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Case of the Pool of Blood in the Pastor's Study - Auguste Groner · Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

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  Speaker 1: Section one of the Case of the Pool of Blood
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  Speaker 1: in the Pastor's Study by Grace Isabel Colbron and Augusta Groener.
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  Speaker 1: This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in
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  Speaker 1: the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please
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  Speaker 1: visit LibriVox dot org. Read for You to Day by
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  Speaker 1: Don Larsen in Minnesota, Section one, Introduction to Joe Muller.
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  Speaker 1: Joe Muller, secret Service detective of the Imperial Austrian Police,
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  Speaker 1: is one of the great experts in his profession. In personality,
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  Speaker 1: he differs greatly from other famous detectives. He has neither
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  Speaker 1: the impressive authority of Sherlock Holmes nor the keen brilliancy
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  Speaker 1: of Monsieur Lecoq. Muller is a small, slight, plain looking man,
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  Speaker 1: of indefinite age, and of much humbleness of mien. A
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  Speaker 1: naturally retiring, modest disposition and two external causes are the
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  Speaker 1: reasons for Muller's humbleness of manner, which is his chief characteristic.
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  Speaker 1: One cause is the fact that, in early youth a
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  Speaker 1: miscarriage of justice gave him several years in prison, an
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  Speaker 1: experience which cast a stigma on his name. And which
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  Speaker 1: made it impossible for him for many years after to
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  Speaker 1: obtain honest employment. But the world is richer and safer
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  Speaker 1: by Muller's early misfortune, for it was this experience which
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  Speaker 1: threw him back on his own peculiar talents for a
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  Speaker 1: livelihood and drove him into the police force. Had he
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  Speaker 1: been able to enter any other profession, his genius might
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  Speaker 1: have been stunted to a mere pastime instead of being
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  Speaker 1: as now utilized for the public good. Then the red
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  Speaker 1: tape and bureaucratic etiquette which attaches to every governmental department
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  Speaker 1: puts the secret servicemen of the Imperial Police on a
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  Speaker 1: par with the lower ranks of the subordinates. Muller's official
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  Speaker 1: rank is scarcely much higher than that of a policeman,
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  Speaker 1: although kings and counselors consult him, and the Police department
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  Speaker 1: realizes to the full what a treasure it has in him.
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  Speaker 1: But official red tape and his early misfortune prevent the
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  Speaker 1: giving of any higher official standing to even such a genius.
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  Speaker 1: Born and bred to such conditions, Muller understands them, and
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  Speaker 1: his natural modesty of disposition asks for no outward honors,
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  Speaker 1: asks for nothing but an income sufficient for his simple needs,
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  Speaker 1: and for aid and opportunity to occupy himself in the
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  Speaker 1: way he most enjoys. Joseph Muller's character is a strange
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  Speaker 1: mixture the kindest hearted man in the world. He is
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  Speaker 1: a human bloodhound. When once the lure of the trail
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  Speaker 1: has caught him, he scarcely eats or sleeps when the
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  Speaker 1: chase is on. He does not seem to know human
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  Speaker 1: weaknessness nor fatigue, in spite of his frail body. Once
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  Speaker 1: put on a case, his mind delves and delves until
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  Speaker 1: it finds a clue. Then something awakens within him. A
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  Speaker 1: spirit akin to that which holds the bloodhound knows to
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  Speaker 1: the trail, and he will accomplish thee apparently impossible. He
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  Speaker 1: will track down his victim. When the entire machinery of
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  Speaker 1: a great police department seems helpless to discover anything. The
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  Speaker 1: high chiefs and commissioners grant a condescending permission when Muller asks,
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  Speaker 1: may I do this or may I handle this case
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  Speaker 1: this way? Both parties knowing all the while that it
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  Speaker 1: is a farce, and that the department waits helpless until
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  Speaker 1: this humble little man saves its honor by solving some
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  Speaker 1: problem before which its intricate machinery has stood dazed and puzzled.
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  Speaker 1: This call of the trail is something that is stronger
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  Speaker 1: than anything else in Muller's minay mentality, and now and
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  Speaker 1: then it brings him into conflict with the department or
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  Speaker 1: with his own better nature. Sometimes his unerring instinct discovers
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  Speaker 1: secrets in high places, secrets which the police department is
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  Speaker 1: bidden to hush up and leave untouched. Muller has then
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  Speaker 1: taken off the case and left idle for a while
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  Speaker 1: if he persists in his opinion as to the true facts.
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  Speaker 1: And at other times Muller's own warm heart gets him
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  Speaker 1: into trouble. He will track down his victim, driven by
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  Speaker 1: the power in his soul which is stronger than all volition.
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  Speaker 1: But when he has the victim in his net, he
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  Speaker 1: will sometimes discover him to be a much finer, better
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  Speaker 1: man than the other individual whose wrong at this particular
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  Speaker 1: criminal's hand set in motion the machinery of justice. Several
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  Speaker 1: times that has happened to Muller, and each time his
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  Speaker 1: heart got the better of his professortional instinct and his
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  Speaker 1: practical common sense too, perhaps at least as far as
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  Speaker 1: his own advancement was concerned, and he warned the victim,
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  Speaker 1: defeating his own work. This peculiarity of Muller's character caused
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  Speaker 1: his undoing at last, his official undoing, that is, and
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  Speaker 1: compelled his retirement from the force. But his advice is
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  Speaker 1: often sought unofficially by the Department, and to those who know,
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  Speaker 1: Muller's hand can be seen in the unraveling of many
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  Speaker 1: a famous case. The following stories are but a few
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  Speaker 1: of the many interesting cases that have come within the
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  Speaker 1: experience of this great detective, but they give a fair
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  Speaker 1: portrayal of Muller's peculiar method of working, his looking on
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  Speaker 1: himself as merely an humble member of the Department, and
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  Speaker 1: the comedy of his acting under official orders when the
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  Speaker 1: Department is in reality following out his directions and of
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  Speaker 1: introduction the case of the Pool of Blood in the
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  Speaker 1: Pasture's study, the sun rose slowly over the great bulk
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  Speaker 1: of the Carpathian mountains, lying along the horizon weird giant
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  Speaker 1: shapes in the early morning mist. It was still very
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  Speaker 1: quiet in the village. A cock crowed here and there,
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  Speaker 1: and swallows flew chirping close to the ground. Darting swiftly
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  Speaker 1: about preparing for their higher flight. Yancey, the shepherd, apparently
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  Speaker 1: the only human being already up, stood beside the brook,
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  Speaker 1: at the point where the old bridge spans the streamlet,
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  Speaker 1: still turbulent from the mountain floods. Yancey was cutting willows
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  Speaker 1: to make his market a new basket. Once the shepherd
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  Speaker 1: raised his head from his work, for he thought he
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  Speaker 1: heard a loud laugh somewhere in the distance, but all
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  Speaker 1: seemed silent, and he turned back to his willows. The
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  Speaker 1: beauty of the landscape about him was much too familiar
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  Speaker 1: a thing that he should have felt or seen its charm.
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  Speaker 1: The violet hue of the distant woods, the red gleaming
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  Speaker 1: of the heather strewn moor with its patches of swamp
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  Speaker 1: from which the slow mist arose. The pretty little village
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  Speaker 1: with its handsome old church and attractive rectory. Yancey had
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  Speaker 1: known it so long that he never stopped to realize
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  Speaker 1: how very charming in its gentle melancholy it all was. Also,
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  Speaker 1: Yancey did not know that this little village of his
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  Speaker 1: home had once been a flourishing city, and that an
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  Speaker 1: invasion of the Turks had raised it to the ground,
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  Speaker 1: leaving as by a miracle, only the church to tell
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  Speaker 1: of its former glories. The sun rose higher and higher,
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  Speaker 1: and now the village awoke to its daily life. Voices
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  Speaker 1: of cattle and noises of poultry were heard about the houses,
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  Speaker 1: and men and women began their accustomed round of tasks.
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  Speaker 1: Yancey found that he had gathered enough willow twigs by
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  Speaker 1: this time. He tied them into a loose bundle and
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  Speaker 1: started on his homeward way. His path led through wide
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  Speaker 1: stretched fields and vineyards, past a little hill some distance
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  Speaker 1: from the village, on which stood a small house. It
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  Speaker 1: was not a pleasant house to look at, not a
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  Speaker 1: house one would care to even live in if one
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  Speaker 1: did not know its use, For it looked bare and repellent,
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  Speaker 1: covered with its ugly yellow paint, and with all the
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  Speaker 1: windows secured with heavy iron bars. The trees that surrounded
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  Speaker 1: it were tall and thick, with foliage, casting an additional
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  Speaker 1: gloom over the forbidding appearance of the house at the
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  Speaker 1: front of the hill, with a high iron fence cutting
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  Speaker 1: off what lay behind it from all the rest of
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  Speaker 1: the world. For this ugly yellow house enclosed in its
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  Speaker 1: walls a goodly sum of hopeless, human misery and misfortune.
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  Speaker 1: It was an insane asylum. For twenty years now, the
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  Speaker 1: asylum had stood on its hill, a source of superstitious
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  Speaker 1: terror to the villagers, but at the same time a
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  Speaker 1: source of additional income. It meant money for them, for
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  Speaker 1: it afforded a constant and ever open market for their
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  Speaker 1: farm products and the output of their home industry. But
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  Speaker 1: every now and then a scream or a harsh laugh
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  Speaker 1: would ring out from behind those barred windows, and those
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  Speaker 1: in the village who could hear would shiver and cross themselves.
