless she bestowed it upon me voluntarily; +unless I succeeded in winning the young girl's love. The old fellow was +a rough, heartless, violent man; a coward to those stronger than +himself, brutal to those who were weaker. He locked his daughter up; he +half starved her; he beat her so that she escaped from him bleeding. +For years he never spoke a kind word to her. He had unbounded +confidence in me; he even angrily complained to me of her disobedience. +I myself have witnessed frightful scenes, and on several occasions +prevented him with all my physical strength from maltreating the +beautiful, unfortunate child in my presence."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Frightful!" I exclaimed. The dreadful picture which the narrator +unfolded before me filled me with horror.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Beside myself, there is one other human being who is aware of the +family life in the Lonely House. Old Johanna was a witness of the +maltreatment which the unhappy girl suffered daily in our presence; in +the presence of others the old man assumed a kind, mild demeanour +toward his child; old Johanna suffered almost as much as Anna from the +brutality of her master. She would long ago have left him if she had +not been detained by tender affection for her mistress. After what you +have just heard you may judge with what amazement I was filled upon +learning after the death of old Pollenz that Anna had described her +relations with her father as happy, peaceful, and loving, and that old +Johanna in the final examination, had confirmed all that Anna said. I +pondered long to discover what grounds Anna could have for such a false +representation of the actual circumstances and why she should suddenly +develop such inconceivable hatred for me, who had so often protected +her from ill treatment. When at last I suspected the true cause I found +it difficult of belief. I alone can expose the tissue of lies which she +has woven around herself. I alone cannot be won over to testify to her +truth, as she has won over old Johanna, who would perjure herself +willingly for her darling, and Anna needs such falsehoods. It is almost +impossible to believe that the daughter, driven to madness and despair +by daily ill treatment, herself opened the locked doors for her lover. +Spare me further words, Herr Professor. My reason becomes confused when +I reflect on a deed so horrible. Ever since this solution became clear +to me, sleep is banished. I toss restlessly throughout the night. My +thoughts dwell perpetually in the Lonely House. At times I have feared +that I should become insane. The struggle raging within me during these +last few days is indescribable. I loved Anna with all my heart. I love +her still, and, although it is madness, I shall love her to my last +breath. Neither her crime nor the hatred which she displays towards me +can kill this insane love within me, and fate has ordained that I +should be the inexorable judge, the dread accuser of her lover, in +ruining whom I ruin her also; but I must do my duty, let my heart bleed +as it may."</p> + +<p class="normal">He had finished. The narrative had agitated him fearfully; he trembled +in every limb; his eyes glowed as with fever. I was scarcely less moved +than he. His words had torn the veil from my eyes; I could now see the +fearful scenes in the Lonely House clearly, and how they had led to the +final deed. I was ineffably sad. Great as was my detestation of the +horrible crime, I could not but pity deeply the unfortunate child whom +despair had maddened. Detestation, horror and pity by turns filled my +heart. I could put myself in the place of the unhappy man who had just +revealed to me his innermost soul.</p> + +<p class="normal">How long we confronted each other in silence I cannot say. We were both +too deeply moved to give expression in words to our feelings. Herr +Foligno recovered himself first. His voice no longer trembled as he +asked, after a long pause:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will you now sign the report which I will write out for you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes."</p> + +<p class="normal">I brought him paper, pen and ink. He quickly took down the evidence I +had to give, as he had before required that I should give it, and then +read aloud what he had written. I had no objection to offer, and signed +it.</p> + +<p class="normal">He arose and held out his hand in farewell.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have another terrible night before me," he said. "To-morrow a +messenger must take this early to Laibach, and a hard day will follow a +weary night for both of us. It will not be easy for you, Herr +Professor, to make one to-morrow of Franz Schorn's party to the cave +without allowing him to perceive your detestation of him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot; I shall excuse myself on the plea of illness."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, Herr Professor, you must not do this. Schorn will surely learn +through Mizka that I came with you to your room; he might suspect +something. A criminal of his calibre is on the watch for the merest +trifle which can arouse suspicion of his discovery. You, too, Herr +Professor, have a hard duty to perform, but it must be done. You must +be one of the party, as I shall be. Neither the Captain nor Schorn must +dream of what the near future will bring forth. I trust to your honour, +and I know that I do not trust in vain."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You may rely upon me; I will control myself."</p> + +<p class="normal">With another pressure of the hand we separated.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER X.</h2> +<h3><a name="div1_10" href="#div1Ref_10">AN ACCIDENT?</a></h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">As I tossed restlessly in bed I heard above me, as on the first night +after the murder, the pacing to and fro of the Judge. A magnetic +connection seemed to exist between us, causing me to think what he +thought, and to feel what he felt. The same terrible images which +banished sleep from his eyes were present before mine. I heard the +church clock strike hour after hour, and only with the first glimmer of +dawn did I enjoy a short slumber.</p> + +<p class="normal">At five o'clock I awakened. My first thoughts dwelt upon what the Judge +had told me the evening before. It now appeared to me in quite a +different light. I was more composed. The nervous agitation which had +then possessed me had vanished. I could reflect upon what I had heard. +As the Judge had spoken in his excitement, what he said had such an +effect upon me that it all seemed to me absolute verity without need of +proof, but now doubts sprang up, and a clearer understanding demanded +its rights.</p> + +<p class="normal">Had Herr Foligno really divulged to me unvarnished facts, which +convinced me of the guilt of Schorn and of his betrothed, as his +accomplice? No! He had accumulated evidence as the doctor had done. The +only fact was that Anna had not adhered to the truth in describing her +relations with her father, and was it not natural that the daughter +should try to clear her father's memory of all evil! It was very +natural that her filial affection should awaken after her father's +terrible death; that she should forget everything that had distressed +her in their relations--his harshness, even his maltreatment--and +remember only his love. And for this was she to be accused as an +accomplice in an accursed crime!</p> + +<p class="normal">I was ashamed of my credulity. Might not Herr Foligno be governed by +prejudice even to misunderstanding the relations between father and +daughter! A harsh word spoken by the father to Anna in his presence +might appear to him an intolerable offence, while Anna might scarcely +notice it.</p> + +<p class="normal">I really could not comprehend my credulity of the previous evening, or +how I could have been led by the Judge's excitement to regard as facts +the arguments he had adduced.</p> + +<p class="normal">And if Anna were not guilty, where were there grounds for suspicion of +Franz Schorn? I repented having signed the deposition and having +promised to be silent with regard to it; but I had given my promise, +and it must be kept. Perhaps, after all, it was as well, for my report +would elicit a judicial investigation of all grounds for suspicion of +Franz Schorn, who could be acquitted of all imputations only by a +thorough examination which could clear him from every suspicion +entertained of him by his fellow-townsmen.</p> + +<p class="normal">All these considerations soothed me. I could contemplate the expedition +which I had arranged with Franz Schorn for to-day without aversion. It +was rather disagreeable to know that the report signed by me was +already on its way to Laibach, while I was one of a party of pleasure, +all friends of the young man; but I would not ponder on this; it was +irrevocable.</p> + +<p class="normal">Soon after six o'clock I went down to the garden to take my morning cup +of coffee, and there I found the Captain and Franz awaiting me to +discuss the details for our excursion. Franz was full of life and +animation. I had never seen him so gay, so happy. There was no trace of +the sullen expression which sometimes clouded his handsome face. His +morning greeting was so cordial that I felt ashamed indeed as I shook +his proffered hand. This pleasant, happy young man guilty of a murder? +It was folly, nay, it was wicked to hold any such idea for a minute.</p> + +<p class="normal">He had early completed every necessary preparation for the excursion we +were about to make. The Captain and I had really nothing to provide; +even the magnesium wire had been bought at the druggist's. Two stout +labourers, who could speak German, were ready to accompany us, each of +them provided with a thick, pointed staff and a long rope, not too +thick, but very strong. Half a dozen pitch torches Schorn had procured +from the fire department, and a lantern for every member of the party. +In addition, the men carried after us two short, strong ladders.</p> + +<p class="normal">On the stroke of seven Herr Foligno entered the garden. He greeted +Schorn politely; the Captain and myself cordially. He looked ill and +worn. I had never seen his sallow features so expressionless, but his +dark eyes shone with feverish excitement.</p> + +<p class="normal">We began our walk. The people who met us looked after us in surprise as +we strode through the streets of Luttach. Apparently they could not +understand how two men, known to be such bitter enemies as Herr Foligno +and Franz Schorn, should be walking so peaceably side by side.</p> + +<p class="normal">At the furthest end of the town we descended to the bed of the Rusina. +In early spring, when the snow melts quickly upon Nanos and when heavy +rainfalls create hundreds of little brooks from the mountains, the +Rusina dashes along in wild fury; but after a drought it is almost +dried up, and is only a shallow rill of water trickling between the +stones of its rocky bed. We could walk along it without wetting our +feet. It was not very agreeable walking, but it was the nearest way to +the grove, which we reached after scarcely ten minutes.</p> + +<p class="normal">Here, in the centre of this grove, consisting of scarcely a hundred +huge oaks, there is a pile of mighty rocks; large blocks, covered with +luxuriant green moss, are heaped together in a confused mass, in which +is an opening, black and forbidding, about the height of a man, which +forms the entrance to the cave we were to explore. Here we halted and +consulted. It was decided that we should enter in single file, Franz +Schorn first as our guide. I was to follow him. Herr Foligno came after +me, and the Captain was last. Our two porters closed the little +procession. The lanterns were lighted and each of us took one.</p> + +<p class="normal">We entered the cave, which was at first tolerably spacious; into it +daylight penetrated, making a dim twilight. About four or five yards +above us arched a roof of black, moist stone. The ground beneath, +descending rather precipitously, was covered with small fragments of +rock which had apparently fallen from the roof, loosened by the +dampness. There was no trace of the beautiful stalactites for which the +Adelsberg Grotto is so famous. The light of our lanterns was quite +sufficient to reveal clearly the part of the cave where we stood and +the path leading down to the depths. A few yards from the entrance the +cave narrowed. There was room between the walls of rock for only two +men to walk abreast; and indeed the walking was extremely difficult, +because of the slippery scales of rock with which the floor was strewn.</p> + +<p class="normal">Forward! We walked, or, rather, we scuffled, downwards, in danger at +every step of falling on the slippery stones. After a few minutes our +path grew easier; it no longer descended; although still strewn with +fragments of rock, the danger of slipping was less. We had more room. +The walls retreated and vanished beyond the circle of light cast by our +lanterns, which could no longer illumine the roof of the cave arching +above us.</p> + +<p class="normal">"'Here it resembles a cathedral,' the Adelsberger guides would say, if +they were here," said Franz Schorn with a laugh, stopping and raising +his lantern. "How high this dome is I have never before with my +insufficient light been able to discover, and just because I had +insufficient light I ventured but little further into the cave."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You reached an abyss which prevented your further progress; at least +you told us so yesterday," said the Judge.</p> + +<p class="normal">"True. It is only a few minutes' walk from here. If we go through the +cathedral and turn a little to the left, we shall reach the only outlet +which leads further among the rocks. It is a very narrow, rocky way, +suddenly ending in a sheer abyss. It is for us to discover to-day +whether it is possible to be lowered by a rope into its depths and to +find sufficient foothold below to enable us to continue our +exploration. When, four or five years ago, I last entered the cave, +quite alone, I could go no further, and so I returned from this spot."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Must we turn to the left!" asked the Judge. "You are mistaken; we must +turn to the right; to the left the cave is completely blocked by a heap +of rocky fragments."</p> + +<p class="normal">Franz Schorn regarded the speaker with surprise, bethought himself a +moment, and then exclaimed:</p> + +<p class="normal">"True, you are right. I remember now that I found a heap of rocks on my +left, and then turned to the right to find an outlet. But how did you +know this, Herr Foligno?"</p> + +<p class="normal">One of the two porters laughed aloud, and answered in the Judge's stead +with some words in Slavonic, which seemed to surprise the Captain as +well as Schorn.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What, Herr Foligno, you were here in the cave a week ago, with Rassak, +and ventured as far as the abyss, and never told us anything about it +yesterday?" exclaimed the Captain.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I told you that I had entered the cave, but had not gone far. I do not +talk much of such trifles," he replied irritably, adding:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Shall we not light a couple of torches to see how high the roof is?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The torches were lighted, but did not suffice to reveal the height of +the cave. Only when the magnesium light flamed up and cast its dazzling +radiance upwards did we perceive for a few moments the rocky roof some +twenty yards above us.</p> + +<p class="normal">"This is gruesome," said the Captain, with a long breath, as the +brilliant light was extinguished and the darkness around us seemed +deeper and blacker than before. "We can now understand how the floor +beneath our feet is so covered with fragments of rock. Evidently large +pieces fall from the roof and are broken into a hundred bits below. +Look, Herr Foligno; the stones just here show traces of having been but +lately broken. At any minute another fragment might fall and be the +death of us."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, such an exploration is not without danger," the Judge replied +with a sneer. "But let us proceed, gentlemen. The shorter the time +spent here beneath this roof the less danger is there that we shall be +injured by a falling rock. Let us go on, in the same order as hitherto. +You go first, Herr Schorn."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Since you visited the cave only a week ago, you had better act as +guide, Herr Foligno."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, I refuse. I expressly stated yesterday that I should be entirely +guided by you, and I repeat it. Therefore, pray, Herr Schorn, go before +us; I will follow with the Herr Professor."</p> + +<p class="normal">Schorn made no further objection. We pursued our way, keeping to the +right, and entered the narrow opening between the rocks, which seemed +the only means by which to penetrate further into the cave. It was +narrower than any path hitherto. It would have been impossible for two +men to walk in it abreast, but there was more than enough room, when in +single file. Our lanterns and the torches of the porters cast +sufficient light to show us a gentle ascent in front and to enable us +to proceed free from all risk of danger.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We have reached the abyss," Schorn said, halting after a few moments. +"Here we can go no further, and if we cannot find, after being lowered +by a rope, another opening, our exploration party has reached its +limits. The abyss appears to be not only sheer, but the rock upon which +we stand overhangs it somewhat. I will lie flat on the ground and look +down. Perhaps I shall succeed in finding an outlet, but I must have a +brighter light than that of the lanterns. Give me one of the torches, +Herr Professor."</p> + +<p class="normal">A torch was passed from hand to hand; I gave it to Schorn, who laid +himself flat on the ground, and, leaning over the abyss as far as +possible, endeavoured to cast into it the light of the torch. As he lay +there I had a view of the depths, but it gave me little hope for the +continuance of our exploration. The red light of the torch was +sufficient to show me a black wall rising twelve or fifteen feet on the +opposite side of the abyss. It seemed to bar all progress, giving no +hint of any outlet. A few feet above our heads the smoke of the torches +hung in a cloud, which found no egress from the cave.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Beneath us, scarcely twenty feet below, there is firm footing," cried +Schorn, "and, if I do not mistake, the cave then leads to the right +among the rocks; but I must have a brighter light."</p> + +<p class="normal">He handed the torch back to me and took a piece of magnesium wire from +his pocket. The next moment the cave as far as we could overlook it was +illumined as by an electric light.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A happy discovery; we can go on," cried Schorn, delighted, as the +light was extinguished. "I can assure you, gentlemen," he said, rising, +"that the first difficulty is almost without danger, and easy to +overcome."</p> + +<p class="normal">We crowded about him; even the two porters were determined not to lose +a word of his description.</p> + +<p class="normal">Beneath the overhanging rock, at a depth of scarcely fifteen or twenty +feet, there was a firm footing, a platform of stone quite broad enough +to give standing room for at least five or six men, and from this +platform a way was distinguishable on the right through a narrow +opening in the rocks.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now you see, Herr Foligno, I was right a week ago. You would not +believe me, but so it is," exclaimed Rassak, one of the porters, +exultantly, speaking German.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who asked your opinion!" the Judge said harshly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did Rassak, then, discover the continuance of the cave?" said the +Captain.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, yes," the Judge replied irritably. "It seems at present that he +was probably right. He lay down on the ground and let down a lantern by +a rope, and then declared that the cave had a further outlet. I lay +down after him and looked down, but I could see no opening. I did not +believe him, and it was partly to convince myself whether or not he was +correct that I offered to accompany you to-day. I could not explore it +myself then; I had no rope strong enough to lower me to the platform +below, which might have been done without danger."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not quite without danger, at least for the first to attempt it," +Schorn remarked calmly, "but it is not great. It needs a little swing +on the rope to reach the platform, but when one man obtains firm +footing there, the rest is easy. I will be let down first, and can draw +the rest toward me. The porters must stay here, that they may pull us +up when we return."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But it seems to me a very perilous undertaking," said the Captain +anxiously. "We cannot expose our Herr Professor to such danger. If the +rope breaks before he reaches the platform, or if he should be seized +with giddiness, he would fall into a bottomless abyss."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will guarantee the strength of the rope," said Franz Schorn.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And I that I shall suffer no dizziness; I do not know the sensation." +I was so keen for the continuance of our exploration that I was almost +irritated by the Captain's anxiety on my behalf. The danger would have +to be far greater than it was to deter me from further progress. +Hitherto I had found no trace of a cave beetle; there had been nothing +living among the bald black rocks. Only at a greater depth could I hope +to satisfy my passion for collecting.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If the Captain thinks the danger too great, he can remain with the +porters. I shall be glad to follow the Herr Professor," said the Judge; +whereupon the Captain turned upon him angrily, declaring that he was +not thinking of danger for himself, but for the old gentleman who was +their guest in Luttach; since, however, the Herr Professor wished to +go, he himself should surely not remain behind.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus we determined to proceed. Franz Schorn gave us the necessary +directions. He wished us to put the rope around us and to hold it +firmly when we were lowered. These directions were not necessary in my +case; I have made use of rope so often with my guides among the +glaciers, and have so frequently been let down from the rocks to obtain +some rare plant, that I was quite familiar with its use. There seemed +to be no possible peril here, even for Franz Schorn, for four of us +would hold the rope and we could lower him very gradually for the short +distance to the platform below, making any great swing of the rope +impossible. The two porters could easily lower the Captain, who was to +be the last of us to follow.</p> + +<p class="normal">Schorn arranged the rope so that he could place himself in the loop; he +fastened a lantern to it, and then advanced to the edge of the rocks, +seated himself, and, still holding to the irregular surface he slowly +lowered himself, while we, holding the rope, paid it out inch by inch. +I followed him to the edge, but I did not look down, because I +concentrated all my attention upon the paying out of the rope.</p> + +<p class="normal">After scarcely a minute we heard him call from below:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Halt! I am all right. Draw the rope up again."</p> + +<p class="normal">I laid myself flat on the ground and looked over the edge of the +platform, which was now illuminated by the lantern which Schorn held. +It was light enough for me to see the young man distinctly as he stood +quite comfortably not far below me. I could also discern the black +opening to the right, the continuation of the cave.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Follow me, Herr Professor," Schorn called up. "Do just as I did; there +is no danger; seat yourself in the loop and as soon as you are lowered, +I will drag you to me. A dozen men beside us could find room on this +platform."</p> + +<p class="normal">I did as he directed and seated myself in the loop, but as I was about +to swing clear of the outer edge of the rock to follow Schorn's +example, my heart suddenly gave a leap. For a moment horror overcame me +as I looked into the depths below; I hesitated to cast myself loose.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you afraid, Herr Professor!" The Judge stood immediately behind +me, regarding me with a sneer. His eyes gleamed strangely as he leaned +over me.</p> + +<p class="normal">There is no greater folly than to expose oneself to a danger out of +fear of being called a coward. I have often declared this, but at that +moment, old man as I am, I committed this folly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hold the rope firmly; I will let myself down," I replied.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have no fear, we will hold it fast."</p> + +<p class="normal">I hovered above the abyss and was slowly lowered. I had almost reached +the platform when I heard above me a strange creaking; at the next +moment I knew I was falling, but a strong arm was thrown around me and +Franz Schorn and I staggered and fell on the platform. Just then I +heard a scream from above.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Great God!" exclaimed the voice of the Judge. "The rope has broken; +the Professor has fallen into the abyss!"</p> + +<p class="normal">This was all the work of a moment. I tried to stand up, but I could +not; my right ankle was terribly painful. Franz Schorn, who had fallen +with me, was quickly on his feet.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I never will believe that the rope broke," he whispered. He seized it +and examined it by the light of his lantern on the ground; mine had +been broken and extinguished in my fall.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It was half cut through before it broke," he said in a dull tone. +"That scoundrel, Foligno, has tried to plunge you into the abyss."</p> + +<p class="normal">Hastily taking a knife from his breast pocket he cut off the end of the +rope and handed it to me.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Keep this," he whispered. "You may perhaps need it for proof that the +rascal tried to murder you."</p> + +<p class="normal">I heard his words, but I did not understand him. My thoughts were in +wild confusion; I was still half stunned by my fall. Mechanically I +followed his directions and put the piece of rope in my pocket. Only +gradually did I clearly understand in what danger I had been, and that +Franz Schorn had ventured his own life to rescue mine. It was almost a +certainty that I should drag him down to the abyss, but he had seized +me as I fell, and at the risk of his life had pulled me back to the +platform.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have saved my life----"</p> + +<p class="normal">He interrupted me. "Don't speak of it. We all help one another as well +as we can. What we have to think of now is how to reach the rock above +us without injury."</p> + +<p class="normal">He suddenly paused, as from above came the voice of the Judge:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank God! The accident is not so bad as I feared. I can see the Herr +Professor and Herr Schorn on the platform below. Are you hurt, Herr +Professor?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I believe my right ankle is broken," I called back.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good heavens! What shall we do?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, of course," Schorn replied, "you must lower the second rope to +pull us up. I beg, however, that Rassak may be the first man, Bela the +second, the Captain the third, and that you, Herr Foligno, do not touch +the rope. It might break in your hands a second time. I will not trust +you with the Herr Professor's life or my own."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Judge made no reply. For a moment all was silent, and then the +Captain called down to us:</p> + +<p class="normal">"What nonsense you are talking, Franz! You have mortally offended the +Judge. He had nothing to do with the accident. He is in despair that +the Herr Professor should be injured."</p> + +<p class="normal">"His anger is of no consequence," Franz answered. "He promised me to +submit to my orders, and I insist upon his not touching the rope +again."</p> + +<p class="normal">A long discussion began. The Captain was seriously angry at the offence +Franz had given to the Judge, whom he attempted to soothe, but Franz +declared positively that he would wait with me on the platform for +hours until Rassak could procure two other men rather than trust +himself and me to a rope passing through the hands of the Judge. He +said nothing of his suspicion that the rope had been partly cut +through, and, therefore, the Captain thought his demand unjustifiable +and prompted solely by hatred of his foe. He was indignant, but he was +obliged to comply with the young man's demand, in order that I might be +relieved from my most unpleasant situation as soon as possible. He +promised that Rassak should be stationed close to the edge and that the +Judge should take no part in the pulling up of the rope. While the +Captain and Franz were discussing the matter I had examined my ankle, +and, to my great joy, found that it was not broken, but had been +severely sprained by my fall. It was excessively painful, but I could +move it; I could even stand with Franz's assistance. Some moments +passed, and then Schorn's name was called from above.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is that you, Rassak?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where is the Judge?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herr Foligno has gone back to the dome alone. He is to wait there +until we come."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Lower the second rope to me; I wish to examine it."</p> + +<p class="normal">After a minute the rope hovered above us; Franz seized it, unfastened +it from the other rope to which it was tied and examined it narrowly by +the light of the lantern.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is sound and uninjured. I feared the rascal might have cut this +through secretly; but he has not dared to do so. Now we can allow +ourselves to be pulled up without delay."</p> + +<p class="normal">Rassak was ordered to pull the rope up again and then to throw down to +us the broken one. This was done. Franz cut a piece from the broken end +with his knife and gave it to me, saying:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Keep it with the one you have, Herr Professor."</p> + +<p class="normal">After which he busied himself with preparations for my rescue. These he +made with great care, trying the strength of the rope which he tied +about me and of the loop in which I seated myself. Although I protested +and declared that I could now care for myself perfectly, he used the +piece of old rope to keep me steady as I ascended, holding it firmly +below to prevent any swaying of the other. Thus I reached the top of +the rock in safety, although my short ascent had caused almost +intolerable pain in my sprained ankle, and when Rassak received me in +his powerful arms above, I could not move the injured foot. I tried to +stand up and to walk, but it was quite impossible. Rassak was forced to +take me on his broad shoulders and carry me back to the dome. The +Captain and Bela carried their lanterns in advance; without their light +he could scarcely have made his way along the narrow path through the +rocks. Franz was obliged to wait on the platform for some minutes +before being drawn up.</p> + +<p class="normal">We found the Judge seated on a block of stone at the entrance of the +rocky way beneath the dome. He sprang up as we approached.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank God, Herr Professor!" he cried, throwing his arm kindly about me +for my support, as Rassak placed me on the ground. He pushed aside +several large stones to make a comfortable bed for me. He even took off +his coat and put it upon the rock that I might have a softer resting +place. He was full of kind attention, far exceeding the Captain, who +congratulated me in a few simple words and expressed his joy upon my +escape; nevertheless I had a strange sensation, akin to fear, when he, +with Rassak and Bela, returned through the narrow way to rescue Franz +and I was left alone in the vault with the Judge. Involuntarily I put +my hand in my breast pocket where was the trusty companion of all my +excursions, my revolver. I could not but recall Franz Schorn's words on +the platform, and the impression which they had made upon me was +deepened when my hand met the small pieces of rope. I dreaded to see +the fading light of the last lantern disappear in the narrow pathway. I +was miserably uncomfortable in the spacious dark vault, where the light +of a single lantern cast a ray of light so weak as only to enhance the +black darkness of the place.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Judge seated himself close beside me, and when the Captain vanished +in the narrow path he seized my hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herr Professor," he said, modulating his voice to the lowest whisper, +"I have been assailed by a horrible suspicion as I sat here. I feared I +never should see you again. Was the accident which befell you +occasioned by chance? If the rope was strong enough to sustain the +heavy weight of Schorn, how could it break with the much lesser strain +of your weight? Tell me, Herr Professor, does Franz Schorn know that +you have told me of his meeting you in the forest on the day of the +murder?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then what I feared is but too certain. You saw him in the +neighbourhood of the Lonely House on that day. The only witness against +him must die. While he stood beneath us on the rocky platform he +loosened the rope and cut it so that it parted as we were lowering you. +We will examine the rope; there must be traces of a cut in it."</p> + +<p class="normal">Schorn had brought against this man the very accusation which was now +brought against himself. He could have had no cause for his +supposition, whilst the reason adduced by the Judge was not without +probability.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perhaps you will object," the Judge continued, "that he has saved your +life; that without his aid you must have fallen into the chasm. He need +not have stretched out his hand if he had wished to murder you. This +thought also occurred to me, but, upon reflection, I find that my +suspicion is only strengthened by your rescue. Perhaps his movement was +involuntary--an impulse of the moment to seize a falling man--but, +again, perhaps your rescue is only part of a cunning scheme. He makes +sure that you never could decide to speak a word against the saviour of +your life; he does not know that this word is already spoken. He +thought, therefore, that he could save your life and yet attain his +purpose without burdening his soul with a second murder. Indeed, should +suspicion arise that the rope did not break accidentally, he might +easily cast it upon another. Why else did he demand that I should take +no part in drawing you up? He wished to arouse suspicion of me in your +mind and in the Captain's. None could attach to him, were it discovered +later that the rope had actually been cut, if he saved your life, and +he will not fail to remind you that it was at the risk of his own. He +is a thorough villain and incredibly cunning. I fear I shall have many +difficulties to overcome before establishing the proof of his guilt and +revealing him as the murderer of old Pollenz."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Judge's words produced a deep impression on me. Had not everything +that he set forth actually happened? One thing was certain--the rope +had been cut. Whose was the blame? The Judge's--who could have no +interest in plunging me into the abyss? Why should he attempt to take +my life? Franz Schorn's--who had saved my life at the risk of his own? +However the Judge might endeavour to disparage the danger to which he +had exposed himself, I knew better. I had felt him stagger as he leaned +over beyond the rock and dragged me toward him. The success of this +hazardous action was due to his physical strength and good luck; it was +little short of a miracle that he had not been dragged down to the +depths with me. Where lay the truth? In vain I pondered; I could not +fathom it.</p> + +<p class="normal">Voices were heard coming through the narrow pathway, and the Captain, +Rassak, Bela, and last of all, Schorn, appeared. Franz gave me a kindly +nod; of the Judge he took not the smallest notice, but resumed his +command and the guidance of the expedition. He directed the porters to +strap together the ladders, of which we had hitherto made no use, and +upon them placed the jackets of the men of the party, forming a litter +for me. Rassak and Bela then bore me from beneath the vault to the +entrance of the cave. I suffered intolerably; only when we had again +entered the forest and my kind companions were able to make my litter +softer with boughs and branches of trees did I find any relief from the +torture I was enduring.</p> + +<p class="normal">In this melancholy wise we returned to Luttach, and thus ended my +investigation of an unexplored Ukraine cave.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XI.</h2> +<h3><a name="div1_11" href="#div1Ref_11">FORCED SECLUSION</a>.</h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">I was confined to my lofty bed in my chamber in the inn for three days. +The doctor insisted I must stay there with cold compresses upon my foot +until the inflammation had entirely disappeared, and then a week at +least must be spent in my room with the injured leg stretched out +before me, nor could I dream of undertaking any further excursions +until two weeks at least had elapsed.</p> + +<p class="normal">This was a melancholy prospect. Two weeks of imprisonment in the bare, +low-ceiled guest-chamber No. 2; while out of doors the sun was shining +and calling me to wanderings in the forest and on the mountains. But +what cannot be cured must be endured.</p> + +<p class="normal">I could not complain of ennui. Of society I had more than enough; I +sometimes longed to be alone for an hour to reflect upon my remarkable +adventures, but I had visitors in unbroken succession, and until late +in the evening I was not left for a moment to myself.</p> + +<p class="normal">All the gentlemen whom I had met about the round table in the +dining-room came to testify in the friendliest manner their sympathy, +and to beg me to relate my adventures, while Mizka and Frau Franzka by +turns saw to my comfort, attending most carefully to the compresses +upon my ankle. I could not have been more kindly and attentively cared +for than in the Slavonic inn in Ukraine. But it was almost too much of +a good thing. Their perpetual attention became burdensome, and the +constant stream of visitors wearied me. To tell the same thing over +and over again was not very amusing, especially as a number of my +auditors--Weber, Gunther, Meyer, Mosic, and the notary, Deitrich--did +not seem to give full credence to my story; that is, with regard to my +rescue by Franz Schorn. They put all sorts of questions to me with +regard to what had passed on the platform of rock, questions which I +could not or would not answer, for, of course, I said not a word of the +rope's bearing traces of having been cut, although this seemed to be +just the very point to which they wished to lead me.</p> + +<p class="normal">Through the Clerk, Herr Von Einern, I at last learned the reason for +their persistent questions. He expressed his indignation at the account +which Herr Foligno had given on the evening of our adventure. It was +eminently devised to arouse in his hearers a suspicion that in some +manner Franz Schorn was to blame for my accident. He did not speak +explicitly, but as unwilling to blame Schorn; he would leave that to +me, who had sustained the injury; but in speaking thus he had contrived +to increase the desire of those present to hear more.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Captain confirmed his statement, but was indignant not only with +Franz Schorn, but with the conduct of the Judge himself. He would not +forgive Schorn for accusing Herr Foligno to me, apparently without any +reason, while he found the revenge taken by the Judge unworthy and +mean. In his opinion there had simply been an unfortunate accident; the +rope had been cut by some sharp projection in the rocks; Franz had +certainly risked his life to save mine, but this did not justify him in +what he had said of the Judge, which made Herr Foligno the direct cause +of the fall.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the end I positively could not tell what to think of the affair. My +harassing doubt was corroborated by a visit in the evening from the +Judge. He had seen me during the day, but only for a few minutes at a +time, to express his sympathy and to ask after my welfare, saying +nothing during these short visits concerning my adventure; but in the +evening he paid me a longer call, begging permission to bestow his +society upon me for a while and to drink his wine in my room instead of +in the dining-room below. He settled himself comfortably beside me, +informing Mizka and Frau Franzka that he would assume the care of me +during the evening and change my compresses. I tried to prevent this, +but he would take no refusal, and rendered his services with assiduous +precision. It was quite touching to see how careful he was to avoid +giving me the least pain, and how he anticipated my every wish.</p> + +<p class="normal">I could not but be grateful, but I was not comfortable in his society, +for as soon as Mizka and Frau Franzka had left the room he took the +opportunity to express himself most clearly with regard to our +adventure and Franz Schorn. He informed me that he had received a +telegram from Laibach announcing that the investigating Judge and the +Attorney General would visit Luttach on the morrow to conduct +personally further inquiries, desirous of hearing from my own lips the +manner of my meeting with Franz Schorn on the day of the murder. He +coupled this information with the desire that I should not withhold +from the gentlemen what I thought with regard to Franz Schorn's +connection with my accident.</p> + +<p class="normal">When I refused point blank to do this and declared that I suspected +Franz of nothing, that I was convinced that accident only had caused +the breaking of the rope, he became very indignant at such ill-judged +forbearance.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot understand you, Herr Professor," he said angrily. "Suspicion +is almost become certainty. Schorn has betrayed himself by superfluous +caution. It is a common experience among lawyers that the criminal +often furnishes the clue to his discovery by excess of caution, and +this has been Schorn's case. To destroy all traces of a cut in the rope +he has cut off both ends of the break and thrown them away in the cave. +Perhaps they can still be found; but should this not be the case, the +fact of his so disposing of them tells against him. What other aim +could he have in thus destroying all traces of the cut?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But he did not throw them away. He cut them off in my presence and +gave them to me. Here they are," I replied, taking the ends of rope +from my breast pocket.</p> + +<p class="normal">I spoke and acted without thought, as I felt the moment the words were +out of my mouth and I perceived their effect upon my hearer. He started +from his chair as if from an electric shock and took instant possession +of the ends of rope.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He gave them to you," he cried, "and why? Ah! now I understand it all. +Conscious of his guilt, he feared discovery, and bethought himself, in +his over-caution, to inform you of what had been done. Suspicion must +be thrown upon another, and I was that other. Tell me frankly, Herr +Professor--I have a right to ask it--tell me, did he not hint to you +that I had cut the rope?"</p> + +<p class="normal">I had acted like a fool and was now painfully embarrassed. I was +obliged to confess to him that his suspicion was correct. He instantly +grew excessively angry.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What doubly detestable villainy," he cried, "refinement of +rascality--to throw suspicion on me and to adduce as proof the cut +which his own knife had made, and which, of course, he knew well enough +where to find! Of course I know that his words did not make the +smallest impression on you. Nevertheless they anger me beyond +expression. I did not credit even the villain that he is with such +rascality, but it shall react upon himself. These two fragments shall +bear witness against him. I shall give them to the Attorney General +to-morrow."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed you will not," I replied firmly. "I owe my life to Franz +Schorn. Without his aid I should now be lying dead in the depths of the +cave. I do not know whether a knife or a sharp stone worked the +mischief, but I do know that Schorn risked his own life for mine. This +is solely my affair. My life was imperilled and I surely have the right +to demand that no evil shall be said of him who preserved it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will you deny me the right to clear myself from all suspicion? This +can be done only by proving that Schorn himself cut the rope."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No one has suspected you except Franz Schorn, and to me alone has he +expressed his suspicion. I am sure that the breaking of the rope was an +accident. I shall not allow suspicion to attach to any one, either to +you or to Schorn. I require of you to return to me the pieces of rope +and to be silent to the Attorney General concerning the whole matter; +the affair concerns myself alone."</p> + +<p class="normal">Herr Foligno made many objections to my demand. I found it difficult to +soothe him; he was so indignant with Schorn for showing me the ends as +proof against him. He burned with the desire for revenge for such an +insult, and I succeeded only with great trouble and much entreaty in +persuading him to be silent and to return to me the ends of rope.</p> + +<p class="normal">He remained until far into the night--a civility I could easily have +dispensed with. I was not comfortable in his society. I tried in vain +to talk on indifferent subjects; he persisted in returning to the +adventure in the cave and always with an attempt to cast further +suspicion upon Schorn. His hatred for Franz and his indignation at what +Franz had said to me was so great that he could think of nothing else. +He would have tormented me, I believe, until daybreak with his +accusations and his discussions of the matter; but at last I frankly +told him that I had need of repose, and then he bade me good-night.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XII.</h2> +<h3><a name="div1_12" href="#div1Ref_12">AN ARREST</a>.</h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">I had to undergo a long examination. The investigating Judge and the +Attorney General came from Laibach. Immediately after receiving Herr +Foligno's deposition, they determined to take the very uncomfortable +journey to Luttach to hear for themselves from witnesses on the spot +all that was known regarding Franz Schorn's actions and whereabouts +during the last few weeks. The investigating Judge told me of this with +all the courtesy of an Austrian official. With entire lack of reserve, +he informed me that although Herr Foligno's carefully prepared paper +was quite sufficient to attach suspicion to Schorn, it did not at all +suffice to convince him of the young man's guilt. He requested me to +tell everything that I knew of Schorn and to hold back nothing out of +regard for the man who, as he had already heard in Adelsberg, had saved +my life. It was my duty to tell not only the truth, but the whole +truth.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Judge was a handsome, kindly man, so courteous that he would not +have me summoned for my examination to the court house, but took down +my deposition in my room. Yet with all his amiability and in spite of +the sympathy which he apparently felt for Franz Schorn, his inquiries +were frightfully searching; he forced me to tell him more than I wished +to.</p> + +<p class="normal">I had intended at this hearing to confine myself to what I had dictated +in the Judge's deposition, but I could not keep my resolution. When the +Judge asked me if Franz Schorn, of whom I had seen much in the last few +weeks, had never told me his reason for avoiding me in the forest, I +could not reply in the negative, and I was forced to assent, and to +relate the conversation I had had with Franz and his betrothed. I could +not conceal that each had requested me to say nothing of the meeting in +the forest. Such an interview as this of mine with the Judge is very +curious. The witness knows that every word he utters is upon his oath, +and also that it may decide the fate of a fellow mortal. Every +consideration vanishes before such a responsibility, and I could have +none for the Judge. I had to acknowledge to my examiner that Anna and +Franz had given as a reason of the request for my silence that the +Judge's hatred of the young man was so intense that he would surely use +my meeting with Franz as evidence against him.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Judge shook his head thoughtfully on hearing this; he evidently did +not credit their explanation. Had I cherished no suspicion? Had it +never occurred to me as odd that Franz Schorn should have wounded his +hand? I could not deny that such a suspicion had occurred to me, but I +could declare with a good conscience that it had vanished entirely +after I had come to know Schorn better.</p> + +<p class="normal">What was the reason that after this first awakening of suspicion I had +not informed the authorities of my meeting with the young man in the +neighborhood? Why had I withheld this information until the day before +yesterday? This keen questioning forced me to an exact reply. I told of +how I had desired to give information immediately of my meeting with +Schorn, and I gave Herr Foligno's reason for begging me not to insert +it in an official deposition, and as a natural consequence I related +the reasoning by which he had induced me to render to him my official +statement.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Strange; very strange," said the Judge, more to himself than to me. +"Herr Foligno has allowed personal considerations, personal feelings to +influence his official action. Very unjustifiable!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He was silent for a while and then questioned me further with continued +and frightful thoroughness. I did not wish to speak of the adventure in +the cave, but when the interview was over, I had told everything that I +knew about my fall, my rescue, and the accusations made by Schorn and +the Judge with regard to the cut ends of rope. After the official paper +had been read to me and I had signed it, the Judge offered me his hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your testimony has been of the greatest importance, Herr Professor," +he said gravely. "You have so far confirmed suspicion against Schorn +that the young man's arrest is an unavoidable necessity, but at the +same time you have proved to me that an influence has been at work in +this unfortunate affair which I must investigate further. Whatever may +be the true history of the strange adventure in the cave, Schorn +undoubtedly saved your life and you owe him gratitude for it. If you +wish to testify this, you can do so by preserving profound silence with +regard to your testimony of to-day as well towards the friends as to +the foes of Herr Schorn, and, of course, to Judge Foligno. He has +nothing to do further with the official investigation; he must in his +turn appear as a witness, and it is especially desirable for the +establishment of the truth that your testimony with regard to him +should remain unknown. May I hope that you will promise me inviolable +secrecy towards Herr Foligno, Herr Professor?