evidence¡¡went¡£
Wild¡¡and¡¡vague¡¡were¡¡the¡¡conjectures¡£¡¡¡¡All¡¡were¡¡baffled¡¡in¡¡the
attempt¡¡to¡¡give¡¡them¡¡a¡¡definite¡¡direction¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡crime¡¡was
apparently¡¡prompted¡¡by¡¡revengecertainly¡¡not¡¡by¡¡lust£»¡¡or¡¡desire¡¡of
money¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡she¡¡was¡¡not¡¡known¡¡to¡¡stand¡¡in¡¡any¡¡one's¡¡way¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡this
utter¡¡blank¡¡as¡¡to¡¡the¡¡assignable¡¡motive£»¡¡I£»¡¡perhaps¡¡alone¡¡among¡¡the
furious¡¡crowd£»¡¡had¡¡a¡¡distinct¡¡suspicion¡¡of¡¡the¡¡assassin¡£¡¡¡¡No¡¡sooner
had¡¡the¡¡news¡¡reached¡¡me£»¡¡than¡¡with¡¡the¡¡specification¡¡of¡¡the¡¡theater
of¡¡the¡¡crime¡¡there¡¡at¡¡once¡¡flashed¡¡upon¡¡me¡¡the¡¡intellectual¡¡vision
of¡¡the¡¡criminal£º¡¡the¡¡stranger¡¡with¡¡the¡¡dark¡¡beard¡¡and¡¡startled¡¡eyes
stood¡¡confessed¡¡before¡¡me£¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡held¡¡my¡¡breath¡¡for¡¡a¡¡few¡¡moments£»¡¡and
then¡¡there¡¡came¡¡a¡¡tide¡¡of¡¡objections¡¡rushing¡¡over¡¡my¡¡mind£»
revealing¡¡the¡¡inadequacy¡¡of¡¡the¡¡grounds¡¡on¡¡which¡¡rested¡¡my
suspicions¡£¡¡¡¡What¡¡were¡¡the¡¡grounds£¿¡¡¡¡I¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡a¡¡man¡¡in¡¡a
particular¡¡spot£»¡¡not¡¡an¡¡unfrequented¡¡spot£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡evening¡¡of¡¡the
night¡¡when¡¡the¡¡crime¡¡had¡¡been¡¡committed¡¡there£»¡¡that¡¡man¡¡had¡¡seemed
to¡¡recognize¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡wished¡¡to¡¡avoid¡¡being¡¡recognized¡£¡¡¡¡Obviously
these¡¡grounds¡¡were¡¡too¡¡slender¡¡to¡¡bear¡¡any¡¡weight¡¡of¡¡construction
such¡¡as¡¡I¡¡had¡¡based¡¡on¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡Mere¡¡presence¡¡on¡¡the¡¡spot¡¡could¡¡no
more¡¡inculpate¡¡him¡¡than¡¡it¡¡could¡¡inculpate¡¡me£»¡¡if¡¡I¡¡had¡¡met¡¡him
there£»¡¡equally¡¡had¡¡he¡¡met¡¡me¡¡there¡£¡¡¡¡Nor¡¡even¡¡if¡¡my¡¡suspicion¡¡were
correct¡¡that¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡refused¡¡to¡¡recognize¡¡me£»¡¡could¡¡that¡¡be
any¡¡argument¡¡tending¡¡to¡¡criminate¡¡him¡¡in¡¡an¡¡affair¡¡wholly
disconnected¡¡with¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡Besides£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡walking¡¡peaceably£»¡¡openly£»
and¡¡he¡¡looked¡¡like¡¡a¡¡gentleman¡£¡¡¡¡All¡¡these¡¡objections¡¡pressed
themselves¡¡upon¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡kept¡¡me¡¡silent¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡in¡¡spite¡¡of¡¡their
force¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡prevent¡¡the¡¡suspicion¡¡from¡¡continually¡¡arising¡£