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  Speaker 1: Shepherd Yancey had little fear of the big house. His
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  Speaker 1: little hut cowered close by the high iron gates, and
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  Speaker 1: he had a personal acquaintance with most of the patients,
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  Speaker 1: with all the attendants, and most of all with the
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  Speaker 1: kind elderly physician who was the head of the establishment.
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  Speaker 1: Yancey knew them all, and had a kind word equally
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  Speaker 1: for all. But otherwise he was a silent man, living
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  Speaker 1: much within himself. When the shepherd reached his little home,
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  Speaker 1: his wife came to meet him with a call to breakfast.
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  Speaker 1: As they sat down at the table, a shadow moved
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  Speaker 1: past the little window. Yancey looked up. Who was that,
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  Speaker 1: asked Margaret, looking up from her folded hands. She had
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  Speaker 1: just finished her murmured prayer. Liska, replied Yancey, indifferently, beginning
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  Speaker 1: his meal. Liska was the local abbreviation for Elizabeth. In
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  Speaker 1: such a hurry, thought the shepherd's wife, her curiosity would
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  Speaker 1: not let her rest. I hope his reference isn't ill again,
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  Speaker 1: she remarked. After a while. Yancey did not hear her,
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  Speaker 1: for he was very busy picking a fly out of
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  Speaker 1: his cup of milk. Do you think Liska was going
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  Speaker 1: for the old Man? Began Margaret again after a few minutes.
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  Speaker 1: The Old Man was the name given by the people
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  Speaker 1: of the village, more as a term of endearment than
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  Speaker 1: anything else. To the generally loved and respected physician who
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  Speaker 1: was the head of the insane asylum. He had become
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  Speaker 1: general mentor and oracle of all the village, and was
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  Speaker 1: known and loved by man, woman and child. It's possible,
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  Speaker 1: answered Yancey, his reverence didn't look very well yesterday, or
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  Speaker 1: maybe the old housekeeper has looked out again. Yancey gave
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  Speaker 1: a grunt, which might have meant anything. The shepherd was
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  Speaker 1: a silent man. Being alone so much had taught him
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  Speaker 1: to find his own thoughts sufficient company. Ten minutes passed
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  Speaker 1: in silence since Margaret's last question. Then some one went
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  Speaker 1: past the window. There were two people, this time, Liska
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  Speaker 1: and the old doctor. They were walking very fast, running
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  Speaker 1: almost Margaret sprang up and hurried to the door to
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  Speaker 1: look after them. Yancey sat still in his place, but
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  Speaker 1: he laid aside his spoon, and with wide eyes, was
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  Speaker 1: staring ahead of him, murmuring, it's the pastor this time
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  Speaker 1: I saw him just as I did the others. Shepard,
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  Speaker 1: the innkeeper wants to see you. There's something the matter
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  Speaker 1: with his cow. Count Blank, a young man coming from
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  Speaker 1: the other direction and pushing in at the door past
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  Speaker 1: Margaret stood there, staring up the road. Yancey was so
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  Speaker 1: deep in his own thoughts that he apparently did not
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  Speaker 1: hear the boy's words at all. Events. He did not
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  Speaker 1: answer them, but himself asked an unexpected question, a question
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  Speaker 1: that was not addressed to the others in the room,
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  Speaker 1: but to something out and beyond them. It was a
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  Speaker 1: strange question, and it came from the lips of a
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  Speaker 1: man whose mind was not with his body. At the
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  Speaker 1: moment whose mind saw what others did not. Who will
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  Speaker 1: be next to go? And who will be our pastor? Now?
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  Speaker 1: These were Yancey's words. What are you talking about, Shepherd?
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  Speaker 1: Is it another one of your visions? Exclaimed the young
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  Speaker 1: man who stood there before him. Yancey rubbed his hands
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  Speaker 1: over his eyes and seemed to come down to earth
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  Speaker 1: with a start. Oh is that you, friends? What do
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  Speaker 1: you want of me? The boy gave his message again,
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  Speaker 1: and Yancey nodded good humoredly and followed him out of
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  Speaker 1: the house. But both he and his young companion were
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  Speaker 1: very thoughtful as they plodded along the way. The boy
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  Speaker 1: did not dare to ask any questions, for he knew
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  Speaker 1: that the shepherd was not likely to answer. There was
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  Speaker 1: a silent understanding among the villagers that no one should
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  Speaker 1: annoy Yancey in any way, for they stood in strange
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  Speaker 1: awe of him, although he was the most good natured
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  Speaker 1: mortal under the sun. While the shepherd and the boy
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  Speaker 1: walked toward the inn, the old doctor and Liska had
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  Speaker 1: hurried onward to the rectory. They were met at the
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  Speaker 1: door by the aged housekeeper, who staggered down the path
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  Speaker 1: wringing her hands, unable to voice anything but inarticulate expressions
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  Speaker 1: of grief and terror. The rest of the household and
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  Speaker 1: the farm hands were gathered in a frightened group in
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  Speaker 1: the great courtyard of the stately rectory, which had once
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  Speaker 1: been a convent building. The physician hurried up the stairs
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  Speaker 1: into the pastor's apartments. These were high, sunny and airy rooms,
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  Speaker 1: with arched ceilings, deep window seats, great heavy doors, and
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  Speaker 1: handsomely ornamented stoves. The simple modern furniture appeared still more
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  Speaker 1: plain and commonplace by contrast with the huge spaces of
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  Speaker 1: the building. In one of the rooms, a gendarme was
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  Speaker 1: standing beside the window. The man saluted the physician, then
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  Speaker 1: shrugged his shoulders with an expression of hopelessness. The doctor
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  Speaker 1: returned a silent greeting and passed through into the next apartment.
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  Speaker 1: The old man was paler than usual, and his face
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  Speaker 1: bore an expression of pain and surprise, the same expression
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  Speaker 1: that showed in the faces of those gathered downstairs. The
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  Speaker 1: room he now entered was large, like the others, the
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  Speaker 1: walls handsomely decorated, and every corner of it was flooded
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  Speaker 1: with sunshine. There were two men in this room, the
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  Speaker 1: village magistrate and the notary. Their expression as they held
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  Speaker 1: their hands out to the doctor showed that his coming
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  Speaker 1: brought great relief. And there was something else in the room,
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  Speaker 1: something that drew the eyes of all of the men
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  Speaker 1: immediately after their silent greeting. This was a great pool
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  Speaker 1: of blood, which lay as a hit a stain on
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  Speaker 1: the otherwise clean, yellow painted floor. The blood must have
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  Speaker 1: flowed from a dreadful wound, from a severed artery. Even
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  Speaker 1: the doctor thought there was such a quantity of it,
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  Speaker 1: it had already dried and darkened, making its terrifying ugliness
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  Speaker 1: the more apparent. This is the third murder in two years,
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  Speaker 1: said the magistrate in a low voice, and the most
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  Speaker 1: mysterious of them all, added the clerk. Yes, it is,
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  Speaker 1: said the doctor. And there is not a trace of
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  Speaker 1: the body, you say, nor a clue as to where
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  Speaker 1: they might have taken the dead or dying man. With
• 16:41
  Speaker 1: these words, he looked carefully round the room, but there
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  Speaker 1: was no more blood to be seen anywhere. Any spot
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  Speaker 1: would have been clearly visible on the light colored floor.
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  Speaker 1: There was nothing else to tell of the horrible crime
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  Speaker 1: that had been committed here. Nothing but the great hideous
• 16:58
  Speaker 1: brown red spot the middle of the room. Have you
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  Speaker 1: made a thorough search for the body, asked the doctor.
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  Speaker 1: The magistrate shook his head. No, I have done nothing
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  Speaker 1: to speak of yet we have been waiting for you.
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  Speaker 1: There is a gendarme at the gate. No one can
• 17:15
  Speaker 1: go in or out without being seen. Very well, then,
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  Speaker 1: let us begin our search now. The magistrate and his
• 17:23
  Speaker 1: companion turned towards the door of the room, but the
• 17:27
  Speaker 1: doctor motioned them to come back. I see you do
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  Speaker 1: not know the house as well as I do, he said,
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  Speaker 1: and led the way towards a niche in the side
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  Speaker 1: of the wall, which was partially filled by a high bookcase. Ah,
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  Speaker 1: that is the entrance of the passage to the church,
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  Speaker 1: asked the magistrate in surprise. Yes, this is it. The
• 17:49
  Speaker 1: door is not locked. You mean you believe that the
• 17:53
  Speaker 1: murderers came in from the church. Why not? It is
• 17:57
  Speaker 1: quite possible to think of such a thing, exclaimed the
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  Speaker 1: notary with a shake of his head. The doctor laughed bitterly.
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  Speaker 1: To those who are planning a murder, a church is
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  Speaker 1: no more than any other place. There is a bolt here,
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  Speaker 1: as you see. I will close this bolt now. Then
• 18:17
  Speaker 1: we can leave the room, knowing that no one can
• 18:19
  Speaker 1: enter it without being seen. The simple furniture of the study,
• 18:24
  Speaker 1: a desk, a sofa, a couple of chairs, and several
• 18:27
  Speaker 1: bookcases gave no chance of any hiding place, either for
• 18:32
  Speaker 1: the body of the victim or for the murderers. When
• 18:36
  Speaker 1: the men left the room, the magistrate locked the door
• 18:39
  Speaker 1: and put the key in his own pocket. The gendarme
• 18:42
  Speaker 1: in the neighboring apartment was sent down to stand in
• 18:45
  Speaker 1: the courtyard at the entrance to the house. The sexton,
• 18:49
  Speaker 1: a little hunchback, was ordered to remain in the vestry
• 18:53
  Speaker 1: at the other end of the passage from the church
• 18:55
  Speaker 1: to the house. Then the thorough search of the house began.