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly, most willingly; but what am I to reply when Herr Foligno +questions me? He wanted to send you an account of the adventure in the +cave, and only desisted at my express desire."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do not let this consideration influence you. It is of the greatest +importance in the investigation that the Judge should know nothing of +your testimony with regard to the adventure in the cave. If he asks +you, tell him the simple truth; it is unlawful for witnesses to discuss +together their testimony, and he is henceforth a witness like yourself. +Tell him that I told you this, and that I enjoined it upon you to +refuse even the slightest information with regard to your testimony."</p> + +<p class="normal">With this counsel, which I determined to follow implicitly, the Judge +took his leave. He left me in an indescribable agitation, which +increased when the District Judge paid me a visit immediately after. He +came, as he told me frankly, to learn how the investigating Judge had +received my testimony. When I told him of the promise which I had +given, he was greatly surprised.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I! A witness like all the rest?" he cried indignantly. "These +government officials are so puffed up with pride and self-conceit that +they don't know what they are about. They owe to me, to my activity, to +my research, every ray of light cast upon the darkness of the crime, +and now they push me aside, rob me of the reward of my discovery, and +regard me as a simple witness; but they shall not succeed; I will not +submit; and you, too, Herr Professor, you need not feel yourself bound +by a promise which no one had a right to exact from you; you may +without fear tell me anything that you desire."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not know whether I should be justified in doing so or not," I +replied, shrugging my shoulders. "I do not know the Austrian laws, but +I am well aware that if I have undertaken no legal responsibility, a +moral one rests upon me not to speak of my testimony after the promise +which I have given. You must pardon me, Herr Foligno, if I preserve +absolute silence."</p> + +<p class="normal">He looked at me angrily and evilly. "As you please; I shall make no +further request of you," he said after a little pause. "One thing I +have a right to demand of you in a matter which concerns me personally. +Have you----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I regret that I can make no reply to any question, whatever it may be. +My promise to be silent was given unconditionally."</p> + +<p class="normal">He cast at me a glance full of rage and left the room without saying +farewell. I had deeply offended him by my persistent refusal. I sat +alone with a heavy heart, discontented with myself. I had offended the +man who had been so kind and courteous to me during my stay in Luttach, +and I had also placed him in a perilous position by my testimony to his +superior. This was a very disagreeable thought. He was not aware of it, +but when he learned it, would he not have a right to be angry with me +and to accuse me of a breach of confidence? I had strengthened +suspicion against Franz Schorn, the saviour of my life. It was my fault +that the young man was now threatened with the loss of his liberty. I +was provoked with myself for my imprudent and frank expressions, and +yet again, when I reflected on the late examination and the questioning +I had undergone, I could not have answered differently in accordance +with the truth. I had surely only fulfilled my duty as a witness. In +the deepest anxiety and with torturing impatience I awaited further +developments. It was desperately hard to lie there and have cold +bandages on my sprained ankle. I would have given anything to be able +to do something, or that the visitors whom I had found so tiresome +yesterday would return to-day, but I was, and remained, alone, confined +to my bed.</p> + +<p class="normal">Two hours passed. At last quick footsteps approached my door. Mizka +entered breathless, her cheeks crimson, her eyes glowing, to tell me of +what was the talk at present of all Luttach. Franz Schorn was the +murderer of old Pollenz. The gentlemen from Laibach had been searching +Schorn's house at his farm outside the town, and had found quantities +of money, banknotes, and stock, and government bonds and other papers +of value, all the wealth of the murdered man. Nevertheless Franz had +denied everything, declaring that he was innocent, but his brazen +falsehood had done him no good; he had been arrested, his hands +fettered, and thus manacled had been brought between two gendarmes to +Luttach. As he passed the house of the doctor, his betrothed was +sitting at the window. She had seen him and had rushed down into the +street. She had embraced him before everybody--he, the murderer of her +father! The gendarmes were obliged to unclasp her arms. She had not +wept a tear; she had looked up at him with sparkling eyes when the +gendarmes bore him away.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do not despair, Franz," she had called after him. "God will not suffer +the innocent to be condemned."</p> + +<p class="normal">Then she had quietly gone with the doctor, who led her back into the +house. Franz, however, had walked on between the gendarmes, his eyes +cast gloomily on the ground. He had replied not a word to the abuse +which was showered on him from all sides.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Murderer!" "Dog of a German!" and other insulting epithets had been +hurled after him by an increasing crowd of common people. He did not +seem even to hear them. The people were so excited against him, so +infuriated that the gendarmes had the greatest trouble in shielding him +from their attack, and could hardly have succeeded in doing so if the +Judge himself had not protected him from a couple of savage fellows, +two labourers who had been dismissed from Schorn's farm and would +gladly have revenged themselves upon their former master for their +dismissal. By earnest admonition and threats of punishment the Judge +had succeeded in quieting the mob, assuring the people that the +murderer would not escape justice. He accompanied the prisoner to the +court house, receiving no thanks from him for his protection. Not a +word did Franz address to him.</p> + +<p class="normal">Upon an order from Herr Foligno, Herr Gunther provided a vehicle and +horses, and, accompanied by the two gendarmes, bore off the manacled +prisoner. The Judge said he would be taken to prison in Laibach and +kept there until the court assembled, when he would be certainly tried +as a murderer and hanged.</p> + +<p class="normal">All this Mizka detailed to me in the greatest agitation. Evidently she +felt much satisfaction in the discovery of the murderer, and that it +should be precisely Franz Schorn, whom every one hated, who was now +delivered over to the law. Not a word of sympathy did the girl, usually +so good-humoured, have for the unfortunate man; not a doubt of his +guilt stirred within her; with a triumphant smile she left me after she +had told her news.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The voice of the people is the voice of God," the Judge had once said. +The doctor had replied, "The people's gossip is the voice of the +devil." Was the Judge now proved to be right? The proof of Schorn's +guilt seemed to grow clearer, and yet, strangely enough, my doubt of it +grew stronger with every hour. My reason told me that there could be no +room for doubt, now that upon searching his house the booty had been +discovered, but my heart rebelled against even this proof. I felt for +the first time that I had taken more than a fleeting interest in the +young man, that there had been between us a heartfelt sympathy which +forbade me in the face of all proof yet adduced, to believe in the +possibility of his guilt.</p> + +<p class="normal">I was not long left to my melancholy reflections. A visitor interrupted +them. The Burgomaster came, not only to inquire after my welfare, but +to tell me of the discoveries made with regard to Schorn and of all +that had been going on in the town while I lay bedridden. He had not +yet left me before another visitor appeared, and he was followed by a +third and a fourth. All the evening cronies of the round table made up +for their absence in the morning, and through the entire afternoon I +was not again alone. All my visitors brought melancholy confirmation of +what Mizka had told me. Even the Captain and the Burgomaster were now +convinced of Schorn's guilt, and acknowledged their conviction openly. +The search in his house had brought much to light; so much money had +been found that it was impossible to believe Franz had come by it +honestly. His very conduct told against him--his bare-faced denial, as +well as his unbroken silence when no credit was given to his words. +There was but one opinion as to his guilt, and also as to the behaviour +of the Judge. Even the Judge's opponents declared that Franz owed his +escape from the indignant mob to his magnanimous protection. There was +also but one voice with regard to the conduct of the Laibach court. It +had been admirable, particularly that of the investigating Judge, who +in a single day had discovered every particular concerning Schorn's +life during the last few weeks. Almost all the gentlemen and a number +of other people besides, as well as Bela and Rassak, had been examined +by him. The officials had said nothing of the result of their evidence, +and had enjoined the strictest silence upon the witnesses, who, +however, were at liberty to declare that they considered Franz Schorn +guilty, and they did so. The Clerk alone, Herr von Einern, prudently +withheld his opinion in the matter.</p> + +<p class="normal">Did the doctor also believe in Franz Schorn's guilt? He and the Judge +were the only ones who paid me no visit on this day. The Judge probably +could not forget my refusal to answer his questions, and was still +offended. I was at heart very glad that he did not come. His visit +could have given rise only to unpleasant discussions; but the doctor I +should like to have seen, partly to obtain medical advice for the +night, and partly to learn his opinion of the discoveries concerning +Schorn. My wish was fulfilled late in the evening, when it was nearly +nine o'clock. The doctor came, but he was not alone. To my great +surprise he was accompanied by Anna Pollenz. My astonishment when I saw +the lovely Anna enter the room on the arm of her old friend must have +been mirrored in my face, for Anna blushed, and the doctor, with his +characteristic short laugh, which I was always glad to hear, said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"You wonder at this strange visit so late in the evening, Herr +Professor. Well, you are right. This little girl might as well have +come to you to-morrow morning, at a more fitting time; but she gave me +no rest until I complied with her wish and brought her to you. If I had +not consented she might perhaps have come all alone, and have given +occasion for all sorts of gossip in Luttach. The entire population of +the town has run mad; even the most sensible are infected with the +nonsense which is heard on all sides. I could not have believed it, but +since Franz's arrest and removal to Laibach, even the Captain and the +Burgomaster have lost faith in him and consider him guilty, and yet +everything adduced against him is thorough, unmitigated bosh. Not a +word of it is true. The gentlemen from Laibach are principally to +blame, with their arrest. They would hardly have proceeded to such +extremities if the Judge had not taken care that they should hear from +all sides the falsehoods invented by himself. This poor little girl has +had a frightful day. Not only has her Franz been arrested--that is not +the worst, for he will very soon be free again--but all the world, with +the exception of the Clerk and myself, believe in Franz's guilt, and +people are not ashamed to declare this openly. This makes my little +Anna desperate. 'The Herr Professor, who loves Franz so much, cannot +think him guilty,' she said, and insisted upon coming to you. I could +not but do as she asked, and here we are. Well, perhaps it is all +right; the poor child will not speak here to deaf ears, and will be +soothed to see that every one does not consider Franz a murderer and +thief. Sit down, my child, here in this chair, and pour out your heart +to the Herr Professor. He will listen to you kindly."</p> + +<p class="normal">I had been observing Anna during this long introduction. Her colour +changed from red to pale and then to red again as the old doctor +continued. Her eyes sparkled as she turned to me, and she gazed at me +with an imploring expression in them. She was wonderfully lovely. My +heart gave a throb. Was I altogether free from blame?</p> + +<p class="normal">Anna seated herself at her old friend's bidding beside my bed and gazed +at me with a long, searching look in her dark eyes, as if to read in my +face the possibility of my thinking her Franz guilty.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You cannot mistrust him, Herr Professor," she said, "he has such a +regard for you, and he saved your life."</p> + +<p class="normal">There was not much logic in these words, but they made me ashamed of +myself nevertheless. Franz could not be guilty unless she were his +accomplice, and I had almost believed in his guilt. I could not endure +the look of those pure, clear eyes; my own dropped before them. I was +ashamed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If all the rest think him guilty," she continued in a tone of firm +conviction, "you cannot. You believe in him, and you must feel it your +duty to do everything you can to prove his innocence, for he saved +your life. Therefore I come to you; I wished to speak to you before +to-morrow. I shall sleep quietly, for I know that you will stand by me. +Franz told me yesterday evening that the Judge had tried to take your +life; that he is your worst enemy. You will counsel me truly when I +have confided to you a secret which I have kept until now, a suspicion +which I have not ventured to utter even to my dearest friend and +relative."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Speak, dear child," I replied, taking her hand and pressing it +cordially. "I assure you that I have no dearer wish than to establish +the innocence of the saviour of my life."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know it and will trust you," she replied frankly. "You and my kind +friend, the doctor, both of you shall counsel me," she continued, +clasping my hand in one of hers and extending the other to the doctor.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What do you mean, you strange child?" the doctor cried. "If you have a +secret upon your soul, you ought to have told me of it long ago. If you +needed counsel, you could always have had it from me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I did not dare to. Franz forbade me. Franz himself did not believe me +until yesterday evening. He is innocent. He always said that my fear of +Herr Foligno and my detestation of him misled me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of whom are you speaking, child!" asked the doctor.</p> + +<p class="normal">Instead of answering, Anna turned to me.</p> + +<p class="normal">"When you reached the Lonely House on that terrible day, Herr +Professor, did you not see in its neighbourhood another man beside +Franz?" she asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No. No one."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I did not mean near the house itself, but on the upper path, the one +leading along the rocks to Luttach?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I saw no one there either."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You did not see him? I am sorry. Franz was sure yesterday that you +did."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But who in all the world should the Professor have seen!" asked the +doctor curiously.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The Judge," Anna replied. "I was sure I saw him, but I would not say +so decidedly, and Franz, until yesterday, thought I might be mistaken +and would not allow me to found an unjust suspicion upon an uncertain +fact."</p> + +<p class="normal">The doctor was as astonished and startled as was I by Anna's words. He +desired to know more from her, and when I begged the young girl to give +us her full confidence and to tell us all that she knew and believed, +she yielded to our request and related what had lain so long upon her +heart.</p> + +<p class="normal">When on that dreadful day Anna had left home and was going down the +path with her old Johanna to Luttach, she looked up by chance where the +oaks grew thin and saw on the upper pathway a man approaching the +Lonely House. She thought she recognized the Judge, but she could not +be certain, for she had seen the figure only for a moment and had taken +no trouble to recognize it, since she attached no importance to what +she saw. The Judge had often gone to her father and had usually taken +the upper pathway, wherefore she did not think of it again. Only upon +hearing the terrible news of the murder of her father was the strange +suspicion suddenly aroused within her that the Judge was the murderer, +and this suspicion had been gradually confirmed. To hardly one other +human being except to his friend the Judge, would her father have +opened the locked front door. While he was alone he would have admitted +no other. The Judge had known that her father had large sums of money +in the house and was quite familiar with the place where they would be +found.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But had I a right upon such slight grounds to found a suspicion of a +respectable man? I asked myself," Anna proceeded. "I answered no, but +in spite of this 'no' I could not combat my thoughts, and it was most +terrible for me that I myself was partly to blame for my father's death +if my suspicion were correct. The day before the Judge had come to +visit my father, and had not found him at home. My father had left +word, however, that he would soon return, and I thought I ought to tell +this to the visitor because it might have provoked my father to know +that I had turned away his friend. The Judge then begged my permission +to wait, and when I gave it reluctantly, he sat down by me in my room +and began a conversation. During this conversation I told him that my +father had gone to Luttach to get papers of value from the post. He +would not send old Johanna because the sum in question was too large to +be entrusted to so old a woman. The Judge knew also from me that my +father had much money in the house, and that I was going on the +following day to visit my Aunt Laucic in Luttach, when Johanna would +accompany me, so that after eleven o'clock he might see my father +alone. All this I told him, and it all recurred to my mind. I had +myself told the murderer when his victim would be alone and when he +could commit the deed."</p> + +<p class="normal">In her distress Anna went on to say that she did not venture to mention +her suspicion to the Captain--he was a friend of the Judge's--and only +to her betrothed, from whom she kept no secrets, did she tell what was +in her mind. He begged her, however, not to confide in any other human +being. Franz declared that the Judge was not capable of such villainy. +He tried to prove to her that her suspicions were groundless. "Does not +he often climb about the rocks?" he asked. "Even had he been in the +neighbourhood of the Lonely House, that ought to be no ground of +suspicion against him, for I myself was met by the Herr Professor in +the forest, as I was prowling about in hopes of meeting you." When her +lover said this, Anna was seized with a dreadful anxiety lest he might +really be suspected, and Franz, too, could understand that he was in +peril. He knew how he was disliked, and how any opportunity would be +seized to do him harm.</p> + +<p class="normal">Franz had insisted, however, that the Judge was incapable of the +murder, and he had forbidden Anna to say one word further upon the +subject. "Because he is my enemy," he told her; "because he is always +circulating damaging reports of me behind my back, we must take care +not to be unjust towards him." He had spoken thus until yesterday, but +when he returned from the expedition to the cave and told Anna of his +adventure there, he had suddenly changed his opinion with regard to +what she had always thought. "It is beyond doubt," he said, "that the +Judge cut the rope. What reason could he have for such an act! He +wished to plunge the Professor into the abyss. I am now convinced that +the Professor saw him also in the neighbourhood of the Lonely House. +You were not deceived when you recognized him on the upper pathway. He +fears that the Professor may betray him, and wishes to put so dangerous +a witness out of the way. There could be no other reason for his +infamous attempt upon the life of the kind old man, whose friend he +pretends to be. He planned a murder, and now I can believe also that he +is the murderer of your father. Let him take care; I shall speak to the +Professor. I will tell him of your suspicion; he will tell me whether +he saw the Judge that day." But Franz soon after was arrested and Anna +felt it her duty to do what he had wished to do.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is why I am come to you, Herr Professor," she concluded; "you +must counsel me. You must help me to discover the real criminal and to +set an innocent man at liberty."</p> + +<p class="normal">While Anna had been speaking, the doctor, who had also seated himself +beside my bed, had been continually getting up and sitting down again, +possessed by a feverish restlessness, although listening in silence to +every word spoken by the young girl. Now that Anna had finished, he +exclaimed:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you want to drive two old men crazy with your deuce of a story? +Child, have you had such thoughts in your head and heart for weeks and +never said a word of them? Think of what might have been done in those +weeks! Think of how suspicion might have been turned in other +directions! You are sure, Herr Professor, that you did not see the +Judge on the rocky pathway?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am sure of it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But may he not have been there without your seeing him, or are you +sure that he was not there?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I believe that he was there."</p> + +<p class="center"><a name="div3_02"><img border="0" src="images/lonely02.png" alt="You must help me!"></a><br>"You must help me!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And what reason have you for your belief? Out with it, Herr Professor! +The scales are falling from my eyes. I begin to see clearly. This deuce +of a girl has enlightened my stupidity, but what is the use of my +seeing? Franz and the child have both shown confidence in you, and you +must justify it. Out with what you know without any reserve!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He was right; I could not be silent. The half promise which I had once +given to the Judge to protect him from any chaffing to which he might +be subjected with regard to the pocket handkerchief found where it had +been could not bind me. I told of my finding the bloody handkerchief +and of the Judge's explanation.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is he! It is he and no other!" exclaimed the doctor, quite beside +himself. "Did I not always say that the murderer must have been an +intimate friend of the old man? Oh, blind fool that I have been! Why +did I not think of him, when for two weeks he wore a black glove on his +right hand? He had good reason to wish to see you vanish in the abyss. +You, who could bring such evidence against him. And you fell into his +trap, and have been silent all this while, without harbouring any +suspicion of him! For shame, Herr Professor! No, you need not be +ashamed of yourself, you kind, old, unsuspicious man; but I could tear +my hair for being such a fool and letting him lead me by the nose as he +has done."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you sure now that you are not deceiving yourself?" I asked very +gravely. My heart was beating violently. There is something fearful in +such a suspicion. Suddenly as it had arisen, it had now entire +possession of me; but had I not entertained the same, and perhaps with +more reason, of Franz Schorn? Could I trust myself since I had once +deceived myself?</p> + +<p class="normal">No such reflections troubled the doctor:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am so convinced," he said, clapping his hands as if in triumph, +"that I would myself condemn the fellow to be hanged, if it lay in my +province to do so. Hanged he shall be, I promise you, little girl, and +we will take your Franz in triumph from the prison in Laibach and carry +him home. How it is to be done, I do not see at present; but, rely upon +it, I will do it. I will follow the murderer's tracks like a +bloodhound. He has no idea that he is suspected, and that I have +discovered his plots. He shall find it out, but only when we are taking +Franz from prison in Laibach. Until then not a word to anybody, Herr +Professor."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is it not our duty to inform the court in Laibach of what we suspect +and of our grounds for doing so?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not a word in that quarter. With all due reverence for the gentlemen +in Laibach, the Judges and the Attorney General; before they can make +up their minds to believe that a colleague, a District Judge, is a +common murderer and thief, the proofs must be as clear as daylight. +Only when we deliver him over to them, and they must do their part, can +we be sure of them. I would sooner confide in our Clerk; he would throw +all forbearance to the winds; but should we admit him to our confidence +now, we should be placing him in a very embarrassing position, for the +District Judge is, after all, his chief. Therefore, not a word, Herr +Professor, until we have further proofs against the scoundrel. Now that +we are on the scent, it will, I hope, not be long."</p> + +<p class="normal">I was obliged to admit that the doctor's plan was the right one, and my +admission flattered him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you not remember how day before yesterday evening the Judge said +with a sneer, 'A great criminal lawyer is lost in you, doctor'? I will +prove to him that he was right. Only trust me, Herr Professor; you +shall not repent it. But be sure to follow a piece of advice which I +must give you. Remember that it is to the Judge's interest to be rid of +you; therefore, beware of him. It will do no harm to have your revolver +where you can reach it in a moment, day or night."</p> + +<p class="normal">I promised to follow his advice. We talked on for half an hour very +pleasantly. The doctor was in the best humour in the world, and the +charming little Anna was now so full of hope for a speedy reunion with +her Franz that she almost forgot her grief at his imprisonment. She was +indeed a lovely child, and as she talked on so heart-free and +confidentially with us two old men, I was really in love with her +myself. Upon their departure the doctor promised me that he would allow +me to leave my bed on the following day, and Anna promised to pay me +repeated visits so long as I was confined to my room. Thus we parted in +the most friendly manner. The doctor turned as he was about to close +the door behind him and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you know, Herr Professor, what comforts me in this cursed affair?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That Foligno is no Slav, but an Italian. Believe me, a Slav would be +incapable of such villainy. Good-night, Herr Professor."</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> +<h3><a name="div1_13" href="#div1Ref_13">AN OLD CHEST</a>.</h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Three very wearisome days ensued. To be sure, I was allowed to leave my +bed and was no longer forced to apply cold bandages to my sprained +ankle, but I was a prisoner on a very uncomfortable sofa, whereon my +leg was stretched out, and therefore condemned to intolerable, +tedious idleness. I could not even move sufficiently to prepare my +treasures--the butterflies and beetles--for my collection. My beautiful +<i>Cćcigena</i> caterpillars had to be fed by Mizka, and I was obliged to +congratulate myself that she undertook what must have been a very +humdrum task with amiable readiness.</p> + +<p class="normal">For three days the doctor had decreed that I must keep a recumbent +position; thereafter I might sit up on the sofa and move about the room +a little. I looked forward to the expiration of this time with +unfeigned longing, for such enforced idleness is intolerable for a +healthy man. Visitors were not lacking during those endless three days. +The gentlemen of Luttach took pains to entertain me, but their visits +were more of a pain than a pleasure, for the subject of their +conversation was forever the same--the assured guilt of Franz Schorn. +No one had the least doubt that he was the criminal. The Judge had +shown them so many proofs of it that they were almost provoked with me +because I would not join in the universal condemnation of the man, but +declared that it was our duty to believe in the possibility of his +innocence as long as he was not officially condemned. More than this I +could not say, after my promise to the doctor, therefore I was +compelled to listen silently when the alleged proofs of Schorn's guilt +were discussed, which were downright fabrications. I looked forward +with some dread to a visit from the Judge. It would have been almost +impossible for me to appear unembarrassed in his presence. But the duty +of playing the hypocrite and feigning friendship was fortunately not +enforced upon me. He not only did not call upon me, but sent an excuse +by Mizka. He was forced to go to Görz for a few days, and had so much +to do before his departure that he had not a quarter of an hour to call +his own. Upon his return he hoped to find me entirely recovered.</p> + +<p class="normal">The doctor was irritated by this journey. It deranged his schemes. He +wished to have an opportunity to watch the man narrowly, which it would +be impossible for him to do in Görz, the doctor was not, therefore, in +a very good humour, and his visits would have contributed but little to +my enlivenment had not the charming little Anna always accompanied him. +The lovely young girl crept further and further into my heart with +every visit. While we two old men were feverish with impatience to act, +she bore this state of anxiety with angelic patience and admirable +serenity. She was firm in her pious faith in Divine justice; she was +sure that we should succeed in rescuing the innocent and in bringing +the guilty to punishment. This conviction made it possible for her to +wait patiently.</p> + +<p class="normal">At last the tiresome three days were over. On the fourth day the doctor +gave me permission to sit up on the sofa, and as long as my foot did +not pain me, to take several steps about my room. I breathed more +freely. Now I could occupy myself. Before my accident I had collected a +wealth of material which had all to be arranged. My <i>Lepidoptera</i> were +to be mounted, my <i>Coleoptera</i> prepared, some doubtful species named, +etc. Thus I had an abundance of work for several days and need fear no +ennui.</p> + +<p class="normal">Of course, I wished to begin work immediately, when an obstacle +presented itself which I had never thought of. I had no place to spread +out my entomological treasures, or where I could put my boards for +mounting the butterflies, which were now packed together in my trunk, +but would take considerable room when spread out to receive the +precious insects. Hitherto I had found the lack of furniture in my +simple room not inconvenient, but now it became so. If I could only +have a bureau with two or three drawers in which I could lay the boards +for the accommodation of my spoils, all would be well and I should be +quite content.</p> + +<p class="normal">Perhaps Frau Franzka could help me. There must be some such bureau in +Luttach. Frau Franzka was summoned. The word "bureau" she did not +understand, but when I described to her the piece of furniture that I +wished, she exclaimed joyfully:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, the Herr Professor means a chest! That is easily procured. +Upstairs in the Judge's sleeping-room there is a large old chest with +four drawers. It is not beautiful, but very roomy. If the Herr +Professor would like it, I will gladly have it brought down."</p> + +<p class="normal">Its lack of beauty was of no consequence to me, in consideration of the +space it afforded, but I did not like to take the chest from the +chamber of the Judge. I preferred not to ask of him the smallest +favour. I said so to Frau Franzka, but she made light of my scruples, +saying:</p> + +<p class="normal">"The Herr Foligno never uses the old chest. He used to put his linen in +it, but now he keeps it in a very fine new chest which I bought for +him, and which stands in his parlour. The old chest is empty; the Judge +will be glad to have it taken out of his room."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But Herr Foligno is still away. You cannot ask his permission."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is not necessary. The chest belongs to me. Herr Foligno, besides, +owes me a great deal of money, and he cannot object to my bringing down +for the Herr Professor an old chest which he does not use."</p> + +<p class="normal">I tried to make objection, but Frau Franzka was a resolute lady, and +persisted in what she had once decided upon. She called her husband and +a servant, and sent them up into the Judge's sleeping-room to bring +down the chest, and in a few minutes, against the long bare wall of my +room there stood a large, old-fashioned bureau, not elegant, indeed, +but painted black, and with four drawers which gave abundant room for +my requirements.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is the old chest," Frau Franzka said with satisfaction. "The +Herr Professor need not fear; I will take it upon myself to settle +matters with the Judge; but I must see if he has left anything in the +drawers. I don't think so, but if it should be the case, I can easily +transfer them to his new chest."</p> + +<p class="normal">She tried to draw out the topmost drawer by its metal handles, but it +would not open.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is strange," she said. "The wood must have swelled so that the +drawer sticks."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perhaps it is locked," I remarked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, no, certainly not. The Judge never locks his chests; he always +leaves them open, and, besides, I do not know whether he had any +key, but we can soon see. There is just such another chest in our +sleeping-room; my husband has the key and we can see if it will open +it."</p> + +<p class="normal">She said several words in Slavonic to her husband, and he took a queer +little key out of his pocket and handed it to her.</p> + +<p class="normal">The key fitted in the lock and turned. Frau Franzka then opened the +topmost drawer without difficulty. She glanced inside it and recoiled +with a slight scream.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, Holy Virgin!" she cried, clasping her hands. "What is all this? A +shirt, a summer suit, a silk pocket handkerchief, all spotted with +blood, and oh, blessed Maria, who would have thought that Herr Foligno +had so much money hid away in this old chest!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Instantly I was possessed by a strange foreboding. There lay the money +which the murderer had stolen from his victim. I sprang up from the +sofa without thinking of my sprained ankle and walked hastily across +the room, never heeding the pain.</p> + +<p class="normal">Yes, there lay the stolen money. Several packages of banknotes of a +hundred gulden each, and beside them a bundle of papers of value, the +topmost of these showing the same dark spots, traces of the blood from +the wounded hand of the murderer, who had taken no care to avoid +staining them. Here, hidden away in the old chest, were the proofs of +the murderer's guilt; the bloodstained clothing which he had worn when +he committed the deed; and the handkerchief which I had given to him +was there also. If there had been any doubt until now as to the +identity of the criminal, it vanished on the instant. Link by link in +an indestructible chain the proofs were clearly here for the conviction +of the District Judge. In fancy I saw him contemplating his murderous +scheme, walking up the rocky path towards the Lonely House. He knew +that he should find the old man alone there; he had been told this on +the day before. Anna had thoughtlessly informed him that her father +would be alone in the afternoon. Her account of the considerable amount +of money which the old man had received by the morning's post had +begotten the murderous scheme. He reaches the house, no one having seen +him on the rocky pathway. He looks about him. No human being is near +who could observe him. He does not dream that Anna has seen him. He +knocks. The old man opens the door and conducts him to his room, where +a struggle ensues, a struggle in which the murderer wounds his hand, +but from which he comes forth victorious. The crime is committed. The +murderer with his bleeding hand has taken the banknotes and papers from +the desk which he knew so well; in his excitement he has hardly noticed +that he was wounded. He is suddenly conscious of pain in his hand, and +the thought occurs to him that his wound might betray him. With terror +he perceives that his dress, his shirt, his waistcoat and trousers, all +wear bloody traces of the struggle. He tries to remove them with his +handkerchief, but in vain. How can he explain these stains when he +returns to Luttach? He devises one means--to declare that he fell among +the rocks and wounded his hand. Every one knows that he frequently +climbs about among the rocks and how easily such an accident might +occur. If he can bring back to the old naturalist a rare plant which +usually grows upon almost inaccessible rocks, his story of a fall will +be all the more credible. The <i>Ophrys Bertolini</i> grows in the +neighbourhood; except himself no one knows the locality. It is easily +reached; he hastily plucks the beautiful flowers, losing his +handkerchief as he does so, but without noticing it he hurries away +from the neighbourhood of the Lonely House.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fortune favours him. No one meets him; no one sees him when he reaches +the inn and hastens to his chamber. There he locks himself in; he must +change his clothes; but what shall he do with his bloodstained apparel? +Suddenly the old bureau occurs to him; it stands unused in his +sleeping-room. He could not have a better, a more secure hiding place. +He conceals the clothes and his plunder in the top drawer, locks it, +and puts the key in his pocket. Now he is safe; no suspicion can +possibly fall upon him, the Judge, the most prominent official in the +town. There can be no searching of his room. He himself would +superintend whatever search there might be. The bloodstained clothing, +the banknotes and the papers could be nowhere more safe from discovery +than in the locked drawer of the old bureau. He breathes more freely. +There is a knock at the door. The old Professor asks for admission. He +is obliged to receive him. This will give him an opportunity of +relating the story of his fall among the rocks. He is dismayed at +learning that the murder has been discovered sooner than he +anticipated, but he composes himself, and when he hears that Franz +Schorn has been seen in the vicinity of the Lonely House, he devises a +plan for throwing suspicion upon him, his mortal enemy, and with +vindictive cunning proceeds to carry it out, using every circumstance +that could lead step by step to the consummation of the crime without +exposing himself at any point. Thus he feels perfectly safe, when +suddenly he makes the terrible discovery that there exists a witness +against him. The old Professor has found his bloody handkerchief near +the Lonely House. He finds it easy to deceive the unsuspicious old man. +He succeeds in convincing him that Franz Schorn is the murderer, but as +long as the Professor lives, the danger of detection hangs over his +head. He induces the foolish old man to undertake expeditions among the +most dangerous rocks, in the hope of his falling a victim to some +accident, but when this scheme fails, he determines to efface all trace +of the first murder by a second. The exploration of the cave, in which +he asks to join, furnishes a means to do so. The Professor must die, +but before his death he must send the official deposition which is so +essential for Schorn's conviction.</p> + +<p class="normal">Here also his murderous design fails, but he manages to cast suspicion +upon Franz Schorn in the matter of cutting the rope, and the young man +is arrested. The murderer triumphs.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then by a marvellous chance the old chest is opened during his absence +from home, and the clear proofs of his guilt are discovered by the very +man whom he wished, as the only witness against him, to remove from his +path.</p> + +<p class="normal">I stood paralyzed before the open drawer. All the past, which it has +taken minutes to relate, flashed upon my mind with the speed of +lightning. The proofs of the murderer's guilt which the doctor had been +so anxious to obtain were now before me. Chance had placed them in my +hands. What was I to make of this chance was the next question.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We must not touch these things," I said to Frau Franzka, who with her +old husband stood speechless with astonishment, gazing at the money in +the drawer. They had never in their lives seen so much at a time. "The +Judge might suspect us of having taken some of his heap of money. Lock +the drawer again, Frau Franzka; we will give the key to the Clerk, and +the doctor shall be witness that we do so. We three, you, your husband +and I, will stay here until Mizka fetches the doctor and the Clerk, and +we can each testify that none of the money has been taken."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So much money! And he owes me over five hundred gulden, with all that +pile in his drawer!" exclaimed Frau Franzka, who was reluctant to lose +sight of the banknotes, but on my reiterated request, she locked it up, +and then called Mizka, telling her to go immediately for the Herr +Einern and the doctor, begging them to come as quick as possible to the +Herr Professor in the "Golden Vine."</p> + +<p class="normal">We had not long to wait. The doctor came first. Mizka met him in the +street near the house. I drew him aside and told him in a whisper of +the contents of the upper drawer of the bureau. He was beside himself +with joy.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We have him! We have him!" he exclaimed aloud, with what was almost a +leap in the air. Only when he saw the stare with which Frau Franzka and +her husband regarded him--they might well have supposed he had lost his +wits--he grew calmer, and I told him that I had sent also for the +Clerk.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Quite right," he said. "We must tell him everything. Now that we have +such positive proof of the Judge's guilt, he can act, and he must act. +He is a brave and honourable man. He will fulfil the promise he once +made to our little Anna. Here he comes. I hear his step on the stair."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Clerk entered the room. He seemed surprised on finding the doctor +and my host and hostess. Frau Franzka hurried towards him. She had been +silent so long that she was eager to pour out her heart. In a burst of +Slavonic, of which I did not understand one syllable, she talked away +to the Clerk, who listened with the deepest attention. I would not +interrupt her, for I could easily perceive from her gestures what she +was relating. The Clerk's face grew darker and darker as Frau Franzka +continued. At last she paused and delivered to him the key of the +bureau. He then turned to me and said very gravely:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Frau Franzka has told me of the remarkable discovery which she has +made in that bureau. Before I examine its contents I wish to hear what +you have to say, Herr Professor. I assume that you have summoned me +hither, not as your friend of the evenings about the round table, but +as the Clerk, the only representative of the law in the Judge's +absence. I shall therefore receive what you have to say, not as the +testimony of a friend, but officially. Frau Franzka, you will retire to +another room with your husband, while I hear what the Herr Professor +has to tell. I warn you to say not one word to any one--I repeat, to +<i>any one</i>--of what you have discovered in the drawer there. You will +expose yourself to grave penalties if you should refuse to follow my +direction. Wait quietly until I send for you. Very shortly I will +summon you and your husband to swear to whatever you have to say. Now +go. Do you desire, Herr Professor, that the doctor should withdraw +also?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No. On the contrary, I desire his presence during my deposition, which +I must make to you. He can complete what I have to say."</p> + +<p class="normal">I waited until the host and hostess had obediently withdrawn, and then +I addressed the Clerk.</p> + +<p class="normal">"On the day on which the miserable old Pollenz was murdered, it was to +you that his daughter turned, enjoining upon you the duty of +discovering the murderer and delivering him to justice. I heard the +young girl's moving appeal and was a witness of your silent promise to +her. I now desire from you the fulfilment of that promise."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will fulfil my duty. The guilty man, whosoever he may be, shall not +escape punishment if proof sufficient can be adduced of his guilt."</p> + +<p class="normal">"This proof I am prepared to give, and so clearly that no doubt can +remain in your mind. Listen."</p> + +<p class="normal">I had imposed a hard task upon myself--that of succinctly informing the +Clerk of all the facts which sufficed to weld a chain of proof against +the murderer; the part he had played towards me, arousing in me +suspicions not only of Franz Schorn, but of the lovely Anna, in order +to procure my signature to the deposition which he made out and sent to +Laibach. I recalled as well as I could the words which the murderer had +dictated to me; every one of those words seemed to form a link in the +chain of proof; and, in conclusion, I described to him the contents of +the old bureau, saying:</p> + +<p class="normal">"This is the accumulated evidence which I hand over to you, and I +demand that in virtue of your office the true criminal shall be +delivered to the authorities in Laibach, so that an innocent man may +not wear disgraceful fetters an hour longer than is absolutely +necessary."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You impose a fearful responsibility upon me, but I shall not refuse to +accept it," the Clerk replied with a profound sigh. "What you have just +told me confirms a horrible suspicion which I have had ever since the +day of the murder. I never believed in Schorn's guilt. I always had a +secret doubt of the Judge, but I dared not give expression to it; it +was impossible to gather the smallest evidence against him. I take upon +myself great responsibility in proceeding against my chief, in +arresting him, and transferring him to Laibach, but it must be +done as soon as he returns from Görz. I will employ this day in +examining all the testimony you have here given me, as well as the +witnesses--yourself, Fräulein Anna Pollenz, Frau Franzka and her +husband--and then I will send to Laibach all the material I have +collected, with the bloodstained clothing and the banknotes. The +Attorney General there will do his duty. I transcend my powers perhaps +in thus forestalling my chief. I will----" he paused, listening.</p> + +<p class="normal">A vehicle rolled through the narrow street and stopped before the +house. The doctor hurried to the window.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The Judge," he cried, "has just descended from the carriage and has +entered the house."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Clerk started and grew pale.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He comes too early," he said. "I have no officially confirmed evidence +against him. I have no right to arrest him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will you give him time to escape?" cried the doctor. "If he goes to +his chamber and misses the old bureau, he will know that he is found +out."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are right. I will dare all. Let me have paper, pen and ink, Herr +Professor, as quickly as possible, for at this moment I am the +representative of the law in Luttach. The Judge has not yet exhausted +his leave of absence; he has not yet resumed the duties of his office." +He wrote a few lines hurriedly. "This order must go immediately to the +captain of the gendarmes. Will you undertake to carry it, Herr Doctor?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"With all the pleasure in life. In five minutes I will be here again +with the gendarmes. The bird shall not escape," cried the doctor, as he +snatched the order from the Clerk's hand and rushed away without a +moment's delay. He could hardly have reached the front door, when from +above came the voice of the Judge, calling:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mizka! Mizka!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Mizka replied from below in a few Slavonic words, and a loud, brief +conversation ensued in that language.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He has missed the bureau and Mizka is telling him that it has been +taken down to your room because you needed it, Herr Professor," the +Clerk whispered to me.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Judge overhead uttered a wild Slavonic curse. We heard his +resounding tread as he rushed down the stairs and then, without +knocking, threw open the door of my room and entered. When he found +that I was not alone, but that the Clerk was with me, he started back, +and remained for a moment on the threshold gazing at the Clerk and +myself with a keen, searching look, which afterwards flashed round the +room as if in quest of something. When it rested on the blackened, old +bureau, he fell into a rage, and, coming up to me, demanded in a +furious tone:</p> + +<p class="normal">"How dared you have my furniture removed from my room in my absence and +placed here for your own use?"</p> + +<p class="normal">As he spoke these words he was ghastly to look upon; his pale lips +quivered, his dark eyes glittered in his sallow face, and were again +riveted with an indescribable expression upon the old bureau.