Ashamed¡¡to¡¡mention¡¡it£»¡¡because¡¡it¡¡may¡¡have¡¡sounded¡¡too¡¡absurd£»¡¡I
could¡¡not¡¡prevent¡¡my¡¡constructive¡¡imagination¡¡indulging¡¡in¡¡its
vagaries£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡this¡¡secret¡¡conviction¡¡I¡¡resolved¡¡to¡¡await
events£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡case¡¡suspicion¡¡from¡¡other¡¡quarters¡¡should¡¡ever
designate¡¡the¡¡probable¡¡assassin£»¡¡I¡¡might¡¡then¡¡come¡¡forward¡¡with¡¡my
bit¡¡of¡¡corroborative¡¡evidence£»¡¡should¡¡the¡¡suspected¡¡assassin¡¡be¡¡the
stranger¡¡of¡¡the¡¡archway¡£
By¡¡twelve¡¡o'clock¡¡a¡¡new¡¡direction¡¡was¡¡given¡¡to¡¡rumor¡£¡¡¡¡Hitherto¡¡the
stories£»¡¡when¡¡carefully¡¡sifted¡¡of¡¡all¡¡exaggerations¡¡of¡¡flying
conjecture£»¡¡had¡¡settled¡¡themselves¡¡into¡¡something¡¡like¡¡this£º¡¡¡¡The
Lehfeldts¡¡had¡¡retired¡¡to¡¡rest¡¡at¡¡a¡¡quarter¡¡before¡¡ten£»¡¡as¡¡was¡¡their
custom¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡Lieschen¡¡go¡¡into¡¡her¡¡bedroom¡¡for¡¡the¡¡night£»
and¡¡had¡¡themselves¡¡gone¡¡to¡¡sleep¡¡with¡¡unclouded¡¡minds¡£¡¡¡¡From¡¡this
peaceful¡¡security¡¡they¡¡were¡¡startled¡¡early¡¡in¡¡the¡¡morning¡¡by¡¡the
appalling¡¡news¡¡of¡¡the¡¡calamity¡¡which¡¡had¡¡fallen¡¡on¡¡them¡£
Incredulous¡¡at¡¡first£»¡¡as¡¡well¡¡they¡¡might¡¡be£»¡¡and¡¡incapable¡¡of
believing¡¡in¡¡a¡¡ruin¡¡so¡¡unexpected¡¡and¡¡so¡¡overwhelming£»¡¡they
imagined¡¡some¡¡mistake£»¡¡asserting¡¡that¡¡Lieschen¡¡was¡¡in¡¡her¡¡own¡¡room¡£
Into¡¡that¡¡room¡¡they¡¡rushed£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡the¡¡undisturbed¡¡bed£»¡¡and¡¡the
open¡¡window£»¡¡but¡¡a¡¡few¡¡feet¡¡from¡¡the¡¡garden£»¡¡silently¡¡and
pathetically¡¡disclosed¡¡the¡¡fatal¡¡truth¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡bereaved¡¡parents
turned¡¡a¡¡revealing¡¡look¡¡upon¡¡each¡¡other's¡¡whitened¡¡faces£»¡¡and¡¡then
slowly¡¡retired¡¡from¡¡the¡¡room£»¡¡followed¡¡in¡¡affecting¡¡silence¡¡by¡¡the
others¡£¡¡¡¡Back¡¡into¡¡their¡¡own¡¡room¡¡they¡¡went¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡father¡¡knelt
beside¡¡the¡¡bed£»¡¡and£»¡¡sobbing£»¡¡prayed¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡mother¡¡sat¡¡staring¡¡with
a¡¡stupefied¡¡stare£»¡¡her¡¡lips¡¡faintly¡¡moving¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡a¡¡short¡¡while¡¡the
flood¡¡of¡¡grief£»¡¡awakened¡¡to¡¡a¡¡thorough¡¡consciousness£»¡¡burst¡¡from
their¡¡laboring¡¡hearts¡£¡¡¡¡When¡¡the¡¡first¡¡paroxysms¡¡were¡¡over¡¡they
questioned¡¡others£»¡¡and¡¡gave¡¡incoherent¡¡replies¡¡to¡¡the¡¡questions
addressed¡¡to¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡From¡¡all¡¡which¡¡it¡¡resulted¡¡that¡¡Lieschen's