• 19:01
  Speaker 1: Every room in both stories, every corner of the attic
• 19:04
  Speaker 1: and cellar was looked over thoroughly. The stable, the barns,
• 19:09
  Speaker 1: the garden, and even the wall underwent a close examination.
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  Speaker 1: There was no trace of a body anywhere, not even
• 19:17
  Speaker 1: a trail of blood, nothing which would give the slightest
• 19:21
  Speaker 1: clue as to how the murderers had entered, how they
• 19:25
  Speaker 1: had fled, or what they had done with their victim.
• 19:29
  Speaker 1: The great gate of the courtyard was closed. The men
• 19:33
  Speaker 1: reinforced by farm hands, entered the church, while Liska and
• 19:37
  Speaker 1: the dairy maids huddled in the servants dining room in
• 19:41
  Speaker 1: a trembling group around the old housekeeper. The search in
• 19:45
  Speaker 1: the church, as well as in the vestry, was equally
• 19:48
  Speaker 1: in vain. There was no trace to be found there
• 19:52
  Speaker 1: any more than in the house and of section one,
• 20:04
  Speaker 1: Section two the case of the Pool of Blood in
• 20:06
  Speaker 1: the Pasture's Study by Grace Isabel Colbron and Augusta Groner.
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  Speaker 1: This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Meanwhile, during
• 20:17
  Speaker 1: these hours of anxious seeking, the rumor of another terrible
• 20:21
  Speaker 1: crime had spread through the village, and a crowd that
• 20:24
  Speaker 1: grew from minute to minute gathered in front of the
• 20:27
  Speaker 1: closed gates to the rectory in front of the church,
• 20:31
  Speaker 1: the closed doors of which did not open, although it
• 20:34
  Speaker 1: was high feast day. The utter silence from the steeple
• 20:38
  Speaker 1: where the bells hung mute, added to the spreading terror. Finally,
• 20:43
  Speaker 1: the doctor came out from the rectory, accompanied by the magistrate,
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  Speaker 1: and announced to the waiting villagers that their venerable pastor
• 20:51
  Speaker 1: had disappeared, under circumstances which left no doubt that he
• 20:56
  Speaker 1: had met his death at the hands of a murderer.
• 20:59
  Speaker 1: The peasants listened in shuddering silence, the men pale faced,
• 21:04
  Speaker 1: the women sobbing aloud, with frightened children hanging to their skirts. Then,
• 21:10
  Speaker 1: at the magistrate's order, the crowds slowly dispersed, going to
• 21:14
  Speaker 1: their homes, while a messenger was sent off to the
• 21:16
  Speaker 1: nearby county seat. It was a weird, sad easter Monday.
• 21:22
  Speaker 1: Even nature seemed to feel the pressure of the brooding horror,
• 21:25
  Speaker 1: for heavy clouds piled up toward noon, and a chilly
• 21:29
  Speaker 1: wind blew fitfully from the north, bending the young corn
• 21:33
  Speaker 1: and the creaking tree tops, and moaning about the straw
• 21:36
  Speaker 1: covered roofs. Then an icy, cold rain descended on the village,
• 21:42
  Speaker 1: sending the children, the only humans still unconscious of the
• 21:45
  Speaker 1: fear that had come on them, all into the quiet
• 21:49
  Speaker 1: houses to play in a corner by the hearth. There
• 21:53
  Speaker 1: was nothing else spoken of wherever two or three met
• 21:56
  Speaker 1: together throughout the village, except this dreadful, una explainable thing
• 22:01
  Speaker 1: that had happened in the rectory. The little village inn
• 22:04
  Speaker 1: was full to overflowing, and the hum of voices within
• 22:08
  Speaker 1: was like the noise of an excited beehive. Everyone had
• 22:12
  Speaker 1: some new explanation, some new guess, and it was not
• 22:16
  Speaker 1: until the notary arrived, looking even more important than usual,
• 22:21
  Speaker 1: that silence fell upon the excited throng. But the expectations
• 22:26
  Speaker 1: aroused by his coming were not fulfilled. The notary knew
• 22:30
  Speaker 1: no more than the others, although he had been one
• 22:33
  Speaker 1: of the searchers in the rectory, But he was in
• 22:36
  Speaker 1: no haste to disclose his ignorance, and sat wrapped in
• 22:40
  Speaker 1: a dignified silence until some one found courage enough to
• 22:44
  Speaker 1: ask him. Was there nothing stolen? He was asked, no, nothing,
• 22:50
  Speaker 1: as far as we can tell. But if it was
• 22:53
  Speaker 1: the Gypsies, as may be likely, they are content with
• 22:56
  Speaker 1: so little that it would not be noticed. Gypsies, exclaimed
• 23:01
  Speaker 1: one of the men, scornfully. It doesn't have to be gypsies.
• 23:05
  Speaker 1: We've got enough tramps and vagabonds of our own. Didn't
• 23:09
  Speaker 1: they kill the peddler for the sake of a bag
• 23:11
  Speaker 1: of tobacco, and old Katiza for a couple of hens.
• 23:16
  Speaker 1: Why do you rake up things that happened twenty years ago,
• 23:19
  Speaker 1: cried another over the table. You'd better tell us rather,
• 23:23
  Speaker 1: who killed Red Betty and who pulled Gianos, the smith's
• 23:27
  Speaker 1: farm hand, down into the swamp. Yes, or who cut
• 23:30
  Speaker 1: the bridge supports when the brook was in flood, so
• 23:33
  Speaker 1: that two good cows broke through and drowned. Yes, indeed,
• 23:37
  Speaker 1: if we only knew what band of robbers and villains
• 23:40
  Speaker 1: it is that is ravaging our village, and they haven't
• 23:44
  Speaker 1: stopped yet. Evidently this is the worse misfortune of all.
• 23:49
  Speaker 1: What will our poor do now that they have murdered
• 23:51
  Speaker 1: our good pastor, who cared for us all like a father.
• 23:56
  Speaker 1: He gave all he had to the poor. He kept
• 23:59
  Speaker 1: nothing for himself. Yes, indeed, that's how it was. And
• 24:04
  Speaker 1: now we can't even give this good man Christian burial.
• 24:08
  Speaker 1: Shepherd Yancey knew this morning early that we were going
• 24:12
  Speaker 1: to have a new pastor, whispered the landlord in the
• 24:15
  Speaker 1: notary's ear. The latter looked up, astonished. Who said so?
• 24:20
  Speaker 1: He asked my boy friends, who went to fetch him.
• 24:23
  Speaker 1: About seven o'clock, one of ma cow's was sick. Friends
• 24:28
  Speaker 1: was sent for and told his story. The men listened
• 24:31
  Speaker 1: with great interest, and the smith, a broad shouldered elderly man,
• 24:36
  Speaker 1: was particularly eager to hear, as he had always believed
• 24:40
  Speaker 1: in the shepherd's power of second sight. The tailor, who
• 24:44
  Speaker 1: was more modern minded, laughed and made his jokes at this,
• 24:49
  Speaker 1: but the Smith laid one mighty hand on the other's shoulder,
• 24:53
  Speaker 1: almost crushing the tailor's slight form under its weight, and said, gravely, friend,
• 24:59
  Speaker 1: do you be s in this matter? You've come from
• 25:02
  Speaker 1: other parts, and you do not know of things that
• 25:04
  Speaker 1: have happened here in days gone by. Yancey can do
• 25:08
  Speaker 1: more than take care of his sheep. One day, when
• 25:12
  Speaker 1: my little girl was playing in the street, he said
• 25:14
  Speaker 1: to me, have a care with Marishka Smith, And three
• 25:18
  Speaker 1: days later the child was dead. The evening before Red
• 25:23
  Speaker 1: Betty was murdered, he saw her in a vision, lying
• 25:26
  Speaker 1: in a coffin in front of her door. He told
• 25:28
  Speaker 1: it to the sexton, whom he met in the fields,
• 25:31
  Speaker 1: and next day they found Betty dead. And there are
• 25:35
  Speaker 1: many more things that I could tell you. But what's
• 25:38
  Speaker 1: the use when a man won't believe it's only lost
• 25:41
  Speaker 1: talk to try to make him. But one thing you
• 25:44
  Speaker 1: should know. When Yancey stares ahead of him without seeing
• 25:48
  Speaker 1: what's in front of him, then the whole village begins
• 25:51
  Speaker 1: to wonder what's going to happen, for Yancey knows far
• 25:55
  Speaker 1: more than all the rest of us put together. The
• 25:59
  Speaker 1: smith's gray, deep voice filled the room, and the others
• 26:02
  Speaker 1: listened in silence that gave assent to his words. He
• 26:07
  Speaker 1: had scarcely finished speaking, however, when there was a noise
• 26:11
  Speaker 1: of galloping hoofs and rapidly rolling wagon wheels. A tall
• 26:15
  Speaker 1: brake drawn by four handsome horses, dashed past in a whirlwind.
• 26:21
  Speaker 1: It's the Count, the Count and the district judge, said
• 26:25
  Speaker 1: the landlord, in a tone of respect. The notary made
• 26:29
  Speaker 1: a grab at his hat and umbrella and hurried from
• 26:31
  Speaker 1: the room. That shows how much they thought of our pastor,
• 26:36
  Speaker 1: continued the landlord proudly. For the Count himself has come,
• 26:40
  Speaker 1: and with four horses too, to get here more quickly.