</p> + +<p class="normal">His insolence aroused my indignation, but I forced myself to reply to +him calmly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I must beg you to speak more courteously," I answered, suppressing my +detestation. "If you conceive that there has been an infringement of +your rights, it is not to me that you must appeal, but to Frau Franzka. +She told me that this old bureau was never used by you, and that you +would be glad to have so superfluous a piece of furniture removed from +your room. Only upon her assurance that this was the case did I consent +to have it brought hither."</p> + +<p class="normal">My reply seemed to quiet him somewhat. He lowered his voice as he +continued:</p> + +<p class="normal">"You see that I do use it. The upper drawer is locked."</p> + +<p class="normal">He went up to the bureau and pulled the metal handles of the upper +drawer. Upon finding that it would not open, he breathed more freely +and turned to me again, with a wholly different expression of +countenance.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Excuse my rude manner," he suddenly said, in a very friendly way; "I +was angry. It irritated me that the furniture of my room should be +meddled with. The old bureau serves me as a receptacle for old clothes. +I must therefore beg that it be returned to me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It was delivered to me by its owner, Frau Franzka. I have no authority +over its removal."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You refuse?" he said, flaming up again; but he mastered himself, only +giving me a sinister look, as he opened the door and called loudly into +the hall:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Frau Franzka! Frau Franzka!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The host and hostess had been waiting in another room for the summons +of the Clerk. They now appeared, Frau Franzka with a very embarrassed +countenance, where the consciousness of guilt was openly to be seen. +Now that the Judge was present, any command of the Clerk would avail +nothing with her. She must reply to whatever the Judge should ask.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How dare you have that chest taken from my room! It must be carried up +again immediately."</p> + +<p class="normal">Shyly and trembling with fear Frau Franzka gazed at the angry man.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do not be so angry, Herr Foligno," she said. "I thought the chest was +quite empty. I should not have brought it down here if I had known that +you had so much money in it. But we did not touch it. Herr von Einern +has the key."</p> + +<p class="normal">The effect of these words upon the man was terrible. He staggered back +as if struck by a sudden blow, staring from Frau Franzka to the Clerk. +He bit his lips without feeling that he drew blood and that a drop +trickled down his chin. Frau Franzka's simple words had revealed all; +his secret was betrayed; his guilt discovered.</p> + +<p class="normal">Only for a second did terror paralyze him. He quickly collected +himself, seeing that the only possibility of escape lay in maintaining +absolute calmness, and with wonderful self-control he said in a +menacing tone:</p> + +<p class="normal">"You presumed to open the chest with a master key, and you, Herr von +Einern, have this master key in your possession. I demand that it be +instantly delivered to me."</p> + +<p class="normal">Hitherto the Clerk had stood with folded arms, a motionless spectator +of the scene before him. A contemptuous smile played about his lips. He +made no reply to the Judge's demand.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You do not answer me. You refuse to obey my orders?" the Judge +continued. "I shall hold you accountable for this. Do not forget, sir, +that this forcible breaking open of my property with a master key is a +crime for which I hold you responsible. I leave you now to take instant +steps for the enforcement of my right."</p> + +<p class="normal">He turned towards the door, but before he had advanced a step the Clerk +laid his hand upon his shoulder and said with grave decision:</p> + +<p class="normal">"You can leave this room only as a prisoner, Herr Foligno. You are +arrested."</p> + +<p class="center"><a name="div3_03"><img border="0" src="images/lonely03.png" alt="Then began a struggle"></a><br>Then Began a Struggle, a Fight for Life and Death</p> + +<p class="normal">The Judge's eyes flashed fire. His right hand sought his breast pocket +and he drew from it a knife, but before he could use it the Clerk had +seized him by the wrist, and then began a struggle, a fight for life +and death between these two powerful men.</p> + +<p class="normal">Frau Franzka screamed with terror; her husband stood trembling beside +her, not venturing to come to the help of the wrestling pair; but I +summoned all the physical force that I possessed--my foot pained me +terribly as I sprang up, but I did not heed the pain--and I was just in +the nick of time; the Judge had torn his hand loose and had raised it +for a deadly lunge with the knife. I seized his wrist from behind; the +Clerk clutched him by the throat, and our united strength succeeded in +overpowering him, throwing him on the ground, and holding tight his +right hand, which still held the knife. It was a terrible moment; my +strength was all but gone, for the desperate wretch made frantic +efforts to tear himself loose, but help was at hand. The doctor rushed +into the room with three gendarmes following him. Without a thought the +active little man threw himself upon the Judge, kneeled upon his chest +and helped me to hold down the hand that held the knife.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Seize and bind the monster!" he cried to the gendarmes, "or he will do +more mischief with his knife."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Judge could not but see that all further resistance was vain. He +dropped the knife, which I seized and hurled to the end of the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let me go," he said sullenly. "You see that I can no longer defend +myself."</p> + +<p class="normal">We arose; first the Clerk, then I; I limped back in positive agony to +my sofa; my help was no longer required. The Judge, too, arose, and, +panting, stood between the Clerk and the doctor. He had given up all +hope of escape, for the three gendarmes blocked all egress from the +room, but his feverishly active mind devised new food for hope.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Captain," he cried to the captain of the gendarmes, "captain, I call +you to bear witness to the maltreatment I have received from these +madmen, who have attacked me. I command you to stand by me--me, the +District Judge. I order you to arrest these people, the Clerk, the +doctor and the German Professor. I take all the responsibility upon +myself."</p> + +<p class="normal">The captain's martial countenance betrayed embarrassment. He looked +dubiously, first at the Judge, then at the Clerk.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not know what I ought to do," he said, turning to the Clerk. "You +command me to arrest Herr Foligno; he commands me to arrest you. After +all, he is the District Judge."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Clerk hastily approached the old, dingy bureau, took a key from his +pocket and opened the upper drawer.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I command you to arrest a murderer," he said. "He, and not Franz +Schorn, committed the murder in the Lonely House. Here are the +proofs--his bloodstained clothing and the banknotes which he stole. The +responsibility is yours if the murderer escapes and you disobey my +commands."</p> + +<p class="normal">One look into the drawer, and the captain hesitated no longer. An hour +afterwards, between two gendarmes, the murderer was driven to Laibach. +Half the entire population of Luttach crowded about the court house to +see him driven away. The report had circulated throughout the little +town with incredible swiftness that not Franz Schorn, but the District +Judge was the criminal. When the prisoner was led from the court house +to the carriage a fierce shout of rage greeted him. The gendarmes were +obliged with their weapons to keep off the indignant populace in order +to shield the prisoner from their violence. He, on his part, was now +pale and trembling with cowardly fear; curses and execrations followed +him as the carriage drove through the crowd.</p> + +<p class="normal">But at that moment the lovely little Anna was seated on my sofa, +thanking me over and over again, her eyes shining with joy--and what, +after all, had I done to deserve her thanks?</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> +<h3><a name="div1_14" href="#div1Ref_14">THE END OF THE PROFESSOR'S HOLIDAY</a>.</h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">The doctor, the Burgomaster and the Captain had driven to Laibach to +require personally the instant liberation of Franz Schorn, whose +innocence no one longer doubted. The doctor had promised to inform me +by letter of the result of his efforts, and he kept his word. On the +second day I received a long letter from him. There had been a +tremendous commotion in Laibach when the District Judge of Luttach, +manacled like a common criminal, had been received at the prison. The +ultra Slavonic newspapers had hitherto triumphed in the announcement +that the only German agitator in Luttach was nothing more or less than +a miserable, ordinary criminal, and now they suffered a terrible blow +in that the German agitator was no murderer; the criminal was a man +who, although of Italian descent, had always laboured in the Slavonic +cause. The Slav party, on the other hand, were half-inclined to swear +to the innocence of the Judge and to stake all on the guilt of the +hated German. But the doctor took good care that every scrap of +evidence against the true murderer should be well known; he was himself +a zealous Slav, but so conscientious and honest a man, and so well +known as prizing justice far above national prejudice, that he forced +the newspapers of his party, by his truthful declarations, to advocate +the cause of Franz Schorn, which they reluctantly did, although not +very enthusiastically. They, as well as the doctor, found consolation, +however, in the fact that District Judge Foligno was no true Slav, but +in fact an Italian. Of course all national prejudices were powerless to +influence the court at Laibach. The doctor wrote with real enthusiasm +in regard to his reception by the investigating Judge, who had frankly +informed him that suspicion of the District Judge had arisen in his +mind while he was investigating the matter in Luttach, suspicion which +was now substantiated by the admirable report of the Clerk, and that +the evidence had created conviction. A most disagreeable task lay +before him in having to investigate the actions of his superior in +office, but he would unflinchingly follow his duty. The Attorney +General, who had hitherto been firmly convinced of Schorn's guilt, +could not but admit the evidence of his innocence and the proof of the +Judge's criminality, and the honourable liberation of Schorn from +imprisonment must take place immediately. It depended only upon certain +formalities. If the Judge could be brought to confess, Schorn's freedom +would be on the instant.</p> + +<p class="normal">This hope, however, of bringing the criminal to an open confession was +not destined to be fulfilled. He maintained his innocence with brazen +effrontery until his hearing before the court, asserting that he was +the victim of shameful intrigue. All the evidence which I, the German +Professor, had brought against him was founded, he declared, partly on +lies, partly on prejudice. It was not true that I had found his +bloodstained handkerchief in the neighbourhood of the Lonely House, for +the handkerchief found in the drawer he had never lost. The blood on +his handkerchief, his waistcoat, and his trousers came from the wound +in his hand due to a fall among the rocks on the morning of the day of +the murder, and of which he had innocently informed the Professor. He +declared that I had found him changing his dress when I came to inform +him of the discovery of the murdered man in the Lonely House. He had +locked up the bloody clothing in the upper drawer of the chest in his +sleeping apartment in my presence, and, of course, I knew where it was. +How the money and banknotes came in the drawer he did not know, but he +suspected that during his absence I had placed them there myself, or +had bribed Frau Franzka to put them into the chest in order that the +farce might be played of the removal of the chest to my room and the +discovery of the bloody articles, which would clear Franz Schorn of the +guilt of the murder and throw it upon himself, the District Judge. He +would not venture to assert that I was Schorn's accomplice in the +crime, although it was possible, but I was certainly his accomplice in +the theft of the money. Either to be rid of this accomplice, or to +ensure his silence by saving his life, Schorn had cut the rope in the +cave.</p> + +<p class="normal">When the investigating Judge pointed out to him the improbability, nay +the evident falsehood of this clumsy invention, the prisoner stoutly +maintained its truth, and even asserted that I had come to Luttach, on +the pretense of pursuing natural history researches in Ukraine, in the +interest of the German clique there, and to this end I had entered into +close relations with Schorn, having as their result this scheme to ruin +him. The Judge displayed an eloquence and keenness of intellect in +proving the truth of his statements which the investigating Judge could +not but admire; but, upon perceiving that he failed entirely in making +any impression upon the impartial official, who was himself a Slav, he +lost courage, and, declaring that he was too exhausted to endure +further questioning, begged to be again conducted to prison.</p> + +<p class="normal">An hour later the investigating Judge was informed that the prisoner +had committed suicide in his cell. How he had contrived to procure the +knife with which he stabbed himself to the heart could not be +discovered. The bitter opponents of the government and of the court in +Laibach maintained that it had been conveyed to him for the purpose of +suicide, in order that the court might be relieved from the necessity +of presenting before a jury a Slavonic patriot and fellow-countryman as +a murderer.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Since the Judge's suicide may be regarded as a confession," the +doctor wrote, "we are momentarily awaiting the liberation of our Franz. +We--the good Burgomaster, the Captain and myself--are burning with +eagerness to conduct the liberated man in triumph to Luttach. I will +tell you by telegram when we may be expected."</p> + +<p class="normal">The lovely little Anna was paying me a visit when I received the +doctor's letter. We read it together. Tears of joy filled her eyes as +we came to the end.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I would rather," she said, "have Franz come back quietly, without any +public demonstration; but the good doctor is right; there ought to be +some atonement for the unjust disgrace of his arrest, and this must be +made by an honourable reception."</p> + +<p class="normal">All the men of the round table in the "Golden Vine" were of the same +opinion.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the evening, more carried than supported by Mizka and Frau Franzka, +I ventured to leave my room and to take my place once more at the round +table. I was received with extravagant delight. When I read aloud to +the company there assembled the letter from the doctor, they declared +unanimously that all Luttach must combine in making brilliant amends to +Franz. It was remarkable how one single day had changed the mood of +every one. Mosic, Weber, Meyer, Gunther, and Dietrich, hitherto the +most violent opponents of "the German," were now the most zealous to +obliterate all remembrance of their opposition. They could not praise +Franz sufficiently, and gravely maintained that they never had believed +in his guilt.</p> + +<p class="normal">The telegram arrived on the morning of the next day, announcing that +our friends would arrive in Luttach towards noon. I sent it to the +Vice-Burgomaster, who had begged me to give him the earliest +intelligence, that he might spread it through the town.</p> + +<p class="normal">The time for festal preparation was short, but it was used diligently +in bringing loads of oaken boughs from the grove on the Rusina, in +making wreaths and garlands wherewith Schorn's house and the "Golden +Vine" were decorated, for Franz was to be conducted first to the +"Golden Vine," where in the garden a cask of the best wine was to be +broached, and the Vice-Burgomaster was to welcome him in the name of +his Luttach fellow-citizens and to express the joy that all felt in his +return, as they drank to his health and welfare. And thus it verily +happened. All Luttach was astir by ten o'clock. There were crowds on +the road to Adelsberg and on the square before the court house and +in the street before the "Golden Vine." When the carriages--two of +them--at last came in sight, Franz was sitting in the first with the +Burgomaster, while in the second the doctor drove with the Captain. +They were greeted with deafening applause and the crowd rushed towards +them, all striving to be the first to extend a welcome to Franz Schorn. +It was impossible for the carriage to proceed through the crowded +streets, when suddenly a stentorian voice exclaimed:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Make way!"</p> + +<p class="normal">It was the voice of the gigantic Rassak. He dextrously unharnessed the +horses, and, seizing the pole himself, assisted by two savage-looking +fellows--the very ones who, a couple of days before, would have been +willing to kill the "murderer" and the "German dog"--on they went to +the "Golden Vine." A dozen men helped to pull and push the vehicle, +while Franz kept bowing and smiling in grateful acknowledgment of the +shouts of welcome. The carriage stopped before the gateway of the +hotel. Franz would have descended, but strong arms lifted him to +Rassak's shoulders, and thus he was carried into the garden. The +doctor, the Burgomaster and the Captain followed, laughing. The festal +programme was carried out in the garden, except that the Burgomaster's +speech and one cask of wine did not suffice. Speech followed speech, +and I should have had a fine opportunity of admiring the Slavonic +eloquence, if I could have understood a word of it all, but, +unfortunately, the words were all Slavonic, even those in which Franz +thanked the assembly for its sympathetic welcome. I could only guess at +what he said from the shouts of applause. It was a stormy occasion and, +after a fashion, a brilliant one, but it was not exactly a comfortable +festival. This we had in the evening at the house of the doctor. My +presence there, pretty little Anna declared, was quite indispensable, +and so Rassak carried me thither on his burly shoulders. I could not +possibly have walked. The doctor had invited only the Burgomaster, the +Captain, the Clerk and myself to share in the joy of this first evening +of the reunion of the betrothed pair and to be the witnesses of their +happiness.</p> + +<p class="normal">I certainly never passed a more delightful evening. It was a positive +delight to me, old man that I am. It warmed my heart to behold the +handsome couple so full of bright anticipations for the future. The +merriment in our small circle was not loud; we were all somewhat under +the influence of the very recent events, but we all quietly rejoiced in +being delivered from our depressing anxiety. The doctor himself +proposed the health of the young couple, and in a short speech +congratulated us all upon the happy chance which had terminated the +fearful episode. I noticed that as he spoke the beautiful young girl +shook her head as if in disapproval. The toast was drunk with +enthusiasm, and Anna joined in it; but, turning to the doctor and +looking at him very gravely, she said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"It was no chance that saved my Franz. It was God's own doing. In order +to hide his first crime, the Judge attempted a second; he cut through +the rope in the cave and, as a result, Franz saved the Professor's +life. If Franz had not thus ventured his own life, he would have been +lost. The truth would never have come to light. If the Judge had not +cut the rope, the Herr Professor would not have sprained his foot, and +he would not have been forced thereby to keep his room, nor would Frau +Franzka have tried to procure him space for his collection. Was this +chance! No; it was an answer to my prayer. God ordained that Franz +should risk his life to find his life."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is logic in your words, child," the doctor said with a smile; +"it is the logic of pious, grateful faith, of which I would in nowise +deprive you. But you need not frown, little girl, if I speak of a +chance which we must all bless. Chance or Providence, the words express +the same idea, that of strangely combined circumstances leading to a +certain end. Was it chance or Providence that brought our dear Herr +Professor to Luttach to catch butterflies, and that the Captain sent +him on the very first day up to St. Nikolas, whence he returned, +thirsty, to the Lonely House? Keep your pious belief, child; it will be +a source of hope and happiness for you while life lasts."</p> + +<hr class="W20"> + +<p class="normal">Two weeks after this delightful evening, I left Luttach to +return to my +northern home. I should have liked to have stayed longer in the +charming little town, with people who had grown so dear to me, but my +holidays were at an end, and the summer heat is so enervating at my +age, that I did not dare to stay longer. I took leave of my dear ones +there, but I have promised to return next spring, for I would not have +the marriage of the happy couple celebrated without me.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>THE END.</h3> +<br> +<br> +<br> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Lonely House, by Adolph Streckfuss + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LONELY HOUSE *** + +***** This file should be named 34917-h.htm or 34917-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/4/9/1/34917/ + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by the Web Archive + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Lonely House + +Author: Adolph Streckfuss + +Illustrator: Charlotte Weber-Ditzler + +Translator: A. L. Wister + +Release Date: January 11, 2011 [EBook #34917] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LONELY HOUSE *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by the Web Archive + + + + + + +Transcriber's Note: + 1. page scan source: + http://www.archive.org/details/lonelyhousefrom00wistgoog + + + + + + + The Lonely House + + + + + + +[Illustration: Franz and Anna] + + + + + + + _The_ + Lonely House + + + From the German of + ADOLF STRECKFUSS + Author of "Too Rich," "Castle Hohenwald," etc. + + + _By_ + MRS. A. L. WISTER + Translator of "The Old Mam'selle's Secret," "Gold Elsie," "The + Second Wife," "The Happy-Go-Lucky," etc. + + + + + _WITH ILLUSTRATIONS IN COLOR BY_ + CHARLOTTE WEBER-DITZLER + + + + + PHILADELPHIA & LONDON + J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY + 1907 + + + + + + + Copyright, 1907 + BY J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY + + + + + Published October, 1907 + + + + + _Electrotyped and printed by J. B. Lippincott Company_ + _The Washington Square Press, Philadelphia, U. S. A_. + + + + + + +I TAKE PLEASURE IN INSCRIBING THIS TRANSLATION--THE LAST I SHALL EVER +COMPLETE--TO THE CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN OF THOSE WHO SO KINDLY +WELCOMED THE FIRST, PUBLISHED A LIFE-TIME AGO. + + ANNIS LEE WISTER + + + + + "Lindenshade," + Walungford, Pa. + September, 1907 + + + + + Contents + + CHAP. + I. The Professor's Persistence + + II. The Professor's First Excursion + + III. The Professor's Return + + IV. The Investigation + + V. The Investigation Continued + + VI. Two Wounded Hands + + VII. The Two Requests + + VIII. Quiet Weeks + + IX. An Exploring Party + + X. An Accident? + + XI. Forced Seclusion + + XII. An Arrest + + XIII. An Old Chest + + XIV. The End of the Professor's Holiday + + + + + Illustrations + + Franz and Anna _Frontispiece_ + + "You Must Help Me!" + + Then Began a Struggle, a Fight for Life and Death + + + + + + The + Lonely House + + + + + CHAPTER I. + THE PROFESSOR'S PERSISTENCE. + + +Ukraine! Ukraine! For years I had longed to spend some weeks in +Southern Ukraine. The descriptions I had read of its wonderful +mountains had greatly attracted me; I was certain of adding there +many valuable specimens to my collection; that section of country had +been so rarely visited by entomologists that I might even hope to +enrich our German fauna with a new species. Some years before a +butterfly-collector from Vienna had discovered there the caterpillar of +the beautiful _Saturnia caecigena_, found previously only in Dalmatia. +Why might I not hope for something equally interesting! + +The scenery of Southern Ukraine is not thought to be very fine: the +mountains are much less imposing than in other Alpine districts, but +the Carpathian range is said to have many very interesting caves, and +strange formations of rock, while for the naturalist its fauna and +flora offer a rich field for investigation in its mountain fastnesses +and deep valleys. + +If travel in that section of the country were only not attended with +such risk and inconvenience! Travellers who seemed thoroughly familiar +with its political and social condition warned me seriously not to +attempt going thither. The only tolerable accommodation for strangers, +they said, is to be found in the larger towns--Laibach, Adelsberg, +etc., and on the high road followed by tourists; as soon as the +traveller attempts to penetrate the interior he finds only wretched +inns, no comfort of any description, and a poverty-stricken peasantry, +speaking the dialect of the country, and understanding not one word of +German. All expeditions into the valleys are fraught with discomfort +and even hardships. Nevertheless, little alluring as were the accounts +given me of the country, the prospect of adding to my collections--I am +a naturalist--an entomologist--was so tempting that when I had a longer +vacation than usual I determined to fulfil a long cherished desire and +to pass a spring in Southern Ukraine. + +And then the question arose as to what place I should make my +headquarters. A naturalist cannot travel hither and thither like an +ordinary tourist; he must establish himself somewhere, and make +excursions into the surrounding country, which he must investigate +thoroughly or he can hope for no results from his labours; moreover, +the paraphernalia of his profession are too bulky to be moved easily +from place to place. + +Unfortunately all the guide books were too incomplete to give me the +least assistance; I had recourse to the admirable maps of the Austrian +Government, and in them I found a small town--Luttach--which seemed +well fitted for my purpose. It is situated in a deep valley in the +midst of the Carpathians, at the foot of a long spur of Mt. Nanos on +the road from Adelsberg to Goerz--a road once much travelled, but fallen +into disrepair since the intrusion of the railroad. From Luttach the +topmost peak of Mt. Nanos could be reached in a few hours, and in the +valley itself there was sure to be a mingling of the southern fauna and +flora with those of the Alps proper. I might promise myself rich +additions to my collections. Moreover the many German names of the +surrounding villages, and indeed the German name of the town itself, +were very attractive for me, giving me hopes that there might be German +elements mingling with the Slavonic civilization. + +Luttach it should be then. My two huge travelling trunks were duly +packed and I was provided with every requisite for collecting. The last +of April I left Berlin full of pleasant anticipations. + +In Vienna, where I stopped for a day as I passed through, I called on a +friend; he gravely shook his head when he heard that I had chosen +Luttach for a stay of some weeks. "I never heard before of this +God-forsaken hole," said he; "I should not risk going there, but since +you are determined to go, provide yourself at least with a good +revolver, for without it you never ought to venture among the dreary +deserts of the Carpathians, or to wander in those primeval woods and +forests. It is dangerous for an elderly man like yourself. You know +besides that there are still bears and wildcats in the forest on Mt. +Nanos, not to mention those two venomous reptiles native to the rocky +retreats of the Karst range--the cross-adder and the sand-viper. More +to be feared than all these, moreover, is the human beast of prey whom +you will surely meet in your wanderings there. You had really best +relinquish your plan of visiting so inhospitable a region. But if you +insist upon it, pray be cautious. Go well armed, and do not venture too +far among those desert fastnesses." + +I cannot say that I was agreeably impressed by my friend's warning. I +was not formed in an heroic mould and I do not willingly court danger. +At sixty, after a life spent principally in study, there is small +desire for perilous adventure. Although I am not deficient in personal +bravery, as I had opportunity to prove in my student-days, and +afterwards in political embroglios, it is not my nature to seek for +perils. Bears and wildcats, and even venomous serpents, caused me no +alarm--the beasts are rarely dangerous in summer, and I knew well how +to manage the reptiles; I had frequently encountered them in my +excursions in the Swiss Alps and even in Northern Germany. The danger +from human beasts of prey appeared to me far more serious, but even +this could not deter me from carrying out the plan I had contemplated +for so long. In Vienna I purchased an excellent revolver with the +necessary ammunition and started the next morning for Goerz, where I +wished to visit an old friend and fellow-student, who, dwelling so near +the frontier, would, I hoped, give me a less alarming account of the +country I wished to explore. But my hope was vain; he was even more +emphatic than my Vienna friend had been, although he laughed at the +story of bears, wildcats, and snakes. He shook his head and said: "I +know nothing of Luttach and the surrounding country, except that on +Nanos the _Saturnia caecigena_ was formerly to be found. You will +probably make some good additions to your collections, although I doubt +your making as many as you hope, since in the rocky parts of the +mountains insect life is sparse, and where the mountain sides are +clothed with trees, they form an impenetrable primeval forest. I doubt +also whether the richest harvest you can reap will compensate you for +the hardships, the discomforts--yes, the dangers to which you will +expose yourself. The greatest of these lies in the fact of your being a +German. The unhappy strife between nationalities in Ukraine has so +embittered the inhabitants there that all kindly feeling is extinct. +The Slav considers hatred of the German his first duty; it is his +greatest delight to annoy--even to maltreat--a German. Whether you can +defend yourself with your revolver from such maltreatment is more than +doubtful. You could not use it against any single peasant who should +meet you in the forest, and insult you, or even against three or four, +who might amuse themselves by annoying you in countless ways. There +certainly is danger of encountering robbers in those wilds; your +revolver might serve you there--to me danger from the determined +hostility towards Germans seems far greater." + +This was encouraging! I almost wonder now that I was not deterred from +my undertaking. If my respected colleague had not expressly stated that +I should find _Saturnia caecigena_ on Mt. Nanos, I should probably have +followed his advice not to go to Luttach, but my passion for collecting +outweighed every other consideration. I refused to be intimidated, and +started upon my journey the very next day, arriving at four o 'clock in +the afternoon at Adelsberg, whence I could reach Luttach in four hours +by a carriage road. So desirous was I to attain this goal of my wishes +that I resisted the temptation to visit the world-renowned Grotto at +Adelsberg, postponing this pleasure until my return. I hired a vehicle, +large enough to accommodate myself and my two huge travelling trunks, +and in half an hour I was on my way to Luttach. + +The road was excellent, leading through an attractive mountain region +among low hills, although loftier eminences bounded the horizon. I +should have liked to know the names of those giant mountains, but my +driver was a genuine Slav, who could not understand a word of German, +and who was too stupid to comprehend signs, so all intercourse with +him was impossible. We drove swiftly, almost as swiftly up-hill as +down-hill, through a charmingly varied landscape, through forests, past +meadows and cornfields, with only a glimpse of the desolate Karst range +now and then in the distance, until we rapidly approached the bare gray +rocks of Mt. Nanos--which, as we descended by a winding road to the +valley of Luttach, stood out boldly against the sky. + +Time passed rapidly during the long drive; there was so much to see, +and everything that I saw was distinctly in contrast with what I had +been led to expect in Southern Ukraine. The numerous villages through +which the road ran were entirely different from the ruinous Polish +hamlets with which I was familiar in Upper Silesia; they consisted +mostly of flourishing farms, with very few straw-thatched cottages. The +peasants whom we met greeted me as we passed along with friendly +courtesy--they could not recognize me as a hated German--and the inns +as we drove by them, so far from presenting pictures of dirt and decay, +were most attractive, and invitingly clean. + +And when in the valley we drove among meadows bright with the luxuriant +growth of spring--past vineyards where each vine showed careful culture +and was just putting forth its tender leaves--along a road bordered on +the left by hillsides under full cultivation, where countless white +cottages in the midst of blossoming orchards betokened a numerous +population, I could hardly fancy that I was in the midst of the +ill-reputed desolate Karst range, in a corner of the world of which +scarce a hint was to be found in the guide books. The bald rocky mass +of Mt. Nanos alone, clothed at its feet only with a forest of oaks, and +the bare peaks of the high range that seemed to close in the valley in +the distant west, showed that vegetation was not as luxuriant +everywhere in the Karst range as I found it on the hills to the left +and in the valley itself. + +"Luttava!" my driver called out, nodding to me and pointing with his +whip towards a little town near at hand, nestling at the very foot of +Nanos, its white houses seeming to cling to the rocks. In a few minutes +we had reached it, and after driving along a street too narrow for more +than one vehicle, turned into the gateway of a large building, before +which a tall pole supported a sign whereon a golden grape vine declared +it to be the inn recommended to me before I left Adelsberg. + +The carriage stopped beneath the dim gateway before a door opening +directly into a spacious kitchen, where in the huge chimney-piece a +bright fire was blazing. Through the door I could see several men, some +standing, some seated upon low benches, about the fire, all of whom +regarded the newcomer with curiosity. A plainly clad but spotlessly +clean dame busied herself on the hearth, moved a steaming pot to one +side, and hurried out to receive me, opening the carriage door to help +me to alight. + +"Can I have a room!" + +"Certainly! If the gentleman will kindly go upstairs," was the reply, +delivered in excellent German, although with a strong accent. "Mizka, +show the gentleman up to Number Two." + +Mizka, a pretty slender girl, tripped lightly before me up the stairs +leading up two flights directly from the kitchen to a wide entry, where +she threw open the door of Number Two, and courteously held it open for +me to precede her. + +The room was large, low, and square, with two small windows, looking +out upon the street. It probably looked larger than it really was from +the absence of much furniture along its walls. Between the two windows +there was an old-fashioned sofa covered with gay chintz, and above its +high back hung an oval mirror in a black varnished frame, while before +it stood an extension table, which if pulled out to its fullest +capacity would have accommodated twenty-four persons. A tall cedar +clothes press, a washstand, six chintz-covered cushioned chairs, and a +huge bed which had to be clambered into by the help of a chair, +completed the furniture of the room. The walls, painted light green, +were adorned with four gaily colored prints, each portraying a quarter +of the earth in the guise of a very ugly and scantily clothed dame, +whose distorted limbs reclined upon a fantastically shaped couch. + +This was Number Two, my room. It certainly did not look inviting for a +long stay; it was too bare, but it as certainly possessed the +unexpected attraction of perfect cleanliness. Not a speck of dust lay +upon the few articles of furniture, the bare floor was spotless, and +the creases in the white bed linen bore testimony to its freshness. + +"Will the gentleman take his supper here, or below in the dining-room?" +Mizka asked me in very good German. + +"I will come down as soon as I have washed," was my reply. + +"I will bring fresh water immediately;" and she hurried away, returning +presently with a can of crystal-clear water, and a supply of fresh +towels, and followed closely by two gigantic porters, each of whom bore +upon his shoulders one of my heavy trunks. Assuredly thus far I could +not complain of lack of promptitude in the service of a Slav inn. + +When I had freed myself from the dust of travel, and had changed my +coat, I went down to the dining-room; the way led through the kitchen, +where several men were sitting or standing around the hearth, talking +familiarly with the hostess, who was busy meanwhile with her cooking. +All greeted me politely as I passed through the room. + +When Mizka showed me into the spacious dining-room, I took it all in +with a rapid glance. Its arrangement could not be called elegant, but +the cleanliness of the scoured tables atoned for its simplicity. There +were but a few persons present. At a table near a window a young man +sat alone, apparently absorbed in a newspaper. He looked up for a +moment as I entered, disclosing a singularly handsome face, which was +immediately hidden behind his paper. The face was thoroughly German. +Such deep blue eyes, such fair, close curls are to be found nowhere +save in Germany. He was certainly handsome, but his expression was too +grave, perhaps even too stern and hard to allow of his being thoroughly +attractive. + +As far from this young man as the size of the room would permit, at a +large round table near the tall stove, sat six or eight men, smoking +long cigars, with glasses of wine before them. They evidently saw me +enter and look about for a seat, and one of them instantly rose and +motioned courteously with his hand, placing a chair at the table, while +the others moved aside to give it room. + +I was amazed at so polite a reception in this notoriously hostile Slav +country, and I was not quite pleased. I should have liked to observe +the magnates of Luttach, who were apparently here assembled, from a +distance, at my leisure, before making their acquaintance, whereas now, +when I accepted their invitation, and introduced myself as a German, a +Prussian, and worse than all, from Berlin, whose citizens are never +popular, their amiability might decrease. "Permit me to present myself +to you, gentlemen," I said, "as Professor Dollnitz from Berlin, who +hopes to spend some weeks with you here in your beautiful country, +collecting plants and butterflies, beetles and chrysalids. I am an old +naturalist who looks forward to much gratification here in your richly +endowed Southern Ukraine." + +I observed a fleeting smile pass around the circle upon hearing that I, +so old a man, was running after butterflies and beetles, but I am used +to that; all sensible men regard us old entomologists as cranks, and +sometimes jest rather rudely at our expense; but this was not the case +here; the gentlemen, as I could see, suppressed their smiles at my +butterfly mania; they rose very politely and formally introduced +themselves as the District Judge Foligno, his Assistant Herr Einern, +Burgomaster Pollenz, a retired Captain Pollenz, a landed proprietor, +Gunther by name, Herr Weber, a merchant, and Herr Dietrich, a notary. +Strange! All German names save that of the district judge. + +Chance had surely brought me among Germans. I was strengthened in this +belief by finding that they all spoke excellent German, not merely with +me, but among themselves; only now and then was there heard a brief +remark in Slavonic. I soon found out my mistake, however, when in the +course of conversation I mentioned that I had been warned in Vienna and +in Goerz not to visit the Ukraine on account of the hostility of the +Slavs to Germans. The Burgomaster Pollenz, a reverend old man, made +reply, speaking with emphasis, and so loudly that even the young man +sitting by the window at the other end of the room could hear every +word distinctly: "That is unfortunately a widespread error which has +brought our good Ukraine into ill-repute. We are all Slavs, and are +proud of being so. Our ancestors were Germans, but we are not. The +Ukraine is our home. Whoever is born here and lives here must feel +himself a genuine Slav. Those only do we hate among us who are disloyal +sons of their native land, who would rob us of our language, our +customs, and make Germans of us; we have no hatred for Germans born. +There are none of them dwelling among us; our entire population is +Slavonic, and you will soon find that as a native-born German you will +be kindly received everywhere. It is not so in Laibach, or where, as +there, the population is mixed, and national prejudice has free sway, +causing constant strife, but even there the Slavs are seldom the +aggressive party." + +"Then you think I can chase my butterflies alone among your woods and +mountains without fear of insult? I was expressly warned in Vienna not +to leave the house here without a loaded revolver in my pocket to +protect me from robbers." + +I was answered by a burst of laughter. "I assure you there is no tract +of country in the realm of Austria as perfectly safe as ours," the +Burgomaster replied. "We have had no robbery here for many years and I +will guarantee you as a German against any insult, unless, indeed," he +raised his voice again, and spoke very loud, "you should consort with +the only Slav among us who is disloyal to his country; friendship with +him would cause you to be suspected of hostility to our nation." + +The young man by the window had hitherto seemed heedless of our +conversation; now he arose and approached us. His flashing eyes seemed +to defy each member of the circle, but their expression grew gentler as +he addressed the Burgomaster. "I cannot be angry with you, Herr +Burgomaster," he said gravely, but not unkindly. "Your words were +offensive, but I know that you mean well by me and by the strange +gentleman. You have called me a disloyal son of my country, which I am +not! I am a whole-souled Austrian, but one also who can never forget +that he is sprung from German and Austrian blood. You have all of you +forgotten this; I am true to the German tongue and to German customs. +You are the faithless ones, not I!" + +"Do you want to pick a quarrel with us all, Franz?" asked the +Burgomaster, regarding the young man disapprovingly. + +"No, but I cannot allow you to give the strange gentleman a false +idea of me. Moreover, you need not fear that I shall force my +friendship upon him. I know too well that it might cause him annoyance. +Good-night!" He turned upon his heel and left the room without +bestowing a further glance upon the company. + +When the door had closed behind him, the District Judge said: "Franz +Schorn always was and always will be a most disagreeable fellow. He +deserves a thrashing for his insolence in calling us all faithless." + +"Your cane is just beside you in the corner; why did you not use it!" +the Captain asked with a sneer. "In fact, Franz is not altogether +wrong. My brother irritated him unnecessarily; he would never have +forced his company upon the Herr Professor. He lives so quietly and is +so reserved that he cannot be accused of officiousness." + +"'Tis natural that you should espouse the cause of your future cousin," +remarked the District Judge with a contemptuous emphasis upon the word +"cousin." + +"I should be glad to have him for my cousin; he is a thoroughly brave, +honest fellow." + +"But a German." + +"I am half German myself, and at all events I should prefer a German to +an Italian cousin. The Italians are always squinting over at Italy, and +Franz is, as he says, a German-Austrian at least." + +"Leave off bickering," the Burgomaster admonished his brother. "What +will the Herr Professor think of us, if we quarrel so before him over +our wine?" + +During this short skirmish of words I took occasion to observe the two +antagonists narrowly. I liked the Captain's frank, manly face and +bearing, but the District Judge Foligno produced a very unpleasant +impression upon me. He was a man of about forty, with a worn, sallow +countenance. His features were regular; he might have been accounted +handsome but for some ugly lines about his mouth, half hidden though +they were by a glossy black moustache, and a false, unsteady expression +in his piercing black eyes. Before his war of words with the Captain he +had taken no part in the conversation, but had sat gloomily silent, +with downcast eyes, smoking his long cigar and drinking far more than +the others. In the short time that I had been present Mizka had twice +filled his tall glass. + +The Burgomaster's efforts to restore peace were unavailing; the +District Judge renewed the quarrel by a malicious remark about old army +officers who no longer knew what nation they belonged to. The Captain +retorted angrily, more bitter words ensued, the other gentlemen +presently took part in the dispute, which principally concerned the +character of young Franz Schorn. The Burgomaster alone was silent; of +the rest only the County Clerk, Herr Einern, sided with the Captain. +While the others all agreed with the District Judge's abuse of Franz +Schorn as a rough, arrogant fellow, a recreant Slav, who was detested +and despised all through the countryside, and were unanimous in +declaring that "old Pollenz" was perfectly right in forbidding Franz to +hang around the Lonely House watching for pretty Anna, that it was the +old man's patriotic duty to shield his charming daughter from Schorn's +advances, the Clerk and the Captain warmly espoused his cause. The +Clerk, in fact, did not mince matters, but frankly characterized as +exaggerated and unjust his chief's tirade against Franz. The boldness +that he showed in doing this without in the least overstepping the +bounds of civility impressed me very favourably. + +I was soon tired, however, of listening to a discussion which became +more and more heated as time went on, concerning people of whom I had +no knowledge, and therefore when I had finished my supper--an excellent +one, by the way--and had emptied my glass of wine, I rose to retire, +pleading fatigue from my journey. + +The gentlemen probably suspected that their quarrel had driven me away, +and they fell silent in some confusion while the Burgomaster said +kindly: "You have chanced upon an unfortunate evening, Herr Professor. +Do not suppose that such a disturbance is frequent in our little +circle, and I pray you pardon any harsh words you may have heard with +regard to Germans. I can assure you that we have no quarrel with any +Germans, save those who should be Slavs. That we have no dislike for +Germans or Germany you may see for yourself, since you hear us all +speak your language among ourselves, and pray do not let this evening's +experience prevent you from joining our circle in future. You will +always be an honoured and welcome guest." + +I pressed the good man's hand cordially and followed Mizka, who stood +with lighted candle ready to show me to my room. + +I thought it not indiscreet to gossip a little with pretty Mizka while +she was arranging my bed, and to learn from her something regarding the +gentlemen whose acquaintance I had made below, and with whom I should +probably have daily intercourse during some weeks to come. I could not +have sought information from a better source. + +Mizka had been born in Luttach; she knew all about every inhabitant of +the town, and she felt highly honored by "the gentleman's" desire to +converse with her. In her gratitude she detailed all that I wished to +know. I learned that the Burgomaster, Herr Pollenz, was the owner of +the "Golden Grapevine," which Mizka's aunt, Frau Franzka, or rather, +her husband, rented from him; he was now a guest in his own house, +occupying with his brother, a pensioned captain, the entire second +story. + +Mizka was eloquent in praise of the two brothers, whom she described as +the best and truest of men. No one could be as thoroughly kind as the +Burgomaster; he was, in fact, too kind, for he was sometimes really +pinched for money himself, because he could not refuse to give or to +lend to the poor, and there were evil-disposed people who abused his +benevolence. He was very wise, too, and learned. Whoever in all Luttach +stood in need of good counsel could be sure of finding it from the +Burgomaster. He and the Captain were much respected, not only in +Luttach, but throughout the countryside. + +Mizka gave unstinted praise also to the County Clerk, Herr von Einern, +for whom every one in Luttach had a good word, regretting that he was +not District Judge and Foligno the Clerk; he was too young for a Judge +as yet, but he was sure of promotion, for he belonged to a very old +Luttach family--his father was a general--although he never prided +himself upon his position, but was kind and courteous to the very +poorest, whereas the Judge was often rude and harsh to poor people in +court. + +Mizka had nothing pleasant to say of the Judge. He was out-and-out +Italian although his grandfather had settled in Luttach and he himself +could not speak Italian fluently; but an Italian was always an Italian; +he never could be a true Slav. Yet he was not temperate, like most +Italians; he drank too much, and was not content with the good Luttach +wine, but always wanted some special kind for himself. That was why he +was always needing money. Eighteen hundred gulden was a good salary; +many a Judge could live comfortably upon it with a wife and children, +whereas he, though a bachelor, was always in debt. He already owed Frau +Franzka nearly five hundred gulden, and Mizka could not understand why +her aunt would go on lending to him. He had the best two rooms in the +upper story--Number Twelve, just above the Herr Professor's Number Two, +and Number Thirteen--but he had paid nothing for them for a year, and +yet he behaved as if he was the greatest guest in the house; nothing +was good enough for him. He often drove to Goerz, where he consorted +with the officers, and 'twas said that he had sometimes lost at play +more than a hundred gulden in one evening. He had long since squandered +all the property he inherited from his father; he had a house in +Luttach, but not a stone of it really belonged to him; he had mortgaged +it all to the wealthy old Pollenz, the Burgomaster's cousin, and +whoever got into the clutches of that old man never got free until he +had lost his last penny; for old Pollenz, who lived in the last house +on the mountainside--it was called "the Lonely House"--was a +hardhearted usurer. + +Old Pollenz now owned forests, vineyards, meadows, and farmlands, for +which he exacted the highest rents; all his money had been made by +usury, and woe to the peasant