absence£»¡¡though¡¡obviously¡¡voluntary£»¡¡was¡¡wholly¡¡inexplicable¡¡to
them£»¡¡and¡¡no¡¡clew¡¡whatever¡¡could¡¡be¡¡given¡¡as¡¡to¡¡the¡¡motives¡¡of¡¡the
crime¡£¡¡¡¡When¡¡these¡¡details¡¡became¡¡known£»¡¡conjecture¡¡naturally
interpreted¡¡Lieschen's¡¡absence¡¡at¡¡night¡¡as¡¡an¡¡assignation¡£¡¡¡¡But
with¡¡whom£¿¡¡¡¡She¡¡was¡¡not¡¡known¡¡to¡¡have¡¡a¡¡lover¡£¡¡¡¡Her¡¡father£»¡¡on
being¡¡questioned£»¡¡passionately¡¡affirmed¡¡that¡¡she¡¡had¡¡none£»¡¡she
loved¡¡no¡¡one¡¡but¡¡her¡¡parents£»¡¡poor¡¡child£¡¡¡¡¡Her¡¡mother£»¡¡on¡¡being
questioned£»¡¡told¡¡the¡¡same¡¡storyadding£»¡¡however£»¡¡that¡¡about
seventeen¡¡months¡¡before£»¡¡she¡¡had¡¡fancied¡¡that¡¡Lieschen¡¡was¡¡a¡¡little
disposed¡¡to¡¡favor¡¡Franz¡¡Kerkel£»¡¡their¡¡shopman£»¡¡but¡¡on¡¡being¡¡spoken
to¡¡on¡¡the¡¡subject¡¡with¡¡some¡¡seriousness£»¡¡and¡¡warned¡¡of¡¡the¡¡distance
between¡¡them£»¡¡she¡¡had¡¡laughed¡¡heartily¡¡at¡¡the¡¡idea£»¡¡and¡¡since¡¡then
had¡¡treated¡¡Franz¡¡with¡¡so¡¡much¡¡indifference¡¡that¡¡only¡¡a¡¡week¡¡ago
she¡¡had¡¡drawn¡¡from¡¡her¡¡mother¡¡a¡¡reproof¡¡on¡¡the¡¡subject¡£
¡¨I¡¡told¡¡her¡¡Franz¡¡was¡¡a¡¡good¡¡lad£»¡¡though¡¡not¡¡good¡¡enough¡¡for¡¡her£»
and¡¡that¡¡she¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡treat¡¡him¡¡kindly¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡she¡¡said¡¡my¡¡lecture
had¡¡given¡¡her¡¡an¡¡alarm£»¡¡lest¡¡Franz¡¡should¡¡have¡¡got¡¡the¡¡same¡¡maggot
into¡¡his¡¡head¡£¡¨
This¡¡was¡¡the¡¡story¡¡now¡¡passing¡¡through¡¡the¡¡curious¡¡crowds¡¡in¡¡every
street¡£¡¡¡¡After¡¡hearing¡¡it¡¡I¡¡had¡¡turned¡¡into¡¡a¡¡tobacconist's¡¡in¡¡the
Adlergrasse£»¡¡to¡¡restock¡¡my¡¡cigar¡case£»¡¡and¡¡found¡¡there£»¡¡as
everywhere£»¡¡a¡¡group¡¡discussing¡¡the¡¡one¡¡topic¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hour¡£¡¡¡¡Herr
Fischer£»¡¡the¡¡tobacconist£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡long¡¡porcelain¡¡pipe¡¡pendent¡¡from
his¡¡screwed¡up¡¡lips£»¡¡was¡¡solemnly¡¡listening¡¡to¡¡the¡¡particulars
volubly¡¡communicated¡¡by¡¡a¡¡stout¡¡Bavarian¡¡priest£»¡¡while¡¡behind¡¡the
counter£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡corner£»¡¡swiftly¡¡knitting£»¡¡sat¡¡his¡¡wife£»¡¡her¡¡black
bead¡like¡¡eyes¡¡also¡¡fixed¡¡on¡¡the¡¡orator¡£¡¡¡¡Of¡¡course¡¡I¡¡was¡¡dragged
into¡¡the¡¡conversation¡£¡¡¡¡Instead¡¡of¡¡attending¡¡to¡¡commercial
interests£»¡¡they¡¡looked¡¡upon¡¡me¡¡as¡¡the¡¡possible¡¡bearer¡¡of¡¡fresh
news¡£¡¡¡¡Nor¡¡was¡¡it¡¡without¡¡a¡¡secret¡¡satisfaction¡¡that¡¡I¡¡found¡¡I
could¡¡gratify¡¡them¡¡in¡¡that¡¡respect¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡had¡¡not¡¡heard¡¡of¡¡Franz