• 26:45
  Speaker 1: His reverence was a great friend of the countess. They
• 26:48
  Speaker 1: didn't make so much fuss over the peddler, and Betty
• 26:51
  Speaker 1: murmured the cobbler, who suffered from a perpetual slouch. But
• 26:56
  Speaker 1: he followed the others, who paid their scores hastily, and
• 27:00
  Speaker 1: went out into the streets that they might watch from
• 27:03
  Speaker 1: a distance at least what was going on in the rectory.
• 27:07
  Speaker 1: The landlord bustled about in the inn to have everything
• 27:10
  Speaker 1: in readiness in case the gentleman should honor him by
• 27:13
  Speaker 1: taking a meal and perhaps even lodgings at his house.
• 27:18
  Speaker 1: At the gate of the rectory, the coachman and the
• 27:21
  Speaker 1: maid Liska stood to receive the newcomers, just as five
• 27:25
  Speaker 1: o'clock was striking from the steeple. It should have been
• 27:29
  Speaker 1: still quite light, but it was already dusk, for the
• 27:32
  Speaker 1: clouds hung heavy. The rain had ceased, but the heavy
• 27:36
  Speaker 1: wind came up, which tore the delicate petals of the
• 27:39
  Speaker 1: blossoms from the fruit trees and strewed them like snow
• 27:43
  Speaker 1: on the ground beneath. The Count, who was the head
• 27:47
  Speaker 1: of one of the richest and most aristocratic families in Hungary,
• 27:52
  Speaker 1: threw off his heavy fur coat and hastened up the
• 27:55
  Speaker 1: stairs at the top of which his old friend in confidant,
• 27:59
  Speaker 1: the Venerable Pastor, usually came to meet him. To day,
• 28:04
  Speaker 1: it was only the local magistrate who stood there, bowing deeply.
• 28:09
  Speaker 1: This is incredible, incredible, exclaimed the count. It is, indeed, sir,
• 28:14
  Speaker 1: said the man, leading the magnate through the dining room
• 28:18
  Speaker 1: into the pastor's study, where as far as could be seen,
• 28:22
  Speaker 1: the murder had been committed. They were joined by the
• 28:25
  Speaker 1: district judge, who had remained behind, to give an order
• 28:29
  Speaker 1: sending a carriage to the nearest railway station. The judge,
• 28:34
  Speaker 1: too was seriously and deeply shocked, for he also had
• 28:38
  Speaker 1: greatly admired and revered the old pastor. The stately rectory
• 28:43
  Speaker 1: had been the scene of many a jovial gathering when
• 28:46
  Speaker 1: the lord of the manor had made it a center
• 28:48
  Speaker 1: for a day's hunting with his friends. The bearers of
• 28:52
  Speaker 1: some of the proudest names in all Hungary had gathered
• 28:56
  Speaker 1: in the high arched rooms to laugh with the venerable
• 28:59
  Speaker 1: pastor and to sample the excellent wines in his cellar.
• 29:04
  Speaker 1: These wines, which the gentlemen themselves would send in as
• 29:07
  Speaker 1: presents to the master of the rectory, would be carefully
• 29:10
  Speaker 1: preserved for their own enjoyment. Not a landed proprietor for
• 29:15
  Speaker 1: many leagues around, but knew and loved the old pastor,
• 29:19
  Speaker 1: who had now so strangely disappeared under such terrifying circumstances.
• 29:25
  Speaker 1: Well we might as well begin our examination, remarked the count.
• 29:29
  Speaker 1: Although if doctor Orsey's sharp eyes do not find anything.
• 29:33
  Speaker 1: I doubt very much if we will. You have asked
• 29:37
  Speaker 1: the doctor to come here again, haven't you, Yes, your grace.
• 29:41
  Speaker 1: As soon as I saw you coming, I sent the
• 29:43
  Speaker 1: sexton to the asylum. Then the men went into the
• 29:47
  Speaker 1: room which had been the scene of the mysterious crime.
• 29:51
  Speaker 1: The wind rattled the open window and blew out its
• 29:54
  Speaker 1: white curtains. It was already dark in the corners of
• 29:57
  Speaker 1: the room one could see, but in distinctly the carvings
• 30:01
  Speaker 1: of the wainscoating, the light backs of the books, or
• 30:05
  Speaker 1: the gold lettering on the dark bindings made spots of
• 30:09
  Speaker 1: brightness in the gloom. The hideous pool of blood in
• 30:13
  Speaker 1: the center of the floor was still plainly to be seen.
• 30:17
  Speaker 1: Judging by the loss of blood, death must have come quickly.
• 30:22
  Speaker 1: There was no struggle, evidently, for everything in the room
• 30:25
  Speaker 1: was in perfect order when we entered it. There was
• 30:29
  Speaker 1: not even a chair misplaced. His Bible is there on
• 30:32
  Speaker 1: the desk. He may have been preparing for today's sermon. Yes,
• 30:37
  Speaker 1: that is the case, because see here are some of
• 30:40
  Speaker 1: his notes in his handwriting. The Count and Judge von
• 30:44
  Speaker 1: Cormandy spoke these sentences at intervals as they made their
• 30:49
  Speaker 1: examination of the room. The local magistrate was able to
• 30:53
  Speaker 1: answer one or two simpler questions, but for the most
• 30:56
  Speaker 1: part he could only shrug his shoulders in helplessness. Nothing
• 31:01
  Speaker 1: had been seen or heard that was at all unusual
• 31:04
  Speaker 1: during the night in the rectory. When the old housekeeper
• 31:09
  Speaker 1: was called up, she could say nothing more than this. Indeed,
• 31:13
  Speaker 1: it was almost impossible for the old woman to say anything.
• 31:17
  Speaker 1: Her voice was choked with sobs every second word. None
• 31:22
  Speaker 1: of the household force had noticed anything unusual or could
• 31:26
  Speaker 1: remember anything at all that would throw light on this mystery. Well, then, sir,
• 31:32
  Speaker 1: we might as well just sit down and wait for
• 31:34
  Speaker 1: the detective's arrival, said the judge. You are waiting for
• 31:38
  Speaker 1: some one besides, the doctor, asked the local magistrate timidly. Yes,
• 31:44
  Speaker 1: his grace telegraph to Budapest, answered the district judge, looking
• 31:48
  Speaker 1: at his watch, And if the train is on time,
• 31:51
  Speaker 1: the man we are waiting for ought to be here
• 31:53
  Speaker 1: in an hour. You sent the carriage to the station,
• 31:56
  Speaker 1: didn't you. Is the driver reliable? Yes, sir, he is
• 32:01
  Speaker 1: a dependable man, said the old housekeeper. Doctor Orsey entered
• 32:06
  Speaker 1: the room just then, and the Count introduced him to
• 32:09
  Speaker 1: the district judge. Who was still a stranger to him.
• 32:13
  Speaker 1: I fear, Count, that our eyes will serve but little
• 32:16
  Speaker 1: in discovering the truth of this mystery, said the doctor.
• 32:21
  Speaker 1: The nobleman nodded. I agree with you, he replied, and
• 32:25
  Speaker 1: I have sent for sharper eyes than either yours or mine.
• 32:29
  Speaker 1: The doctor looked his question, and the Count continued. When
• 32:33
  Speaker 1: the news came to me, I telegraphed to Budapest for
• 32:36
  Speaker 1: a police detective, telling them that the case was peculiar
• 32:40
  Speaker 1: and urgent. I received an answer as I stopped at
• 32:43
  Speaker 1: the station on my way here. This is it, Detective
• 32:47
  Speaker 1: Joseph Muller from Vienna in Budapest. By chance have sent
• 32:52
  Speaker 1: him to take your case. Muller exclaimed, Doctor. Orse, can
• 32:58
  Speaker 1: it be the celebrated Muller, the most famous detective of
• 33:02
  Speaker 1: the Austrian police. That would indeed be a blessing. I
• 33:06
  Speaker 1: hope and believe that it is, said the Count gravely.
• 33:10
  Speaker 1: I have heard of this man, and we need such
• 33:12
  Speaker 1: a one here that we may find the source of
• 33:15
  Speaker 1: these many misfortunes which have overwhelmed our peaceful village for
• 33:19
  Speaker 1: two years past. It is indeed a stroke of good
• 33:23
  Speaker 1: luck that has led a man of such gifts into
• 33:26
  Speaker 1: our neighborhood at a time when he is so greatly needed.
• 33:30
  Speaker 1: I believe personally that it is the same person or
• 33:34
  Speaker 1: persons who have been the perpetrators of all these outrages,
• 33:38
  Speaker 1: and I intend once for all to put a stop
• 33:41
  Speaker 1: to it. Let it cost what it may. If any
• 33:45
  Speaker 1: one can discover the truth, it will be Mueller, said
• 33:48
  Speaker 1: the district judge. It was I who told the count
• 33:52
  Speaker 1: how fortunate we were that this man, who is known
• 33:55
  Speaker 1: to the police throughout Austria and far beyond the borders
• 33:58
  Speaker 1: of our kingdom, should have chanced to be in Budapest
• 34:02
  Speaker 1: and free to come to us when we called you
• 34:05
  Speaker 1: and I, he turned with a smile to the local magistrate.
• 34:09
  Speaker 1: You and I can get away with the usual cases
• 34:12
  Speaker 1: of local brutality hereabouts, but the cunning that is at
• 34:16
  Speaker 1: the bottom of these crimes is one too many for us.
• 34:21
  Speaker 1: The men had taken their place around the great dining table.
• 34:24
  Speaker 1: The old housekeeper had crept out again, her terror, making
• 34:28
  Speaker 1: her forget her usual hospitality, and indeed it would not
• 34:32
  Speaker 1: have occurred to the guests to ask, or even to
• 34:35
  Speaker 1: wish for any refreshment. The maid brought a lamp which
• 34:39
  Speaker 1: sent its weak rays scarcely beyond the edges of the
• 34:42
  Speaker 1: big table. The four men sat in silence for some time.