to whom he had lent any--he was sure to +be obliged to sell all that he possessed to satisfy his creditor's +demands. The man was a hateful old miser; in spite of his wealth he +hardly dared to eat, and never entered an inn to drink a glass of good +wine. He lived with his daughter, pretty Anna, and an old servant maid, +apart from everybody, in the Lonely House; its windows barred with +iron, because he was constantly in dread of robbers, although there had +never been a robbery or burglary in all the countryside within the +memory of man. But the old fellow was so afraid of thieves that he +would let no one enter the house whom he did not know well, and he +always went armed with a couple of pistols and a big knife. + +He was most afraid of Franz Schorn, and had often said of him: "If he +should meet me alone, he'd be sure to do me a mischief, but I'll be +even with him. I'll shoot him like a mad dog sooner than let him attack +me." The old man's dread in this case was not quite without cause, for +Franz was a rough fellow, who might well assault a mortal enemy, and +the two had been mortal enemies ever since two years before, when old +Pollenz drove Franz from his door with curses. + +The old man was a bitter foe of the Germans, and had fallen into a +terrible rage when some one had told him that Franz was sneaking around +his house courting pretty Anna. And so, when one day Franz did not +sneak around the house, but boldly entered it and asked for pretty Anna +for his wife, the old man became almost insane with fury; he drove the +young fellow out of doors with blows and curses, although Anna wept and +entreated, saying that she would rather die than give up her Franz. + +Just at that time the Judge, who certainly had need of a rich wife, +asked old Pollenz to take him for his son-in-law. The old miser said +"yes," thinking to make an end of pretty Anna's love affair with Franz. +He told his daughter that she must marry the Judge, but Anna refused. +To all her father's threats she answered, "I'd rather die! You may drag +me to the altar, but you cannot compel me to utter a 'yes'!" And so the +Judge got the mitten in spite of the father's consent. Ever since then +he had been a deadly enemy to Franz Schorn; every child knew how he had +got the mitten in the Lonely House; he had often been teased about it, +and the malicious Italian would never forgive Franz Schorn because of +it. + +Such, in brief, was the sum of Mizka's information; she would gladly +have talked on, but I was afraid she might be wanted in the room below, +so I dismissed her with a "Goodnight." + +I admit that she had interested me much with her gossip. I now +understood many words and phrases that had escaped the gentlemen below +in the heat of their quarrel, and I perfectly comprehended the +bitterness of the Judge's hostility to Franz Schorn. A love story in a +Slav village! But what did it all matter to me? What possible interest +could an old naturalist, sixty years of age, take in the love affairs +of a young fellow whom he did not know, and the disappointment and lack +of money of a very disagreeable District Judge? There was absolutely no +reason why I should mix myself up with such matters, or even bestow a +thought upon them. That was not why I was in Luttach, but for the +purpose of collecting plants, butterflies, and beetles, which I +resolved to begin to do the next morning, oblivious of all love +affairs, German or Slav. + +I undressed, mounted a chair and made a bold leap which landed me in +the midst of the maize straw with which the bed had been stuffed. It +was not a luxurious couch, but fatigue sleeps well even upon a poor +one. I had scarcely extinguished the candle on the table beside my bed +when I fell into a deep and dreamless sleep. + + + + + CHAPTER II. + THE PROFESSOR'S FIRST EXCURSION. + + +The sun shining brightly into my room awoke me about five o'clock. I +got up, dressed myself quickly, and went down to the kitchen, where +Mizka had already kindled a bright fire on the hearth. She assured me +that my coffee would be ready in a quarter of an hour and that she +would bring it out to me in the garden. There I met the Captain, who, +enjoying his morning pipe, was walking to and fro between the flower +beds. Now and then he would stop before an opening rose, regarding it +with eyes really full of affection. He greeted me cordially. + +"You are an early riser, Herr Professor," he said with a smile. "I +thought all those who lived in large cities never rose before eight +o'clock, but I am glad that you are an exception, for the mornings and +evenings with us are the most delightful time of the day. At noon the +sun is far too hot and glowing to enable us to enjoy the beauty that +lies about us here. Only look at these rosebuds, how beautiful they +are, each one with a diamond dewdrop in its breast! Are they not +enchantingly lovely?" + +He chattered on, pointing out to me every blossom that delighted him, +and taking positive joy in all. He conducted me through the garden, +which was not very large, and at the end of it he unlatched a gate that +was not locked. + +"Now I must show you the only thing perhaps that we have worth showing +in Luttach. Pray follow me," and he walked before me through the open +garden gate. After a few steps we reached the banks of a broad, +brawling brook, which seemed in all its breadth and force to come +directly from out the rocky wall before us. The rock must certainly +have been thoroughly undermined. From countless smaller and larger +openings the crystal-clear water streamed with such power that the +numerous jets instantly formed a broad deep brook. + +"This is the Luttach. On the north side of Nanos the raging Voyna +rushes through a savage rocky vale, suddenly vanishing without a trace; +the mountain engulfs it. They say that the Voyna in the interior of +Nanos forms a deep unfathomable lake and from this lake in the interior +of the mountain it flows on, breaking through the rocks, to come to +light again here as the Luttach brook. This may be possible, for Nanos, +like the whole Karst range, is absolutely riddled with caves. The +famous Adelsberg Grotto would not be the unparalleled wonder that it +is, if our population were not too indolent to explore the hollow +openings and grottoes in our side of the mountain. Why, in the +immediate neighbourhood of Luttach there are two caves, the depth of +which is known to none, for no one has ever taken the trouble to +explore them, except for a few yards." + +"What absolutely unconscionable neglect!" I rejoined. "If you could +succeed in finding here a spring, a mineral spring as wonderful with +its grottoes as that of Adelsberg, think of how it would attract +travellers and what a goal it would be for all tourists." + +The Captain shrugged his shoulders. "I really do not know whether our +Luttach population would desire this. They certainly feel no wish for +it at present. Besides, it is questionable if our grottoes are really +very large in extent, and it is probable that their exploration would +be attended with some difficulty and perhaps indeed danger. I have +never thought of making an attempt to explore one or the other of +these, but, if you desire to do so, Herr Professor, I shall be very +glad to accompany you." + +I joyfully accepted the Captain's offer. Under all circumstances the +exploration of a cave, hitherto unknown, possesses for me extraordinary +interest; in the depths of these caves in the Karst range are found +rare cave beetles, the species is confined entirely to such places. It +might well be possible to discover in the Luttach grotto a species +hitherto unknown. Such a prospect made me forget the threatened +difficulty and danger. + +The Captain smiled when he heard the reason for my interest. That a +human being should be ready to subject himself to inconvenience and +even to danger that he might discover a new beetle appeared to him +extremely ridiculous, but he was too polite to make this evident. He +promised to look about for some strong, courageous men, who, armed with +torches, ladders, and ropes, should accompany us into the caves. + +"I hope," he said, "that you will reap a rich harvest of rare cave +beetles, but even if you do not succeed you will be abundantly repaid +by the beetles and butterflies which you will find on the slopes of +Nanos. A naturalist from Vienna, who was here about ten years ago and +spent six weeks in Luttach, was thoroughly enraptured by the richness +of his discoveries. I was then at home on leave and frequently talked +with him. His best and rarest caterpillars he found near the Chapel of +St. Nikolas, I believe, upon the leaves of beeches and oaks." + +Here was an important piece of news! The caterpillars of the _Saturnia +caecigena_, the rare Dalmatian butterfly which had lured me to Luttach, +lived upon beech and oak leaves. I immediately determined to seek the +neighbourhood of the Chapel of St. Nikolas this very day. To St. +Nikolas my first excursion should be made. + +I asked the Captain the way thither. "You cannot miss it," he answered; +"there are two paths, each very easy to find. The first, which is +perhaps fifteen minutes the nearer, is steep in its beginning, and even +dangerous for unaccustomed mountain climbers. Part of it you can see +from here. It begins there at that elder bush and leads directly up the +rocks by steps partly natural and partly artificial, most of them, +however, giving space only for one foot. A false step, a slip, might be +disastrous, therefore I can hardly advise you to take this nearer path +over the rocks. It is not long; in five minutes you would reach a very +pleasant, gently ascending footpath, which in fifteen minutes more +would lead you past the Lonely House, to reach in another quarter of an +hour the Chapel of St. Nikolas in a direct line. The second path, just +as easy to find, is very charming, beginning at the last house of +Luttach and leading to the left from the road to Adelsberg, winding +through meadows and through oak forests, and ascending gently, past the +scattered houses of the village of Oberberg. After perhaps half an hour +you reach a large crucifix at a fork of the pathway. The path to the +left leads to the Lonely House, that to the right directly to the +Chapel of St. Nikolas without going near the Lonely House; you cannot +miss it. I advise you to take the longer path. The shorter is seldom +used even by the inhabitants of Luttach, because it is certainly +dangerous in descending. The District Judge alone, who is very fond of +flowers, often climbs up the steep rocks, in search of rare, beautiful +plants." + +The advice was well meant, and I determined to follow it, although the +mention of the rare and beautiful plants allured me. Still, I do not +willingly expose myself to danger. We returned to the garden, where our +coffee awaited us in a pretty arbour covered with wild grapevine. + +I hurried my breakfast, for I was burning with impatience to find near +St. Nikolas my entomological treasures. Scarcely a quarter of an hour +had passed before I started on my way thither, supplied with a cane and +a large umbrella, my tin box upon my back, my pockets filled with +glasses for beetles and boxes for caterpillars and butterflies. + +The Captain had described the path to me so exactly that I really could +not miss it. He had called it charming, but it was more than that. It +was wondrously beautiful. It was a joy to ascend the mountain quietly, +while fresh beauties of the landscape revealed themselves at every +step. At my feet lay the pretty little town of Luttach, framed in +emerald green meadows, bounded by the steep rocky wall against which it +leaned. On the summit of this bare rock, majestically enthroned, were +the remains of a ruined old castle, whose knightly possessor had in +former times probably ruled over the rich valley of the Luttach. + +Wherever the eye turned, whether downward to the houses and cottages in +the valley, surrounded with blooming orchards, or to the distant view +where the mighty mountain range bounded the horizon, its rocky peaks +glowing in the sunlight--everywhere, it filled me with rapture. + +And then, the fresh, delicious morning! It was a joy indeed to wander +thus in the mountains. + +The crucifix on the path was very quickly reached. I turned to the +right, and soon the little Church of St. Nikolas lay before me. + +Hitherto I had sturdily strode on without being detained by my desire +to collect. But now, when the goal of my wanderings was reached, I +began to search. Once more I turned on the steps of the church to feast +upon the wonderful view above the tops of the oaks growing in the +valley below, and then I began my work. I could have scarcely found a +piece of ground more adapted for my purpose than this around St. +Nikolas. The church lay in the midst of a forest of tall oaks; around +them there was a rich undergrowth, and where their trunks were more +rare, there spread a carpet of charming wildflowers, above which +countless butterflies fluttered from one blossom to another. The wood +above the chapel consisted partly of ancient trees and shrubbery, +climbing the gentle slope of Nanos until it reached the bald rock which +showed no trace of vegetation. + +My first attempts at collection were rewarded by an astonishing result. +I found upon the leaves of an oak a caterpillar entirely unknown to me. +When I examined it more closely, it recalled to me the description +which I had seen of the _Saturnia caecigena_. My dearest wish was +fulfilled. + +Only a naturalist can form an idea of my joyful emotion, my delight, +and the passion for collecting which this first specimen aroused in me. +I forgot everything: the beauty of the landscape, to which I now paid +no attention; the difficulty of finding my way in the forest without a +guide, the danger of treading upon one of the poisonous reptiles native +to the Karst range--in short, I wandered about animated only by the +desire to procure more specimens of this rare and beautiful insect, and +the more I found, the more the desire increased. I never noticed that +hours had passed, that the refreshing morning had given place to an +intensely hot noon, and that the exertion of climbing and searching had +caused the perspiration to stream from my forehead. But at last my +sixty years asserted their right. I began to be tired and to feel very +thirsty, as the sound of church bells ascended from the valley. I +looked at my watch; twelve o'clock! More than six hours had I passed in +unbroken labour, and surely a man of sixty had the right to be a little +tired and to think of home, especially since all my boxes were well +filled. + +I found myself in a dense forest at a considerable height above the +little Church of St. Nikolas, but whether to the right or to the left +of it I could not say, since I had walked along searching here and +there, without a thought of the direction in which I was going. I might +have informed myself as to this if I could have obtained a view of the +valley, but the tall undergrowth made this impossible. There was +nothing for it but to walk in the direction of Luttach, keeping to the +right, down the mountain, and endeavouring to avoid any precipices, +hoping thus to find the path in a roundabout way. + +If it were not so oppressively hot! The oaks, covered with the early +foliage of spring, hardly afforded any depth of shade. They could not +protect me from the burning rays of the midday sun. The thirst which +tormented me grew more intense with every minute, and almost +intolerable. I longed for one swallow of water. Surely I could not be +far from some cottage. Fortunately, in the morning the Captain had +taught me the most important word in the Slavonic tongue, _woda_, +"water." This word formed my entire Slavonic vocabulary, but it would +suffice to inform any Slav of my need. + +I strode on sturdily, keeping to the right down the mountain, and by +good fortune encountered no precipice. After a little more than a +quarter of an hour, I struck a footpath which wound about gently in the +direction of Luttach. I pursued it, and I had proceeded but a few steps +when in a little turn of the way I perceived a solitary pedestrian +coming towards me. I immediately recognized the young man about whom +there had been so lively a discussion in the Golden Grapevine, Franz +Schorn. He was ascending the mountain path slowly, with eyes fixed +gloomily on the ground. He did not see me until, when I was scarcely +thirty steps from him, he suddenly raised his head as if listening. +Then he started violently upon perceiving me. For a moment he seemed +undetermined as to what he should do. He paused, regarded me darkly, +then turned away, without a greeting, and in a moment more had vanished +in the thick undergrowth of the forest. + +A very strange fellow! He need not have considered himself so strictly +bound by his promise not to press his friendship upon me. He need not +have grudged me a kindly greeting and a word or two. I should have +liked to ask him about the nearest cottage where I could perhaps get a +drink of water, but there was no help for it; I could not run after him +and must find my way for myself. + +I pursued the footpath further. To my joy I soon found myself in the +neighbourhood of a house, but as I approached it my joy turned to +disappointment. All the windows--not only those of the ground floor, +but those of the first story--were provided with strong iron bars, and +I made sure that I had reached the _Lonely House_, whose possessor, old +Pollenz, according to all that I had heard of him, could hardly be +expected to show any civility to a hated German. Should I ask him for a +drink of water? It would not be pleasant to be rudely refused so modest +a request. If I had not been tortured with thirst, I would rather have +continued upon my path to Luttach instead of asking any favour of the +old usurer; but he could at most only return me a surly "No," so I +determined to try it. On reaching the house, contrary to my expectation +I found the front door wide open, although Mizka had told me that old +Pollenz almost always kept it locked and would not open it until +continued knocking had removed all suspicion of thieves. + +Uncertain whether or not to enter, I stood before the open door; it +looked into a spacious hall running through the entire house, ending in +another door which probably led into the courtyard. That I confronted +the Lonely House was made certain by the huge iron bolts with which the +door towards the courtyard was secured. A steep staircase leading to +the upper story led from one side of the hall. Opposite the staircase +was a door; and two other doors, one to the right, one to the left of +the entrance, led into the inner rooms of the house; they were all +closed. + +I entered and knocked modestly at the door on my left. No reply; no +"Come in." I listened; there was not a sound to be heard; an uncanny +stillness reigned throughout the house. I knocked again, more loudly, +and then, after a pause, more loudly still for the third time. The +sound of my knocking was so loud that it surely must have been heard +within, but it met with no response. I waited in vain. + +A strange and uncomfortable sensation overcame me. I dreaded the Lonely +House, where everything seemed dead. What folly! An old man should have +more sense. I was ashamed of this strange and disagreeable sensation +and turned towards the door on the right of the entrance. Perhaps my +knock here might have a better result. No longer as modestly as before, +I knocked loudly, and the door, which happened to be only ajar, opened +slowly of itself. I cast one look into a spacious room, and staggered +back, overcome by intense horror. + +There, almost in the centre of the apartment, a motionless figure lay +upon the floor in a pool of blood, which had stained the white boards +dark red. Such horror, such intense dread, seized me that my first +thought was of flight as swift as my feet could carry me from this +terrible sight; but the next moment I was ashamed of such cowardly +fear. Perhaps the unfortunate man who lay there in his blood still +lived. Perhaps I might help him. I overcame the paralyzing terror and +entered the room. + +All that I saw there only increased my horror. No mortal help could +avail the unfortunate man whose stiffened corpse lay before me. He had +either killed himself, or had been horribly murdered. His throat was +cut, and from the gaping wound dark drops of blood were still +trickling. The pale, bloodless, distorted countenance was that of a +dead man. + +Had there been a murder here! Had the old man's foreboding, always +dwelling upon burglars and murderers, been fulfilled! Perhaps the +murderer was still in the house. The horrible crime could not have been +committed for long, for the blood had not yet congealed; some drops +were still trickling from the wound. + +Horror seized me afresh. I looked timidly about me. It seemed to me the +murderer might be near. Hastily I drew from my breast pocket my loaded +revolver; I was safe from any attack and could look about me with less +agitation. + +There was no doubt that a horrible crime had been committed here. There +upon the floor, at some distance from the dead man, lay a bloody knife, +near a large cabinet, the folding doors of which stood wide open. +Several drawers had been drawn out and papers lay scattered upon the +floor. The murderer had apparently been searching the cabinet for money +or valuables, and had scattered about these papers. + +Had he been startled by my knocking and escaped! If so, he must have +passed through the door which led on the left to an adjoining room, for +the windows here were barred. + +I summoned all my courage to follow him, but there was no need, for the +door leading outside was bolted and no one could have left the room by +it. He must have escaped before I entered; he might be concealed +somewhere near; but, again, he might have left the house, and, in his +hasty flight, have forgotten to close the front door. + +What should I do? Ought I not to search the place? Yet if he were not +there, all search would be unavailing, and if I found him, it would be +foolhardy to wander about these unfamiliar rooms merely to expose +myself to an attack. The murderer might deal a blow from behind which +would make me and my revolver useless. + +It suddenly occurred to me that old Pollenz did not live alone in the +house; that he had a daughter. Where was she! And where was the old +servant of whom Mizka had told me? They had not heard my knocking, and +yet it had been loud enough to resound through the entire building. Had +they, in their endeavour to escape from the murderer, concealed +themselves? Or--oh, horrible thought!--had they also fallen victims to +the monster! On this point I must have certainty. If the assassin were +still in the house, I could not leave the two women unprotected. My +cowardly fear must be overcome; I must pursue the wretch. Humanity made +my duty clear. With my revolver held ready and with a beating heart, I +turned back to the bolted door, which I opened easily. I entered a +spacious, dreary room. A bed against the wall, a table, a couple of +wooden chairs, and two large closed wardrobes formed its entire +furniture. Evidently it was the old man's sleeping room--a sordid +apartment. Here I found nobody, and I continued my search. A second +door in the room was unlocked. Through it I again entered the hall. +Beneath the staircase was a door which evidently led to the cellar; it +was closed by a massive bolt. Two other doors led from the hall to +rooms on the left. I went to the first of these--the one at which I had +knocked so loudly--opened it, and entered a large apartment much better +furnished than the rooms which I had hitherto explored. It gave an +impression of more comfort, and I was struck by its great cleanliness. +By the window there was a work-table, upon which lay some sewing. A +couple of flowers blooming in earthen pots stood on the window sill. A +bed with snowy curtains stood against the wall opposite the window. + +Undoubtedly this was the sitting-room and bedchamber of the fair Anna, +the daughter of the murdered man. Without delay I continued my search. +A door opposite the bed was unlocked. Through it I entered the kitchen. +Here also I found no one, and I returned to the hall. + +The four rooms of the ground floor had now been searched without +result. With a calmer mind I mounted the steep staircase to the second +story. Here I found rooms similar to those below. They were all +unlocked and appeared to be used partly for old rubbish. In one of them +there was a bed, probably that of the old servant. + +I had found nothing. It seemed useless to ascend to the garret, so I +went down to the room in which the murdered man lay, to consider what +steps I should take next. + +My fear lest the daughter and the maid had been the murderer's victims +had proved groundless. Neither of them was in the house. The monster +had probably profited by their absence to kill and rob the old man, +whom he knew to be alone. Any longer stay in this terrible abode seemed +useless. Of course I must inform the proper authorities of the murder, +and it was my plain duty to do this as soon as possible. I ought not to +linger longer in the Lonely House. Everything must be left lying as it +was to await the legal investigation. I could do no good to the dead +man by remaining. I ought to proceed to Luttach as quickly as my feet +could carry me to inform the District Judge of my terrible discovery. +On, then, to Luttach and the District Judge! Suddenly, by a strange +chain of ideas, the memory awoke in me of Franz Schorn as he was coming +from the Lonely House, with eyes gloomily downcast, in the forest path; +of how he started when he saw me before he fled away through the +undergrowth. Franz Schorn came from the house of his mortal enemy. I +shuddered. Had I met the murderer fresh from the cruel deed? Had not +the old man who lay there in his blood always feared him? Had not Mizka +yesterday evening told me that Franz was a rough, morose fellow, who +might be readily suspected of taking the life of his mortal enemy? + +This was a dreadful suspicion, but not without foundation; and, at all +events, it seemed to be my duty to inform the Judge as quickly as +possible of my meeting with Franz Schorn. I hastily left the scene of +the crime, not casting another glance behind me. I breathed more freely +when I emerged from the gloomy hall into the brilliant sunshine. No +longer under the spell of the ghastly spectacle, I could consider more +calmly what was to be done. My first determination, however, remained +unaltered. It was my plain duty to hasten to Luttach by the nearest way +and there report to the District Judge. The nearest way, as the Captain +had told me in the morning, was by the rocks. I could not miss it; I +saw it clearly before me. A broad, well-worn path went directly from +the Lonely House probably to the outlying cottages of the village of +Oberberg. Another, narrow and overgrown, led in the direction of +Luttach, and, at first, in a gentle incline down the mountain. This +must be the footpath, then, which further on became the narrow way, +over the rocks leading directly to the inn, which the Captain had +described to me as perilous. Ought I to expose myself to the danger of +a fall! The descent was more difficult than the ascent. The rocky way +was at least the nearer by fifteen minutes. I had certainly climbed up +and down more dangerous places among rocks in order to procure a rare +caterpillar. I was now upon a far more important errand, and ought to +reach Luttach quickly. It is foolish to expose oneself to unnecessary +danger, but the man who shuns it when something important is at stake +is a miserable coward. I delayed no longer. One glance over my shoulder +I cast. The door of the Lonely House was wide open. Any passer-by might +enter. Surely it was wrong to leave it open for more than an hour +without any guard. Could I lock it! The key might still be in the lock. +I approached it once more, I confess with great reluctance. The silence +as of the grave which reigned within filled me with horror, but I +overcame this weakness. My expectation was confirmed; the large house +key was still there. I locked the door, and taking the key could now +pursue my way, sure that for the next hour no passer-by could enter. I +hurried down the narrow way leading to the rocky abyss; it was a +charming path. The view of the valley was enchanting; I had no eyes for +it; I saw nothing of the wealth of rare mountain plants blooming on +either side, nothing of the gorgeous peonies which now and then +projected their red blossoms almost from the very rock. My thoughts +still clung to the Lonely House and the gloomy room where lay the dead +man. I encountered not a single human being as I hurried along. At +length the little town lay directly below me. I must descend over the +dangerous rocks. I looked about me searchingly; it was not easy to find +the narrow, untrodden footway, but it soon became plain to my practised +eye. Without hesitation I strode down from stone to stone, partly +leaping, knowing that a false step would cost me my life; but my +training among the mountains made my footing sure, and after a few +minutes I stood at the garden gate of the inn. + + + + + CHAPTER III. + THE PROFESSOR'S RETURN. + + +"Dinner has been waiting for you ever so long, Herr Professor," called +Frau Franzka to me as I entered the kitchen, but hardly had I +approached her before she clasped her hands above her head with "Holy +Virgin, how you look! How pale! How distressed, and how dripping with +perspiration! Why, large drops are falling from your hair; no one can +climb about the mountains in the hottest part of the day. The District +Judge----" + +"Is the District Judge at home!" I broke in. + +"Yes; he came home about a quarter of an hour ago. I did not see him, +but I heard him going upstairs. He is in his room and is probably +dressing. The Herr Professor ought also to go to his room and dress. +You will take cold in your damp clothes." + +I scarcely heard the last words. I hurried up the three flights of +stairs and in the passage looked about me for the door marked No. +12--the District Judge's sitting room. I knocked at the door; no +answer. I knocked more loudly; there came from within, as from an +adjoining room, "Who's there?" + +"Professor Dollnitz. I must see you with regard to a matter of great +importance, Herr Foligno." + +"I pray you just wait for a few minutes. I am dressing, but I'll be +ready immediately." + +I had to wait. Whilst I stood motionless before the door I suddenly +became conscious of the intolerable thirst which, more than half an +hour before, had driven me to the Lonely House. During my great +excitement I had not been conscious of any physical need, but now in +the first moments of quiet it attacked me with double violence. I was +perfectly exhausted--almost fainting. Fortunately on the table in the +passage there stood a carafe half filled with water. It must have been +there for hours; the water was lukewarm, but I drank it eagerly and it +gave me the refreshment of which I stood in need. I was as one new +born. + +I had to wait at least five minutes. The time seemed very long to me. +At last the door opened and the District Judge appeared in a new and +very elegant summer suit. His thin, sallow face had not attracted me on +the previous evening, and now as he received me with a forced friendly +smile I liked it still less. + +"Forgive me for keeping you so long, Herr Professor," he said, "but I +could not open the door before; I was, to speak frankly, entirely +undressed when you knocked. I was obliged to change my clothes because, +in your interest, I have had quite a fatiguing walk on the mountain. I +am a little of a botanist--only a layman--but I am interested in +botany, and I was desirous to surprise the learned Herr Professor with +some rare plants whose habitat I knew. It cost me an effort to obtain +them, and even a little danger; I had a fall which gave me a slight +wound in my hand, but it is very insignificant, scarcely worth +mentioning, since I have procured what I desired. Here they are." With +his left hand (his right was wrapped in a white handkerchief) he took +some orchids from the table before the sofa and handed them to me. They +were of a beautiful and rare species, and at any other time would have +given me the keenest delight, but at this moment I scarcely looked at +them. + +"I must reserve my thanks for a time," I said gravely, "the terrible +intelligence which I bring to you, Herr Foligno, as the foremost +official in the town, will admit of no delay. I come directly from the +Lonely House--the scene of a horrible murder and robbery." + +The District Judge recoiled as from a sudden blow. Pallor as of death +overspread his sallow face. His mouth twitched; his eyes became glazed +and fixed on me with a look wherein gleamed downright fear and absolute +dismay. + +"You came from the Lonely House--a murder and robbery! Incredible!" he +stammered. Terror so mastered him that he could scarcely utter these +few words. + +"What I tell you is only too true," I replied, and then in the fewest +words I related what I had seen and how I had closed the open door and +hurried to Luttach in order to make him, as the chief authority of the +place, acquainted with the fearful crime. + +During my short narrative he was struggling to regain his composure and +succeeded. He listened with his gaze fixed gloomily upon the floor. +When I finished, he cast upon me a searching, piercing glance, and his +voice trembled as he said, "Did you find no trace of the murderer! Did +you see no one in the neighbourhood of the Lonely House!" + +On my way down the mountain it had been clear to me that it was my duty +to report my meeting with Franz Schorn, but when the District Judge put +this question to me, I suddenly felt a decided reluctance to inform him +of it. This man was Schorn's mortal enemy. Ought I to make him a sharer +of my suspicion, which had been aroused by nothing but a chance +encounter? + +Still more searching and still more penetrating was the glance the +District Judge bestowed upon me as I hesitated to reply. + +"Did you see no one in the neighbourhood of the house, or upon the path +towards it!" he asked once more. + +As Judge he had a right to put the question and I ought to tell him the +truth. As I reflected thus, I overcame my reluctance and replied. + +"I did encounter a man not far from the Lonely House in the forest, but +I cannot think myself justified in suspecting him of evil." I then +described accurately my meeting with Franz Schorn. + +He listened in silence, his eyes still fixed on the floor. When I +finished, he said with emotion, extending his left hand to me: "I thank +you, Herr Professor; your report may be of the first importance for the +discovery of the murderer, but it may also subject an innocent man to a +horrible suspicion. As long as there is no evidence against a man +except that he was seen in the neighbourhood of the scene of a murder, +nothing would justify his being suspected of what, even as a mere +suspicion, might darken his whole future life. Therefore, let me +request you to allow me to consider your account of your meeting with +Herr Franz Schorn as a matter personal to myself and confidential, not +official. I shall then not be forced to include it in a short account +which I must write out of your information." + +"You surprise me, Herr Foligno." + +"I suppose so, and I owe you an explanation of my request. Herr Franz +Schorn is my bitter enemy and I have never concealed my dislike of him. +You were a witness yesterday evening of my quarrel with Captain Pollenz +and my clerk. Precisely on this account I do not wish to include in my +official paper a suspicion which I myself hold to be entirely +groundless. I promise you that I will neglect nothing that will lead to +the discovery of the murderer, that I will investigate every step which +Herr Schorn has taken to-day, and will have him watched by a thoroughly +competent detective. If he is guilty, I shall discover his guilt; but I +do not believe he is so, and because I am his foe I will not attach any +suspicion to him which, while the true murderer remains undiscovered, +might ruin his life, merely because at the time of the murder he had +been seen near the scene of the crime. Promise me, Herr Professor, that +you will tell no one at present of your meeting with Franz Schorn. +Should there be other and more important grounds for suspecting him, I +shall request you to give me your account officially." + +I pressed the Judge's hand cordially, and joyfully gave him the promise +for which he asked. How unjustly I had judged this man! How I had +misunderstood him! I was ashamed of the reluctance I had felt to tell +him of my meeting with Franz Schorn. + +"I must now make out a short official account of your information," the +District Judge continued. "You can hardly believe how difficult this is +for me. Your account has agitated me so profoundly that I can scarcely +control myself. I was very familiar with old Pollenz. He had indeed +many disagreeable qualities. Toward others he was often hard and +unyielding, but I never had anything to complain of in his behaviour to +me. He has often shown me favours. He was indeed almost a friend, and +now I must prepare a paper which shall show him to be the victim of a +horrible crime, which I must take the first steps to investigate. It +must be done. It is my duty. In spite of the pain which my right hand +gives me in writing, I will do it immediately." + +He took a sheet of paper; pens and ink were at hand, and seated himself +on the sofa behind the large table to write. His hand could not have +been very painful, for it did not prevent his writing swiftly and +clearly. Now and then, without interrupting his writing, he addressed +some brief, leading question to me, and in scarcely ten minutes the +paper was finished. He read it aloud to me. It was wonderfully concise +and clear, without saying one word too much or too little, and I signed +it without an alteration. After he had added his own signature, he +said, "I must now beg you, Herr Professor, to accompany me to the +Lonely House. I shall immediately summon my assistant, as well as the +District Physician and the captain of gendarmes, to inspect the +premises. You, too, Herr Professor, must be present. You must testify +that nothing in the house has been altered in your absence. This is +important for further investigation. Can I count upon you!" + +"Most certainly." + +"Then pray hold yourself in readiness. In half an hour, at the latest, +I shall have notified the other gentlemen. The time of waiting, if I +may advise you, should be employed by you in strengthening yourself +with food and drink. Yon may not feel the need of refreshment at +present, but we have some sad hours before us." + +How kind and thoughtful! I certainly had cause to ask pardon in my +heart of the District Judge for the prejudice he had created. + + + + + CHAPTER IV. + THE INVESTIGATION. + + +It was four o'clock in the afternoon when Herr Foligno called for me in +the dining-room, where I was sitting with the Captain. It had taken him +almost an hour to assemble those who were to inspect the scene of the +murder in the Lonely House. I had informed the Captain, a near relative +of the murdered man, of my terrible discovery, and he had been deeply +moved. He said: + +"I was never intimate with old Pollenz, although he was my first +cousin. He was a hard usurer and a miser. He loved no one in the world +save his daughter, but that his end has been so horrible is certainly +very sad. Poor child, my dear little Anna! How will she bear this +fearful shock! I saw her about twelve o'clock here in Luttach with her +old maid, Johanna. She had been paying a visit to an aged aunt, and she +is probably still there. I must see if it be so. I do not willingly +visit the malicious old gossip, but if Anna is still with her, I must +go to prepare the poor child for the sad news that awaits her." + +He sent Mizka to old Frau Lancic's, and in a few minutes she returned +to say that Fraeulein Anna had been with the widow, but that she had +left about a quarter of an hour before to make some purchases in the +village and then to return home. + +Upon hearing this, the Captain determined to accompany the officials to +the Lonely House, for which he received permission from the District +Judge. + +Soon after four o'clock we began our walk; not by the steep rocky path, +which was rather too difficult for the old District Physician, and +might prove dangerous, but in accordance with the Judge's directions, +by the longer way past the village of Oberberg. + +We could make but slow progress, for the heat was still oppressive. The +old physician gasped and panted as we ascended the mountain. The Judge +with kindly consideration, begged him to walk slowly, although he +himself was trembling with impatience to reach our goal. + +We met various people on the way. They greeted us politely and looked +after us with surprise. Intelligence of the murder had not yet reached +the village of Oberberg, and people could not imagine what so many +persons, accompanied by the captain of gendarmes, could have to do in +the little village. I walked first with the Captain. The Judge and his +clerk followed, and, naturally, very little was said as we pursued our +way; all were oppressed by a sense of what lay before them. + +We had turned into the path by the crucifix leading on the left to the +Lonely House, and were but a short distance from the spot to which we +were tending, when the Captain suddenly stood still and said in a +faltering voice, "There comes my poor little Anna." + +She came towards us hurriedly from the Lonely House. She was called +pretty Anna in the country round, and indeed she deserved the name. I +have scarcely ever in my long life seen so beautiful a girl. Even her +expression of intense anxiety could not distort her charming face. When +she recognized the Captain she flew towards him. + +"Oh, uncle, my dear kind uncle, thank God you are here!" she cried. "I +am dying with anxiety; my father will not open the door. For a quarter +of an hour Johanna and I have been knocking in vain. Something must +have happened to him, or he would hear us and open the door for us." + +The Captain put his arm round the lovely child and pressed a kiss upon +her white forehead. "My poor little girl!" he murmured. His voice +failed him; he could say no more; his eyes filled with tears; he tried +to control himself, but the compassion which he felt for the girl in +his arms was too intense; it mastered him; he could hardly utter a +word. + +"Good heavens! What has happened?" cried Anna, extricating herself from +the Captain's embrace and gazing at him, her large black eyes dilated +with horror. "You call me your poor girl? There are tears in your eyes. +For God's sake tell me what it means! Has anything happened to my +father? Oh, answer me, uncle! I would rather hear the worst than suffer +such suspense." + +The Judge answered instead of the Captain, who could not control his +voice. "Compose yourself, Fraeulein Anna," he said with grave +kindliness, "you need all your courage, all your self-control to endure +the misfortune which God has sent to you. Unfortunately your anxiety is +justified. Something has indeed happened to your father, my lifelong +friend." + +"He is dead!" the girl cried, with what was almost a shriek; overcome +with grief, she tottered and would have fallen to the ground if the +Captain had not thrown his arms about her. The Judge took her hand with +deep sympathy, but she snatched it away and pushed him from her with a +gesture expressive of the most profound aversion. + +"Do not touch me; I hate, I despise you!" she cried, as she cast +herself again into the Captain's arms. "Uncle, my dear kind uncle, you +tell me what has happened. I can hear the worst from you, but not from +that man." + +The Judge, thus rudely repulsed, was deeply offended, but was too +magnanimous--his pity for the unfortunate girl was too profound to +admit of his expressing his resentment by a harsh word. + +"You do me bitter wrong, Fraeulein Anna," he said gently. "I sympathize +sincerely with your pain, but I will not thrust my pity upon you. I +pray you, Captain, to inform her as mercifully as possible of what has +happened." + +It was a hard task for the Captain, but it was his duty to fulfil it. +He motioned to the Judge and to myself to withdraw for a few steps, and +then took Anna's arm in his and, walking on before us, spoke to her in +the most sympathetic and loving way. He told me afterwards that in all +his life he had never had so hard a duty to perform. He searched in +vain for kindly words to soften the horror; he feared that the delicate +girl could hardly endure the frightful truth which he was forced to +tell her; but to his great surprise Anna showed a remarkable degree of +composure. She had not succumbed, he said, to pain and grief; she had +become ghastly pale and her dark eyes had gleamed with a strange +flickering fire, as, almost in a whisper, not to him, but to herself, +she had murmured, "Foully murdered and robbed; murdered for the sake of +his wretched money. He sacrificed his soul and now has given his +life for money." She shed no tear; her grief was too great, too +heart-breaking; but she trembled violently; her little hand shook as it +rested on her uncle's arm, and as he put his arm round her and tenderly +drew her to him, he could feel the violent beating of her heart. He +told her everything that he had heard from me. When he had finished, +she looked at him with flaming eyes. + +"The vile murderer will be discovered," she said in a hoarse voice; "I +trust in God's justice." + +Her composure was really remarkable, and gave great cause for anxiety. +I had lingered behind with the Judge and his clerk. We slowly followed +the Captain and Anna about twenty steps in the rear. + +"I certainly am most unfortunately situated," said the Judge, turning +to me confidentially. "You heard the harsh words which the poor girl, +half crazed with pain and horror, spoke to me. I know what those words +mean. I am well aware that Fraeulein Anna is prejudiced against me. She +thinks that the hostility which her father showed to Herr Franz Schorn +was partly my fault. That she does so is well known in Luttach, and I +commit no indiscretion in telling you that there is an attachment +between Fraeulein Anna and Herr Schorn, of which old Pollenz +disapproved. Fraeulein Anna knows that Herr Schorn is my bitter enemy. +She has sided with him against me, but that her prejudice is as intense +as the words she has just spoken testify, I confess surprises me. Never +before have I seen in her the least sign of dislike. Imagine my +position. My official duty compels me to play the part of a +disinterested investigator. I cannot spare her pain, but I shall have +to subject her, with her old maid, to an examination. I must inquire +how it happened that the Lonely House was left unlocked, perhaps by +herself; every child in Luttach knows that old Pollenz always locked +the front door securely. I would give much, very much, to spare the +young lady this examination." + +"If you would depute me to make it, Judge, such an act on your part +would be entirely justified by the peculiar relations in which you +stand to Fraeulein Anna Pollenz." The Clerk uttered these words very +quietly and in a businesslike tone, but the District Judge was not +pleased. He cast a sinister glance at the Clerk and asked, "What do you +mean by peculiar relations, sir?" + +"Nothing but what you yourself indicated, and what, to use your own +words, every child in Luttach is familiar with," was the quiet reply. + +"You allude to the foolish gossip which makes me the young girl's +rejected suitor? There is not one word of truth in it." + +"Then old Pollenz lied, for he stated this, not as a secret, but quite +openly, in Luttach. At all events, such a report does exist, and it +will be confirmed unless you make use of your right to depute to me the +examination of the young lady." + +"No, that I will not do. My standard of official duty is too exalted to +permit my neglecting it out of regard for my own feelings. I might +perhaps take your advice if I were forced to play the part of examiner +during the entire legal process, which must ensue upon this murder, +but, fortunately, that is not so; only the preliminaries are our duty. +Capital crimes," the Judge said turning to me, "do not come within the +domain of the District Judge. They are the business of the tribunal of +the country. Subsequent investigations will take place in Laibach. The +preliminary examination alone is my task, which, whatever it may cost +me, I will fulfil." + +The Clerk made no reply; he simply bowed in sign that he had no further +remarks to offer. We now reached the goal of our wanderings. The Lonely +House stood before us. The Captain and Anna were standing near the +locked door, and upon a wooden bench beside it sat an old woman, old +Johanna, "The only servant of the house," the Judge whispered to me. +The Captain had just told her of the murder of her master. Paralyzed +with horror, incapable of speech, she was gazing up at him. When she +tried to rise, she sank back helplessly. The Judge opened the front +door with the key which I had given him. + +Scarcely had he done so when Anna released herself from the Captain's +arm and would have been the first to rush into the house, had not the +Judge barred her way. + +"Let me go," cried Anna. "I must go to my poor father. You dare not +hold me back." + +She would have pressed past him, but he prevented her from doing so, +and with quiet resolve, in a perfectly judicial manner, said, "You must +not see your father yet, Fraeulein Anna. My official duty compels me to +exclude you from the room in which the crime has been committed until +it has been thoroughly searched. The traces which the murderer has +perhaps left behind must not be interfered with. You must either stay +here outside, or, if you wish, wait in your own room until it is +permitted you to see your father. Captain Pollenz, I pray you to remain +with your relative and to prevent Fraeulein Anna from making an attempt +to disturb the investigation by going into the murdered man's room. I +cannot permit it." + +Anna retired. As the Judge forbade our entrance into the house, her +eyes seemed to flash with anger, but she controlled herself, only +bestowing upon Herr Foligno a glance of dislike and antipathy. + +"I obey," she said, recovering her composure wonderfully. "I will wait +in my room with Johanna and my uncle. You shall have nothing to +reproach me with. I pray _you_, sir," she said, turning to the Clerk; +"I entreat _you_ to search, investigate. The blood of my poor father +cries to heaven. I must doubt its justice should you not succeed in +discovering the ruthless murderer." + +"Rest assured, Fraeulein Anna, that I shall leave nothing undone----" + +"I did not address you," Anna interrupted the Judge; "I entreat _you_, +the assistant, to fulfil your duty; search for the murderer, whoever he +may be, deliver him to the vengeance of the law. I trust you. You will +not be influenced by fear or considerations of any kind. Do not answer +me; I trust you; I know you will do everything to discover the +criminal, even though you do not promise me. Come uncle, come Johanna, +we will wait in my room." + +While Anna was speaking, Herr Foligno's expression was, strangely +enough, that of timidity and embarrassment; his lips moved; he seemed +to wish to reply but could not. He retreated silently, as Anna, without +looking in his direction, passed him. She entered the room at the left +of the hall, her own apartment, and the Captain and the old maid, still +half paralyzed with terror, followed her silently. + +The Clerk also made no reply to Anna's strange words; he had been much +astonished by them, as were all who heard them. With a keen searching +look he regarded the Judge. Not until the door had closed behind Anna +and the Captain did he say, whispering so softly that only I and the +Judge could hear, "If you do not feel sufficiently well, Herr Foligno, +to undertake the examination and will delegate me to conduct it, I am +quite ready to do so." + +"No, no," the Judge replied in as low a tone. Aloud he said, "Follow +me, gentlemen. We must begin our melancholy task." + + + + + CHAPTER V. + THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUED. + + +Among all the tragic and even terrible recollections which live in my +memory, and of which my life has perhaps had more than its share, the +most terrible is that of the first few days of my stay in Luttach. Even +now they sometimes disturb my sleep at night. In dreams, I am once more +in the spacious, dreary room of the Lonely House, with the stiffened +corpse of the murdered man before me on the floor. The sunlight through +the window falls upon his pale face with its distorted features. I see +the terrible wound, and the hard, rasping voice of the District +Physician strikes upon my ear as with professional calmness he examines +the wound and with all the indifference with which he would discuss the +commonest affair of business, explains that any suspicion of suicide is +out of the question, coldly pointing out to us bystanders, grouped +about the body, our faces pale and awed, the numerous wounds of which +any one would have been mortal, and endeavouring with perfect calmness +to prove that the murderer had first attacked his victim from behind, +and had finally cut the throat to make sure that the deed was complete. +I still hear in dreams the clear, incisive words showing that the +murderer must certainly have been intimately acquainted with the +murdered man's ways, and that in order to avoid any possibility of the +old man's divulging his name with his dying breath, he had inflicted +the last gaping wound. + +Fearful as had been the impression made upon me in the morning by my +discovery, it had not so curdled my blood with horror as did this +examination of the body. The necessity for action, the danger which +possibly threatened me from the murderer concealed in the house, had +strengthened and quickened me in the morning; but now, when I was +forced to stand by, an inactive spectator of this terrible scene, the +whole horror of the affair for the first time presented itself to my +consciousness. + +The absence of all emotion, the inflexible indifference of the District +Physician, who, as I learned from the Clerk, had been the friend and +physician of old Pollenz, deepened the impression which rendered me +almost incapable of connected thought. + +I was a prey during the entire investigation to intense nervous +agitation. I saw and heard everything that went on around me so clearly +that the smallest detail remains stamped upon my memory, but I was +incapable of connected thought, of drawing conclusions from what I +heard and saw. This I was able to do only later when removed from the +spell thus thrown around me. The investigation produced a most +agitating effect upon the Clerk also, and in especial upon the Judge, +but they could not leave, and were obliged to fulfil their official +duty. The Clerk was very pale, but quiet and composed throughout; but +the Judge was obliged to exert all his self-control to conquer his +excitement, while the physician, still handling the body, demonstrated +with great clearness, almost as if he had been a witness of it, the +manner in which the murder had been committed. + +But however intense his emotion, the Judge proved himself equal to the +task his office imposed upon him. When the time came to search the room +he displayed the greatest care and circumspection. The bloody knife +lying upon the floor at some distance from the body was, of course, the +first object of his notice. + +"There lies the weapon with which the deed was committed," he cried. +"Fortunately, the murderer has left it behind. It may afford a clue in +his detection." + +But this hope proved to be unfounded. The Clerk testified that the +knife was the same which old Pollenz had always carried as a weapon of +defense. Whereupon the Judge confirmed what he said; he had seen the +knife in his friend's possession, and recognized it, but doubtless it +was the weapon with which the crime was committed. "Most certainly," +the Judge added, with keen observation, "the murderer must have +snatched it from the old man as he tried to defend himself, and in so +doing caused a struggle; the knife must have wounded the murderer in +the hand, since its handle is stained with blood. We shall undoubtedly +find further traces of his bleeding hand there in the cabinet which he +broke open, and from which he scattered the papers lying about." + +The Judged supposition proved correct. Inside the cabinet, as well as +upon the open drawers, there were distinct traces of bloody fingers, +and they were also found upon some of the papers strewn on the floor, +which the murderer had taken from the cabinet but tossed aside as +useless. + +It was in this cabinet, as the Judge and the physician both testified, +that old Pollenz had kept his money and papers of value. The murderer +must have been familiar with this place of deposit, for he had opened +only those drawers used for the purpose. The others, which contained +receipted bills and worthless papers, had not been opened. The closest +search failed to discover either money or papers of value, such as +promissory notes or similar documents. All such had been abstracted. On +the other hand, an old gold watch, a heavy gold snuffbox, both articles +of value, remained untouched. + +"The murderer is no common thief or burglar," the Judge said calmly. +"Such an one would not have despised valuable articles like these." + +"Certainly not," the physician added; "my firm belief is that he was an +intimate acquaintance of old Pollenz. None other would have opened +those drawers unless they knew they would reward a search." + +"Unfortunately, this is the only hint we have to put us upon the trace +of the criminal," the Judge said in a tone of disappointment. "Our +melancholy investigation has had no result of value." + +This was indeed so. The murderer had left the Lonely House without +leaving any traces except those of his bleeding hand. In spite of the +most careful search, nothing further was discovered. The Judge set down +in his deposition all that had been done. It was as clear and well +composed as that which he had written previously in his room. I +confirmed his report that I had found the Lonely House and in especial +the room in which the crime had been committed in the same condition in +which I had left it. It now remained for the Judge to fulfil the +hardest part of his task. He was obliged to examine the daughter and +the old servant of the murdered man. He evidently feared to meet with +difficulties caused by the aversion to him which the fair Anna had so +openly expressed, but it was necessary to make this examination in +order to find some explanation of the surprising fact that the Lonely +House, usually so carefully locked, should have been left wide open at +midday. + +The Judge's fear, however, proved to be groundless. He found Anna in +her room, wonderfully quiet and composed. She immediately declared +herself ready to be examined, and only asked that the Captain, the +Clerk and myself should be the sole witnesses present. The Judge +willingly granted this request, and every difficulty was removed. She +testified that she had that day had her breakfast as usual with her +father at eleven o'clock, and, close upon twelve, had left the Lonely +House with Johanna to make some purchases in Luttach, and at the same +time to visit her old aunt. Her father, as usual, accompanied her to +the front door and locked and bolted it behind her. It was his custom +when left alone in the house to bolt himself into his sitting-room. +Whenever any one knocked at the front door, he always first made sure +of his visitor by looking out of the window, and, when he was alone, +never allowed a stranger to cross his threshold. Even acquaintances in +whom perchance he did not repose entire confidence were always +dismissed by him from the window. He did not even open the door for +them. As to her father's property in papers of value and money, Anna +knew nothing. Her father had never talked with her about his pecuniary +circumstances. She could not possibly tell of how much he had been +robbed. + +With perfect composure Anna gave her testimony, but, when in conclusion +the Judge asked her if she had met any one upon her way to Luttach, the +colour suddenly mounted to her cheek and as quickly left it, and her +"no" was by no means so clear and decided as had been her earlier +report. She blushed still more deeply when the Judge asked if her +father had any special mistrust of any of his acquaintances, and +assured her that what she should say would be entirely confidential, +even if there should be nothing in her reply to arouse suspicion. + +"I will not answer this question," Anna replied, after she had stood +for a moment with downcast eyes. "No one in the world has a right to +ask such a question, and you least of all." + +To this declaration she adhered, and the Judge was obliged to finish +his deposition without learning anything further from her. The +examination of old Johanna also produced no further result. + +Thus the examination ended, and the Judge could no longer refuse to +allow the daughter to see her father's body. Conducted by Captain +Pollenz, Anna entered the old man's sleeping-room, where the captain of +gendarmes and the physician had laid the murdered man upon the bed. The +Captain afterwards told me that the composure shown by the young girl +at the terrible sight had filled him with genuine admiration. She +kneeled beside the bed on which the corpse had been laid. She took the +cold, stiff hand in hers and kissed it, while tears rolled over her +cheeks. The Captain would have said a few words to comfort her, but she +interrupted him. + +"Let my grief have way, uncle," she said sadly; "you do not know what I +have lost in him. He was harsh to every one else, but he loved me with +all his heart, me only in the world, and I am perhaps the cause of his +death. This it is that fills me almost with despair. The thought that I +may be guilty of his death is almost unendurable." + +"How can you think such a thing, my child?" the Captain asked, much +startled. + +"I cannot explain it to you, uncle," Anna continued, kissing the dead +man's hand again and again. "It is perhaps only a foolish thought, but +it arose in my mind when I heard how cruelly my father had been +murdered, and I cannot banish it. I dare not share it with any one, not +even with you, my dear, kind uncle. I commit an injustice perhaps in +not being able to banish it. I know nothing, nothing which gives me the +right to entertain it. It is only a vague, fearful foreboding, +oppressing my heart all the more because I must bear it all alone and +can share it with no one in the world." + +The girl refused all explanation of her mysterious words. For a long +while she silently knelt by the bed, holding the dead man's hand in +hers, but at last she rose and followed the Captain to her room, +in which we--that is, the Clerk, the Judge, the physician, and +myself--were awaiting her. During Anna's absence with the Captain we +had been discussing the future of the young girl. It was impossible +that she should remain with the old servant and the murdered man alone +in the Lonely House. We had therefore determined to take her back with +us to Luttach. The physician had kindly offered to give her an asylum +as a guest in his house. His wife, he told us, was very fond of the +fair Anna; she would rejoice most heartily to show any loving service +to the unfortunate child. Anna could not possibly live with her old, +peevish Aunt Laucic, who was even a greater miser than old Pollenz. She +would find none of the sympathy and love of which she stood in such +need with that old dragon. + +The kindness and friendliness for the unfortunate young girl which +prompted the words of the physician reconciled me to him. His +businesslike indifference during the investigation had made me almost +hate him, but now I acknowledged to myself that I had been unjust and +that he was no cold and heartless man, but, on the contrary, a very +kindly, benevolent old doctor. + +We had arranged everything as we thought for the best, but when Anna +returned to us we found that our wise arrangements were entirely +useless. She declared, with a decision remarkable in so young a girl, +that she would not leave her father, but would stay beside him. + +In vain did we all entreat her, the Judge alone prudently refraining +from doing so. We used our most eloquent powers of persuasion. + +In vain did the Captain add his voice, and in vain did the physician +explain to her what an insufficient protection old Johanna would be in +the Lonely House during the next night. + +"If Johanna is afraid, she can go with you to Luttach," she said. "I am +not afraid to remain alone with my beloved dead." + +As she was immovable, we were obliged to comply. We could not force her +to go with us to Luttach, but we did not leave her alone in the Lonely +House, for the Captain declared he would not leave her; if she stayed, +he would stay also; they could make up a bed quite comfortable enough +for an old soldier. + +Anna was reluctant to accept this offer, but the Captain refused to +withdraw it. He said he could be quite as obstinate as Anna herself, +and thus he remained in the Lonely House, while we returned to Luttach. + + + + + CHAPTER VI. + TWO WOUNDED HANDS. + + +Both kitchen and dining-room in the "Golden Vine" were crowded with +guests--a very unusual thing of a week-day. The report of the murder in +the Lonely House had spread quickly, not only in the little town, but +also in the surrounding villages, and, naturally, all were eager to +hear further particulars, and could find no better place for gratifying +this desire than in the inn, the home of the Judge, who was sure to be +there in the evening. + +In the spacious kitchen, which was the gathering place of guests of the +lower classes, peasants and small tradesmen, there was quite a crowd. +Some were even obliged to drink their wine standing; all the benches +and chairs were occupied. Here not a German word was to be heard; the +talk was entirely in Slavonic; even around the hearth where Frau +Franzka received her intimate friends, all spoke in that tongue. + +Nearly twenty men, principally petty tradesmen from Luttach, were +sitting and standing around the huge hearth listening respectfully to +Frau Franzka's words, who, as she cooked and broiled, was obliged +to give all the details of the terrible deed which the "German +fly-catcher"--such was the name that had already been bestowed upon me +in Luttach--had discovered. When I passed through the kitchen to go to +the dining-room, I was most politely and kindly greeted by all present, +while they looked at me with undisguised curiosity. + +In the dining-room there was a far larger assembly than usual. All the +tables were occupied, but principally the great round one at which the +Burgomaster presided. All the gentlemen to whom I had been presented on +the previous evening were present, with the exception of the Captain. +The District Physician, two gentlemen (strangers to me), and, oddly +enough, Franz Schorn, were also there; the last sat next the Judge's +assistant. + +I had evidently been expected. A chair beside the District Judge had +been reserved for me, and when I appeared--quite too late to suit the +impatience of those present--I was cordially received. Even Franz +Schorn rose from his seat, and when the other gentlemen offered me +their hands, he held out his--not the right hand, but the left, like +the Judge, who had protected his wounded hand with a black glove. I +remarked that Franz Schorn did not use his right hand, but kept it +concealed in the breast of his coat, which was closely buttoned. + +The conversation was hardly interrupted by my arrival. Naturally it had +been concerning the murder in the Lonely House, and it so continued +after I had taken my place at the table. It was to me that all +inquisitive inquiries were now addressed--to me instead of to the Judge +or his assistant or to the physician. I was obliged to relate all that +I had seen. I was questioned about the smallest details; the most +insignificant interested every one. + +The Judge, the assistant and Franz Schorn alone were silent. I could +inform the two first of nothing new; there was no need for them to +question me, and Franz Schorn probably did not wish to thrust himself +forward with inquiries. + +It was evident, however, that he listened with intense interest to +everything that I related. As I spoke I narrowly observed the behaviour +of the Judge and of Franz Schorn, the two rivals. Herr Foligno appeared +scarcely to hear what I was saying. His eyes were fixed gloomily on his +wineglass, and he seemed to take no part in what was going on, but from +time to time as he looked up I could see that he heard every word that +I said. Franz Schorn kept his eyes riveted upon me as I spoke. The +description of my first discovery of the murdered man evidently +horrified him; he was more agitated by it than any of my other hearers. + +After I had ended my narrative, and it had been completed by the +physician, the question of course was discussed as to who the murderer +could be, whence he had come, how he had entered the locked house, +whither he had fled, and what had been the amount of his robbery. In +this discussion, however, the Judge and his assistant and Franz Schorn +took no part, although they listened with close attention. + +The physician defended with much acuteness his own theory that only an +intimate acquaintance of old Pollenz could have committed the crime; on +the other hand, many present maintained that the murderer must be some +Italian from Trieste, for neither in Luttach nor in the surrounding +country was there a man capable of such a deed. + +During this discussion, to which Franz Schorn listened very +attentively, the physician accidentally pushed aside the left arm of +his neighbour--Franz Schorn--who dropped the cigar which he was holding +in his hand and stooped to pick it up. As he did so, he instinctively +drew from his bosom his right hand, which had hitherto been concealed +by his coat. It was bound about with a white bandage, upon which were +several spots of blood. He thrust it quickly into his breast again, but +not before the physician had noticed the spots on the white linen. + +"Ah, Franz! What is the matter with your hand?" he asked kindly. + +"Nothing," Franz replied curtly; "a slight cut." + +"Slight! That can hardly be; if you have a bandaged hand and don't use +it, it must be a tolerably deep cut. Of course, you have done nothing, +as usual, but wrap a rag about it. You young people are incorrigible. +You never reflect that the neglect of such cuts, which you consider +insignificant, may cost you the hand itself. Take off the bandage; I +want to see what it is." + +"It is nothing; a trifle, not worth mentioning." + +"All the more readily should you show it to me. You owe obedience to an +old friend of your father's, you obstinate fellow; so off with your +bandage; I wish to see the wound." + +"Certainly, if you insist," Franz replied, holding out his hand and +unwinding the bandage. It did not come off easily, but adhered to the +wound and a few drops of blood followed its removal. + +"A couple of good cuts," said the physician, examining the hand; "not +dangerous; they will heal without any particular care if you spare your +hand a little for a couple of days; but how did you get such strange +cuts! Four fingers implicated, and another gash in the palm. It looks +as if you had done it with a knife." + +"And so I did," Franz replied. "I was using a large knife in the +vineyard to-day and laid it down upon a high wall; it fell and would +have pierced my foot, if instead of shifting it, I had not foolishly +grasped at the falling knife and seized the sharp blade instead of the +handle. That is the whole story. Such slight cuts are not worth +mentioning." He wrapped the bandage around his hand again and concealed +it as before in the breast of his coat. + +"Such slight cuts are not worth mentioning," the young man had said, +and it was true; they were insignificant. Nevertheless they aroused in +me a chain of thought which filled me with dread. Involuntarily I +thought of the bloody, dagger-like knife which I had seen in the Lonely +House. If the murderer in his contest with the old man had endeavoured +to take the knife from him and had accidentally seized it by the blade, +his hand would have been wounded precisely as was that of Franz Schorn. +Schorn had hitherto kept his right hand concealed. Why so? Did he wish +to conceal the wound? An involuntary motion, an accident, had compelled +him to show the bandaged hand, and it was with great reluctance that he +had acceded to the physician's request. + +I looked at the District Judge. The same suspicion which had made me +shudder had been aroused also in him. I could read it in the lowering, +searching glance which he gave to the hand as Franz was wrapping it in +the bandage again. When he looked up afterwards and his gaze met mine, +his eyes were more eloquent than his tongue could have been. He slowly +raised his hand in its black glove as if in token of our understanding +each other. Strangely enough, his motion and his look had the effect of +instantly banishing the dark suspicion that had been awakened within +me. I had no right to entertain it. Had not the Judge himself also +accidentally wounded his right hand this very day? Might I not have +seen him also near the Lonely House, since he had been climbing among +the rocks in search of flowers? No, it would be rank folly to found a +suspicion with regard to Franz Schorn upon such accidental +circumstances. That the young man seemed even more gloomy and +preoccupied than on the previous evening, and that he scarcely uttered +a word, furnished no grounds for any suspicion with regard to him. Must +he not be deeply agitated by the terrible death of an old man with whom +he stood in such close, although hostile, relations? I blamed myself +for being so carried away by my indignation as to be ready to find in +insignificant trifles an undue importance. Besides, with the exception +of the Judge, whose duty it was to investigate all grounds of +suspicion, no other member of the company had thought of connecting +Franz Schorn's wounded hand with the murder. They all continued to +converse freely; even the physician, so acute in piecing out evidence, +who might have entertained some vague suspicion, had none at all; he +had thought no possible evil of Franz, and continued to address him now +from time to time as kindly and unreservedly as before. Still, this +evening I was very uncomfortable among them all. Their continued talk, +always of the same details, always of the horrible crime, increased my +nervous agitation to an intolerable degree. It was impossible to change +the subject of the conversation; it always reverted to the murder in +the Lonely House. + +This perpetual return to the same horrible subject stretched me upon +the rack; I could no longer endure it. As soon as I had finished my +trout and my wine, I rose to withdraw to my room. The Judge followed my +example, and rose also. After emptying his tall glass at a draught, he +said he was tired and unhinged and needed to go to bed early after so +terrible a day. His clerk and the physician, with several other +gentlemen, courteously entreated me to stay at least for half an hour +longer, it was so early. Without positive discourtesy I could not +refuse their request, and ordered myself another glass of wine. The +Judge followed my example, although no one had requested him to remain. +In the short time that I stayed, barely half an hour, he drank two full +glasses of wine, the last at a draught just as I arose and declined to +remain longer. + +Together we ascended the stairs. Mizka preceded us with a candle. When +we reached the landing in the first story, the Judge offered me his +left hand in farewell. + +"Good-night, Herr Professor," he said aloud, adding in a whisper, "I +fear I shall be obliged to ask you to-morrow to give me officially an +account of your meeting with Herr Franz Schorn in the neighbourhood of +the Lonely House." He looked around at Mizka, who was opening the door +of my room, and as she entered it he continued, "A ground of suspicion +such as the wound in his right hand compels me to abandon all personal +considerations." + +Greatly startled, I replied, "Mere chance, Herr Foligno; you, too, have +wounded your right hand to-day." + +My innocent words made him start as if I had struck him a blow in the +face. I could not see his features, it was too dark on the landing; a +weak ray of light coming from the open door of my room was the only +illumination; but the quiver in his voice as he answered me after a +pause of a second, betrayed the disastrous effect of my words. + +"You are perfectly right, Herr Professor; it may be 'mere chance.' I +shall not proceed against Herr Schorn. I will even try to combat my +suspicion of evil in him, my enemy, but it is my duty to search for +further grounds of suspicion against him. That must be done in spite of +my hostile feeling towards him. Good-night, Herr Professor." + +He pressed my hand once more, and we parted. + +Mizka was already busy in my room putting everything in order for the +night. She was obliged to do this as quickly as possible, for the +number of guests below in the dining-room and in the kitchen depended +upon her services; but she could not forego a little gossip. She told +me that before I had entered the dining-room this evening there had +been quite a quarrel between the Judge and his assistant. They had been +seated at the round table when Franz Schorn entered the room and looked +around for a place. All the tables were full, and the Clerk had invited +Schorn to sit beside him at the round table. This made the Judge +violently angry, but the Clerk declared that the Judge had no more +authority than any other guest in the dining-room of the inn. Franz +Schorn would have retired, but the Clerk detained him, and the +physician, who had been an old friend of Franz's dead father, had +declared that he himself would stay only on condition of Franz's +remaining, and would never again take his place at the round table if +Herr Foligno denied a seat there to Franz. The Burgomaster, too, and +the other gentlemen, who were not always friendly to Franz, now took +his part, so that the Judge was obliged to yield, and Franz, induced by +their persuasions, took his seat; but neither the Judge nor Franz after +the quarrel had exchanged a word. + +What strange occurrences were these in this little country town! Even +here, the few cultivated people, so circumscribed in their social +relations, were divided by hatred and prejudice. I undressed myself +and, with a memory of the gymnastic feats of my boyhood, clambered into +my lofty bed. I was sadly in need of repose. The agitations of the day +had been too much for my old body. They had exhausted my strength, and +yet excitement of mind conquered bodily weariness. I could not sleep. I +tried in vain to banish the memory of the dreadful scenes through which +I had passed. I tried to think of it all with indifference; but what I +had seen in the Lonely House scared away sleep, of which I had such +sore need. Hours and hours passed. The time seemed eternal before at +last I closed my weary eyes. + +And the Judge had the same experience; he could not sleep that night. +As long as I lay awake in bed I heard the sound of his footsteps above +me, as he paced his room to and fro restlessly. Surely the same +memories were agitating him which denied me the blessing of slumber. +The investigation at the Lonely House had not been the mere fulfilment +of a duty for him, any more than it had been for the physician. The +horror of it all had impressed him as profoundly as it had myself. It +did not lessen my opinion of him that he should thus have preserved in +the midst of his official duties a warm, sensitive heart. + + + + + CHAPTER VII. + THE TWO REQUESTS. + + +Again I awoke early in the morning. I did not need much sleep for +physical refreshment, and although it had lasted but a few hours, I +felt quite fresh and well. The beautiful morning should serve me for +another expedition, and I wished to start as early as possible; in +Southern Ukraine only the early morning hours are suitable for mountain +walks and climbing. As long as the dew still glitters on the grass, +wandering in the Ukraine mountains is indescribably delightful, but +when the glowing sun has absorbed the last dewdrops, when its direct +rays are reflected from gray rocks, when no breath of air fans the +climber's cheek, mountain-climbing becomes altogether too hard a task +for an old man. I finished my breakfast before six o'clock and was all +ready for a start. Whither should I turn my steps! The forest above the +Chapel of St. Nikolas allured me. I had found such entomological +treasures there on the previous day that I surely could do nothing +better than go thither again. I could not collect too many specimens of +the grub of the _Saturnia caecigena_, for, unfortunately, I could not be +sure that each larva would produce a butterfly. To St. Nikolas, then, I +took my way and by the narrow path. I had succeeded in descending it +without accident the day before, and it was surely not too dangerous +for me to ascend it. I set out. The path certainly was better than its +reputation. It had no danger for a climber not subject to dizziness, +and was quite firm beneath the foot. I had often ascended far more +steep and dangerous pathways in my search for some rare plant. + +The easy footpath leading to the Lonely House was soon reached, and I +strode forward sturdily. On the previous day I had hurried along it, +only desirous to reach Luttach as quickly as possible. To-day I feasted +my eyes with the view of the charming country upon which I looked down, +while at the same time I scrutinized with the keenness of a collector +the gentle ascent on my left where I might perhaps discover some +treasure growing among the rocks. Not far from the Lonely House I +perceived to my great joy in a spot which could be reached without +difficulty many beautiful specimens of the very orchid _Ophrys +Bertolini_ which the Judge had brought to me yesterday. This was an +unexpected delight. In yesterday's excitement I had neglected to put +the charming flowers in water, and when I returned from the +investigation they were so withered that they were not worth preserving +for my herbarium. Now I could gather many glorious specimens without +any trouble. + +I left the path and easily climbed the rocks soon reaching the spot +where the orchids grew. But no sooner had I arrived there than to my +astonishment several trampled flowers showed me that another had been +before me, who was also a collector, and had plucked many blossoms of +the rare _Ophrys_. + +One spot showed me that whoever he was, he had been no true botanist; a +true botanist would have taken the plants, roots and all, not the +blossoms only. He who collected the flowers here must have been in a +hurry; he had dropped several blossoms which lay wilted on the ground +and had evidently been plucked yesterday. + +Was this the spot where the Judge had collected the beautiful _Ophrys_ +for me! The specimens which he had brought me were without roots. I now +recalled this circumstance, which had escaped my notice on the previous +day; but he had said that it had cost him some trouble and even danger +to reach the rare plants with the habitat of which he was acquainted. +He had fallen in doing so and had lacerated his hand. It was impossible +that he could have done so here; for here was no possible danger; no +flowers on the mountains could be plucked with more facility than +these. + +And yet here the Judge had been. He had certainly gathered the _Ophrys_ +for me here. I found one unmistakable proof of his presence. On the +ground lay a red and yellow silk pocket handkerchief, just exactly such +a handkerchief as the Judge had carried the day before yesterday. I +remembered it perfectly. Of course he had lost it here while plucking +the flowers. + +Involuntarily I smiled at the good man's boast; in order to give his +gift a higher value, he had talked of danger in procuring it. I would +tease him a little for his bragging. When I returned his handkerchief I +would expatiate on the terrible danger of the place where the _Ophrys +Bertolini_ was to be found. + +Still the plucking of the flowers had not been entirely without danger +for him. I could not comprehend how he could have fallen on this smooth +spot and wounded his hand, but that he had done so the handkerchief +testified. On the yellow silk there were several brown stains, which I +recognized as blood. The hackneyed old saying, "No fall so slight but +may kill you quite," occurred to me. With a smile I put the +handkerchief in my pocket to return it to its owner when I got back to +the inn. I dug up a number of the beautiful _Ophrys Bertolini_ growing +here by hundreds, and then, walking on quickly, in scarcely five +minutes I reached the Lonely House. I was going to pass it, but from a +window of the upper story the Captain called, begging me to wait a +moment and he would join me. + +He came and greeted me with great cordiality. He had passed a +melancholy night. Old Johanna had been half crazy with fear and was +absolutely useless. He had tried to persuade her to occupy one of the +two rooms on the right of the hall, but she had fled to her bed in the +upper story and locked herself in. Therefore the Captain had earnestly +entreated Anna to leave the Lonely House, but all his words had been in +vain. Anna displayed wonderful composure in her profound grief, but at +the same time a firmness of purpose bordering on obstinacy. She had +declared that she would not leave the Lonely House as long as it +sheltered her father's body. She could not leave it all alone there. +She would stay with him until he was buried, and she watched beside the +corpse for half the night. Morning had dawned before she betook herself +to rest. + +"Anna is a strange child," said the Captain. "There are odd +contradictions in her character. She is gentle and yielding and at the +same time absolutely firm, open to no persuasion; sometimes frank and +confiding; at others reserved and almost suspicious even of me, +although she has repeatedly assured me that she trusts no human being +as she does me and my brother, the Burgomaster. With entire frankness +she has given me a detailed account of all the misery and wretchedness +which has existed here in the house ever since the day when Franz +Schorn asked her in marriage of her father. Towards herself the old man +was kind and caressing, although she declared to him that she never +would forsake Franz Schorn, that she never would marry the Judge; but +to every other human being, and particularly to Franz, he displayed +positive hatred, regarding all with profound suspicion, even old +Johanna. He was completely dominated by the fear that some day he +should be attacked and murdered. Wherefore he always bolted himself +into his room, and if he admitted any one was armed with a dagger-like +knife. He kept this terrible knife in his hand even whilst old Johanna +arranged his room; even from her he feared some secret attack. No +entreaty of Anna's could induce him to moderate his savage hatred of +Franz. She, on her part, declared that she never would forsake Franz as +long as she lived. This had led to continual strife between herself and +her father, for she had told him frankly that he must shut her up in a +close prison if he wished to prevent her from seeing Franz, and she had +seen him almost daily; when her father locked himself up in his room +after the midday meal to sleep for an hour, she always left the house +to see Franz, who awaited her beneath the large oak not far away. Her +father knew this, but had done nothing to prevent it, after she had +declared to him that she should continue to do it, and if he locked her +in the house, she would try to break the locks. The strange girl told +me all this with reckless frankness, while at the same time she refused +me any explanation, although I begged her to give it, of what she meant +yesterday when she declared that she perhaps was guilty of her father's +death. My little Anna is a riddle to me," the Captain thus closed his +long account, "but I love her none the less and I shall stay here to +protect her. I will not leave her all by herself in the Lonely House. +Now you can do me a favour, Herr Professor. When you return at midday +from your excursion to St. Nikolas, stop here before the Lonely House +once more, and I will give you some directions to take to Luttach for +my brother, the Burgomaster. He must provide a suitable home for Anna +in Luttach if she refuses to accept the doctor's invitation after her +father's funeral, for which he must also give directions. I will put +all this down in a letter, which you will have the kindness to give to +my brother yourself." + +I at once promised what he asked, and we parted the best of friends. +The Captain returned to the Lonely House to write his letter, which, as +he said, was quite a task for an old soldier unaccustomed for many +years to hold a pen. + +I continued my walk and soon reached the little Church of St. Nikolas. +Again I fed my eyes on the charming prospect and then proceeded to +collect. I scrambled about in the forest, hither and thither, for some +hours; then up on the bald rocky side of Nanos, and not until my +bottles and boxes were so full that I could accommodate no more +treasures, and the heat had become oppressive, did I take my way back +towards noon by the same path which I had followed yesterday. In a +little while I reached the footpath leading to the Lonely House, and on +the very same spot where I had yesterday encountered Franz Schorn I +found him again to-day, but he did not avoid me; he awaited me. He was +not alone; beside him, with his arm around her waist, stood pretty +Anna. They were a charming pair. I delighted in the sight of the two +beautiful young people. Franz was certainly a handsome fellow. Now, as +he looked down on his lovely companion, with eyes full of the tenderest +affection, the beauty of his features, which a gloomy expression had +hitherto concealed, was plainly visible. + +When the young man observed me, a shadow crossed his brow. Without +releasing his companion, with his left hand he took off his straw hat +in greeting. Then Anna, too, saw me, and with a blush beckoned to me +kindly. She made no attempt to release herself from the embracing arm +of the young man. + +"We were awaiting you here, Herr Professor," said Franz, as I reached +them. "Captain Pollenz informed my betrothed that you, in coming from +St. Nikolas, had promised to stop, towards noon, at the Lonely House; +therefore we came to meet you to make a request of you." + +"Which I shall certainly comply with if possible," I replied, regarding +the young girl with genuine delight. She blushed, but looked up with +kindling eyes at Franz as he uttered the word "betrothed." + +"It is a request that may seem strange to you, Herr Professor," Franz +continued, "but, nevertheless, I will make it; I am convinced that you +would not wish to cause annoyance either to myself or to my dear +betrothed." + +"Most certainly not. Pray tell me quite frankly what you wish." + +"It is not much. I would only ask you not to mention to any one our +meeting yesterday here in this place." + +The request in itself seemed trivial enough, but the look which +accompanied it was far from meaningless. It betokened intense anxiety +as to whether or not I would accede to what he asked. + +In truth, the young man's request was a strange one. Involuntarily my +eyes turned to his wounded right hand. All diverse thoughts ran riot in +my brain. I remembered the large double-edged knife with its bloody +handle lying on the floor of the room in the Lonely House, and then +came the memory of the cut on a brown hand and the doctor's voice +saying, "That looks as if you had grasped a knife by the blade." Again +I saw Franz turn from me to hurry through the undergrowth, and again I +saw him with eyes gloomily cast down as he listened to the physician's +words. I recalled his bitter hostility to old Pollenz, and the old +man's words, "That fellow will kill me one of these days." Hitherto I +had entertained no downright suspicion of the young fellow, but it +suddenly stirred within me. + +"Why do you wish me not to mention our meeting?" I asked in reply. + +"Because I begged Franz to ask you this," Anna replied for the young +man, whose features as I spoke resumed their wonted gloomy expression. +"Franz told me that yesterday he turned away from you because he wished +to avoid any meeting with you. He feared it might cause you annoyance, +if you had happened to be seen by any chance passer-by walking with +him. He had been waiting for me a long time in vain beneath the old oak +where we are used to meet every day at noon. I could not come because +my father had sent me down to Luttach. Franz was in a very bad humour +when he met you, and so, to avoid greeting you, he turned away into the +forest." + +Anna's words had a peculiar effect upon me. They strengthened my +suspicions. If he were not guilty, would Franz have thought it +necessary to have the young girl explain to me why he was in the +neighbourhood of the Lonely House at noon, and why he had turned away +from me with such sullen looks? + +"You have not yet told me why I should not mention my meeting with Herr +Schorn," I replied. + +"I will explain that to you myself," Franz said hurriedly, "my +betrothed thinks that if Foligno should learn that I was seen yesterday +here in the neighbourhood of the Lonely House, the malice and hatred +with which he regards me would find expression in vile suspicion of +me." + +"It would certainly be so. I entreat you, dear Herr Professor, do not +tell a human being that you met Franz yesterday." + +As she spoke the young girl looked up at me with such entreaty in her +beautiful eyes that my heart was softened. I was in an awkward +position. Ought I to tell her that I could not comply with her request, +because I had already informed the Judge of my meeting Franz? This I +could not do. I could not warn Franz without perhaps injuring the +investigation; but, on the other hand, I certainly could not make a +promise which it was already impossible to keep. + +"I can promise nothing," I replied guardedly; "in an official +examination one is bound to conceal nothing." + +"Oh, Herr Professor, I beg, I entreat you----" + +Franz interrupted her, and, casting at me a look which was almost +menacing, exclaimed, "Do not say another word, Anna; the Herr Professor +is right; it was folly, yes, wrong, for me to yield to your desire and +make this request of the Herr Professor, who ought not to comply with +it. If that scoundrel, Foligno, suspects me, I know how to meet his +suspicion. Come, Anna, we ought not to detain the gentleman any +longer." + +He lifted his hat by way of farewell, and walked towards the forest +with the young girl. My mind was filled with contradictory thoughts. +Can that proud, self-assertive young man be a miserable criminal! I +would so gladly have banished all suspicion of him, but--how terrible +it was that so lovely and charming a girl had perhaps bestowed the +wealth of her affection upon her father's murderer! + +I walked slowly towards the Lonely House, where the Captain, sitting +before the door, was awaiting me. He handed me the letter for his +brother, gave me various verbal commissions, and I left with a promise +to visit him shortly in the Lonely House. + +"Shall I bring the Herr Professor's lunch into the garden?" Mizka asked +me as I entered the kitchen of the Golden Vine on my return from my +excursion. "The Judge has been lunching in the garden, and is sitting +with his coffee beneath the great linden." + +The _Ophrys Bertolini_ occurred to me. I smiled at the remembrance of +the Judge's boast and was pleased at the idea of teasing him. Of course +I ordered my lunch in the garden and betook myself thither. + +The Judge was sipping his coffee and smoking his long cigar at the +round table beneath the spreading linden. He seemed sunk in a profound +reverie, leaning his head upon his hand and with downcast eyes. I was +struck with his pallor and with the sallowness and the drawn look of +his features. At my first words he started violently, and for a moment +gazed at me with terror, almost as if awaking from an oppressive dream, +but in an instant he recovered his self-control, and greeted me with a +smile. + +"I think I was dozing," he said; "the terrible heat makes me sleepy." + +Why should he have told such an untruth? He had not been dozing; just +before he started he had raised his hand to his cigar and had taken a +long whiff. + +"I admire you, Herr Professor," he said, "for being able to climb about +in such heat. I suffer from it even here in the shade of the linden. I +trust you were richly rewarded for your trouble." + +"I was indeed," I replied smiling. "I have had great luck. I have been +so fortunate as even to discover the place where, yesterday, you +plucked for me the charming _Ophrys Bertolini_." + +My jesting words produced a strange effect. Herr Foligno stared +at me blankly; his sallow face grew ashy pale; his mouth twitched +convulsively as he said brokenly, "No, impossible! How--how--could +you--how could you get there?" + +"In the easiest way in the world," I replied, tickled that the +discovery of his boast had so startled the worthy gentleman. "The spot, +so difficult and even dangerous to attain, in reaching which you fell +on the rocks and wounded your hand, I found right on the road to the +Lonely House and most easy of attainment. From the path I saw the +_Ophrys_ blooming, and mounted without any difficulty to where it +grew." + +"Then you have had the good fortune to discover a new home for it +which I had not known," Herr Foligno replied, having regained his +self-control with surprising celerity. "I found the orchid on an +overhanging rock in quite a distant part of the country." + +"Indeed, that is very remarkable. Did you, by chance, lose your pocket +handkerchief there? I found it in my spot--or is it not yours? Look, +the yellow silk shows some spots of blood, probably from a wounded +hand." + +With a laugh I drew out the handkerchief and handed it to him; the +black gloved hand with which he took it trembled. He examined it quite +attentively for some time, and then said quietly, "This certainly is a +remarkable coincidence. The handkerchief actually belongs to me, and I +probably lost it yesterday in climbing about the rocks, but certainly +not where you found it, for I was not even in the neighbourhood of the +Lonely House. Probably one of the young goatherds here who scramble +about everywhere in the mountains found it, and lost it again where you +discovered it." + +With the greatest calmness he put the handkerchief in his pocket. I +could not refuse him my admiration, for his barefaced explanation +struck me as quite brilliant. Whether I believed him or not, I must +pretend to do so. Laughing heartily, I replied: "I congratulate you, +Herr Foligno, on the happy chance which led the little goatherd and the +old Professor to the same place, one losing, the other finding your +handkerchief to restore it to you." + +The Judge probably felt the irony in my words, but he took no notice of +it. He offered me his hand cordially. + +"It certainly is a very strange coincidence," he said. "If my +acquaintances here should hear of it, it might give them material for +teasing me quite unpleasantly. You will oblige me, Herr Professor, if +you will not mention this little occurrence. May I rely upon you?" + +"Certainly; I will be silent as the grave," I replied, still laughing, +but the suspicious and evil glance which he cast at me quickly silenced +my laughter. He said nothing further about the handkerchief or the +_Ophrys_; he only made a few remarks about the unusual heat of the +weather so late in the season, and then arose, saying that he was +obliged to return to his office, and, therefore, to his regret, must +leave me. + + + + + CHAPTER VIII. + QUIET WEEKS. + + +The first eventful days which I passed in Luttach were followed by +weeks that were more serene. Favoured by the beautiful weather, I made +daily excursions in every direction, reaping a rich harvest everywhere. +I grew more and more familiar with the peculiar features of the +country, and every day I grew more in sympathy with the smiling, +charming valley shut in by mountains crowned with bald summits. The +contrast between the barren gray rocks and the luxuriant valley at +their feet particularly charmed me, and I especially delighted in the +view when the sun sank behind the mountains, which were quickly +enveloped in a soft twilight mist, the noble outlines of their peaks +showing clear against the sky in the light of the setting sun. + +The character of the inhabitants of Southern Ukraine soon grew familiar +to me. Intercourse with the country folk whom I met on my excursions +was, of course, very limited; we could not understand each other's +language. Here and there a man who had served in the army could speak +German, but only brokenly. The women for the most part spoke scarcely a +German word, and they found it very difficult to understand the few +Slavonic words which I had learned from Mizka and which I certainly +pronounced very badly. There could be no attempt at conversation, but +nevertheless the Slavonic country folk tried to testify kindness and +cordiality for the stranger. + +The peasants evidently held it their duty to offer the hospitality of +their fields to the "flycatcher," as they dubbed me, although sometimes +they found the grass trodden down where he had been. Unlike the Swiss +peasantry, who load with abuse any stranger venturing to trespass in +their fields, these Slavonic country folk seemed glad to have me pluck +flowers and pursue butterflies wherever I would; nay, they would at +times even point out places among the rocks most easy of access and +would assist in my search, never asking for money, accepting at most, +with many Slavonic words of thanks, a cheap cigar. Scarcely ever in all +my travels have I met a peasantry so amiable and kindly as these much +slandered Slavonic country folk. I never heard a harsh word or found a +trace of that hatred of Germans against which I had been cautioned. + +And yet it was none the less there at the bottom of all their hearts; +but it was not for the German proper, as the Burgomaster had told me on +that first evening, but for those Ukrainers who in a Slavonic country +aimed at remaining faithful to Germany. Of this I had daily proof in +the expressions which I heard with regard to Franz Schorn. + +The young man interested me greatly and I took every opportunity to +inform myself as to his circumstances, his earlier life, and everything +regarding him. What I learned was not of a nature either to weaken or +strengthen my suspicion, and, besides, I could not but acknowledge to +myself that all the sources from which I could gain information were +unfit to give me a true, distinct picture of a young fellow living in +brooding seclusion, as it were, in a community rife with party hatred. +The Clerk, the Captain, and the Burgomaster were the only men who could +sufficiently rid themselves of prejudice to speak really well of the +young man. + +All acknowledged that Franz Schorn was an industrious, capable farmer, +who took admirable care of the estate inherited from his father; that +he was well educated, to a degree above his station; but no praise was +accorded to his character; he was said to be an obstinate, sullen +fellow, ready for deeds of violence, filled with party hatred, +maltreating his Slavonic labourers, covetous and hard-hearted. He had +no pity for the poor; his only desire was to gain money and increase +his patrimony, which was the reason why he had cast his eye on the rich +and pretty Anna Pollenz, not because he loved her, but from greed of +gain. This was the verdict of his enemies concerning him. The Captain +and the Clerk alone maintained that he was a man of honour, incapable +of mean or avaricious conduct; that he was reserved and defiant, +willing to defend himself with some violence against all party hatred, +and in other respects the victim of slander and low suspicion. How +could I find the truth in these conflicting descriptions? I pondered +the question in vain. It was certainly remarkable that a handsome, +well-to-do, educated young man should be so generally detested, and it +was hard to believe that such widespread hatred was entirely without +foundation. + +I now had many opportunities of observing him. He came almost regularly +every evening to the Golden Vine and took the place at the round table +which the Clerk always reserved for him. It