Kerkel¡¡in¡¡the¡¡matter¡£¡¡¡¡No¡¡sooner¡¡had¡¡I¡¡told¡¡what¡¡I¡¡had¡¡heard¡¡than
the¡¡knitting¡needles¡¡of¡¡the¡¡vivacious¡¡little¡¡woman¡¡were¡¡at¡¡once
suspended¡£
¡¨Ach¡¡Je£¡¡¨¡¡she¡¡exclaimed£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡see¡¡it¡¡all¡£¡¡¡¡He's¡¡the¡¡wretch£¡¡¨
¡¨Who£¿¡¨¡¡we¡¡all¡¡simultaneously¡¡inquired¡£
¡¨Who£¿¡¡¡¡Why£»¡¡Kerkel£»¡¡of¡¡course¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡she¡¡changed£»¡¡and¡¡treated¡¡him
with¡¡indifference£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡because¡¡she¡¡loved¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡has
murdered¡¡the¡¡poor¡¡thing¡£¡¨
¡¨How¡¡you¡¡run¡¡on£»¡¡wife£¡¡¨¡¡remonstrated¡¡Fischer£»¡¡while¡¡the¡¡priest
shook¡¡a¡¡dubious¡¡head¡£
¡¨I¡¡tell¡¡you¡¡it¡¡is¡¡so¡£¡¡¡¡I'm¡¡positive¡£¡¨
¡¨If¡¡she¡¡loved¡¡him¡£¡¨
¡¨She¡¡did£»¡¡I¡¡tell¡¡you¡£¡¡¡¡Trust¡¡a¡¡woman¡¡for¡¡seeing¡¡through¡¡such
things¡£¡¨
¡¨Well£»¡¡say¡¡she¡¡did£»¡¨¡¡continued¡¡Fischer£»¡¡¡¨and¡¡I¡¡won't¡¡deny¡¡that¡¡it
may¡¡be¡¡so£»¡¡but¡¡then¡¡that¡¡makes¡¡against¡¡the¡¡idea¡¡of¡¡his¡¡having¡¡done
her¡¡any¡¡harm¡£¡¨
¡¨Don't¡¡tell¡¡me£»¡¨¡¡retorted¡¡the¡¡convinced¡¡woman¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨She¡¡loved¡¡him¡£
She¡¡went¡¡out¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡him¡¡in¡¡secret£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡murdered¡¡herthe
villain¡¡did¡£¡¡¡¡I'm¡¡as¡¡sure¡¡of¡¡it¡¡as¡¡if¡¡these¡¡eyes¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡him¡¡do
it¡£¡¨
The¡¡husband¡¡winked¡¡at¡¡us£»¡¡as¡¡much¡¡as¡¡to¡¡say£»¡¡¡¨You¡¡hear¡¡these
women£¡¡¨¡¡and¡¡the¡¡priest¡¡and¡¡I¡¡endeavored¡¡to¡¡reason¡¡her¡¡out¡¡of¡¡her
illogical¡¡position¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡she¡¡was¡¡immovable¡£¡¡¡¡Kerkel¡¡had¡¡murdered
her£»¡¡she¡¡knew¡¡it£»¡¡she¡¡couldn't¡¡tell¡¡why£»¡¡but¡¡she¡¡knew¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡Perhaps
he¡¡was¡¡jealous£»¡¡who¡¡knows£¿¡¡¡¡At¡¡any¡¡rate£»¡¡he¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡be¡¡arrested¡£
And¡¡by¡¡twelve¡¡o'clock£»¡¡as¡¡I¡¡said£»¡¡a¡¡new¡¡rumor¡¡ran¡¡through¡¡the
crowd£»¡¡which¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡confirm¡¡the¡¡little¡¡woman¡¡in¡¡her¡¡rash¡¡logic¡£
Kerkel¡¡had¡¡been¡¡arrested£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡waistcoat¡¡stained¡¡with¡¡blood¡¡had
been¡¡found¡¡in¡¡his¡¡room£¡¡¡¡¡By¡¡half¡past¡¡twelve¡¡the¡¡rumor¡¡ran¡¡that¡¡he
had¡¡confessed¡¡the¡¡crime¡£¡¡¡¡This£»¡¡however£»¡¡proved¡¡on¡¡inquiry¡¡to¡¡be
the¡¡hasty¡¡anticipation¡¡of¡¡public¡¡indignation¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡been