• 34:47
  Speaker 1: I suppose it would be useless to ask who has
• 34:50
  Speaker 1: been coming and going from the rectory for the last
• 34:52
  Speaker 1: few days, began the count. Oh. Yes, indeed, sir, said
• 34:57
  Speaker 1: the district judge, with a sigh. For if the murderer
• 35:01
  Speaker 1: is the same who committed the other crimes, he must
• 35:03
  Speaker 1: live here in or near the village, and therefore must
• 35:07
  Speaker 1: be known to all and not likely to excite suspicion.
• 35:11
  Speaker 1: I beg your pardon, sir, put in the doctor. There
• 35:14
  Speaker 1: must be at least two of them. One man alone
• 35:17
  Speaker 1: could not have carried off the farm hand who was
• 35:20
  Speaker 1: killed to the swamp where his body was found. Nor
• 35:23
  Speaker 1: could one man alone have taken the bloody body of
• 35:26
  Speaker 1: our pastor. Our venerable friend was a man of size
• 35:30
  Speaker 1: and weight, as you know, and one man alone could
• 35:34
  Speaker 1: not have dragged his body from the room without leaving
• 35:37
  Speaker 1: an easily seen trail. The judge blushed, but he nodded
• 35:42
  Speaker 1: in affirmation to the doctor's words. This thought had not
• 35:46
  Speaker 1: occurred to him before. In fact, the judge was more
• 35:50
  Speaker 1: notable for his good will and his love of justice
• 35:54
  Speaker 1: rather than his sense of keen intelligence. He was as
• 35:58
  Speaker 1: well aware of this as anyone else, and he was
• 36:02
  Speaker 1: heartily glad that the Count had sent to the Capitol
• 36:05
  Speaker 1: for reinforcements. And of section two section three of the
• 36:17
  Speaker 1: Case of the Pool of Blood in the Pasture's Study
• 36:20
  Speaker 1: by Grace Isabel Colbron and Augusta Groener. This LibriVox recording
• 36:26
  Speaker 1: is in the public domain. Some time more passed in
• 36:30
  Speaker 1: deep silence. Each of the men was occupied with his
• 36:33
  Speaker 1: own thoughts. A sigh broke the silence now and then,
• 36:37
  Speaker 1: and a slight movement when one or the other drew
• 36:40
  Speaker 1: out his watch or raised his head to look at
• 36:43
  Speaker 1: the door. Finally, the sound of a carriage outside was heard.
• 36:47
  Speaker 1: The men sprang up. The driver's voice was heard, then
• 36:52
  Speaker 1: steps which ascended the stairs, lowly and lightly audible only
• 36:56
  Speaker 1: because of the great stillness. The door opened, and a small, slight,
• 37:02
  Speaker 1: smooth shaven man with gentle face and keen gray eyes
• 37:06
  Speaker 1: stood on the threshold. I am Joseph Muller, he said
• 37:10
  Speaker 1: with a low, soft voice. The four men of the
• 37:13
  Speaker 1: room looked at him in astonishment. This simple looking individual
• 37:19
  Speaker 1: is the man that every one is afraid of, thought
• 37:22
  Speaker 1: the Count, as he walked forward and held out his
• 37:25
  Speaker 1: hand to the stranger. I sent for you, mister Muller,
• 37:28
  Speaker 1: said the magnate, conscious of his stately size and appearance,
• 37:33
  Speaker 1: as well as of his importance in the presence of
• 37:36
  Speaker 1: a personage who so little looked what his great fame
• 37:39
  Speaker 1: might have led one to expect. Then you are a count, blank,
• 37:44
  Speaker 1: answered Muller gently. I was in Budapest, having just finished
• 37:48
  Speaker 1: a difficult case which took me there. They told me
• 37:52
  Speaker 1: that a mysterious crime had happened in your neighborhood, and
• 37:55
  Speaker 1: sent me here to take charge of it. You will
• 37:58
  Speaker 1: pardon any ignorance I am may show as a stranger
• 38:01
  Speaker 1: to this locality. I will do my best, and it
• 38:04
  Speaker 1: may be possible that I can help you. The Count
• 38:08
  Speaker 1: introduced the other gentlemen in order, and they sat down
• 38:11
  Speaker 1: again at the table. And now what is it you
• 38:14
  Speaker 1: want of me, count asked Muller. There was a murder
• 38:18
  Speaker 1: committed in this house, answered the Count, when last night?
• 38:24
  Speaker 1: Who is the victim? Our pastor? How was he killed?
• 38:29
  Speaker 1: We do not know. You are not a physician, then
• 38:32
  Speaker 1: asked Muller, turning to orseay, yes, I am answered the latter. Well,
• 38:39
  Speaker 1: the body is missing, said Orsey, somewhat sharply missing. Muller
• 38:44
  Speaker 1: became greatly interested. Will you please lead me to the
• 38:48
  Speaker 1: scene of the crime, he said, rising from his chair.
• 38:52
  Speaker 1: The others led him into the next room, the magistrate
• 38:55
  Speaker 1: going ahead with a lamp. The judge called for more lights,
• 39:00
  Speaker 1: and the group stood around the pool of blood on
• 39:02
  Speaker 1: the floor of the study. Muller's arms were crossed on
• 39:06
  Speaker 1: his breast as he stood looking down at the hideous spot.
• 39:10
  Speaker 1: There was no terror in his eyes, as in those
• 39:13
  Speaker 1: of the others, but only a keen attention and a
• 39:16
  Speaker 1: lively interest. Who has been in this room since the discovery?
• 39:21
  Speaker 1: He asked? The doctor replied that only the servants of
• 39:25
  Speaker 1: the immediate household, the notary, the magistrate, and himself. Then
• 39:30
  Speaker 1: later the count and the district judge entered the room.
• 39:34
  Speaker 1: You are quite certain that no one else has been
• 39:36
  Speaker 1: in here, no no one else. Will you kindly send
• 39:40
  Speaker 1: for the three servants the magistrate left the room. Who
• 39:44
  Speaker 1: else lives in the house? The sexton and the dairymaid,
• 39:48
  Speaker 1: And no one else has left the house to day
• 39:51
  Speaker 1: or has entered it. No one the main door has
• 39:55
  Speaker 1: been watched all day by a gendarme. Is there but
• 39:58
  Speaker 1: one door out of this room? No? There is a
• 40:01
  Speaker 1: small door beside the bookcase. Where does it lead to?
• 40:06
  Speaker 1: It leads to a passageway at the end of which
• 40:09
  Speaker 1: there is a stair down into the vestry. Muller gave
• 40:13
  Speaker 1: an exclamation of surprise. The vestry as well as the church,
• 40:18
  Speaker 1: have neither of them been opened on the side towards
• 40:21
  Speaker 1: the street. The church or the vestry? You mean, corrected Muller.
• 40:26
  Speaker 1: How many doors have they on the street side? One each?
• 40:30
  Speaker 1: The locks on these doors were in good condition, Yes,
• 40:34
  Speaker 1: they were untouched. Was there anything stolen from the church, No,
• 40:40
  Speaker 1: nothing that we could see. Was the pastor rich? No,
• 40:44
  Speaker 1: he was almost a poor man, for he gave away
• 40:47
  Speaker 1: all that he had. But you were his patron, count
• 40:51
  Speaker 1: I was his friend. He was the confidential adviser of
• 40:54
  Speaker 1: myself and my family. This would mean rich presents now
• 40:59
  Speaker 1: and then, would it not. No, that is not the case.
• 41:03
  Speaker 1: Our venerable pastor would take nothing for himself. He would
• 41:06
  Speaker 1: accept no presents but gifts of money for his poor.
• 41:10
  Speaker 1: Then you do not believe this to have been a
• 41:13
  Speaker 1: murder for the sake of a robbery? No, there was
• 41:17
  Speaker 1: nothing disturbed in any part of the house, no drawers
• 41:20
  Speaker 1: or cupboards broken open at all. Muller smiled. I have
• 41:25
  Speaker 1: heard it said that your romantic Hungarian bandits will often
• 41:29
  Speaker 1: be satisfied with the small booty they may find in
• 41:32
  Speaker 1: the pocket or on the person of their victim. You
• 41:36
  Speaker 1: are right, mister Muller, but that is only when they
• 41:39
  Speaker 1: can find nothing else, or perhaps if it is a
• 41:42
  Speaker 1: case of revenge, it cannot be revenge. In this case,
• 41:47
  Speaker 1: the pastor was greatly loved. He was loved and revered
• 41:52
  Speaker 1: by every one. By every one, the four men answered
• 41:56
  Speaker 1: at once. Muller was still a while, his eyes were
• 42:01
  Speaker 1: veiled and his face thoughtful. Finally he raised his head.
• 42:06
  Speaker 1: There has been nothing moved or changed in this room,
• 42:10
  Speaker 1: no neither here nor anywhere else in the house or
• 42:13
  Speaker 1: the church, answered the local magistrate. That is good. Now
• 42:18
  Speaker 1: I would like to question the servants. Muller had already
• 42:21
  Speaker 1: started for the door. Then he turned back into the room, and,
• 42:25
  Speaker 1: pointing toward the second door, he asked, is that door locked? Yes,
• 42:31
  Speaker 1: answered the count I found it locked when I examined
• 42:34
  Speaker 1: it myself a short time ago. It was locked on
• 42:37
  Speaker 1: the inside. Yes, locked on the inside. Very well, then,
• 42:42
  Speaker 1: we have nothing more to do here for the time being.