seemed to me that this was +done in order to establish a more kindly social feeling between Franz +and the rest of the company who nightly assembled in the inn. The Clerk +evidently endeavoured in the kindest way to draw him into the +conversation, which he knew how to conduct so that Schorn would have an +opportunity to be heard to the very best advantage in displaying his +clear judgment and admirable intelligence. + +The Captain, the Burgomaster, and the doctor aided the Clerk in his +endeavour to establish peace between Franz and the rest of the company, +who, out of regard for these gentlemen, became less antagonistic, to be +sure, but still remained decidedly indifferent. They were content to do +what was required of them socially, greeting the young man when he +entered, but in conversation they avoided all direct talk with him, and +since he addressed all that he said to the three above-named members of +the party, he rarely exchanged a word with the others. The antipathy +existing between Franz and the Judge was especially observable. Between +these two there was an insurmountable barrier of profound dislike. They +never exchanged either a greeting or a word. Franz never even looked at +the Judge, although Herr Foligno watched him narrowly. + +As soon as Franz appeared among the company in the evening, the Judge +fell silent. Even though he might before have talked continually, and +at times had even attempted to monopolize the conversation, from the +time when Franz appeared he confined himself to monosyllables or a word +thrown in here and there. He listened to all that was going on and with +special interest when the talk turned upon the failure to discover the +perpetrator of the crime committed in the Lonely House. At such times +his gaze would be riveted with a strange intensity upon Franz Schorn. +No word that the young man spoke, no expression of his countenance, +escaped him then. It was the gaze of the serpent upon the bird which he +is about to devour. This is perhaps an unsuitable simile, but it +occurred to me involuntarily as I saw the Judge watching Franz. I knew +his suspicions of the young man, and knew that he was secretly trying +to accumulate fresh grounds for it. I knew also that his desire was +great to gather from Franz some word that could be used against him, +and I fervently thanked my Creator that after going through two terms +as a student of law, I had given up all legal aspirations and devoted +myself to natural science. There is something positively detestable to +me in the thought of a man like the Judge sacrificing all humanity in +an eagerness to discover the traces of a crime. My discomfort increased +from day to day as I observed the stealthy manner in which he watched +Franz's every word and motion. + +Sometimes I actually hated the Judge, but I reflected that I had no +right to do so. He was simply fulfilling the duty of his office, and +probably such fulfilment was most obnoxious to him; he certainly had +before him a most unpleasant and arduous task. + +As yet there had been no light thrown upon the mysterious crime in the +Lonely House. The necessary papers had been sent to the court at +Laibach, and there the matter rested for the present. The investigating +Judge and the Attorney General had come to Luttach in person to +convince themselves that there was no trace of the criminal. The stolen +bonds and banknotes had not been found, and, in fact, identification of +these would have been impossible, as there had been no registration of +them. + +Nor could the minutest search among the papers of the murdered man give +any evidence as to the amount of his property. The Judge and the +tradesman Weber, each of whom had formerly had dealings with old +Pollenz and occasion to speak with him about his money affairs, +maintained that the old man had kept a list of all bonds in his +possession, and of his outstanding investments, in order that he might +always be fully conscious of the amount of his wealth, but such a list +was not among the papers left behind by the thief. The miserly old man +had speculated with a kind of passion. He was in correspondence with +several bankers in Vienna; no one could tell with how many. These +bankers he commissioned partly by letter and partly through a Luttach +firm of tradesmen, Weber & Meyer, as to the purchase and sale of +various stocks. He excluded every one from all knowledge of his +speculations, and never sold his stock through the same banking house +that had purchased it for him. As no one knew how many banking houses +he employed, it seemed quite hopeless to discover what stock and +government bonds he had possessed, and this, of course, diminished the +chances of the discovery of the murderer should he attempt to sell the +papers. + +It must have been a really humiliating reflection for Herr Foligno that +within his district a crime should have been committed without any +possibility of the discovery of the criminal. He might well fear that +those above him would accuse him of a want of acuteness, or of activity +in the performance of his duties. His clear, excellently composed +deposition had evidently not brought him the credit that it should have +done in higher places. When the two officials from Laibach had made +their visit to Luttach, they had put all their questions to the Clerk +and not to himself. + +"Perhaps I have been wrong," he said to me after the visit of the two +men from Laibach, "I ought to have required you to give me a sworn +report of your encounter with Herr Franz Schorn in the forest near the +Lonely House. I thought of doing so, but the same feeling which forbade +me to do it upon the first discovery of the murder actuated me to-day +and with renewed strength. Your meeting with him, and the wound in his +hand, now entirely healed, are the only grounds of suspicion against +him, and you yourself proved to me how insignificant they are by your +simple remark that I, too, might be subjected to suspicion from the +same causes. I assure you, Herr Professor, that I cannot be +sufficiently grateful to you for preventing me from taking a step which +I might have repented forever. I do not deny that my suspicion of the +man is even more deeply rooted now than it was then, but it behooves me +to be all the more strict with myself, for hitherto I have discovered +nothing which could justify me in accusing the man whom, nevertheless, +I detest profoundly. Should I do so, all the world would believe that I +was endeavouring to be rid of a hated rival." + +I could not but admit that he was right. Circumstances were really most +unfortunate for him. The Lonely House deserved its name now still more +than formerly. It was utterly lonely. After the body of its owner had +been interred in the graveyard of the village of Oberberg, the Captain +had closed it. Anna and her old maid had come to Luttach; she had at +last yielded to the persuasions of the Captain, the Burgomaster, and +the doctor, and had accepted an asylum in the doctor's house. A couple +of unused rooms were quickly furnished for herself and old Johanna. +They did not live there as guests of the owner, but as lodgers. It was +only with the stipulation that there should be no restriction of her +freedom that she had yielded to the wishes of her relatives, and the +first use which she made of this freedom was to declare that Franz +Schorn was her future husband, who should lead her to the altar at the +expiration of her year of mourning. In vain did the Burgomaster, the +Captain, and the doctor entreat the young girl to reserve for a time +such a declaration. Anna was not to be persuaded. + +"It is just because all are against him; just because all seem to hate +him in spite of his noble, lofty nature, that I will be true to him. I +have been betrothed to him for two years. As long as my father lived I +could not declare this boldly against his will, but now I can do so." + +Anna's declaration produced a disagreeable impression in Luttach. The +little social circle there was greatly scandalized, but even the +loudest scandalmonger had to be silent, since Anna with delicate tact +avoided all occasion for calumny. Her lover never visited her; her only +times for seeing him were when he was invited to the house by its +owner, the doctor, who had at first been really provoked at the girl's +obstinacy, but who now found it impossible to say enough of her truly +enchanting disposition. He had always loved her, ever since she had +been a little child, but had never dreamed of her becoming so charming, +so tender and caressing. His wife, too, was perfectly delighted to have +the lovely girl beneath her roof. He now comprehended perfectly how +that stony-hearted miser, old Pollenz, had yielded to the charm of this +girl, and, being quite unable to resist her, had not ventured to oppose +her meeting Franz beneath the oak daily at noon, for fear of her +forsaking him entirely. But, docile and amiable as Anna showed herself +among her relatives and friends, the Burgomaster, the Captain, the +doctor and his wife, she was correspondingly hard and repellent towards +the Judge. From the Captain, with whom I had a daily gossip in the +early morning in the garden, I learned that Herr Foligno still +entertained a foolish hope of conquering the dislike which Anna felt +for him. Several times since she had taken up her dwelling at the +doctor's he had made an attempt to approach her, but had always been +repulsed with signs of the greatest aversion. The Captain and the +doctor had represented to her that she should at least treat him with +conventional courtesy, but she had declared that for him she had no +courteous, kindly word; she detested and despised him, not only because +her father had once wished to force her to marry him, but because she +had a firm conviction that he was at heart a wicked man. She would give +no grounds for this belief, but she was quite sure it was justified. + +The Captain and the doctor must have mentioned to others Anna's +behaviour in this respect; it was known throughout Luttach. There was +much laughing gossip in the little town about the Judge's unfortunate +love. Every evening Mizka detailed to me some town tattle, which was +sure to have for its subject pretty Anna and her two adorers. Perhaps +it was not quite right that I should lend an ear to such downright +gossip, but I do not deny that it interested me, and I could not make +up my mind to interrupt the garrulous maid as she told me of all that +was discussed in the town. + +Though I had but very little sympathy for the Judge, I felt rather +sorry for him; he apparently suffered from the unfortunate +circumstances in which he was placed. He had proved, too, that at +bottom he was not a bad man by the consideration which he had shown for +his inveterate enemy, against whom he endeavoured to harbour no +suspicion. It was most unfortunate that he should bestow his affection +upon a young girl who detested him. I could not excuse him for +continuing to sue for her favour after she had shown him her dislike, +and he exposed himself to the ridicule of the townfolk and fell in my +esteem when every evening he sought to drown his woes by drinking +immoderately. + +Nevertheless I pitied him. To me he was all amiability and courtesy. He +usually postponed his midday meal until I returned from my excursions +and could partake of it with him. He took much interest in my +collections, particularly in my botanical treasures, and really showed, +for a layman, no little knowledge of the subject. If I had lit upon +some rare plant, he would learn from me its locality, and in the +afternoon would scramble about among the rocks and boast to me in the +evening as he displayed the plucked flowers of the result of his +labours, and that he had discovered another spot rich in such +treasures. If on the following morning I endeavoured to find according +to his directions the place he had described, I became aware that it +could be attained only by what was almost dangerous climbing. The +ascent to a place where he told me I should find quantities of the +_Ophrys Bertolini_ was so hazardous that I might easily have come to +grief had I not been a practised mountaineer. On returning, although I +strictly followed his directions, I could not have rightly understood +them, for I entered a perfect labyrinth of dangerous ravines. It was +almost by a miracle that at last I found my way out of it and succeeded +in descending by an unused breakneck path. + +Exhausted beyond measure by such unexpected exertion, I returned to +Luttach at noon and rehearsed to the Judge the danger through which I +had passed. + +He replied with a smile, "You must have missed the path in descending +which I described to you. It is not without danger, but still not very +bad. I am glad, however, that you are now convinced of the difficulty +which I had two weeks ago in plucking the _Ophrys Bertolini_. That is +the spot where I found the flowers that I brought you. I still do not +understand how you found the charming plants in a place easy of +access." + +So he had sent me upon this dangerous excursion just to rid himself of +the imputation of bragging. This was very clear. I really did not thank +him for it. I said nothing, but determined in future not to explore any +of his wonderful localities. I am not such a passionate enthusiast for +botany as to expose myself, for the sake of a beautiful flower, to the +risk of breaking my neck. + + + + + CHAPTER IX. + AN EXPLORING PARTY. + + +One evening there was so full an assembly round the table in the inn +that all the gentlemen with whom I had become acquainted in Luttach +were present, with the exception of Franz Schorn. He, as the +Burgomaster told us, had driven in the early morning to Goerz to bring +thence some expensive agricultural machines which he wished to employ +on his farm. He had promised the Burgomaster to come to the inn late in +the evening to give an account of his purchases, and he was expected to +appear any minute. + +Since the young man had of late been a constant attendant at the round +table, the conversation which had formerly been quite lively with +regard to him had ceased. It was all the more lively on this evening, +and the subject of it was the purchases he had gone to Goerz to make. +Several of the men present were the owners of large estates. They at +least knew something of agriculture, and yet they were the very ones +who expressed themselves as disapproving of the novelties which Franz +was trying to introduce. + +"He is always endeavouring to use something new-fangled and peculiar," +Herr Gunther, one of the richest of the land-owners in the county, +declared. "These machines are probably useful enough in Germany, in +countries where labour is perhaps very expensive, but they do not suit +us here, where they are a ruinous innovation. We have so many poor +people about us who want work, that it is a positive crime to deprive +them of it by the use of machinery." + +"That is just why Schorn buys the machines," another interposed, a man +by the name of Mosic. "He hates our poor Slavonic labourers and would +like to be independent of them. He has probably heard that many of our +best labourers have combined against him and will not work for the +German. Where does he get the money he is spending upon such expensive +machines?" + +"The harvests for several years have not been so plentiful as to enable +a farmer to accumulate much cash," said another. + +"Perhaps he buys on credit," said the notary, Dietrich. + +"Not at all," rejoined the merchant, Meyer. "I have often offered him +credit, but he has never accepted it. 'What I cannot buy with ready +money I will go without; I will not burden myself with debt,' has +always been his reply to me." + +"He does not need to do so; he is always economical, and has money +enough," remarked the shopkeeper, Weber. "As he was paying me yesterday +for his clover seed, I saw that his pocket-book contained a roll of +hundred-gulden notes." + +"He has certainly spent a deal of money lately; he has purchased two +splendid horses, and they were really not necessary, for the two which +he gave in part payment to Schmelzigsohn were good enough. He is +squandering money at present. People whisper queer things of him. In +fact, they are beginning to whisper no longer, but to talk loudly, and +before long what they say will be proclaimed in the market place." + +"It certainly is strange that Schorn has so much money at his command. +Before old Pollenz was murdered he seemed to have very little." + +For an instant profound silence followed the last remark of Mosic's. A +strange expression spread over the countenances of those present. The +innuendo in the words just spoken made a most painful impression upon +all. The Clerk was the first to recover himself. With an angry look at +Mosic, he said in a tone of harsh reproof: + +"How dare you, Herr Mosic, utter such an accusation against an absent +member of our circle? I shall inform Herr Schorn of what you have said +that he may call you to account for it." + +Herr Mosic changed color. + +"Oh, pardon me, sir," he said, and his voice trembled; "you entirely +misunderstood me. I have no idea of uttering an accusation against Herr +Schorn. I only repeated the stupid talk of the townsfolk. Of course I +attach no importance to it; it is not my fault if people will talk." + +"You ought not to repeat such nonsensical gossip," the Clerk said +angrily. + +Hitherto the Judge had taken no part in the conversation. He had sat +silent drinking glass after glass of wine, but now he turned to the +Clerk, and in a very odd tone said, with a glance toward me: + +"You judge rather hastily, sir; you should remember that the voice of +the people is the voice of God." + +"Pardon me, Judge," cried the doctor; "in this case the despicable +gossip is the voice of the devil; no honest man should repeat or defend +it." + +"So say I. 'Tis a cowardly, unworthy accusation!" exclaimed the +Captain, and the Burgomaster nodded assent. "Franz is a rough, morose +fellow, but a man of honour through and through, incapable of +committing a crime." + +"Besides," added the doctor, "very little understanding is necessary to +perceive that he never could have committed the murder. Even if he had +been a hard-hearted wretch quite capable of it, no suspicion of _this_ +crime could attach to him." + +"Indeed!" said the Judge, contemptuously; "I really am curious to learn +why no possible suspicion in this case could attach to Schorn." + +"Upon my word, it is sad to think that I, an old doctor, understanding +nothing of criminal law, should have to instruct a learned Judge as to +what his simple, sound, good sense should teach him, but since it is +so, since such ridiculous gossip has found no one in this circle to +expose it as such, it must be. The murderer was certainly a man with +whom old Pollenz was very intimate; Franz he hated like sin and held +him to be his mortal enemy. + +"When little Anna went to Luttach with old Johanna, her father locked +the front door behind them, and, as always when resting at noon, +withdrew to his own room and bolted himself in. Whoever wished to enter +the house or to see its owner would be obliged either to break down the +door or be admitted by old Pollenz himself. Now, no sensible human +being could believe that the old man would have opened his door for +Schorn, to allow himself to be murdered--for Franz Schorn, of whom he +was afraid, of whom he always said, 'Schorn will kill me one of these +days.' He would have drawn a double bolt on every door if Franz had +asked for admittance, but on this occasion he drew back the bolt and +opened the door. There is no trace of any violence used in opening it, +and a bolted door cannot be opened unless from within, or with +violence; therefore I maintain that the murderer must have been an +intimate friend of old Pollenz, and in no case can the slightest +suspicion attach to Franz Schorn. I think I have now proved this +clearly." + +"Clear as sunlight; the legal profession loses a shining light in you, +doctor," the Judge rejoined, his thin lips curled in a contemptuous +smile. "After your lucid defense," he continued, "it seems to me +incumbent upon us all to say not one word to Franz Schorn of our +previous conversation; he would surely be deeply offended and insulted +if he could believe that any one of us entertained the smallest doubt +of his innocence. We must take it upon ourselves to discountenance the +town gossip wherever we hear it, always taking care that the young man +learns nothing of the rumours concerning him. The object of such +rumours can never combat them himself. Should he try to do so, it would +but strengthen belief in them; but we can have many opportunities to +silence slander. I hope you all agree with me, gentlemen." + +All agreed. The doctor offered the Judge his hand in token of +acknowledgment, and said with a kindly nod: + +"You are a good fellow, after all, Judge, and I beg your pardon. It is +fine of you to stand up so bravely for Franz, although you cannot +endure him. I will not forget it of you." + +That the Judge's words had produced their effect upon all present, even +upon those most opposed to Schorn, was evident when the young man soon +afterward entered the room; he was received with more cordiality and +kindness than ever before; it really seemed as if Herr Gunther and Herr +Mosic were trying by their courtesy to atone for the words spoken in +his absence. + +Franz was so pleasantly surprised by this friendly reception that he +became far more amiable and genial than ever before. At the +Burgomaster's request, he explained the new machines which he had +bought in Goerz and the use to which he intended to put them, not only +for his own advantage, but hoping to improve the agriculture of the +entire Luttach valley by introducing them generally. + +This excited a little war of words between him and the two land-owners, +who declared themselves opposed to the introduction of new methods, but +their opposition was expressed with so much moderation that Franz could +not take offense. + +And the Captain, who, as a good Conservative, was strongly opposed to +the introduction of machinery in agricultural operations, sided with +the land-owners. + +"You mean well, Franz," he said; "you would like to increase the +prosperity of our valley; but with your cursed innovations you put the +cart before the horse. You will never improve the labourer's condition +by depriving him of his means of subsistence." + +"These machines will not deprive the labourer of his work. On the +contrary, they will give him an opportunity of working more effectually +than has been possible for him hitherto. A more thorough cultivation of +our fields and vineyards will create a fresh demand of labour, which +will be better paid than ever." + +"Dreams, dreams, in which I have no faith," replied the Captain. "The +manufacturers of these machines and the people who sell them have +started these tales. When a machine undertakes the labour hitherto +performed by man, the man sinks to the machine's level. In all great +manufacturing towns the labouring class, with very few exceptions, is +poverty-stricken and starving. Don't tell me of such innovations. We +should count ourselves happy that here in the country we have hitherto +been free from machinery." + +"Nevertheless, perhaps because of this, our labourers here suffer the +bitterest poverty." + +"That is because the last few years have been poor ones. If the +peasant's harvest fails and the vineyards do not flourish, the labourer +can earn nothing. Your machines cannot improve his condition; they can +only make it worse. The Herr Professor has given me an idea of what +would improve the condition of our people here more than ought else." + +I gazed at the Captain in surprise. I did not remember that I had ever +said a word to him about the poverty of the labouring class in the +Luttach valley, or had ever mentioned any means whatever of improving +their condition. He nodded to me with a gentle smile, and then +continued: + +"Yes, yes, Herr Professor, you do not recall how on the very first +morning after your arrival among us we had a conversation which I +remember well. Our valley should be opened to tourists; we are situated +just between two important railways, not more than a league distant +from each; we could be visited with the greatest facility, and where +tourists are gathered together money is sure to circulate; all will be +the gainers; the inns, the tradesfolk, those owning horses, who will +hire out carriages; the laundresses, and even the labourers, who will +be employed either as drivers or as guides for excursions among the +mountains." + +"What talk is this, old friend?" the Burgomaster interrupted him with a +laugh. "What have we here to attract tourists? They can make the ascent +of Nanos very easily from Prayvalt, and our valley has really nothing +more to show. It is quite wonderful that a naturalist, our Herr +Professor, should have visited us. Certainly none of those who travel +for pleasure would ever contemplate coming hither." + +"Therefore we must try to find something that will attract them. The +Herr Professor called my attention to the fact that we live on from day +to day without regard to our ignorance as to whether we do not possess +a greater attraction for travellers than the Adelsberg Grotto. Does any +one of us here present know how extensive are the caves which we +possess, and whether they may not perhaps be finer than the grotto at +Adelsberg? The only one among us who has interested himself about them +is, if I do not mistake, Franz Schorn, and he has done very little in +the way of exploration. How is it, Franz; am I not right?" + +"It is true that I have done very little in the way of exploration. I +penetrated furthest into the cave in the grove of the Rusina. It is a +laborious piece of work. I lost all desire to penetrate further; it +seemed useless." + +"The Herr Professor thinks differently. Do you still desire to attempt +to explore one of these caves, Herr Professor? I was anxious to offer +you my assistance in so doing some time ago, but this horrible murder +has occupied our minds to the exclusion of every other thought." + +The Captain's proposal was very welcome to me. In my excursion on the +forenoon of this very day I had gazed with much interest in the grove +of the Rusina, at the dark opening among gigantic blocks of granite. I +had an intense desire to explore it, but prudence called a halt. +Overheated as I was in climbing about the mountains, I would not expose +myself to the danger to which the cold, damp interior of the cave would +expose me, and, besides, it would have been very foolish to attempt any +exploration without companions, for the slightest slip might prove +fatal. No one would ever have looked for me in the cave; if not killed, +I might have starved before I was discovered. + +Such considerations at the time forbade gratifying my desire to explore +the cave, but it awoke again within me at the Captain's offer; it +pleased me that it should be so entirely voluntary. I thanked him and +declared that I would gladly take part in an exploration of the cave +whenever he should arrange it. + +"Bravo! Then let us set to work early tomorrow morning and begin with +the cave in the grove of the Rusina. You will join us, Franz!" + +"Gladly. I only fear that we shall not get far. There is a deep abyss +not many yards from the entrance." + +"How deep is it!" + +"I do not know. I threw a lighted match into it, but it was quickly +extinguished; and a stone which I cast down soon struck some rock and I +could not see where it lay. I took no pains to explore further." + +"Then we will try to do so to-morrow. Let us take with us a couple of +sturdy fellows, who can carry torches, some lanterns and a sufficient +length of strong rope, with perhaps a ladder or two. I will take with +me some magnesium wire, which will give us a brilliant light in the +depths." + +Franz agreed. We discussed the interesting expedition further, and +decided that we would start at seven o'clock the next morning. + +"May I make one of your party?" the Judge asked, when we had completed +our arrangements. Franz Schorn started and regarded the speaker with a +searching glance. Evidently he was about to refuse decidedly, but +thought better of it, bit his lip, and, with a slight gesture of his +hand, referred the matter to me. I cannot say that the proposal was +agreeable to me. I was surprised that the Judge should be willing to +take part in an expedition to which Franz Schorn was, to a certain +degree, the guide. I feared some unpleasant encounter between the two +men and I should have liked to refuse. This, however, courtesy forbade. +The Judge had always been so amiable and obliging in his behaviour to +me that it was impossible for me to decline his company. + +He noticed that I hesitated a moment, and, probably guessing whence +such hesitation proceeded, continued with a smiling look at Franz +Schorn: + +"I am very much interested in our Ukraine caves, and I have already +visited a number of them. The cave in the grove of the Rusina is not +unfamiliar to me. I have not explored it to the extent of which Herr +Schorn tells us, but I am familiar with the entrance and would like to +penetrate its depths. Of course, I voluntarily acquiesce in the +intelligent guidance of Herr Schorn, who will take command of our +expedition. You would oblige me very much, Herr Professor, by your +permission to accompany you." + +I could not but accord it. It was impossible to do otherwise. The Judge +thanked me, as he did Schorn and the Captain, so courteously that I was +half inclined to suspect his sincerity. The prospect of this expedition +seemed to delight him. He suddenly became talkative and showed an +uncommon amiability to Schorn, although the young man met his advances +with monosyllabic replies. His attempt to make himself acceptable to +him was not happy; his cheerfulness seemed forced; his friendliness +assumed; his gaiety feverish. In his usual attitude at the table, +looking gloomily into his wineglass, he impressed me very unfavourably, +but to-day, when he was talkative and gay, I was still more +unfavourably impressed. + +I had a very strange feeling with regard to the Judge. I could not but +acknowledge that he was a good, honourable man. He had shown this +abundantly; but I felt a vague, instinctive aversion to him, which, +however I struggled against it, increased the more I knew him. + +I was uncomfortable in his society that evening; therefore I rose from +my place earlier than usual and called Mizka to light me to my room. To +my surprise, the Judge followed my example, although he had just +ordered another measure of wine. + +"I will go with you, Herr Professor," he said, and he accompanied me +without drinking his wine. "To-morrow, then, at seven o'clock, Herr +Schorn." + +As he spoke he offered his hand to Schorn, but the young man ignored +it. + +"It is to the Herr Professor or to the Captain that you owe permission +to accompany us," Schorn said, with cool contempt. "I have not agreed +to it. You and I have nothing in common." + +"Perhaps you are wrong, Herr Schorn. I may convince you of this +to-morrow. I willingly submit myself to your guidance. Good-night." + +His features wore a detestable sneer as he uttered these words, and, +bowing to the rest of the company, he followed me. + +Upstairs on the landing I would have bidden him good-night, but he +said: + +"I followed you, Herr Professor, because I want to speak a few words +with you alone. Allow me to go into your room with you. I'll not detain +you long." + +Of course I invited him to enter and to take a place on the old +straight-backed sofa, curious to learn what he could have to say to me. +When Mizka, after having lighted the candles, left the room, he sprang +up, went to the door and opened it to convince himself that she was not +listening, and then opened the door leading to the adjoining room to +make sure that no one was there. Then he returned to me, and in a voice +trembling with agitation said: + +"I pray you, Herr Professor, to give me at once, now, your report of +meeting Franz Schorn in the neighbourhood of the Lonely House." + +I was startled. I had not expected this demand. Surprise made me +speechless for a moment. I could only ejaculate "Herr Foligno!" + +"I understand your surprise, your dismay," he continued. "Believe me, +it has cost me a struggle to resolve to make this request, but it must +be. I may have neglected my duty in postponing it so long. Now, when my +suspicions have become almost a certainty, I can wait no longer. I am +compelled to collect all the grounds for it that I possess, and among +them belongs your meeting with him near the Lonely House. The paper +must be sent to the Attorney General at Laibach. It must be, Herr +Professor; you cannot refuse me. Every man of honour is bound to +support the authorities in the investigation of crime. You could not +wish to shield a criminal from the rigour of the law." + +"Most certainly not; but I am more than firmly convinced that Franz +Schorn is no murderer. You yourself, scarcely an hour ago, admitted the +proofs of his innocence adduced by the doctor." + +"Did you not perceive that my words were ironical? I was obliged to +change the subject of the conversation. Franz Schorn must not be warned +by his friends. He must believe himself safe from discovery, or he will +betake himself to flight, for which the money gained by his crime gives +him abundant opportunity. Trieste is not far off, and a guide thither +is quickly found. I was obliged to conceal from him the knowledge that +I have discovered his crime. I put force upon myself to control my +abhorrence of him. This very night I must complete the full report +showing forth all the evidence against him, and in this I must include +your meeting with him near the Lonely House. An official will take the +paper to Laibach and deliver it in person; then the Attorney General +must decide whether the evidence it contains be sufficient to warrant +Schorn's arrest. I am myself perfectly convinced of his guilt. I ought +perhaps to arrest him on my own responsibility, but I will not expose +myself to the reproach of acting from personal hostility. I shall watch +him narrowly to prevent his flight, and therefore I begged to be +allowed to join your cave exploration. His arrest I will leave to the +Attorney General in Laibach. Thus I have explained to you frankly the +grounds for my action, and I pray you to give me the report for the +protocol, which you promised me a week ago. This report should consist, +in order to save yourself and myself unpleasant after inquiries, of the +declaration that to your meeting with Schorn you attached no importance +in the beginning, but since you have learned that the voice of the +people pronounce him the murderer you hold it to be your duty to +mention seeing him in the forest. You might add that you hold this +meeting to be of no importance and that you are most unwilling to +arouse a suspicion of the young man, but that, nevertheless, you feel +it your duty to tell of your encounter with him. I think such a report +cannot outrage your sense of justice." + +"It does not accord with my sense of justice to admit a suspicion which +I think false. If I make my report now, it will look as though I shared +this suspicion. The Attorney General would so interpret it, even though +I declared the contrary. I ought to have made the report immediately +after the discovery of the murder. You prevented my doing so then, and +now I will not make it until I see at least the possibility of other +grounds for it." + +"It is the duty of the Attorney General, not yourself, to judge of the +importance of your evidence," Herr Foligno replied sternly. "It is the +duty of the private individual to impart to the proper authorities +every circumstance that may be connected with a crime. Of course you +know that." + +"It is not his duty," I said angrily, "if his inmost conviction is that +the circumstance he relates has no connection whatever with the crime, +although it may serve to arouse suspicion. If what you maintain be +correct, I ought also to advise the Attorney General that you yourself +were in the neighbourhood of the Lonely House on that morning and that +I found your pocket handkerchief where you had been plucking _Ophrys +Bertolini_." + +Herr Foligno shot such a look of rage at me from beneath his black +brows that I started in terror. I had no idea of affecting him so +deeply by my words. In a voice trembling with anger, which he vainly +strove to control, he said: + +"Then you would tell the Attorney General a falsehood. I have told you +that I did not pluck the flowers in the neighbourhood of the Lonely +House, but at a great distance from it, and in a spot difficult to +find, and that my handkerchief was by accident where you picked it up. +Is it possible that you do not believe me, although I have told you all +this distinctly?" + +He probably read in my face that I was not convinced of the truth of +this statement, for he continued in a sharp, angry tone: + +"You doubt, in spite of my words. Perhaps you entertain the possibility +of my having some connection with the crime----" + +"What folly, Herr Foligno!" I cried, interrupting him. "I mentioned you +and your pocket handkerchief only to contradict your assertion that it +was my duty to tell of an insignificant experience. If I ought to +report having seen Franz Schorn near the Lonely House, I also ought to +report the finding of your handkerchief under the same circumstances." + +"If you really consider this your duty, I shall not gainsay you," he +replied darkly, not lifting his eyes from the ground. "It is no affair +of mine. My task is to send this very night my deposition, containing +an account of your meeting with Franz Schorn, to the proper authorities +either with or against your consent. I may find myself in a very +unpleasant position and even imperil my office when I relate that I +myself advised you to withhold your report concerning Schorn, but +personal considerations must yield to my sense of duty. I had thought, +Herr Professor," he continued, in a more friendly tone, finding me +still silent, "that you would not willingly thus embarrass me. Believe +me, I would not so insist upon your evidence were I not thoroughly and +firmly convinced of the young man's guilt. To show you how highly I +esteem you, what implicit confidence I place in your honour and +silence, I will tell you, although scarcely warranted in so doing, of +the results of my laborious investigations during the last few weeks. +You yourself will then be convinced of your duty. It is a hard task for +me to make these revelations to you, for not only do they militate +against Franz Schorn, but against one who has been very dear to my +heart, and for whom to-day, in spite of my better judgment, I feel warm +affection; but it must be; you shall hear all." + +"Proceed; you may rely upon my discretion." + +I waited for what he had to say with intense eagerness. For a few +moments he sat silent, with downcast looks; then he began, not once +looking at me as he spoke: + +"It is difficult to indicate the precise moment at which suspicions of +Schorn were aroused within me. You yourself know of his bitter enmity +towards old Pollenz, whose death he could not but desire, since it +alone would bring him the fulfilment of his dearest wish. You know of +his being near the Lonely House immediately after the murder. You know +also of the wound in his hand, to account for which he told of having +grasped a double-edged knife as it fell from where he had left it. His +reluctance to show the wound to the doctor, and, more than all else, +his sudden accession of wealth after the crime, accuses him loudly. He +has made purchases which would have been impossible with his own +unassisted means. All these grounds of suspicion the doctor thought to +annihilate by his acute reasoning, showing that old Pollenz himself +could not possibly have admitted Schorn and that the murderer had +evidently entered the house without any violent breaking in of the +door. How is this to be accounted for? Unfortunately, the explanation +is only too clear. Fraeulein Anna Pollenz, when officially examined, as +well as in her words to the Captain and to the doctor, portrayed a life +in her father's house absolutely opposed to reality. She maintained +that her father loved her most tenderly; that he was always kind and +gentle to her, and that even her connection with the hated Schorn and +her refusal to give me her hand had produced no change in his demeanour +toward her. Anna's words were universally believed. Who could doubt who +looked into her eyes and acknowledged their spell? To see her is to +love her. She wins all hearts at once. Every one believes her; every +one trusts her; and nevertheless every word that she spoke is false. +For years the Lonely House has witnessed terrible scenes between father +and daughter. The old man abused the lovely child outrageously because +she would not obey him. Unfortunately I myself was often the cause of +this abuse, although I declared continually to old Pollenz that I never +would claim Anna's hand unless she bestowed it upon me voluntarily; +unless I succeeded in winning the young girl's love. The old fellow was +a rough, heartless, violent man; a coward to those stronger than +himself, brutal to those who were weaker. He locked his daughter up; he +half starved her; he beat her so that she escaped from him bleeding. +For years he never spoke a kind word to her. He had unbounded +confidence in me; he even angrily complained to me of her disobedience. +I myself have witnessed frightful scenes, and on several occasions +prevented him with all my physical strength from maltreating the +beautiful, unfortunate child in my presence." + +"Frightful!" I exclaimed. The dreadful picture which the narrator +unfolded before me filled me with horror. + +"Beside myself, there is one other human being who is aware of the +family life in the Lonely House. Old Johanna was a witness of the +maltreatment which the unhappy girl suffered daily in our presence; in +the presence of others the old man assumed a kind, mild demeanour +toward his child; old Johanna suffered almost as much as Anna from the +brutality of her master. She would long ago have left him if she had +not been detained by tender affection for her mistress. After what you +have just heard you may judge with what amazement I was filled upon +learning after the death of old Pollenz that Anna had described her +relations with her father as happy, peaceful, and loving, and that old +Johanna in the final examination, had confirmed all that Anna said. I +pondered long to discover what grounds Anna could have for such a false +representation of the actual circumstances and why she should suddenly +develop such inconceivable hatred for me, who had so often protected +her from ill treatment. When at last I suspected the true cause I found +it difficult of belief. I alone can expose the tissue of lies which she +has woven around herself. I alone cannot be won over to testify to her +truth, as she has won over old Johanna, who would perjure herself +willingly for her darling, and Anna needs such falsehoods. It is almost +impossible to believe that the daughter, driven to madness and despair +by daily ill treatment, herself opened the locked doors for her lover. +Spare me further words, Herr Professor. My reason becomes confused when +I reflect on a deed so horrible. Ever since this solution became clear +to me, sleep is banished. I toss restlessly throughout the night. My +thoughts dwell perpetually in the Lonely House. At times I have feared +that I should become insane. The struggle raging within me during these +last few days is indescribable. I loved Anna with all my heart. I love +her still, and, although it is madness, I shall love her to my last +breath. Neither her crime nor the hatred which she displays towards me +can kill this insane love within me, and fate has ordained that I +should be the inexorable judge, the dread accuser of her lover, in +ruining whom I ruin her also; but I must do my duty, let my heart bleed +as it may." + +He had finished. The narrative had agitated him fearfully; he trembled +in every limb; his eyes glowed as with fever. I was scarcely less moved +than he. His words had torn the veil from my eyes; I could now see the +fearful scenes in the Lonely House clearly, and how they had led to the +final deed. I was ineffably sad. Great as was my detestation of the +horrible crime, I could not but pity deeply the unfortunate child whom +despair had maddened. Detestation, horror and pity by turns filled my +heart. I could put myself in the place of the unhappy man who had just +revealed to me his innermost soul. + +How long we confronted each other in silence I cannot say. We were both +too deeply moved to give expression in words to our feelings. Herr +Foligno recovered himself first. His voice no longer trembled as he +asked, after a long pause: + +"Will you now sign the report which I will write out for you?" + +"Yes." + +I brought him paper, pen and ink. He quickly took down the evidence I +had to give, as he had before required that I should give it, and then +read aloud what he had written. I had no objection to offer, and signed +it. + +He arose and held out his hand in farewell. + +"I have another terrible night before me," he said. "To-morrow a +messenger must take this early to Laibach, and a hard day will follow a +weary night for both of us. It will not be easy for you, Herr +Professor, to make one to-morrow of Franz Schorn's party to the cave +without allowing him to perceive your detestation of him." + +"I cannot; I shall excuse myself on the plea of illness." + +"No, Herr Professor, you must not do this. Schorn will surely learn +through Mizka that I came with you to your room; he might suspect +something. A criminal of his calibre is on the watch for the merest +trifle which can arouse suspicion of his discovery. You, too, Herr +Professor, have a hard duty to perform, but it must be done. You must +be one of the party, as I shall be. Neither the Captain nor Schorn must +dream of what the near future will bring forth. I trust to your honour, +and I know that I do not trust in vain." + +"You may rely upon me; I will control myself." + +With another pressure of the hand we separated. + + + + + CHAPTER X. + AN ACCIDENT? + + +As I tossed restlessly in bed I heard above me, as on the first night +after the murder, the pacing to and fro of the Judge. A magnetic +connection seemed to exist between us, causing me to think what he +thought, and to feel what he felt. The same terrible images which +banished sleep from his eyes were present before mine. I heard the +church clock strike hour after hour, and only with the first glimmer of +dawn did I enjoy a short slumber. + +At five o'clock I awakened. My first thoughts dwelt upon what the Judge +had told me the evening before. It now appeared to me in quite a +different light. I was more composed. The nervous agitation which had +then possessed me had vanished. I could reflect upon what I had heard. +As the Judge had spoken in his excitement, what he said had such an +effect upon me that it all seemed to me absolute verity without need of +proof, but now doubts sprang up, and a clearer understanding demanded +its rights. + +Had Herr Foligno really divulged to me unvarnished facts, which +convinced me of the guilt of Schorn and of his betrothed, as his +accomplice? No! He had accumulated evidence as the doctor had done. The +only fact was that Anna had not adhered to the truth in describing her +relations with her father, and was it not natural that the daughter +should try to clear her father's memory of all evil! It was very +natural that her filial affection should awaken after her father's +terrible death; that she should forget everything that had distressed +her in their relations--his harshness, even his maltreatment--and +remember only his love. And for this was she to be accused as an +accomplice in an accursed crime! + +I was ashamed of my credulity. Might not Herr Foligno be governed by +prejudice even to misunderstanding the relations between father and +daughter! A harsh word spoken by the father to Anna in his presence +might appear to him an intolerable offence, while Anna might scarcely +notice it. + +I really could not comprehend my credulity of the previous evening, or +how I could have been led by the Judge's excitement to regard as facts +the arguments he had adduced. + +And if Anna were not guilty, where were there grounds for suspicion of +Franz Schorn? I repented having signed the deposition and having +promised to be silent with regard to it; but I had given my promise, +and it must be kept. Perhaps, after all, it was as well, for my report +would elicit a judicial investigation of all grounds for suspicion of +Franz Schorn, who could be acquitted of all imputations only by a +thorough examination which could clear him from every suspicion +entertained of him by his fellow-townsmen. + +All these considerations soothed me. I could contemplate the expedition +which I had arranged with Franz Schorn for to-day without aversion. It +was rather disagreeable to know that the report signed by me was +already on its way to Laibach, while I was one of a party of pleasure, +all friends of the young man; but I would not ponder on this; it was +irrevocable. + +Soon after six o'clock I went down to the garden to take my morning cup +of coffee, and there I found the Captain and Franz awaiting me to +discuss the details for our excursion. Franz was full of life and +animation. I had never seen him so gay, so happy. There was no trace of +the sullen expression which sometimes clouded his handsome face. His +morning greeting was so cordial that I felt ashamed indeed as I shook +his proffered hand. This pleasant, happy young man guilty of a murder? +It was folly, nay, it was wicked to hold any such idea for a minute. + +He had early completed every necessary preparation for the excursion we +were about to make. The Captain and I had really nothing to provide; +even the magnesium wire had been bought at the druggist's. Two stout +labourers, who could speak German, were ready to accompany us, each of +them provided with a thick, pointed staff and a long rope, not too +thick, but very strong. Half a dozen pitch torches Schorn had procured +from the fire department, and a lantern for every member of the party. +In addition, the men carried after us two short, strong ladders. + +On the stroke of seven Herr Foligno entered the garden. He greeted +Schorn politely; the Captain and myself cordially. He looked ill and +worn. I had never seen his sallow features so expressionless, but his +dark eyes shone with feverish excitement. + +We began our walk. The people who met us looked after us in surprise as +we strode through the streets of Luttach. Apparently they could not +understand how two men, known to be such bitter enemies as Herr Foligno +and Franz Schorn, should be walking so peaceably side by side. + +At the furthest end of the town we descended to the bed of the Rusina. +In early spring, when the snow melts quickly upon Nanos and when heavy +rainfalls create hundreds of little brooks from the mountains, the +Rusina dashes along in wild fury; but after a drought it is almost +dried up, and is only a shallow rill of water trickling between the +stones of its rocky bed. We could walk along it without wetting our +feet. It was not very agreeable walking, but it was the nearest way to +the grove, which we reached after scarcely ten minutes. + +Here, in the centre of this grove, consisting of scarcely a hundred +huge oaks, there is a pile of mighty rocks; large blocks, covered with +luxuriant green moss, are heaped together in a confused mass, in which +is an opening, black and forbidding, about the height of a man, which +forms the entrance to the cave we were to explore. Here we halted and +consulted. It was decided that we should enter in single file, Franz +Schorn first as our guide. I was to follow him. Herr Foligno came after +me, and the Captain was last. Our two porters closed the little +procession. The lanterns were lighted and each of us took one. + +We entered the cave, which was at first tolerably spacious; into it +daylight penetrated, making a dim twilight. About four or five yards +above us arched a roof of black, moist stone. The ground beneath, +descending rather precipitously, was covered with small fragments of +rock which had apparently fallen from the roof, loosened by the +dampness. There was no trace of the beautiful stalactites for which the +Adelsberg Grotto is so famous. The light of our