arrested£»¡¡the¡¡waistcoat¡¡had¡¡been¡¡found£º¡¡so¡¡much¡¡was¡¡authentic£»¡¡and
the¡¡suspicions¡¡gathered¡¡ominously¡¡over¡¡him¡£
When¡¡first¡¡Frau¡¡Fischer¡¡had¡¡started¡¡the¡¡suggestion¡¡it¡¡flew¡¡like
wildfire¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡people¡¡suddenly¡¡noticed£»¡¡as¡¡very¡¡surprising£»¡¡that
Kerkel¡¡had¡¡not¡¡that¡¡day¡¡made¡¡his¡¡appearance¡¡at¡¡the¡¡shop¡£¡¡¡¡His
absence¡¡had¡¡not¡¡been¡¡noticed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡tumult¡¡of¡¡grief¡¡and¡¡inquiry£»
but¡¡it¡¡became¡¡suddenly¡¡invested¡¡with¡¡a¡¡dreadful¡¡significance£»¡¡now
that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡rumored¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡Lieschen's¡¡lover¡£¡¡¡¡Of¡¡all¡¡men
he¡¡would¡¡be¡¡the¡¡most¡¡affected¡¡by¡¡the¡¡tragic¡¡news£»¡¡of¡¡all¡¡men¡¡he
would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡the¡¡first¡¡to¡¡tender¡¡sympathy¡¡and¡¡aid¡¡to¡¡the
afflicted¡¡parents£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡most¡¡clamorous¡¡in¡¡the¡¡search¡¡for¡¡the
undiscovered¡¡culprit¡£¡¡¡¡Yet£»¡¡while¡¡all¡¡Nuremberg¡¡was¡¡crowding¡¡round
the¡¡house¡¡of¡¡sorrow£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡also¡¡his¡¡house¡¡of¡¡business£»¡¡he¡¡alone
remained¡¡away¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡naturally¡¡pointed¡¡suspicion¡¡at¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡When¡¡the
messengers¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡to¡¡seek¡¡him£»¡¡his¡¡mother¡¡refused¡¡them¡¡admission£»
declaring¡¡in¡¡incoherent¡¡phrases£»¡¡betraying¡¡great¡¡agitation£»¡¡that
her¡¡son¡¡was¡¡gone¡¡distracted¡¡with¡¡grief¡¡and¡¡could¡¡see¡¡no¡¡one¡£¡¡¡¡On
this¡¡it¡¡was¡¡determined¡¡to¡¡order¡¡his¡¡arrest¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡police¡¡went£»¡¡the
house¡¡was¡¡searched£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡waistcoat¡¡found¡£
The¡¡testimony¡¡of¡¡the¡¡girl¡¡who¡¡lived¡¡as¡¡servant¡¡in¡¡Kerkel's¡¡house
was¡¡also¡¡criminatory¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡deposed¡¡that¡¡on¡¡the¡¡night¡¡in¡¡question
she¡¡awoke¡¡about¡¡half¡past¡¡eleven¡¡with¡¡a¡¡violent¡¡toothache£»¡¡she¡¡was
certain¡¡as¡¡to¡¡the¡¡hour£»¡¡because¡¡she¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡clock¡¡afterwards
strike¡¡twelve¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡felt¡¡some¡¡alarm¡¡at¡¡hearing¡¡voices¡¡in¡¡the¡¡rooms
at¡¡an¡¡hour¡¡when¡¡her¡¡mistress¡¡and¡¡young¡¡master¡¡must¡¡long¡¡ago¡¡have
gone¡¡to¡¡bed£»¡¡but¡¡as¡¡the¡¡voices¡¡were¡¡se