• 42:45
  Speaker 1: Let us go back into the dining room. The men
• 42:49
  Speaker 1: returned to the dining room, Muller last, for he stopped
• 42:52
  Speaker 1: to lock the door of the study and put the
• 42:55
  Speaker 1: key in his pocket. Then he began his examination of
• 42:59
  Speaker 1: the servants. The old housekeeper, who as usual was the
• 43:04
  Speaker 1: first to arise in the household, had also as usual,
• 43:08
  Speaker 1: rung the bell to waken the other servants. Then, when
• 43:11
  Speaker 1: Liska came downstairs, she had sent her up to the
• 43:14
  Speaker 1: pastor's room. His bedroom was to the right of the
• 43:19
  Speaker 1: dining room. Liska had, as usual, knocked on the door
• 43:23
  Speaker 1: exactly at seven o'clock and continued knocking for some few
• 43:27
  Speaker 1: minutes without receiving any answer. Slightly alarmed, the girl had
• 43:32
  Speaker 1: gone back and told the housekeeper that the pastor did
• 43:35
  Speaker 1: not answer. Then the old woman asked the coachman to
• 43:39
  Speaker 1: go up and see if anything was the matter with
• 43:42
  Speaker 1: the reverend gentleman. The man returned in a few moments,
• 43:46
  Speaker 1: paling and trembling in every limb, and apparently struck dumb
• 43:51
  Speaker 1: by fright. He motioned the women to follow him, and
• 43:55
  Speaker 1: all three crept up the stairs. The coachman led them
• 43:58
  Speaker 1: first to the pastor's bed, which was untouched, and then
• 44:02
  Speaker 1: to the pool of blood in his study. The sight
• 44:06
  Speaker 1: of the latter frightened the servants so much that they
• 44:09
  Speaker 1: did not notice at first that there was no sign
• 44:12
  Speaker 1: of the pastor himself, whom they knew must have been murdered.
• 44:17
  Speaker 1: When they finally came to themselves sufficiently to take some action,
• 44:21
  Speaker 1: the man hurried off to call the magistrate, and Liska
• 44:24
  Speaker 1: ran to the asylum to fetch the old doctor, the
• 44:27
  Speaker 1: pastor's intimate friend. The aged housekeeper, trembling in fear, crept
• 44:33
  Speaker 1: back to her own room and sat there waiting the
• 44:36
  Speaker 1: return of the others. This was the story of the
• 44:39
  Speaker 1: early morning, as told by the three servants, who had
• 44:43
  Speaker 1: already given their report in much the same words to
• 44:46
  Speaker 1: the Count on his arrival, and also to the magistrate.
• 44:50
  Speaker 1: There was no reason to doubt the words of either
• 44:53
  Speaker 1: the old housekeeper or of Janus, the coachman, who had
• 44:57
  Speaker 1: served more than twenty years in the rectory, and whose
• 45:00
  Speaker 1: fidelity was known. The girl Liska was scarcely eighteen, and
• 45:06
  Speaker 1: her round, childish face and big eyes dimmed with tears
• 45:10
  Speaker 1: corroborated her story. When they had told Muller all they knew,
• 45:16
  Speaker 1: the detective sat stroking his chin and looking thoughtfully at
• 45:20
  Speaker 1: the floor. Then he raised his head and said, in
• 45:23
  Speaker 1: a tone of calm friendliness. Well, good friends, this will
• 45:27
  Speaker 1: do for to night now. If you will kindly give
• 45:30
  Speaker 1: me a bite to eat and a glass of some
• 45:33
  Speaker 1: light wine, I'd be very thankful. I've had no food
• 45:37
  Speaker 1: since early this morning. The housekeeper and the maid disappeared,
• 45:41
  Speaker 1: and Yanos went to the stable to harness the count's trap.
• 45:45
  Speaker 1: The magistrate turned to the detective. I thank you once
• 45:49
  Speaker 1: more that you have come to us. I greatly appreciate
• 45:53
  Speaker 1: that a stranger to our part of the country, like
• 45:55
  Speaker 1: yourself should give his time and strength to this problem
• 45:59
  Speaker 1: of our obscure little village. There is nothing else calling me, sir,
• 46:05
  Speaker 1: answered Muller, and the Budapest Police will explain to headquarters
• 46:09
  Speaker 1: at Vienna if I do not return at once. Do
• 46:12
  Speaker 1: you understand our tongues sufficiently to deal with these people here? Oh? Yes,
• 46:18
  Speaker 1: there will be no difficulty about that. I have hunted
• 46:21
  Speaker 1: criminals in Hungary before, and a case of this kind
• 46:25
  Speaker 1: does not usually call for disguises in which any accent
• 46:29
  Speaker 1: would betray one. It is a strange profession, said the doctor.
• 46:34
  Speaker 1: One gets used to it like everything else, answered Muller
• 46:37
  Speaker 1: with a gentle smile. And now I have to thank you, gentlemen,
• 46:41
  Speaker 1: for your confidence in me, which I know you will justify,
• 46:46
  Speaker 1: said the Count. Muller shrugged his shoulders. I haven't felt
• 46:51
  Speaker 1: anything yet, but it will come. There's something in the air.
• 46:56
  Speaker 1: The count smiled at his manner of expressing himself. But
• 47:00
  Speaker 1: all four of the men had already begun to feel
• 47:03
  Speaker 1: sympathy and respect for this quiet, mannered little person, whose
• 47:08
  Speaker 1: words were so few and whose voice was so gentle.
• 47:13
  Speaker 1: Something in his gray eyes and in the quiet determination
• 47:16
  Speaker 1: of his manner made them realize that he had won
• 47:19
  Speaker 1: his fame honestly with the enthusiasm of his race. The
• 47:24
  Speaker 1: Hungarian count pressed the detective's hand in a warm grasp
• 47:28
  Speaker 1: and said, I know that we can trust in you.
• 47:32
  Speaker 1: You will avenge the death of my old friend and
• 47:35
  Speaker 1: of those others who were killed here. The doctor and
• 47:38
  Speaker 1: the magistrate will tell you about them tomorrow. We two
• 47:42
  Speaker 1: will go home. Now telegraph us as soon as anything
• 47:45
  Speaker 1: has happened. Every one in the village will be ready
• 47:48
  Speaker 1: to help you, and of course you can call on
• 47:51
  Speaker 1: me for funds. Here is something to begin on. With
• 47:55
  Speaker 1: these words, the count laid a silk purse full of
• 47:58
  Speaker 1: gold pieces on the table. One more pressure of the
• 48:01
  Speaker 1: hand and he was gone. The other men also left
• 48:05
  Speaker 1: the room, following the Count's lead in a cordial farewell
• 48:09
  Speaker 1: of the detective. They also shared the nobleman's feeling that, now, indeed,
• 48:14
  Speaker 1: with this man to help them, could the cloud of
• 48:17
  Speaker 1: horror that had hung over the village for two years
• 48:20
  Speaker 1: and had culminated in the present catastrophe be lifted. The
• 48:26
  Speaker 1: excitement of the count's departure had died away, and the
• 48:29
  Speaker 1: steps of the other men on their way to the
• 48:31
  Speaker 1: village had faded in the distance. There was nothing now
• 48:35
  Speaker 1: to be heard but the rustling of the leaves and
• 48:38
  Speaker 1: the creaking of the boughs as the trees bent before
• 48:41
  Speaker 1: the onrush of the wind. Mueller stood alone, with folded arms,
• 48:46
  Speaker 1: in the middle of the large room, letting his sharp
• 48:49
  Speaker 1: eyes wander about the circle of light thrown by the lamps.
• 48:54
  Speaker 1: He was glad to be alone, for only when he
• 48:56
  Speaker 1: was alone could his brain do its best work. He
• 49:00
  Speaker 1: took up one of the lamps and opened the door
• 49:03
  Speaker 1: to the room in which, as far as could be known,
• 49:06
  Speaker 1: the murder was committed. He walked in carefully, and, setting
• 49:10
  Speaker 1: the lamp on the desk, examined the articles lying about
• 49:14
  Speaker 1: on it. There was nothing of importance to be found. There.
• 49:19
  Speaker 1: An open bible and a sheet of paper with notes
• 49:22
  Speaker 1: for the day's sermon lay on top of the desk.
• 49:25
  Speaker 1: In the drawers, none of which were locked, were official papers, books,
• 49:30
  Speaker 1: manuscripts of former sermons, and a few unimportant personal notes.
• 49:36
  Speaker 1: The flame of the lamp flickered in the breeze that
• 49:38
  Speaker 1: came from the open window, but Mueller did not close
• 49:42
  Speaker 1: the casement. He wanted to leave everything just as he
• 49:46
  Speaker 1: had found it until daylight. When he saw that it
• 49:49
  Speaker 1: was impossible to leave the lamp there, he took it
• 49:52
  Speaker 1: up again and left the room. What is the use
• 49:55
  Speaker 1: of being impatient, he said to himself. If I move
• 49:59
  Speaker 1: about in this poor light, I will be sure to
• 50:01
  Speaker 1: ruin some possible clue, For there must be some clue
• 50:05
  Speaker 1: left here. It is impossible for even the most practiced
• 50:09
  Speaker 1: criminal not to leave some trace of his presence. The
• 50:13
  Speaker 1: detective returned to the dining room, locking the study door
• 50:17
  Speaker 1: carefully behind him. The maid and the coachman returned, bringing
• 50:21
  Speaker 1: in an abundant supper, and Muller sat down to do
• 50:25
  Speaker 1: justice to the many good things on the tray. When
• 50:28
  Speaker 1: the maid returned to take away the dishes, she inquired
• 50:32
  Speaker 1: whether she should put the guest chamber in order for
• 50:34
  Speaker 1: the detective. He told her not to go to any
• 50:37
  Speaker 1: trouble for his sake, that he would sleep in the
• 50:40
  Speaker 1: bed in the neighboring room. You are going to sleep
• 50:44
  Speaker 1: in there, said the girl, horrified, Yes, my child, and
• 50:49
  Speaker 1: I think I will sleep well tonight. I feel very tired.