lanterns was quite +sufficient to reveal clearly the part of the cave where we stood and +the path leading down to the depths. A few yards from the entrance the +cave narrowed. There was room between the walls of rock for only two +men to walk abreast; and indeed the walking was extremely difficult, +because of the slippery scales of rock with which the floor was strewn. + +Forward! We walked, or, rather, we scuffled, downwards, in danger at +every step of falling on the slippery stones. After a few minutes our +path grew easier; it no longer descended; although still strewn with +fragments of rock, the danger of slipping was less. We had more room. +The walls retreated and vanished beyond the circle of light cast by our +lanterns, which could no longer illumine the roof of the cave arching +above us. + +"'Here it resembles a cathedral,' the Adelsberger guides would say, if +they were here," said Franz Schorn with a laugh, stopping and raising +his lantern. "How high this dome is I have never before with my +insufficient light been able to discover, and just because I had +insufficient light I ventured but little further into the cave." + +"You reached an abyss which prevented your further progress; at least +you told us so yesterday," said the Judge. + +"True. It is only a few minutes' walk from here. If we go through the +cathedral and turn a little to the left, we shall reach the only outlet +which leads further among the rocks. It is a very narrow, rocky way, +suddenly ending in a sheer abyss. It is for us to discover to-day +whether it is possible to be lowered by a rope into its depths and to +find sufficient foothold below to enable us to continue our +exploration. When, four or five years ago, I last entered the cave, +quite alone, I could go no further, and so I returned from this spot." + +"Must we turn to the left!" asked the Judge. "You are mistaken; we must +turn to the right; to the left the cave is completely blocked by a heap +of rocky fragments." + +Franz Schorn regarded the speaker with surprise, bethought himself a +moment, and then exclaimed: + +"True, you are right. I remember now that I found a heap of rocks on my +left, and then turned to the right to find an outlet. But how did you +know this, Herr Foligno?" + +One of the two porters laughed aloud, and answered in the Judge's stead +with some words in Slavonic, which seemed to surprise the Captain as +well as Schorn. + +"What, Herr Foligno, you were here in the cave a week ago, with Rassak, +and ventured as far as the abyss, and never told us anything about it +yesterday?" exclaimed the Captain. + +"I told you that I had entered the cave, but had not gone far. I do not +talk much of such trifles," he replied irritably, adding: + +"Shall we not light a couple of torches to see how high the roof is?" + +The torches were lighted, but did not suffice to reveal the height of +the cave. Only when the magnesium light flamed up and cast its dazzling +radiance upwards did we perceive for a few moments the rocky roof some +twenty yards above us. + +"This is gruesome," said the Captain, with a long breath, as the +brilliant light was extinguished and the darkness around us seemed +deeper and blacker than before. "We can now understand how the floor +beneath our feet is so covered with fragments of rock. Evidently large +pieces fall from the roof and are broken into a hundred bits below. +Look, Herr Foligno; the stones just here show traces of having been but +lately broken. At any minute another fragment might fall and be the +death of us." + +"Yes, such an exploration is not without danger," the Judge replied +with a sneer. "But let us proceed, gentlemen. The shorter the time +spent here beneath this roof the less danger is there that we shall be +injured by a falling rock. Let us go on, in the same order as hitherto. +You go first, Herr Schorn." + +"Since you visited the cave only a week ago, you had better act as +guide, Herr Foligno." + +"No, I refuse. I expressly stated yesterday that I should be entirely +guided by you, and I repeat it. Therefore, pray, Herr Schorn, go before +us; I will follow with the Herr Professor." + +Schorn made no further objection. We pursued our way, keeping to the +right, and entered the narrow opening between the rocks, which seemed +the only means by which to penetrate further into the cave. It was +narrower than any path hitherto. It would have been impossible for two +men to walk in it abreast, but there was more than enough room, when in +single file. Our lanterns and the torches of the porters cast +sufficient light to show us a gentle ascent in front and to enable us +to proceed free from all risk of danger. + +"We have reached the abyss," Schorn said, halting after a few moments. +"Here we can go no further, and if we cannot find, after being lowered +by a rope, another opening, our exploration party has reached its +limits. The abyss appears to be not only sheer, but the rock upon which +we stand overhangs it somewhat. I will lie flat on the ground and look +down. Perhaps I shall succeed in finding an outlet, but I must have a +brighter light than that of the lanterns. Give me one of the torches, +Herr Professor." + +A torch was passed from hand to hand; I gave it to Schorn, who laid +himself flat on the ground, and, leaning over the abyss as far as +possible, endeavoured to cast into it the light of the torch. As he lay +there I had a view of the depths, but it gave me little hope for the +continuance of our exploration. The red light of the torch was +sufficient to show me a black wall rising twelve or fifteen feet on the +opposite side of the abyss. It seemed to bar all progress, giving no +hint of any outlet. A few feet above our heads the smoke of the torches +hung in a cloud, which found no egress from the cave. + +"Beneath us, scarcely twenty feet below, there is firm footing," cried +Schorn, "and, if I do not mistake, the cave then leads to the right +among the rocks; but I must have a brighter light." + +He handed the torch back to me and took a piece of magnesium wire from +his pocket. The next moment the cave as far as we could overlook it was +illumined as by an electric light. + +"A happy discovery; we can go on," cried Schorn, delighted, as the +light was extinguished. "I can assure you, gentlemen," he said, rising, +"that the first difficulty is almost without danger, and easy to +overcome." + +We crowded about him; even the two porters were determined not to lose +a word of his description. + +Beneath the overhanging rock, at a depth of scarcely fifteen or twenty +feet, there was a firm footing, a platform of stone quite broad enough +to give standing room for at least five or six men, and from this +platform a way was distinguishable on the right through a narrow +opening in the rocks. + +"Now you see, Herr Foligno, I was right a week ago. You would not +believe me, but so it is," exclaimed Rassak, one of the porters, +exultantly, speaking German. + +"Who asked your opinion!" the Judge said harshly. + +"Did Rassak, then, discover the continuance of the cave?" said the +Captain. + +"Well, yes," the Judge replied irritably. "It seems at present that he +was probably right. He lay down on the ground and let down a lantern by +a rope, and then declared that the cave had a further outlet. I lay +down after him and looked down, but I could see no opening. I did not +believe him, and it was partly to convince myself whether or not he was +correct that I offered to accompany you to-day. I could not explore it +myself then; I had no rope strong enough to lower me to the platform +below, which might have been done without danger." + +"Not quite without danger, at least for the first to attempt it," +Schorn remarked calmly, "but it is not great. It needs a little swing +on the rope to reach the platform, but when one man obtains firm +footing there, the rest is easy. I will be let down first, and can draw +the rest toward me. The porters must stay here, that they may pull us +up when we return." + +"But it seems to me a very perilous undertaking," said the Captain +anxiously. "We cannot expose our Herr Professor to such danger. If the +rope breaks before he reaches the platform, or if he should be seized +with giddiness, he would fall into a bottomless abyss." + +"I will guarantee the strength of the rope," said Franz Schorn. + +"And I that I shall suffer no dizziness; I do not know the sensation." +I was so keen for the continuance of our exploration that I was almost +irritated by the Captain's anxiety on my behalf. The danger would have +to be far greater than it was to deter me from further progress. +Hitherto I had found no trace of a cave beetle; there had been nothing +living among the bald black rocks. Only at a greater depth could I hope +to satisfy my passion for collecting. + +"If the Captain thinks the danger too great, he can remain with the +porters. I shall be glad to follow the Herr Professor," said the Judge; +whereupon the Captain turned upon him angrily, declaring that he was +not thinking of danger for himself, but for the old gentleman who was +their guest in Luttach; since, however, the Herr Professor wished to +go, he himself should surely not remain behind. + +Thus we determined to proceed. Franz Schorn gave us the necessary +directions. He wished us to put the rope around us and to hold it +firmly when we were lowered. These directions were not necessary in my +case; I have made use of rope so often with my guides among the +glaciers, and have so frequently been let down from the rocks to obtain +some rare plant, that I was quite familiar with its use. There seemed +to be no possible peril here, even for Franz Schorn, for four of us +would hold the rope and we could lower him very gradually for the short +distance to the platform below, making any great swing of the rope +impossible. The two porters could easily lower the Captain, who was to +be the last of us to follow. + +Schorn arranged the rope so that he could place himself in the loop; he +fastened a lantern to it, and then advanced to the edge of the rocks, +seated himself, and, still holding to the irregular surface he slowly +lowered himself, while we, holding the rope, paid it out inch by inch. +I followed him to the edge, but I did not look down, because I +concentrated all my attention upon the paying out of the rope. + +After scarcely a minute we heard him call from below: + +"Halt! I am all right. Draw the rope up again." + +I laid myself flat on the ground and looked over the edge of the +platform, which was now illuminated by the lantern which Schorn held. +It was light enough for me to see the young man distinctly as he stood +quite comfortably not far below me. I could also discern the black +opening to the right, the continuation of the cave. + +"Follow me, Herr Professor," Schorn called up. "Do just as I did; there +is no danger; seat yourself in the loop and as soon as you are lowered, +I will drag you to me. A dozen men beside us could find room on this +platform." + +I did as he directed and seated myself in the loop, but as I was about +to swing clear of the outer edge of the rock to follow Schorn's +example, my heart suddenly gave a leap. For a moment horror overcame me +as I looked into the depths below; I hesitated to cast myself loose. + +"Are you afraid, Herr Professor!" The Judge stood immediately behind +me, regarding me with a sneer. His eyes gleamed strangely as he leaned +over me. + +There is no greater folly than to expose oneself to a danger out of +fear of being called a coward. I have often declared this, but at that +moment, old man as I am, I committed this folly. + +"Hold the rope firmly; I will let myself down," I replied. + +"Have no fear, we will hold it fast." + +I hovered above the abyss and was slowly lowered. I had almost reached +the platform when I heard above me a strange creaking; at the next +moment I knew I was falling, but a strong arm was thrown around me and +Franz Schorn and I staggered and fell on the platform. Just then I +heard a scream from above. + +"Great God!" exclaimed the voice of the Judge. "The rope has broken; +the Professor has fallen into the abyss!" + +This was all the work of a moment. I tried to stand up, but I could +not; my right ankle was terribly painful. Franz Schorn, who had fallen +with me, was quickly on his feet. + +"I never will believe that the rope broke," he whispered. He seized it +and examined it by the light of his lantern on the ground; mine had +been broken and extinguished in my fall. + +"It was half cut through before it broke," he said in a dull tone. +"That scoundrel, Foligno, has tried to plunge you into the abyss." + +Hastily taking a knife from his breast pocket he cut off the end of the +rope and handed it to me. + +"Keep this," he whispered. "You may perhaps need it for proof that the +rascal tried to murder you." + +I heard his words, but I did not understand him. My thoughts were in +wild confusion; I was still half stunned by my fall. Mechanically I +followed his directions and put the piece of rope in my pocket. Only +gradually did I clearly understand in what danger I had been, and that +Franz Schorn had ventured his own life to rescue mine. It was almost a +certainty that I should drag him down to the abyss, but he had seized +me as I fell, and at the risk of his life had pulled me back to the +platform. + +"You have saved my life----" + +He interrupted me. "Don't speak of it. We all help one another as well +as we can. What we have to think of now is how to reach the rock above +us without injury." + +He suddenly paused, as from above came the voice of the Judge: + +"Thank God! The accident is not so bad as I feared. I can see the Herr +Professor and Herr Schorn on the platform below. Are you hurt, Herr +Professor?" + +"I believe my right ankle is broken," I called back. + +"Good heavens! What shall we do?" + +"Why, of course," Schorn replied, "you must lower the second rope to +pull us up. I beg, however, that Rassak may be the first man, Bela the +second, the Captain the third, and that you, Herr Foligno, do not touch +the rope. It might break in your hands a second time. I will not trust +you with the Herr Professor's life or my own." + +The Judge made no reply. For a moment all was silent, and then the +Captain called down to us: + +"What nonsense you are talking, Franz! You have mortally offended the +Judge. He had nothing to do with the accident. He is in despair that +the Herr Professor should be injured." + +"His anger is of no consequence," Franz answered. "He promised me to +submit to my orders, and I insist upon his not touching the rope +again." + +A long discussion began. The Captain was seriously angry at the offence +Franz had given to the Judge, whom he attempted to soothe, but Franz +declared positively that he would wait with me on the platform for +hours until Rassak could procure two other men rather than trust +himself and me to a rope passing through the hands of the Judge. He +said nothing of his suspicion that the rope had been partly cut +through, and, therefore, the Captain thought his demand unjustifiable +and prompted solely by hatred of his foe. He was indignant, but he was +obliged to comply with the young man's demand, in order that I might be +relieved from my most unpleasant situation as soon as possible. He +promised that Rassak should be stationed close to the edge and that the +Judge should take no part in the pulling up of the rope. While the +Captain and Franz were discussing the matter I had examined my ankle, +and, to my great joy, found that it was not broken, but had been +severely sprained by my fall. It was excessively painful, but I could +move it; I could even stand with Franz's assistance. Some moments +passed, and then Schorn's name was called from above. + +"Is that you, Rassak?" + +"Yes." + +"Where is the Judge?" + +"Herr Foligno has gone back to the dome alone. He is to wait there +until we come." + +"Lower the second rope to me; I wish to examine it." + +After a minute the rope hovered above us; Franz seized it, unfastened +it from the other rope to which it was tied and examined it narrowly by +the light of the lantern. + +"It is sound and uninjured. I feared the rascal might have cut this +through secretly; but he has not dared to do so. Now we can allow +ourselves to be pulled up without delay." + +Rassak was ordered to pull the rope up again and then to throw down to +us the broken one. This was done. Franz cut a piece from the broken end +with his knife and gave it to me, saying: + +"Keep it with the one you have, Herr Professor." + +After which he busied himself with preparations for my rescue. These he +made with great care, trying the strength of the rope which he tied +about me and of the loop in which I seated myself. Although I protested +and declared that I could now care for myself perfectly, he used the +piece of old rope to keep me steady as I ascended, holding it firmly +below to prevent any swaying of the other. Thus I reached the top of +the rock in safety, although my short ascent had caused almost +intolerable pain in my sprained ankle, and when Rassak received me in +his powerful arms above, I could not move the injured foot. I tried to +stand up and to walk, but it was quite impossible. Rassak was forced to +take me on his broad shoulders and carry me back to the dome. The +Captain and Bela carried their lanterns in advance; without their light +he could scarcely have made his way along the narrow path through the +rocks. Franz was obliged to wait on the platform for some minutes +before being drawn up. + +We found the Judge seated on a block of stone at the entrance of the +rocky way beneath the dome. He sprang up as we approached. + +"Thank God, Herr Professor!" he cried, throwing his arm kindly about me +for my support, as Rassak placed me on the ground. He pushed aside +several large stones to make a comfortable bed for me. He even took off +his coat and put it upon the rock that I might have a softer resting +place. He was full of kind attention, far exceeding the Captain, who +congratulated me in a few simple words and expressed his joy upon my +escape; nevertheless I had a strange sensation, akin to fear, when he, +with Rassak and Bela, returned through the narrow way to rescue Franz +and I was left alone in the vault with the Judge. Involuntarily I put +my hand in my breast pocket where was the trusty companion of all my +excursions, my revolver. I could not but recall Franz Schorn's words on +the platform, and the impression which they had made upon me was +deepened when my hand met the small pieces of rope. I dreaded to see +the fading light of the last lantern disappear in the narrow pathway. I +was miserably uncomfortable in the spacious dark vault, where the light +of a single lantern cast a ray of light so weak as only to enhance the +black darkness of the place. + +The Judge seated himself close beside me, and when the Captain vanished +in the narrow path he seized my hand. + +"Herr Professor," he said, modulating his voice to the lowest whisper, +"I have been assailed by a horrible suspicion as I sat here. I feared I +never should see you again. Was the accident which befell you +occasioned by chance? If the rope was strong enough to sustain the +heavy weight of Schorn, how could it break with the much lesser strain +of your weight? Tell me, Herr Professor, does Franz Schorn know that +you have told me of his meeting you in the forest on the day of the +murder?" + +"No." + +"Then what I feared is but too certain. You saw him in the +neighbourhood of the Lonely House on that day. The only witness against +him must die. While he stood beneath us on the rocky platform he +loosened the rope and cut it so that it parted as we were lowering you. +We will examine the rope; there must be traces of a cut in it." + +Schorn had brought against this man the very accusation which was now +brought against himself. He could have had no cause for his +supposition, whilst the reason adduced by the Judge was not without +probability. + +"Perhaps you will object," the Judge continued, "that he has saved your +life; that without his aid you must have fallen into the chasm. He need +not have stretched out his hand if he had wished to murder you. This +thought also occurred to me, but, upon reflection, I find that my +suspicion is only strengthened by your rescue. Perhaps his movement was +involuntary--an impulse of the moment to seize a falling man--but, +again, perhaps your rescue is only part of a cunning scheme. He makes +sure that you never could decide to speak a word against the saviour of +your life; he does not know that this word is already spoken. He +thought, therefore, that he could save your life and yet attain his +purpose without burdening his soul with a second murder. Indeed, should +suspicion arise that the rope did not break accidentally, he might +easily cast it upon another. Why else did he demand that I should take +no part in drawing you up? He wished to arouse suspicion of me in your +mind and in the Captain's. None could attach to him, were it discovered +later that the rope had actually been cut, if he saved your life, and +he will not fail to remind you that it was at the risk of his own. He +is a thorough villain and incredibly cunning. I fear I shall have many +difficulties to overcome before establishing the proof of his guilt and +revealing him as the murderer of old Pollenz." + +The Judge's words produced a deep impression on me. Had not everything +that he set forth actually happened? One thing was certain--the rope +had been cut. Whose was the blame? The Judge's--who could have no +interest in plunging me into the abyss? Why should he attempt to take +my life? Franz Schorn's--who had saved my life at the risk of his own? +However the Judge might endeavour to disparage the danger to which he +had exposed himself, I knew better. I had felt him stagger as he leaned +over beyond the rock and dragged me toward him. The success of this +hazardous action was due to his physical strength and good luck; it was +little short of a miracle that he had not been dragged down to the +depths with me. Where lay the truth? In vain I pondered; I could not +fathom it. + +Voices were heard coming through the narrow pathway, and the Captain, +Rassak, Bela, and last of all, Schorn, appeared. Franz gave me a kindly +nod; of the Judge he took not the smallest notice, but resumed his +command and the guidance of the expedition. He directed the porters to +strap together the ladders, of which we had hitherto made no use, and +upon them placed the jackets of the men of the party, forming a litter +for me. Rassak and Bela then bore me from beneath the vault to the +entrance of the cave. I suffered intolerably; only when we had again +entered the forest and my kind companions were able to make my litter +softer with boughs and branches of trees did I find any relief from the +torture I was enduring. + +In this melancholy wise we returned to Luttach, and thus ended my +investigation of an unexplored Ukraine cave. + + + + + CHAPTER XI. + FORCED SECLUSION. + + +I was confined to my lofty bed in my chamber in the inn for three days. +The doctor insisted I must stay there with cold compresses upon my foot +until the inflammation had entirely disappeared, and then a week at +least must be spent in my room with the injured leg stretched out +before me, nor could I dream of undertaking any further excursions +until two weeks at least had elapsed. + +This was a melancholy prospect. Two weeks of imprisonment in the bare, +low-ceiled guest-chamber No. 2; while out of doors the sun was shining +and calling me to wanderings in the forest and on the mountains. But +what cannot be cured must be endured. + +I could not complain of ennui. Of society I had more than enough; I +sometimes longed to be alone for an hour to reflect upon my remarkable +adventures, but I had visitors in unbroken succession, and until late +in the evening I was not left for a moment to myself. + +All the gentlemen whom I had met about the round table in the +dining-room came to testify in the friendliest manner their sympathy, +and to beg me to relate my adventures, while Mizka and Frau Franzka by +turns saw to my comfort, attending most carefully to the compresses +upon my ankle. I could not have been more kindly and attentively cared +for than in the Slavonic inn in Ukraine. But it was almost too much of +a good thing. Their perpetual attention became burdensome, and the +constant stream of visitors wearied me. To tell the same thing over +and over again was not very amusing, especially as a number of my +auditors--Weber, Gunther, Meyer, Mosic, and the notary, Deitrich--did +not seem to give full credence to my story; that is, with regard to my +rescue by Franz Schorn. They put all sorts of questions to me with +regard to what had passed on the platform of rock, questions which I +could not or would not answer, for, of course, I said not a word of the +rope's bearing traces of having been cut, although this seemed to be +just the very point to which they wished to lead me. + +Through the Clerk, Herr Von Einern, I at last learned the reason for +their persistent questions. He expressed his indignation at the account +which Herr Foligno had given on the evening of our adventure. It was +eminently devised to arouse in his hearers a suspicion that in some +manner Franz Schorn was to blame for my accident. He did not speak +explicitly, but as unwilling to blame Schorn; he would leave that to +me, who had sustained the injury; but in speaking thus he had contrived +to increase the desire of those present to hear more. + +The Captain confirmed his statement, but was indignant not only with +Franz Schorn, but with the conduct of the Judge himself. He would not +forgive Schorn for accusing Herr Foligno to me, apparently without any +reason, while he found the revenge taken by the Judge unworthy and +mean. In his opinion there had simply been an unfortunate accident; the +rope had been cut by some sharp projection in the rocks; Franz had +certainly risked his life to save mine, but this did not justify him in +what he had said of the Judge, which made Herr Foligno the direct cause +of the fall. + +In the end I positively could not tell what to think of the affair. My +harassing doubt was corroborated by a visit in the evening from the +Judge. He had seen me during the day, but only for a few minutes at a +time, to express his sympathy and to ask after my welfare, saying +nothing during these short visits concerning my adventure; but in the +evening he paid me a longer call, begging permission to bestow his +society upon me for a while and to drink his wine in my room instead of +in the dining-room below. He settled himself comfortably beside me, +informing Mizka and Frau Franzka that he would assume the care of me +during the evening and change my compresses. I tried to prevent this, +but he would take no refusal, and rendered his services with assiduous +precision. It was quite touching to see how careful he was to avoid +giving me the least pain, and how he anticipated my every wish. + +I could not but be grateful, but I was not comfortable in his society, +for as soon as Mizka and Frau Franzka had left the room he took the +opportunity to express himself most clearly with regard to our +adventure and Franz Schorn. He informed me that he had received a +telegram from Laibach announcing that the investigating Judge and the +Attorney General would visit Luttach on the morrow to conduct +personally further inquiries, desirous of hearing from my own lips the +manner of my meeting with Franz Schorn on the day of the murder. He +coupled this information with the desire that I should not withhold +from the gentlemen what I thought with regard to Franz Schorn's +connection with my accident. + +When I refused point blank to do this and declared that I suspected +Franz of nothing, that I was convinced that accident only had caused +the breaking of the rope, he became very indignant at such ill-judged +forbearance. + +"I cannot understand you, Herr Professor," he said angrily. "Suspicion +is almost become certainty. Schorn has betrayed himself by superfluous +caution. It is a common experience among lawyers that the criminal +often furnishes the clue to his discovery by excess of caution, and +this has been Schorn's case. To destroy all traces of a cut in the rope +he has cut off both ends of the break and thrown them away in the cave. +Perhaps they can still be found; but should this not be the case, the +fact of his so disposing of them tells against him. What other aim +could he have in thus destroying all traces of the cut?" + +"But he did not throw them away. He cut them off in my presence and +gave them to me. Here they are," I replied, taking the ends of rope +from my breast pocket. + +I spoke and acted without thought, as I felt the moment the words were +out of my mouth and I perceived their effect upon my hearer. He started +from his chair as if from an electric shock and took instant possession +of the ends of rope. + +"He gave them to you," he cried, "and why? Ah! now I understand it all. +Conscious of his guilt, he feared discovery, and bethought himself, in +his over-caution, to inform you of what had been done. Suspicion must +be thrown upon another, and I was that other. Tell me frankly, Herr +Professor--I have a right to ask it--tell me, did he not hint to you +that I had cut the rope?" + +I had acted like a fool and was now painfully embarrassed. I was +obliged to confess to him that his suspicion was correct. He instantly +grew excessively angry. + +"What doubly detestable villainy," he cried, "refinement of +rascality--to throw suspicion on me and to adduce as proof the cut +which his own knife had made, and which, of course, he knew well enough +where to find! Of course I know that his words did not make the +smallest impression on you. Nevertheless they anger me beyond +expression. I did not credit even the villain that he is with such +rascality, but it shall react upon himself. These two fragments shall +bear witness against him. I shall give them to the Attorney General +to-morrow." + +"Indeed you will not," I replied firmly. "I owe my life to Franz +Schorn. Without his aid I should now be lying dead in the depths of the +cave. I do not know whether a knife or a sharp stone worked the +mischief, but I do know that Schorn risked his own life for mine. This +is solely my affair. My life was imperilled and I surely have the right +to demand that no evil shall be said of him who preserved it." + +"Will you deny me the right to clear myself from all suspicion? This +can be done only by proving that Schorn himself cut the rope." + +"No one has suspected you except Franz Schorn, and to me alone has he +expressed his suspicion. I am sure that the breaking of the rope was an +accident. I shall not allow suspicion to attach to any one, either to +you or to Schorn. I require of you to return to me the pieces of rope +and to be silent to the Attorney General concerning the whole matter; +the affair concerns myself alone." + +Herr Foligno made many objections to my demand. I found it difficult to +soothe him; he was so indignant with Schorn for showing me the ends as +proof against him. He burned with the desire for revenge for such an +insult, and I succeeded only with great trouble and much entreaty in +persuading him to be silent and to return to me the ends of rope. + +He remained until far into the night--a civility I could easily have +dispensed with. I was not comfortable in his society. I tried in vain +to talk on indifferent subjects; he persisted in returning to the +adventure in the cave and always with an attempt to cast further +suspicion upon Schorn. His hatred for Franz and his indignation at what +Franz had said to me was so great that he could think of nothing else. +He would have tormented me, I believe, until daybreak with his +accusations and his discussions of the matter; but at last I frankly +told him that I had need of repose, and then he bade me good-night. + + + + + CHAPTER XII. + AN ARREST. + + +I had to undergo a long examination. The investigating Judge and the +Attorney General came from Laibach. Immediately after receiving Herr +Foligno's deposition, they determined to take the very uncomfortable +journey to Luttach to hear for themselves from witnesses on the spot +all that was known regarding Franz Schorn's actions and whereabouts +during the last few weeks. The investigating Judge told me of this with +all the courtesy of an Austrian official. With entire lack of reserve, +he informed me that although Herr Foligno's carefully prepared paper +was quite sufficient to attach suspicion to Schorn, it did not at all +suffice to convince him of the young man's guilt. He requested me to +tell everything that I knew of Schorn and to hold back nothing out of +regard for the man who, as he had already heard in Adelsberg, had saved +my life. It was my duty to tell not only the truth, but the whole +truth. + +The Judge was a handsome, kindly man, so courteous that he would not +have me summoned for my examination to the court house, but took down +my deposition in my room. Yet with all his amiability and in spite of +the sympathy which he apparently felt for Franz Schorn, his inquiries +were frightfully searching; he forced me to tell him more than I wished +to. + +I had intended at this hearing to confine myself to what I had dictated +in the Judge's deposition, but I could not keep my resolution. When the +Judge asked me if Franz Schorn, of whom I had seen much in the last few +weeks, had never told me his reason for avoiding me in the forest, I +could not reply in the negative, and I was forced to assent, and to +relate the conversation I had had with Franz and his betrothed. I could +not conceal that each had requested me to say nothing of the meeting in +the forest. Such an interview as this of mine with the Judge is very +curious. The witness knows that every word he utters is upon his oath, +and also that it may decide the fate of a fellow mortal. Every +consideration vanishes before such a responsibility, and I could have +none for the Judge. I had to acknowledge to my examiner that Anna and +Franz had given as a reason of the request for my silence that the +Judge's hatred of the young man was so intense that he would surely use +my meeting with Franz as evidence against him. + +The Judge shook his head thoughtfully on hearing this; he evidently did +not credit their explanation. Had I cherished no suspicion? Had it +never occurred to me as odd that Franz Schorn should have wounded his +hand? I could not deny that such a suspicion had occurred to me, but I +could declare with a good conscience that it had vanished entirely +after I had come to know Schorn better. + +What was the reason that after this first awakening of suspicion I had +not informed the authorities of my meeting with the young man in the +neighborhood? Why had I withheld this information until the day before +yesterday? This keen questioning forced me to an exact reply. I told of +how I had desired to give information immediately of my meeting with +Schorn, and I gave Herr Foligno's reason for begging me not to insert +it in an official deposition, and as a natural consequence I related +the reasoning by which he had induced me to render to him my official +statement. + +"Strange; very strange," said the Judge, more to himself than to me. +"Herr Foligno has allowed personal considerations, personal feelings to +influence his official action. Very unjustifiable!" + +He was silent for a while and then questioned me further with continued +and frightful thoroughness. I did not wish to speak of the adventure in +the cave, but when the interview was over, I had told everything that I +knew about my fall, my rescue, and the accusations made by Schorn and +the Judge with regard to the cut ends of rope. After the official paper +had been read to me and I had signed it, the Judge offered me his hand. + +"Your testimony has been of the greatest importance, Herr Professor," +he said gravely. "You have so far confirmed suspicion against Schorn +that the young man's arrest is an unavoidable necessity, but at the +same time you have proved to me that an influence has been at work in +this unfortunate affair which I must investigate further. Whatever may +be the true history of the strange adventure in the cave, Schorn +undoubtedly saved your life and you owe him gratitude for it. If you +wish to testify this, you can do so by preserving profound silence with +regard to your testimony of to-day as well towards the friends as to +the foes of Herr Schorn, and, of course, to Judge Foligno. He has +nothing to do further with the official investigation; he must in his +turn appear as a witness, and it is especially desirable for the +establishment of the truth that your testimony with regard to him +should remain unknown. May I hope that you will promise me inviolable +secrecy towards Herr Foligno, Herr Professor?" + +"Certainly, most willingly; but what am I to reply when Herr Foligno +questions me? He wanted to send you an account of the adventure in the +cave, and only desisted at my express desire." + +"Do not let this consideration influence you. It is of the greatest +importance in the investigation that the Judge should know nothing of +your testimony with regard to the adventure in the cave. If he asks +you, tell him the simple truth; it is unlawful for witnesses to discuss +together their testimony, and he is henceforth a witness like yourself. +Tell him that I told you this, and that I enjoined it upon you to +refuse even the slightest information with regard to your testimony." + +With this counsel, which I determined to follow implicitly, the Judge +took his leave. He left me in an indescribable agitation, which +increased when the District Judge paid me a visit immediately after. He +came, as he told me frankly, to learn how the investigating Judge had +received my testimony. When I told him of the promise which I had +given, he was greatly surprised. + +"I! A witness like all the rest?" he cried indignantly. "These +government officials are so puffed up with pride and self-conceit that +they don't know what they are about. They owe to me, to my activity, to +my research, every ray of light cast upon the darkness of the crime, +and now they push me aside, rob me of the reward of my discovery, and +regard me as a simple witness; but they shall not succeed; I will not +submit; and you, too, Herr Professor, you need not feel yourself bound +by a promise which no one had a right to exact from you; you may +without fear tell me anything that you desire." + +"I do not know whether I should be justified in doing so or not," I +replied, shrugging my shoulders. "I do not know the Austrian laws, but +I am well aware that if I have undertaken no legal responsibility, a +moral one rests upon me not to speak of my testimony after the promise +which I have given. You must pardon me, Herr Foligno, if I preserve +absolute silence." + +He looked at me angrily and evilly. "As you please; I shall make no +further request of you," he said after a little pause. "One thing I +have a right to demand of you in a matter which concerns me personally. +Have you----" + +"I regret that I can make no reply to any question, whatever it may be. +My promise to be silent was given unconditionally." + +He cast at me a glance full of rage and left the room without saying +farewell. I had deeply offended him by my persistent refusal. I sat +alone with a heavy heart, discontented with myself. I had offended the +man who had been so kind and courteous to me during my stay in Luttach, +and I had also placed him in a perilous position by my testimony to his +superior. This was a very disagreeable thought. He was not aware of it, +but when he learned it, would he not have a right to be angry with me +and to accuse me of a breach of confidence? I had strengthened +suspicion against Franz Schorn, the saviour of my life. It was my fault +that the young man was now threatened with the loss of his liberty. I +was provoked with myself for my imprudent and frank expressions, and +yet again, when I reflected on the late examination and the questioning +I had undergone, I could not have answered differently in accordance +with the truth. I had surely only fulfilled my duty as a witness. In +the deepest anxiety and with torturing impatience I awaited further +developments. It was desperately hard to lie there and have cold +bandages on my sprained ankle. I would have given anything to be able +to do something, or that the visitors whom I had found so tiresome +yesterday would return to-day, but I was, and remained, alone, confined +to my bed. + +Two hours passed. At last quick footsteps approached my door. Mizka +entered breathless, her cheeks crimson, her eyes glowing, to tell me of +what was the talk at present of all Luttach. Franz Schorn was the +murderer of old Pollenz. The gentlemen from Laibach had been searching +Schorn's house at his farm outside the town, and had found quantities +of money, banknotes, and stock, and government bonds and other papers +of value, all the wealth of the murdered man. Nevertheless Franz had +denied everything, declaring that he was innocent, but his brazen +falsehood had done him no good; he had been arrested, his hands +fettered, and thus manacled had been brought between two gendarmes to +Luttach. As he passed the house of the doctor, his betrothed was +sitting at the window. She had seen him and had rushed down into the +street. She had embraced him before everybody--he, the murderer of her +father! The gendarmes were obliged to unclasp her arms. She had not +wept a tear; she had looked up at him with sparkling eyes when the +gendarmes bore him away. + +"Do not despair, Franz," she had called after him. "God will not suffer +the innocent to be condemned." + +Then she had quietly gone with the doctor, who led her back into the +house. Franz, however, had walked on between the gendarmes, his eyes +cast gloomily on the ground. He had replied not a word to the abuse +which was showered on him from all sides. + +"Murderer!" "Dog of a German!" and other insulting epithets had been +hurled after him by an increasing crowd of common people. He did not +seem even to hear them. The people were so excited against him, so +infuriated that the gendarmes had the greatest trouble in shielding him +from their attack, and could hardly have succeeded in doing so if the +Judge himself had not protected him from a couple of savage fellows, +two labourers who had been dismissed from Schorn's farm and would +gladly have revenged themselves upon their former master for their +dismissal. By earnest admonition and threats of punishment the Judge +had succeeded in quieting the mob, assuring the people that the +murderer would not escape justice. He accompanied the prisoner to the +court house, receiving no thanks from him for his protection. Not a +word did Franz address to him. + +Upon an order from Herr Foligno, Herr Gunther provided a vehicle and +horses, and, accompanied by the two gendarmes, bore off the manacled +prisoner. The Judge said he would be taken to prison in Laibach and +kept there until the court assembled, when he would be certainly tried +as a murderer and hanged. + +All this Mizka detailed to me in the greatest agitation. Evidently she +felt much satisfaction in the discovery of the murderer, and that it +should be precisely Franz Schorn, whom every one hated, who was now +delivered over to the law. Not a word of sympathy did the girl, usually +so good-humoured, have for the unfortunate man; not a doubt of his +guilt stirred within her; with a triumphant smile she left me after she +had told her news. + +"The voice of the people is the voice of God," the Judge had once said. +The doctor had replied, "The people's gossip is the voice of the +devil." Was the Judge now proved to be right? The proof of Schorn's +guilt seemed to grow clearer, and yet, strangely enough, my doubt of it +grew stronger with every hour. My reason told me that there could be no +room for doubt, now that upon searching his house the booty had been +discovered, but my heart rebelled against even this proof. I felt for +the first time that I had taken more than a fleeting interest in the +young man, that there had been between us a heartfelt sympathy which +forbade me in the face of all proof yet adduced, to believe in the +possibility of his guilt. + +I was not long left to my melancholy reflections. A visitor interrupted +them. The Burgomaster came, not only to inquire after my welfare, but +to tell me of the discoveries made with regard to Schorn and of all +that had been going on in the town while I lay bedridden. He had not +yet left me before another visitor appeared, and he was followed by a +third and a fourth. All the evening cronies of the round table made up +for their absence in the morning, and through the entire afternoon I +was not again alone. All my visitors brought melancholy confirmation of +what Mizka had told me. Even the Captain and the Burgomaster were now +convinced of Schorn's guilt, and acknowledged their conviction openly. +The search in his house had brought much to light; so much money had +been found that it was impossible to believe Franz had come by it +honestly. His very conduct told against him--his bare-faced denial, as +well as his unbroken silence when no credit was given to his words. +There was but one opinion as to his guilt, and also as to the behaviour +of the Judge. Even the Judge's opponents declared that Franz owed his +escape from the indignant mob to his magnanimous protection. There was +also but one voice with regard to the conduct of the Laibach court. It +had been admirable, particularly that of the investigating Judge, who +in a single day had discovered every particular concerning Schorn's +life during the last few weeks. Almost all the gentlemen and a number +of other people besides, as well as Bela and Rassak, had been examined +by him. The officials had said nothing of the result of their evidence, +and had enjoined the strictest silence upon the witnesses, who, +however, were at liberty to declare that they considered Franz Schorn +guilty, and they did so. The Clerk alone, Herr von Einern, prudently +withheld his opinion in the matter. + +Did the doctor also believe in Franz Schorn's guilt? He and the Judge +were the only ones who paid me no visit on this day. The Judge probably +could not forget my refusal to answer his questions, and was still +offended. I was at heart very glad that he did not come. His visit +could have given rise only to unpleasant discussions; but the doctor I +should like to have seen, partly to obtain medical advice for the +night, and partly to learn his opinion of the discoveries concerning +Schorn. My wish was fulfilled late in the evening, when it was nearly +nine o'clock. The doctor came, but he was not alone. To my great +surprise he was accompanied by Anna Pollenz. My astonishment when I saw +the lovely Anna enter the room on the arm of her old friend must have +been mirrored in my face, for Anna blushed, and the doctor, with his +characteristic short laugh, which I was always glad to hear, said: + +"You wonder at this strange visit so late in the evening, Herr +Professor. Well, you are right. This little girl might as well have +come to you to-morrow morning, at a more fitting time; but she gave me +no rest until I complied with her wish and brought her to you. If I had +not consented she might perhaps have come all alone, and have given +occasion for all sorts of gossip in Luttach. The entire population of +the town has run mad; even the most sensible are infected with the +nonsense which is heard on all sides. I could not have believed it, but +since Franz's arrest and removal to Laibach, even the Captain and the +Burgomaster have lost faith in him and consider him guilty, and yet +everything adduced against him is thorough, unmitigated bosh. Not a +word of it is true. The gentlemen from Laibach are principally to +blame, with their arrest. They would hardly have proceeded to such +extremities if the Judge had not taken care that they should hear from +all sides the falsehoods invented by himself. This poor little girl has +had a frightful day. Not only has her Franz been arrested--that is not +the worst, for he will very soon be free again--but all the world, with +the exception of the Clerk and myself, believe in Franz's guilt, and +people are not ashamed to declare this openly. This makes my little +Anna desperate. 