• 50:53
  Speaker 1: Liska carried the things out, shaking her head in surprise
• 50:57
  Speaker 1: at this thin little man, who did not seemed to
• 51:00
  Speaker 1: know what it was to be afraid. Half an hour later,
• 51:05
  Speaker 1: the rectory was in darkness. Before he retired, Mueller made
• 51:09
  Speaker 1: a careful examination of the pastor's bedroom. Nothing was disturbed anywhere,
• 51:15
  Speaker 1: and it was evident that the priest had not made
• 51:17
  Speaker 1: any preparations for the night, but was still at work
• 51:21
  Speaker 1: at his desk and the study when death overtook him.
• 51:25
  Speaker 1: When he came to this conclusion, the detective went to
• 51:28
  Speaker 1: bed and soon fell asleep in his little hut near
• 51:32
  Speaker 1: the asylum gates. Shepherd Yancey slept as sound as usual,
• 51:37
  Speaker 1: but he was dreaming, and he spoke in his sleep.
• 51:40
  Speaker 1: There was no one to hear him, for his faithful
• 51:43
  Speaker 1: Margaret was snoring loudly. Snatches of sentences and broken words
• 51:49
  Speaker 1: came from Yancey's lips. The hand, the big hand, I
• 51:54
  Speaker 1: see it at his throat, the face, the yellow face it.
• 52:02
  Speaker 1: Next morning, the children, on their way to school, crept
• 52:05
  Speaker 1: past the rectory with wide eyes and open mouths, and
• 52:09
  Speaker 1: the grown people spoke in lower tones when their work
• 52:12
  Speaker 1: led them past the handsome old house. It had once
• 52:16
  Speaker 1: been their pride, but now it was a place of
• 52:19
  Speaker 1: horror to them. The old housekeeper had succumbed to her
• 52:23
  Speaker 1: fright and was very ill. Liska went about her work silently,
• 52:28
  Speaker 1: and the farm servants walked more heavily and chattered less
• 52:32
  Speaker 1: than they had before. The hump backed sexton, who had
• 52:37
  Speaker 1: not been allowed to enter the church and therefore had
• 52:39
  Speaker 1: nothing to do, made an early start for the inn,
• 52:43
  Speaker 1: where he spent most of the day telling what little
• 52:46
  Speaker 1: he knew to the many who made an excuse to
• 52:48
  Speaker 1: follow him there. The only calm and undisturbed person in
• 52:53
  Speaker 1: the rectory household was Mueller. He had made a thorough
• 52:57
  Speaker 1: examination of the entire scene of the murder, but had
• 53:00
  Speaker 1: not found anything at all. Of one thing alone, he
• 53:04
  Speaker 1: was certain the murderer had come through the hidden passage
• 53:08
  Speaker 1: from the church. There were two reasons to believe this,
• 53:12
  Speaker 1: one of which might possibly not be sufficient, but the
• 53:15
  Speaker 1: other was conclusive. The heavy arm chair before the desk,
• 53:20
  Speaker 1: the chair on which the pastor was presumably sitting when
• 53:24
  Speaker 1: the murderer entered, was half turned round, turned in just
• 53:28
  Speaker 1: such a way as it would have been had the
• 53:31
  Speaker 1: man who was sitting there suddenly sprung up in excitement
• 53:34
  Speaker 1: or surprise. The chair was pushed back a step from
• 53:38
  Speaker 1: the desk and turned towards the entrance to the passageway.
• 53:43
  Speaker 1: Those who had been in the room during the day
• 53:45
  Speaker 1: had reported that they had not touched any one of
• 53:48
  Speaker 1: the articles of furniture. Therefore, the position of the chair
• 53:52
  Speaker 1: was the same that had been given it by the
• 53:55
  Speaker 1: man who sat in it, by the murdered pastor himself.
• 54:00
  Speaker 1: Of course, there was always the possibility that some one
• 54:03
  Speaker 1: had moved the chair without realizing it. This clue, therefore,
• 54:07
  Speaker 1: could not be looked upon as an absolute certain one.
• 54:11
  Speaker 1: Had it stood alone. But there was other evidence far
• 54:15
  Speaker 1: more important. The great pool of blood was just half
• 54:19
  Speaker 1: way between the door of the passage and the arm chair.
• 54:23
  Speaker 1: It was here, therefore, that the attack had taken place.
• 54:27
  Speaker 1: The pastor could not have turned in this direction in
• 54:30
  Speaker 1: the hope of flight, for there was nothing here to
• 54:33
  Speaker 1: give him shelter, no weapon that he could grasp, not
• 54:36
  Speaker 1: even a cane. He must have turned in this direction
• 54:40
  Speaker 1: to meet and greet the invader who had entered his
• 54:43
  Speaker 1: room in this unusual manner, turned to meet him as
• 54:46
  Speaker 1: a brave man would, with no other weapon than the
• 54:50
  Speaker 1: sacredness of his calling and his age. But this had
• 54:54
  Speaker 1: not been enough to protect the venerable priest. The murderer
• 54:58
  Speaker 1: must have made his thrust at once, and his victim
• 55:01
  Speaker 1: had sunk down, dying on the floor of the room
• 55:04
  Speaker 1: in which he had spent so many hours of quiet study,
• 55:08
  Speaker 1: in which he had brought comfort and given advice to
• 55:11
  Speaker 1: so many anxious hearts. For dying he must have been.
• 55:16
  Speaker 1: It would be impossible for a man to lose so
• 55:18
  Speaker 1: much blood and live. The struggle, thought the detective. But
• 55:25
  Speaker 1: was there a struggle? He looked about the room again,
• 55:28
  Speaker 1: but could see nothing. That showed disorder anywhere in its
• 55:32
  Speaker 1: immaculate neatness. No, there could have been no struggle. It
• 55:37
  Speaker 1: must have been a quick knife thrust and a death
• 55:39
  Speaker 1: at once. Not a shot. No, a shot would have
• 55:44
  Speaker 1: been heard by the night watchman walking the streets near
• 55:47
  Speaker 1: the church. The night was quiet, the window open. Some
• 55:52
  Speaker 1: one in the village would have heard the noise of
• 55:54
  Speaker 1: a shot, And it was not likely that the old housekeeper,
• 55:58
  Speaker 1: who slept in the room immediately below, slept the light
• 56:02
  Speaker 1: sleep of the aged, would have failed to have heard
• 56:05
  Speaker 1: the firing of a pistol. Muller took a chair and
• 56:08
  Speaker 1: sat down directly in front of the pool of blood,
• 56:12
  Speaker 1: looking at it carefully. Suddenly he bowed his head deeper.
• 56:17
  Speaker 1: He had caught sight of a fine thread of the
• 56:20
  Speaker 1: red fluid, which had been drawn out for about a
• 56:23
  Speaker 1: foot or two in a direction towards the door to
• 56:26
  Speaker 1: the dining room. What did that mean? Did it mean
• 56:30
  Speaker 1: that the murderer went out through that door, dragging something
• 56:34
  Speaker 1: after him that made this delicate line? Muller bent down
• 56:39
  Speaker 1: still deeper. The sun shone brightly on the floor, sending
• 56:43
  Speaker 1: its clear rays obliquely through the window. The sharp eyes
• 56:48
  Speaker 1: which now covered every inch of the yellow painted floor
• 56:51
  Speaker 1: discovered something else. They discovered that this red thread curved
• 56:56
  Speaker 1: slightly and had a continuation in a fine scratch the
• 57:00
  Speaker 1: paint of the floor. Muller followed up this scratch, and
• 57:04
  Speaker 1: it led him over towards the window, and then back
• 57:07
  Speaker 1: again in wide curves, then out again under the desk,
• 57:12
  Speaker 1: and finally, growing weaker and weaker. It came back to
• 57:16
  Speaker 1: the neighborhood of the pool of blood, but on the
• 57:18
  Speaker 1: opposite side of it. Muller got down on his hands
• 57:22
  Speaker 1: and knees to follow up the scratch. He did not
• 57:26
  Speaker 1: notice the discomfort of his position. His eyes shone in excitement,
• 57:31
  Speaker 1: and a deep flush glowed in his cheeks. Also, he
• 57:35
  Speaker 1: began to whistle softly. Joe Muller, the bloodhound of the
• 57:40
  Speaker 1: Austrian Police, had found a clue, a clue that soon
• 57:44
  Speaker 1: would bring him to the trail he was seeking. He
• 57:48
  Speaker 1: did not yet know what he could do with his clue,
• 57:51
  Speaker 1: but this much he knew. Sooner or later, this scratch
• 57:55
  Speaker 1: in the floor would lead him to the murderer. The
• 57:59
  Speaker 1: trail made be long and devious, but he would follow
• 58:02
  Speaker 1: it and its end would be success. He knew that
• 58:06
  Speaker 1: this scratch had been made after the murder was committed.