'The Herr Professor, who loves Franz so much, cannot +think him guilty,' she said, and insisted upon coming to you. I could +not but do as she asked, and here we are. Well, perhaps it is all +right; the poor child will not speak here to deaf ears, and will be +soothed to see that every one does not consider Franz a murderer and +thief. Sit down, my child, here in this chair, and pour out your heart +to the Herr Professor. He will listen to you kindly." + +I had been observing Anna during this long introduction. Her colour +changed from red to pale and then to red again as the old doctor +continued. Her eyes sparkled as she turned to me, and she gazed at me +with an imploring expression in them. She was wonderfully lovely. My +heart gave a throb. Was I altogether free from blame? + +Anna seated herself at her old friend's bidding beside my bed and gazed +at me with a long, searching look in her dark eyes, as if to read in my +face the possibility of my thinking her Franz guilty. + +"You cannot mistrust him, Herr Professor," she said, "he has such a +regard for you, and he saved your life." + +There was not much logic in these words, but they made me ashamed of +myself nevertheless. Franz could not be guilty unless she were his +accomplice, and I had almost believed in his guilt. I could not endure +the look of those pure, clear eyes; my own dropped before them. I was +ashamed. + +"If all the rest think him guilty," she continued in a tone of firm +conviction, "you cannot. You believe in him, and you must feel it your +duty to do everything you can to prove his innocence, for he saved +your life. Therefore I come to you; I wished to speak to you before +to-morrow. I shall sleep quietly, for I know that you will stand by me. +Franz told me yesterday evening that the Judge had tried to take your +life; that he is your worst enemy. You will counsel me truly when I +have confided to you a secret which I have kept until now, a suspicion +which I have not ventured to utter even to my dearest friend and +relative." + +"Speak, dear child," I replied, taking her hand and pressing it +cordially. "I assure you that I have no dearer wish than to establish +the innocence of the saviour of my life." + +"I know it and will trust you," she replied frankly. "You and my kind +friend, the doctor, both of you shall counsel me," she continued, +clasping my hand in one of hers and extending the other to the doctor. + +"What do you mean, you strange child?" the doctor cried. "If you have a +secret upon your soul, you ought to have told me of it long ago. If you +needed counsel, you could always have had it from me." + +"I did not dare to. Franz forbade me. Franz himself did not believe me +until yesterday evening. He is innocent. He always said that my fear of +Herr Foligno and my detestation of him misled me." + +"Of whom are you speaking, child!" asked the doctor. + +Instead of answering, Anna turned to me. + +"When you reached the Lonely House on that terrible day, Herr +Professor, did you not see in its neighbourhood another man beside +Franz?" she asked. + +"No. No one." + +"I did not mean near the house itself, but on the upper path, the one +leading along the rocks to Luttach?" + +"I saw no one there either." + +"You did not see him? I am sorry. Franz was sure yesterday that you +did." + +"But who in all the world should the Professor have seen!" asked the +doctor curiously. + +"The Judge," Anna replied. "I was sure I saw him, but I would not say +so decidedly, and Franz, until yesterday, thought I might be mistaken +and would not allow me to found an unjust suspicion upon an uncertain +fact." + +The doctor was as astonished and startled as was I by Anna's words. He +desired to know more from her, and when I begged the young girl to give +us her full confidence and to tell us all that she knew and believed, +she yielded to our request and related what had lain so long upon her +heart. + +When on that dreadful day Anna had left home and was going down the +path with her old Johanna to Luttach, she looked up by chance where the +oaks grew thin and saw on the upper pathway a man approaching the +Lonely House. She thought she recognized the Judge, but she could not +be certain, for she had seen the figure only for a moment and had taken +no trouble to recognize it, since she attached no importance to what +she saw. The Judge had often gone to her father and had usually taken +the upper pathway, wherefore she did not think of it again. Only upon +hearing the terrible news of the murder of her father was the strange +suspicion suddenly aroused within her that the Judge was the murderer, +and this suspicion had been gradually confirmed. To hardly one other +human being except to his friend the Judge, would her father have +opened the locked front door. While he was alone he would have admitted +no other. The Judge had known that her father had large sums of money +in the house and was quite familiar with the place where they would be +found. + +"But had I a right upon such slight grounds to found a suspicion of a +respectable man? I asked myself," Anna proceeded. "I answered no, but +in spite of this 'no' I could not combat my thoughts, and it was most +terrible for me that I myself was partly to blame for my father's death +if my suspicion were correct. The day before the Judge had come to +visit my father, and had not found him at home. My father had left +word, however, that he would soon return, and I thought I ought to tell +this to the visitor because it might have provoked my father to know +that I had turned away his friend. The Judge then begged my permission +to wait, and when I gave it reluctantly, he sat down by me in my room +and began a conversation. During this conversation I told him that my +father had gone to Luttach to get papers of value from the post. He +would not send old Johanna because the sum in question was too large to +be entrusted to so old a woman. The Judge knew also from me that my +father had much money in the house, and that I was going on the +following day to visit my Aunt Laucic in Luttach, when Johanna would +accompany me, so that after eleven o'clock he might see my father +alone. All this I told him, and it all recurred to my mind. I had +myself told the murderer when his victim would be alone and when he +could commit the deed." + +In her distress Anna went on to say that she did not venture to mention +her suspicion to the Captain--he was a friend of the Judge's--and only +to her betrothed, from whom she kept no secrets, did she tell what was +in her mind. He begged her, however, not to confide in any other human +being. Franz declared that the Judge was not capable of such villainy. +He tried to prove to her that her suspicions were groundless. "Does not +he often climb about the rocks?" he asked. "Even had he been in the +neighbourhood of the Lonely House, that ought to be no ground of +suspicion against him, for I myself was met by the Herr Professor in +the forest, as I was prowling about in hopes of meeting you." When her +lover said this, Anna was seized with a dreadful anxiety lest he might +really be suspected, and Franz, too, could understand that he was in +peril. He knew how he was disliked, and how any opportunity would be +seized to do him harm. + +Franz had insisted, however, that the Judge was incapable of the +murder, and he had forbidden Anna to say one word further upon the +subject. "Because he is my enemy," he told her; "because he is always +circulating damaging reports of me behind my back, we must take care +not to be unjust towards him." He had spoken thus until yesterday, but +when he returned from the expedition to the cave and told Anna of his +adventure there, he had suddenly changed his opinion with regard to +what she had always thought. "It is beyond doubt," he said, "that the +Judge cut the rope. What reason could he have for such an act! He +wished to plunge the Professor into the abyss. I am now convinced that +the Professor saw him also in the neighbourhood of the Lonely House. +You were not deceived when you recognized him on the upper pathway. He +fears that the Professor may betray him, and wishes to put so dangerous +a witness out of the way. There could be no other reason for his +infamous attempt upon the life of the kind old man, whose friend he +pretends to be. He planned a murder, and now I can believe also that he +is the murderer of your father. Let him take care; I shall speak to the +Professor. I will tell him of your suspicion; he will tell me whether +he saw the Judge that day." But Franz soon after was arrested and Anna +felt it her duty to do what he had wished to do. + +"That is why I am come to you, Herr Professor," she concluded; "you +must counsel me. You must help me to discover the real criminal and to +set an innocent man at liberty." + +While Anna had been speaking, the doctor, who had also seated himself +beside my bed, had been continually getting up and sitting down again, +possessed by a feverish restlessness, although listening in silence to +every word spoken by the young girl. Now that Anna had finished, he +exclaimed: + +"Do you want to drive two old men crazy with your deuce of a story? +Child, have you had such thoughts in your head and heart for weeks and +never said a word of them? Think of what might have been done in those +weeks! Think of how suspicion might have been turned in other +directions! You are sure, Herr Professor, that you did not see the +Judge on the rocky pathway?" + +"I am sure of it." + +"But may he not have been there without your seeing him, or are you +sure that he was not there?" + +"I believe that he was there." + +[Illustration: "You must help me!"] + +"And what reason have you for your belief? Out with it, Herr Professor! +The scales are falling from my eyes. I begin to see clearly. This deuce +of a girl has enlightened my stupidity, but what is the use of my +seeing? Franz and the child have both shown confidence in you, and you +must justify it. Out with what you know without any reserve!" + +He was right; I could not be silent. The half promise which I had once +given to the Judge to protect him from any chaffing to which he might +be subjected with regard to the pocket handkerchief found where it had +been could not bind me. I told of my finding the bloody handkerchief +and of the Judge's explanation. + +"It is he! It is he and no other!" exclaimed the doctor, quite beside +himself. "Did I not always say that the murderer must have been an +intimate friend of the old man? Oh, blind fool that I have been! Why +did I not think of him, when for two weeks he wore a black glove on his +right hand? He had good reason to wish to see you vanish in the abyss. +You, who could bring such evidence against him. And you fell into his +trap, and have been silent all this while, without harbouring any +suspicion of him! For shame, Herr Professor! No, you need not be +ashamed of yourself, you kind, old, unsuspicious man; but I could tear +my hair for being such a fool and letting him lead me by the nose as he +has done." + +"Are you sure now that you are not deceiving yourself?" I asked very +gravely. My heart was beating violently. There is something fearful in +such a suspicion. Suddenly as it had arisen, it had now entire +possession of me; but had I not entertained the same, and perhaps with +more reason, of Franz Schorn? Could I trust myself since I had once +deceived myself? + +No such reflections troubled the doctor: + +"I am so convinced," he said, clapping his hands as if in triumph, +"that I would myself condemn the fellow to be hanged, if it lay in my +province to do so. Hanged he shall be, I promise you, little girl, and +we will take your Franz in triumph from the prison in Laibach and carry +him home. How it is to be done, I do not see at present; but, rely upon +it, I will do it. I will follow the murderer's tracks like a +bloodhound. He has no idea that he is suspected, and that I have +discovered his plots. He shall find it out, but only when we are taking +Franz from prison in Laibach. Until then not a word to anybody, Herr +Professor." + +"Is it not our duty to inform the court in Laibach of what we suspect +and of our grounds for doing so?" + +"Not a word in that quarter. With all due reverence for the gentlemen +in Laibach, the Judges and the Attorney General; before they can make +up their minds to believe that a colleague, a District Judge, is a +common murderer and thief, the proofs must be as clear as daylight. +Only when we deliver him over to them, and they must do their part, can +we be sure of them. I would sooner confide in our Clerk; he would throw +all forbearance to the winds; but should we admit him to our confidence +now, we should be placing him in a very embarrassing position, for the +District Judge is, after all, his chief. Therefore, not a word, Herr +Professor, until we have further proofs against the scoundrel. Now that +we are on the scent, it will, I hope, not be long." + +I was obliged to admit that the doctor's plan was the right one, and my +admission flattered him. + +"Do you not remember how day before yesterday evening the Judge said +with a sneer, 'A great criminal lawyer is lost in you, doctor'? I will +prove to him that he was right. Only trust me, Herr Professor; you +shall not repent it. But be sure to follow a piece of advice which I +must give you. Remember that it is to the Judge's interest to be rid of +you; therefore, beware of him. It will do no harm to have your revolver +where you can reach it in a moment, day or night." + +I promised to follow his advice. We talked on for half an hour very +pleasantly. The doctor was in the best humour in the world, and the +charming little Anna was now so full of hope for a speedy reunion with +her Franz that she almost forgot her grief at his imprisonment. She was +indeed a lovely child, and as she talked on so heart-free and +confidentially with us two old men, I was really in love with her +myself. Upon their departure the doctor promised me that he would allow +me to leave my bed on the following day, and Anna promised to pay me +repeated visits so long as I was confined to my room. Thus we parted in +the most friendly manner. The doctor turned as he was about to close +the door behind him and said: + +"Do you know, Herr Professor, what comforts me in this cursed affair?" + +"What?" + +"That Foligno is no Slav, but an Italian. Believe me, a Slav would be +incapable of such villainy. Good-night, Herr Professor." + + + + + CHAPTER XIII. + AN OLD CHEST. + + +Three very wearisome days ensued. To be sure, I was allowed to leave my +bed and was no longer forced to apply cold bandages to my sprained +ankle, but I was a prisoner on a very uncomfortable sofa, whereon my +leg was stretched out, and therefore condemned to intolerable, +tedious idleness. I could not even move sufficiently to prepare my +treasures--the butterflies and beetles--for my collection. My beautiful +_Caecigena_ caterpillars had to be fed by Mizka, and I was obliged to +congratulate myself that she undertook what must have been a very +humdrum task with amiable readiness. + +For three days the doctor had decreed that I must keep a recumbent +position; thereafter I might sit up on the sofa and move about the room +a little. I looked forward to the expiration of this time with +unfeigned longing, for such enforced idleness is intolerable for a +healthy man. Visitors were not lacking during those endless three days. +The gentlemen of Luttach took pains to entertain me, but their visits +were more of a pain than a pleasure, for the subject of their +conversation was forever the same--the assured guilt of Franz Schorn. +No one had the least doubt that he was the criminal. The Judge had +shown them so many proofs of it that they were almost provoked with me +because I would not join in the universal condemnation of the man, but +declared that it was our duty to believe in the possibility of his +innocence as long as he was not officially condemned. More than this I +could not say, after my promise to the doctor, therefore I was +compelled to listen silently when the alleged proofs of Schorn's guilt +were discussed, which were downright fabrications. I looked forward +with some dread to a visit from the Judge. It would have been almost +impossible for me to appear unembarrassed in his presence. But the duty +of playing the hypocrite and feigning friendship was fortunately not +enforced upon me. He not only did not call upon me, but sent an excuse +by Mizka. He was forced to go to Goerz for a few days, and had so much +to do before his departure that he had not a quarter of an hour to call +his own. Upon his return he hoped to find me entirely recovered. + +The doctor was irritated by this journey. It deranged his schemes. He +wished to have an opportunity to watch the man narrowly, which it would +be impossible for him to do in Goerz, the doctor was not, therefore, in +a very good humour, and his visits would have contributed but little to +my enlivenment had not the charming little Anna always accompanied him. +The lovely young girl crept further and further into my heart with +every visit. While we two old men were feverish with impatience to act, +she bore this state of anxiety with angelic patience and admirable +serenity. She was firm in her pious faith in Divine justice; she was +sure that we should succeed in rescuing the innocent and in bringing +the guilty to punishment. This conviction made it possible for her to +wait patiently. + +At last the tiresome three days were over. On the fourth day the doctor +gave me permission to sit up on the sofa, and as long as my foot did +not pain me, to take several steps about my room. I breathed more +freely. Now I could occupy myself. Before my accident I had collected a +wealth of material which had all to be arranged. My _Lepidoptera_ were +to be mounted, my _Coleoptera_ prepared, some doubtful species named, +etc. Thus I had an abundance of work for several days and need fear no +ennui. + +Of course, I wished to begin work immediately, when an obstacle +presented itself which I had never thought of. I had no place to spread +out my entomological treasures, or where I could put my boards for +mounting the butterflies, which were now packed together in my trunk, +but would take considerable room when spread out to receive the +precious insects. Hitherto I had found the lack of furniture in my +simple room not inconvenient, but now it became so. If I could only +have a bureau with two or three drawers in which I could lay the boards +for the accommodation of my spoils, all would be well and I should be +quite content. + +Perhaps Frau Franzka could help me. There must be some such bureau in +Luttach. Frau Franzka was summoned. The word "bureau" she did not +understand, but when I described to her the piece of furniture that I +wished, she exclaimed joyfully: + +"Ah, the Herr Professor means a chest! That is easily procured. +Upstairs in the Judge's sleeping-room there is a large old chest with +four drawers. It is not beautiful, but very roomy. If the Herr +Professor would like it, I will gladly have it brought down." + +Its lack of beauty was of no consequence to me, in consideration of the +space it afforded, but I did not like to take the chest from the +chamber of the Judge. I preferred not to ask of him the smallest +favour. I said so to Frau Franzka, but she made light of my scruples, +saying: + +"The Herr Foligno never uses the old chest. He used to put his linen in +it, but now he keeps it in a very fine new chest which I bought for +him, and which stands in his parlour. The old chest is empty; the Judge +will be glad to have it taken out of his room." + +"But Herr Foligno is still away. You cannot ask his permission." + +"It is not necessary. The chest belongs to me. Herr Foligno, besides, +owes me a great deal of money, and he cannot object to my bringing down +for the Herr Professor an old chest which he does not use." + +I tried to make objection, but Frau Franzka was a resolute lady, and +persisted in what she had once decided upon. She called her husband and +a servant, and sent them up into the Judge's sleeping-room to bring +down the chest, and in a few minutes, against the long bare wall of my +room there stood a large, old-fashioned bureau, not elegant, indeed, +but painted black, and with four drawers which gave abundant room for +my requirements. + +"There is the old chest," Frau Franzka said with satisfaction. "The +Herr Professor need not fear; I will take it upon myself to settle +matters with the Judge; but I must see if he has left anything in the +drawers. I don't think so, but if it should be the case, I can easily +transfer them to his new chest." + +She tried to draw out the topmost drawer by its metal handles, but it +would not open. + +"That is strange," she said. "The wood must have swelled so that the +drawer sticks." + +"Perhaps it is locked," I remarked. + +"Oh, no, certainly not. The Judge never locks his chests; he always +leaves them open, and, besides, I do not know whether he had any +key, but we can soon see. There is just such another chest in our +sleeping-room; my husband has the key and we can see if it will open +it." + +She said several words in Slavonic to her husband, and he took a queer +little key out of his pocket and handed it to her. + +The key fitted in the lock and turned. Frau Franzka then opened the +topmost drawer without difficulty. She glanced inside it and recoiled +with a slight scream. + +"Oh, Holy Virgin!" she cried, clasping her hands. "What is all this? A +shirt, a summer suit, a silk pocket handkerchief, all spotted with +blood, and oh, blessed Maria, who would have thought that Herr Foligno +had so much money hid away in this old chest!" + +Instantly I was possessed by a strange foreboding. There lay the money +which the murderer had stolen from his victim. I sprang up from the +sofa without thinking of my sprained ankle and walked hastily across +the room, never heeding the pain. + +Yes, there lay the stolen money. Several packages of banknotes of a +hundred gulden each, and beside them a bundle of papers of value, the +topmost of these showing the same dark spots, traces of the blood from +the wounded hand of the murderer, who had taken no care to avoid +staining them. Here, hidden away in the old chest, were the proofs of +the murderer's guilt; the bloodstained clothing which he had worn when +he committed the deed; and the handkerchief which I had given to him +was there also. If there had been any doubt until now as to the +identity of the criminal, it vanished on the instant. Link by link in +an indestructible chain the proofs were clearly here for the conviction +of the District Judge. In fancy I saw him contemplating his murderous +scheme, walking up the rocky path towards the Lonely House. He knew +that he should find the old man alone there; he had been told this on +the day before. Anna had thoughtlessly informed him that her father +would be alone in the afternoon. Her account of the considerable amount +of money which the old man had received by the morning's post had +begotten the murderous scheme. He reaches the house, no one having seen +him on the rocky pathway. He looks about him. No human being is near +who could observe him. He does not dream that Anna has seen him. He +knocks. The old man opens the door and conducts him to his room, where +a struggle ensues, a struggle in which the murderer wounds his hand, +but from which he comes forth victorious. The crime is committed. The +murderer with his bleeding hand has taken the banknotes and papers from +the desk which he knew so well; in his excitement he has hardly noticed +that he was wounded. He is suddenly conscious of pain in his hand, and +the thought occurs to him that his wound might betray him. With terror +he perceives that his dress, his shirt, his waistcoat and trousers, all +wear bloody traces of the struggle. He tries to remove them with his +handkerchief, but in vain. How can he explain these stains when he +returns to Luttach? He devises one means--to declare that he fell among +the rocks and wounded his hand. Every one knows that he frequently +climbs about among the rocks and how easily such an accident might +occur. If he can bring back to the old naturalist a rare plant which +usually grows upon almost inaccessible rocks, his story of a fall will +be all the more credible. The _Ophrys Bertolini_ grows in the +neighbourhood; except himself no one knows the locality. It is easily +reached; he hastily plucks the beautiful flowers, losing his +handkerchief as he does so, but without noticing it he hurries away +from the neighbourhood of the Lonely House. + +Fortune favours him. No one meets him; no one sees him when he reaches +the inn and hastens to his chamber. There he locks himself in; he must +change his clothes; but what shall he do with his bloodstained apparel? +Suddenly the old bureau occurs to him; it stands unused in his +sleeping-room. He could not have a better, a more secure hiding place. +He conceals the clothes and his plunder in the top drawer, locks it, +and puts the key in his pocket. Now he is safe; no suspicion can +possibly fall upon him, the Judge, the most prominent official in the +town. There can be no searching of his room. He himself would +superintend whatever search there might be. The bloodstained clothing, +the banknotes and the papers could be nowhere more safe from discovery +than in the locked drawer of the old bureau. He breathes more freely. +There is a knock at the door. The old Professor asks for admission. He +is obliged to receive him. This will give him an opportunity of +relating the story of his fall among the rocks. He is dismayed at +learning that the murder has been discovered sooner than he +anticipated, but he composes himself, and when he hears that Franz +Schorn has been seen in the vicinity of the Lonely House, he devises a +plan for throwing suspicion upon him, his mortal enemy, and with +vindictive cunning proceeds to carry it out, using every circumstance +that could lead step by step to the consummation of the crime without +exposing himself at any point. Thus he feels perfectly safe, when +suddenly he makes the terrible discovery that there exists a witness +against him. The old Professor has found his bloody handkerchief near +the Lonely House. He finds it easy to deceive the unsuspicious old man. +He succeeds in convincing him that Franz Schorn is the murderer, but as +long as the Professor lives, the danger of detection hangs over his +head. He induces the foolish old man to undertake expeditions among the +most dangerous rocks, in the hope of his falling a victim to some +accident, but when this scheme fails, he determines to efface all trace +of the first murder by a second. The exploration of the cave, in which +he asks to join, furnishes a means to do so. The Professor must die, +but before his death he must send the official deposition which is so +essential for Schorn's conviction. + +Here also his murderous design fails, but he manages to cast suspicion +upon Franz Schorn in the matter of cutting the rope, and the young man +is arrested. The murderer triumphs. + +Then by a marvellous chance the old chest is opened during his absence +from home, and the clear proofs of his guilt are discovered by the very +man whom he wished, as the only witness against him, to remove from his +path. + +I stood paralyzed before the open drawer. All the past, which it has +taken minutes to relate, flashed upon my mind with the speed of +lightning. The proofs of the murderer's guilt which the doctor had been +so anxious to obtain were now before me. Chance had placed them in my +hands. What was I to make of this chance was the next question. + +"We must not touch these things," I said to Frau Franzka, who with her +old husband stood speechless with astonishment, gazing at the money in +the drawer. They had never in their lives seen so much at a time. "The +Judge might suspect us of having taken some of his heap of money. Lock +the drawer again, Frau Franzka; we will give the key to the Clerk, and +the doctor shall be witness that we do so. We three, you, your husband +and I, will stay here until Mizka fetches the doctor and the Clerk, and +we can each testify that none of the money has been taken." + +"So much money! And he owes me over five hundred gulden, with all that +pile in his drawer!" exclaimed Frau Franzka, who was reluctant to lose +sight of the banknotes, but on my reiterated request, she locked it up, +and then called Mizka, telling her to go immediately for the Herr +Einern and the doctor, begging them to come as quick as possible to the +Herr Professor in the "Golden Vine." + +We had not long to wait. The doctor came first. Mizka met him in the +street near the house. I drew him aside and told him in a whisper of +the contents of the upper drawer of the bureau. He was beside himself +with joy. + +"We have him! We have him!" he exclaimed aloud, with what was almost a +leap in the air. Only when he saw the stare with which Frau Franzka and +her husband regarded him--they might well have supposed he had lost his +wits--he grew calmer, and I told him that I had sent also for the +Clerk. + +"Quite right," he said. "We must tell him everything. Now that we have +such positive proof of the Judge's guilt, he can act, and he must act. +He is a brave and honourable man. He will fulfil the promise he once +made to our little Anna. Here he comes. I hear his step on the stair." + +The Clerk entered the room. He seemed surprised on finding the doctor +and my host and hostess. Frau Franzka hurried towards him. She had been +silent so long that she was eager to pour out her heart. In a burst of +Slavonic, of which I did not understand one syllable, she talked away +to the Clerk, who listened with the deepest attention. I would not +interrupt her, for I could easily perceive from her gestures what she +was relating. The Clerk's face grew darker and darker as Frau Franzka +continued. At last she paused and delivered to him the key of the +bureau. He then turned to me and said very gravely: + +"Frau Franzka has told me of the remarkable discovery which she has +made in that bureau. Before I examine its contents I wish to hear what +you have to say, Herr Professor. I assume that you have summoned me +hither, not as your friend of the evenings about the round table, but +as the Clerk, the only representative of the law in the Judge's +absence. I shall therefore receive what you have to say, not as the +testimony of a friend, but officially. Frau Franzka, you will retire to +another room with your husband, while I hear what the Herr Professor +has to tell. I warn you to say not one word to any one--I repeat, to +_any one_--of what you have discovered in the drawer there. You will +expose yourself to grave penalties if you should refuse to follow my +direction. Wait quietly until I send for you. Very shortly I will +summon you and your husband to swear to whatever you have to say. Now +go. Do you desire, Herr Professor, that the doctor should withdraw +also?" + +"No. On the contrary, I desire his presence during my deposition, which +I must make to you. He can complete what I have to say." + +I waited until the host and hostess had obediently withdrawn, and then +I addressed the Clerk. + +"On the day on which the miserable old Pollenz was murdered, it was to +you that his daughter turned, enjoining upon you the duty of +discovering the murderer and delivering him to justice. I heard the +young girl's moving appeal and was a witness of your silent promise to +her. I now desire from you the fulfilment of that promise." + +"I will fulfil my duty. The guilty man, whosoever he may be, shall not +escape punishment if proof sufficient can be adduced of his guilt." + +"This proof I am prepared to give, and so clearly that no doubt can +remain in your mind. Listen." + +I had imposed a hard task upon myself--that of succinctly informing the +Clerk of all the facts which sufficed to weld a chain of proof against +the murderer; the part he had played towards me, arousing in me +suspicions not only of Franz Schorn, but of the lovely Anna, in order +to procure my signature to the deposition which he made out and sent to +Laibach. I recalled as well as I could the words which the murderer had +dictated to me; every one of those words seemed to form a link in the +chain of proof; and, in conclusion, I described to him the contents of +the old bureau, saying: + +"This is the accumulated evidence which I hand over to you, and I +demand that in virtue of your office the true criminal shall be +delivered to the authorities in Laibach, so that an innocent man may +not wear disgraceful fetters an hour longer than is absolutely +necessary." + +"You impose a fearful responsibility upon me, but I shall not refuse to +accept it," the Clerk replied with a profound sigh. "What you have just +told me confirms a horrible suspicion which I have had ever since the +day of the murder. I never believed in Schorn's guilt. I always had a +secret doubt of the Judge, but I dared not give expression to it; it +was impossible to gather the smallest evidence against him. I take upon +myself great responsibility in proceeding against my chief, in +arresting him, and transferring him to Laibach, but it must be +done as soon as he returns from Goerz. I will employ this day in +examining all the testimony you have here given me, as well as the +witnesses--yourself, Fraeulein Anna Pollenz, Frau Franzka and her +husband--and then I will send to Laibach all the material I have +collected, with the bloodstained clothing and the banknotes. The +Attorney General there will do his duty. I transcend my powers perhaps +in thus forestalling my chief. I will----" he paused, listening. + +A vehicle rolled through the narrow street and stopped before the +house. The doctor hurried to the window. + +"The Judge," he cried, "has just descended from the carriage and has +entered the house." + +The Clerk started and grew pale. + +"He comes too early," he said. "I have no officially confirmed evidence +against him. I have no right to arrest him." + +"Will you give him time to escape?" cried the doctor. "If he goes to +his chamber and misses the old bureau, he will know that he is found +out." + +"You are right. I will dare all. Let me have paper, pen and ink, Herr +Professor, as quickly as possible, for at this moment I am the +representative of the law in Luttach. The Judge has not yet exhausted +his leave of absence; he has not yet resumed the duties of his office." +He wrote a few lines hurriedly. "This order must go immediately to the +captain of the gendarmes. Will you undertake to carry it, Herr Doctor?" + +"With all the pleasure in life. In five minutes I will be here again +with the gendarmes. The bird shall not escape," cried the doctor, as he +snatched the order from the Clerk's hand and rushed away without a +moment's delay. He could hardly have reached the front door, when from +above came the voice of the Judge, calling: + +"Mizka! Mizka!" + +Mizka replied from below in a few Slavonic words, and a loud, brief +conversation ensued in that language. + +"He has missed the bureau and Mizka is telling him that it has been +taken down to your room because you needed it, Herr Professor," the +Clerk whispered to me. + +The Judge overhead uttered a wild Slavonic curse. We heard his +resounding tread as he rushed down the stairs and then, without +knocking, threw open the door of my room and entered. When he found +that I was not alone, but that the Clerk was with me, he started back, +and remained for a moment on the threshold gazing at the Clerk and +myself with a keen, searching look, which afterwards flashed round the +room as if in quest of something. When it rested on the blackened, old +bureau, he fell into a rage, and, coming up to me, demanded in a +furious tone: + +"How dared you have my furniture removed from my room in my absence and +placed here for your own use?" + +As he spoke these words he was ghastly to look upon; his pale lips +quivered, his dark eyes glittered in his sallow face, and were again +riveted with an indescribable expression upon the old bureau. + +His insolence aroused my indignation, but I forced myself to reply to +him calmly. + +"I must beg you to speak more courteously," I answered, suppressing my +detestation. "If you conceive that there has been an infringement of +your rights, it is not to me that you must appeal, but to Frau Franzka. +She told me that this old bureau was never used by you, and that you +would be glad to have so superfluous a piece of furniture removed from +your room. Only upon her assurance that this was the case did I consent +to have it brought hither." + +My reply seemed to quiet him somewhat. He lowered his voice as he +continued: + +"You see that I do use it. The upper drawer is locked." + +He went up to the bureau and pulled the metal handles of the upper +drawer. Upon finding that it would not open, he breathed more freely +and turned to me again, with a wholly different expression of +countenance. + +"Excuse my rude manner," he suddenly said, in a very friendly way; "I +was angry. It irritated me that the furniture of my room should be +meddled with. The old bureau serves me as a receptacle for old clothes. +I must therefore beg that it be returned to me." + +"It was delivered to me by its owner, Frau Franzka. I have no authority +over its removal." + +"You refuse?" he said, flaming up again; but he mastered himself, only +giving me a sinister look, as he opened the door and called loudly into +the hall: + +"Frau Franzka! Frau Franzka!" + +The host and hostess had been waiting in another room for the summons +of the Clerk. They now appeared, Frau Franzka with a very embarrassed +countenance, where the consciousness of guilt was openly to be seen. +Now that the Judge was present, any command of the Clerk would avail +nothing with her. She must reply to whatever the Judge should ask. + +"How dare you have that chest taken from my room! It must be carried up +again immediately." + +Shyly and trembling with fear Frau Franzka gazed at the angry man. + +"Do not be so angry, Herr Foligno," she said. "I thought the chest was +quite empty. I should not have brought it down here if I had known that +you had so much money in it. But we did not touch it. Herr von Einern +has the key." + +The effect of these words upon the man was terrible. He staggered back +as if struck by a sudden blow, staring from Frau Franzka to the Clerk. +He bit his lips without feeling that he drew blood and that a drop +trickled down his chin. Frau Franzka's simple words had revealed all; +his secret was betrayed; his guilt discovered. + +Only for a second did terror paralyze him. He quickly collected +himself, seeing that the only possibility of escape lay in maintaining +absolute calmness, and with wonderful self-control he said in a +menacing tone: + +"You presumed to open the chest with a master key, and you, Herr von +Einern, have this master key in your possession. I demand that it be +instantly delivered to me." + +Hitherto the Clerk had stood with folded arms, a motionless spectator +of the scene before him. A contemptuous smile played about his lips. He +made no reply to the Judge's demand. + +"You do not answer me. You refuse to obey my orders?" the Judge +continued. "I shall hold you accountable for this. Do not forget, sir, +that this forcible breaking open of my property with a master key is a +crime for which I hold you responsible. I leave you now to take instant +steps for the enforcement of my right." + +He turned towards the door, but before he had advanced a step the Clerk +laid his hand upon his shoulder and said with grave decision: + +"You can leave this room only as a prisoner, Herr Foligno. You are +arrested." + +[Illustration: Then Began a Struggle, a Fight for Life and Death] + +The Judge's eyes flashed fire. His right hand sought his breast pocket +and he drew from it a knife, but before he could use it the Clerk had +seized him by the wrist, and then began a struggle, a fight for life +and death between these two powerful men. + +Frau Franzka screamed with terror; her husband stood trembling beside +her, not venturing to come to the help of the wrestling pair; but I +summoned all the physical force that I possessed--my foot pained me +terribly as I sprang up, but I did not heed the pain--and I was just in +the nick of time; the Judge had torn his hand loose and had raised it +for a deadly lunge with the knife. I seized his wrist from behind; the +Clerk clutched him by the throat, and our united strength succeeded in +overpowering him, throwing him on the ground, and holding tight his +right hand, which still held the knife. It was a terrible moment; my +strength was all but gone, for the desperate wretch made frantic +efforts to tear himself loose, but help was at hand. The doctor rushed +into the room with three gendarmes following him. Without a thought the +active little man threw himself upon the Judge, kneeled upon his chest +and helped me to hold down the hand that held the knife. + +"Seize and bind the monster!" he cried to the gendarmes, "or he will do +more mischief with his knife." + +The Judge could not but see that all further resistance was vain. He +dropped the knife, which I seized and hurled to the end of the room. + +"Let me go," he said sullenly. "You see that I can no longer defend +myself." + +We arose; first the Clerk, then I; I limped back in positive agony to +my sofa; my help was no longer required. The Judge, too, arose, and, +panting, stood between the Clerk and the doctor. He had given up all +hope of escape, for the three gendarmes blocked all egress from the +room, but his feverishly active mind devised new food for hope. + +"Captain," he cried to the captain of the gendarmes, "captain, I call +you to bear witness to the maltreatment I have received from these +madmen, who have attacked me. I command you to stand by me--me, the +District Judge. I order you to arrest these people, the Clerk, the +doctor and the German Professor. I take all the responsibility upon +myself." + +The captain's martial countenance betrayed embarrassment. He looked +dubiously, first at the Judge, then at the Clerk. + +"I do not know what I ought to do," he said, turning to the Clerk. "You +command me to arrest Herr Foligno; he commands me to arrest you. After +all, he is the District Judge." + +The Clerk hastily approached the old, dingy bureau, took a key from his +pocket and opened the upper drawer. + +"I command you to arrest a murderer," he said. "He, and not Franz +Schorn, committed the murder in the Lonely House. Here are the +proofs--his bloodstained clothing and the banknotes which he stole. The +responsibility is yours if the murderer escapes and you disobey my +commands." + +One look into the drawer, and the captain hesitated no longer. An hour +afterwards, between two gendarmes, the murderer was driven to Laibach. +Half the entire population of Luttach crowded about the court house to +see him driven away. The report had circulated throughout the little +town with incredible swiftness that not Franz Schorn, but the District +Judge was the criminal. When the prisoner was led from the court house +to the carriage a fierce shout of rage greeted him. The gendarmes were +obliged with their weapons to keep off the indignant populace in order +to shield the prisoner from their violence. He, on his part, was now +pale and trembling with cowardly fear; curses and execrations followed +him as the carriage drove through the crowd. + +But at that moment the lovely little Anna was seated on my sofa, +thanking me over and over again, her eyes shining with joy--and what, +after all, had I done to deserve her thanks? + + + + + CHAPTER XIV. + THE END OF THE PROFESSOR'S HOLIDAY. + + +The doctor, the Burgomaster and the Captain had driven to Laibach to +require personally the instant liberation of Franz Schorn, whose +innocence no one longer doubted. The doctor had promised to inform me +by letter of the result of his efforts, and he kept his word. On the +second day I received a long letter from him. There had been a +tremendous commotion in Laibach when the District Judge of Luttach, +manacled like a common criminal, had been received at the prison. The +ultra Slavonic newspapers had hitherto triumphed in the announcement +that the only German agitator in Luttach was nothing more or less than +a miserable, ordinary criminal, and now they suffered a terrible blow +in that the German agitator was no murderer; the criminal was a man +who, although of Italian descent, had always laboured in the Slavonic +cause. The Slav party, on the other hand, were half-inclined to swear +to the innocence of the Judge and to stake all on the guilt of the +hated German. But the doctor took good care that every scrap of +evidence against the true murderer should be well known; he was himself +a zealous Slav, but so conscientious and honest a man, and so well +known as prizing justice far above national prejudice, that he forced +the newspapers of his party, by his truthful declarations, to advocate +the cause of Franz Schorn, which they reluctantly did, although not +very enthusiastically. They, as well as the doctor, found consolation, +however, in the fact that District Judge Foligno was no true Slav, but +in fact an Italian. Of course all national prejudices were powerless to +influence the court at Laibach. The doctor wrote with real enthusiasm +in regard to his reception by the investigating Judge, who had frankly +informed him that suspicion of the District Judge had arisen in his +mind while he was investigating the matter in Luttach, suspicion which +was now substantiated by the admirable report of the Clerk, and that +the evidence had created conviction. A most disagreeable task lay +before him in having to investigate the actions of his superior in +office, but he would unflinchingly follow his duty. The Attorney +General, who had hitherto been firmly convinced of Schorn's guilt, +could not but admit the evidence of his innocence and the proof of the +Judge's criminality, and the honourable liberation of Schorn from +imprisonment must take place immediately. It depended only upon certain +formalities. If the Judge could be brought to confess, Schorn's freedom +would be on the instant. + +This hope, however, of bringing the criminal to an open confession was +not destined to be fulfilled. He maintained his innocence with brazen +effrontery until his hearing before the court, asserting that he was +the victim of shameful intrigue. All the evidence which I, the German +Professor, had brought against him was founded, he declared, partly on +lies, partly on prejudice. It was not true that I had found his +bloodstained handkerchief in the neighbourhood of the Lonely House, for +the handkerchief found in the drawer he had never lost. The blood on +his handkerchief, his waistcoat, and his trousers came from the wound +in his hand due to a fall among the rocks on the morning of the day of +the murder, and of which he had innocently informed the Professor. He +declared that I had found him changing his dress when I came to inform +him of the discovery of the murdered man in the Lonely House. He had +locked up the bloody clothing in the upper drawer of the chest in his +sleeping apartment in my presence, and, of course, I knew where it was. +How the money and banknotes came in the drawer he did not know, but he +suspected that during his absence I had placed them there myself, or +had bribed Frau Franzka to put them into the chest in order that the +farce might be played of the removal of the chest to my room and the +discovery of the bloody articles, which would clear Franz Schorn of the +guilt of the murder and throw it upon himself, the District Judge. He +would not venture to assert that I was Schorn's accomplice in the +crime, although it was possible, but I was certainly his accomplice in +the theft of the money. Either to be rid of this accomplice, or to +ensure his silence by saving his life, Schorn had cut the rope in the +cave. + +When the investigating Judge pointed out to him the improbability, nay +the evident falsehood of this clumsy invention, the prisoner stoutly +maintained its truth, and even asserted that I had come to Luttach, on +the pretense of pursuing natural history researches in Ukraine, in the +interest of the German clique there, and to this end I had entered into +close relations with Schorn, having as their result this scheme to ruin +him. The Judge displayed an eloquence and keenness of intellect in +proving the truth of his statements which the investigating Judge could +not but admire; but, upon perceiving that he failed entirely in making +any impression upon the impartial official, who was himself a Slav, he +lost courage, and, declaring that he was too exhausted to endure +further questioning, begged to be again conducted to prison. + +An hour later the investigating Judge was informed that the prisoner +had committed suicide in his cell. How he had contrived to procure the +knife with which he stabbed himself to the heart could not be +discovered. The bitter opponents of the government and of the court in +Laibach maintained that it had been conveyed to him for the purpose of +suicide, in order that the court might be relieved from the necessity +of presenting before a jury a Slavonic patriot and fellow-countryman as +a murderer. + +"Since the Judge's suicide may be regarded as a confession," the +doctor wrote, "we are momentarily awaiting the liberation of our Franz. +We--the good Burgomaster, the Captain and myself--are burning with +eagerness to conduct the liberated man in triumph to Luttach. I will +tell you by telegram when we may be expected." + +The lovely little Anna was paying me a visit when I received the +doctor's letter. We read it together. Tears of joy filled her eyes as +we came to the end. + +"I would rather," she said, "have Franz come back quietly, without any +public demonstration; but the good doctor is right; there ought to be +some atonement for the unjust disgrace of his arrest, and this must be +made by an honourable reception." + +All the men of the round table in the "Golden Vine" were of the same +opinion. + +In the evening, more carried than supported by Mizka and Frau Franzka, +I ventured to leave my room and to take my place once more at the round +table. I was received with extravagant delight. When I read aloud to +the company there assembled the letter from the doctor, they declared +unanimously that all Luttach must combine in making brilliant amends to +Franz. It was remarkable how one single day had changed the mood of +every one. Mosic, Weber, Meyer, Gunther, and Dietrich, hitherto the +most violent opponents of "the German," were now the most zealous to +obliterate all remembrance of their opposition. They could not praise +Franz sufficiently, and gravely maintained that they never had believed +in his guilt. + +The telegram arrived on the morning of the next day, announcing that +our friends would arrive in Luttach towards noon. I sent it to the +Vice-Burgomaster, who had begged me to give him the earliest +intelligence, that he might spread it through the town. + +The time for festal preparation was short, but it was used diligently +in bringing loads of oaken boughs from the grove on the Rusina, in +making wreaths and garlands wherewith Schorn's house and the "Golden +Vine" were decorated, for Franz was to be conducted first to the +"Golden Vine," where in the garden a cask of the best wine was to be +broached, and the Vice-Burgomaster was to welcome him in the name of +his Luttach fellow-citizens and to express the joy that all felt in his +return, as they drank to his health and welfare. And thus it verily +happened. All Luttach was astir by ten o'clock. There were crowds on +the road to Adelsberg and on the square before the court house and +in the street before the "Golden Vine." When the carriages--two of +them--at last came in sight, Franz was sitting in the first with the +Burgomaster, while in the second the doctor drove with the Captain. +They were greeted with deafening applause and the crowd rushed towards +them, all striving to be the first to extend a welcome to Franz Schorn. +It was impossible for the carriage to proceed through the crowded +streets, when suddenly a stentorian voice exclaimed: + +"Make way!" + +It was the voice of the gigantic Rassak. He dextrously unharnessed the +horses, and, seizing the pole himself, assisted by two savage-looking +fellows--the very ones who, a couple of days before, would have been +willing to kill the "murderer" and the "German dog"--on they went to +the "Golden Vine." A dozen men helped to pull and push the vehicle, +while Franz kept bowing and smiling in grateful acknowledgment of the +shouts of welcome. The carriage stopped before the gateway of the +hotel. Franz would have descended, but strong arms lifted him to +Rassak's shoulders, and thus he was carried into the garden. The +doctor, the Burgomaster and the Captain followed, laughing. The festal +programme was carried out in the garden, except that the Burgomaster's +speech and one cask of wine did not suffice. Speech followed speech, +and I should have had a fine opportunity of admiring the Slavonic +eloquence, if I could have understood a word of it all, but, +unfortunately, the words were all Slavonic, even those in which Franz +thanked the assembly for its sympathetic welcome. I could only guess at +what he said from the shouts of applause. It was a stormy occasion and, +after a fashion, a brilliant one, but it was not exactly a comfortable +festival. This we had in the evening at the house of the doctor. My +presence there, pretty little Anna declared, was quite indispensable, +and so Rassak carried me thither on his burly shoulders. I could not +possibly have walked. The doctor had invited only the Burgomaster, the +Captain, the Clerk and myself to share in the joy of this first evening +of the reunion of the betrothed pair and to be the witnesses of their +happiness. + +I certainly never passed a more delightful evening. It was a positive +delight to me, old man that I am. It warmed my heart to behold the +handsome couple so full of bright anticipations for the future. The +merriment in our small circle was not loud; we were all somewhat under +the influence of the very recent events, but we all quietly rejoiced in +being delivered from our depressing anxiety. The doctor himself +proposed the health of the young couple, and in a short speech +congratulated us all upon the happy chance which had terminated the +fearful episode. I noticed that as he spoke the beautiful young girl +shook her head as if in disapproval. The toast was drunk with +enthusiasm, and Anna joined in it; but, turning to the doctor and +looking at him very gravely, she said: + +"It was no chance that saved my Franz. It was God's own doing. In order +to hide his first crime, the Judge attempted a second; he cut through +the rope in the cave and, as a result, Franz saved the Professor's +life. If Franz had not thus ventured his own life, he would have been +lost. The truth would never have come to light. If the Judge had not +cut the rope, the Herr Professor would not have sprained his foot, and +he would not have been forced thereby to keep his room, nor would Frau +Franzka have tried to procure him space for his collection. Was this +chance! No; it was an answer to my prayer. God ordained that Franz +should risk his life to find his life." + +"There is logic in your words, child," the doctor said with a smile; +"it is the logic of pious, grateful faith, of which I would in nowise +deprive you. But you need not frown, little girl, if I speak of a +chance which we must all bless. Chance or Providence, the words express +the same idea, that of strangely combined circumstances leading to a +certain end. Was it chance or Providence that brought our dear Herr +Professor to Luttach to catch butterflies, and that the Captain sent +him on the very first day up to St. Nikolas, whence he returned, +thirsty, to the Lonely House? Keep your pious belief, child; it will be +a source of hope and happiness for you while life lasts." + + * * * * * + +Two weeks after this delightful evening, I left Luttach to return to my +northern home. I should have liked to have stayed longer in the +charming little town, with people who had grown so dear to me, but my +holidays were at an end, and the summer heat is so enervating at my +age, that I did not dare to stay longer. I took leave of my dear ones +there, but I have promised to return next spring, for I would not have +the marriage of the happy couple celebrated without me. + + + + THE END. + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Lonely House, by Adolph Streckfuss + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LONELY HOUSE *** + +***** This file should be named 34917.txt or 34917.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/4/9/1/34917/ + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by the Web Archive + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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