• 58:10
  Speaker 1: This was proved by the blood that marked its beginning,
• 58:14
  Speaker 1: And it could not have been made by any of
• 58:16
  Speaker 1: those who entered the room during the day, because by
• 58:20
  Speaker 1: that time the blood had dried. This strange streak in
• 58:25
  Speaker 1: the floor, with its weird curves and spirals, could have
• 58:29
  Speaker 1: been made only by the murderer. But how with what instrument?
• 58:35
  Speaker 1: There was a riddle which must be solved. And of
• 58:39
  Speaker 1: section three, section four of the Case of the Pool
• 58:49
  Speaker 1: of Blood in the Pastor's Study by Grace Isabel Colbron
• 58:53
  Speaker 1: and Augusta Groener. This LibriVox recording is in the public
• 58:58
  Speaker 1: domain section And now Muller, making another careful examination of
• 59:05
  Speaker 1: the floor, found something else. It was something that might
• 59:09
  Speaker 1: be utterly unimportant or might be of great value. It
• 59:13
  Speaker 1: was a tiny bit of hardened lacquer which he found
• 59:17
  Speaker 1: on the floor beside one of the legs of the desk.
• 59:20
  Speaker 1: It was rounded out with sharp edges and colored gray,
• 59:24
  Speaker 1: with a tiny zigzag of yellow on its surface. Muller
• 59:28
  Speaker 1: lifted it carefully and looked at it keenly. This tiny
• 59:32
  Speaker 1: bit of lacquer had evidently been knocked off some convex object,
• 59:37
  Speaker 1: but it was impossible to tell at the moment just
• 59:40
  Speaker 1: what sort of an object it might have been. There
• 59:43
  Speaker 1: are so many different things which are customarily covered with lacquer. However,
• 59:49
  Speaker 1: further examination brought him down to a narrower range of subjects,
• 59:54
  Speaker 1: For on the inside of the lacquer he found a
• 59:57
  Speaker 1: shred of reddish wood fiber. It must have been a
• 1:00:00
  Speaker 1: wooden object, therefore, from which the lacquer came, and the
• 1:00:04
  Speaker 1: wood had been of reddish tinge. Muller pondered the matter
• 1:00:08
  Speaker 1: for a little while longer. Then he placed his discovery
• 1:00:12
  Speaker 1: carefully in the pastures, emptied tobacco box, and dropped the
• 1:00:16
  Speaker 1: box into his own pocket. He closed the window and
• 1:00:20
  Speaker 1: the door to the dining room, lit a lamp, and
• 1:00:23
  Speaker 1: entered the passageway leading to the vestry. It was a
• 1:00:27
  Speaker 1: short passage, scarcely more than a dozen paces long. The
• 1:00:32
  Speaker 1: walls were whitewashed, the floor tiled, and the entire passage
• 1:00:36
  Speaker 1: shone in neatness. Muller held the light of his lamp
• 1:00:40
  Speaker 1: to every inch of it, but there was nothing to
• 1:00:42
  Speaker 1: show that the criminal had gone through here with the
• 1:00:45
  Speaker 1: body of his victim. The criminal, Muller still thought of
• 1:00:50
  Speaker 1: only one. His long experience had taught him that the
• 1:00:54
  Speaker 1: most intricate crimes were usually committed by one man. Only.
• 1:00:59
  Speaker 1: The strengthness necessary for such a crime as this did
• 1:01:02
  Speaker 1: not deceive him either. He knew that in extraordinary moments,
• 1:01:07
  Speaker 1: extraordinary strength will come to the one who needs it.
• 1:01:11
  Speaker 1: He now passed down the steps leading into the vestry.
• 1:01:14
  Speaker 1: There was no trace of any kind here either. The
• 1:01:18
  Speaker 1: door into the vestry was not locked. It was seldom locked,
• 1:01:22
  Speaker 1: they had told him, for the vestry itself was closed
• 1:01:25
  Speaker 1: by a huge carved portal with a heavy ornamented iron
• 1:01:29
  Speaker 1: lock that could be opened only with the greatest noise
• 1:01:33
  Speaker 1: and trouble. This door was locked and closed, as it
• 1:01:37
  Speaker 1: had been since yesterday morning. Everything in the vestry was
• 1:01:41
  Speaker 1: in perfect order, the priest's garments and censers all in
• 1:01:45
  Speaker 1: their places. Mueller assured himself of this before he left
• 1:01:49
  Speaker 1: the little room. He then opened the glass door that
• 1:01:52
  Speaker 1: led down by a few steps into the church. It
• 1:01:56
  Speaker 1: was a beautiful old church, and it was a rich
• 1:02:00
  Speaker 1: church also. It was built in the older Gothic style,
• 1:02:04
  Speaker 1: and its heavy, broad arched walls, its massive columns would
• 1:02:08
  Speaker 1: have made it look cold and bare, had not handsome tapestries,
• 1:02:13
  Speaker 1: the gifts of the Lady of the manor covered the walls.
• 1:02:17
  Speaker 1: Fine old pictures hung here and there above the altars,
• 1:02:21
  Speaker 1: and handsome stained glass windows broke the light that fell
• 1:02:25
  Speaker 1: into the high vaulted interior. There were three great altars
• 1:02:29
  Speaker 1: in the church, all of them richly decorated. The main
• 1:02:34
  Speaker 1: altar stood isolated in the choir. In the open space
• 1:02:38
  Speaker 1: behind it was the entrance to the crypt, now veiled
• 1:02:41
  Speaker 1: in a mysterious twilight. Heavy silver candlesticks, three on a side,
• 1:02:48
  Speaker 1: stood on the altar. The pale gold of the tabernacle
• 1:02:51
  Speaker 1: door gleamed between them. Mueller walked through the silent church,
• 1:02:56
  Speaker 1: in which even his light steps resounded on can annie.
• 1:03:01
  Speaker 1: He looked into each of the pews, into the confessionals,
• 1:03:05
  Speaker 1: He walked around all the columns, He climbed up into
• 1:03:09
  Speaker 1: the pulpit, and did everything that the others had done
• 1:03:13
  Speaker 1: before him yesterday, And as with them, he found nothing
• 1:03:18
  Speaker 1: that would indicate that a murderer had spent any time
• 1:03:21
  Speaker 1: in the church. Finally, he turned back once more to
• 1:03:25
  Speaker 1: the main altar on his way out, but he did
• 1:03:29
  Speaker 1: not leave the church as he intended. His last look
• 1:03:33
  Speaker 1: at the altar had showed him something that attracted his attention,
• 1:03:37
  Speaker 1: and he walked up the three steps to examine it
• 1:03:39
  Speaker 1: more closely. What he had seen was something unusual about
• 1:03:44
  Speaker 1: one of the silver candlesticks. These candlesticks had three feet,
• 1:03:49
  Speaker 1: and five of them were placed in such a way
• 1:03:52
  Speaker 1: that the two front feet were turned toward the spectator,
• 1:03:56
  Speaker 1: but on the end candlestick nearest Muller, the single foot
• 1:04:01
  Speaker 1: projected out to the front of the altar. This candlestick, therefore,
• 1:04:05
  Speaker 1: had been set down hastily, not placed carefully in the
• 1:04:09
  Speaker 1: order of things, as were the others. And not only this,
• 1:04:15
  Speaker 1: the heavy wax candle which was in the candlestick was
• 1:04:18
  Speaker 1: burned down about a finger's breadth more than the others,
• 1:04:22
  Speaker 1: for these were all of exactly the same height. Mueller
• 1:04:26
  Speaker 1: bent still closer to the candlestick, but he saw that
• 1:04:30
  Speaker 1: the dim light in the church was not sufficient. He
• 1:04:33
  Speaker 1: went to one of the smaller side altars, took a
• 1:04:36
  Speaker 1: candle from there, lit it with one of the matches
• 1:04:39
  Speaker 1: that he found in his own pocket, and returned with
• 1:04:43
  Speaker 1: the burning candle to the main altar. The steps leading
• 1:04:47
  Speaker 1: up to this altar were covered by a large rug
• 1:04:50
  Speaker 1: with a white ground and a pattern of flowers. Looking
• 1:04:54
  Speaker 1: carefully at it, the detective saw a tiny brown spot,
• 1:04:58
  Speaker 1: the mark of a burn, upon one of the white surfaces.
• 1:05:02
  Speaker 1: Beside it lay a half used match. Walking around this carefully,
• 1:05:07
  Speaker 1: Muller approached the candlestick that interested him, and, holding up
• 1:05:12
  Speaker 1: his light, he examined every inch of its surface. He
• 1:05:16
  Speaker 1: found what he was looking for. There were dark red
• 1:05:20
  Speaker 1: spots between the rough edges of the silver ornamentation. Then
• 1:05:25
  Speaker 1: the body is somewhere around here, thought the detective, and
• 1:05:29
  Speaker 1: came down from the steps, still holding the burning candle.
• 1:05:34
  Speaker 1: He walked slowly to the back of the altar. There
• 1:05:37
  Speaker 1: was a little table there such as held sacred dishes
• 1:05:41
  Speaker 1: for the communion service, and the little carpet covered steps
• 1:05:45
  Speaker 1: which the sexton put out for the pastor when he
• 1:05:48
  Speaker 1: took the monstrance from the high built tabernacle. That was
• 1:05:52
  Speaker 1: all that was to be seen in the dark corner
• 1:05:54
  Speaker 1: behind the altar. Holding his candle close to the floor,
• 1:05:59
  Speaker 1: Muller discovered an iron ring fastened to one of the
• 1:06:03
  Speaker 1: big stone flags. This must be the entrance to the crypt.
• 1:06:09
  Speaker 1: Muller tried to raise the flag and was astonished to
• 1:06:12
  Speaker 1: find how easily it came up. It was a square
• 1:06:15
  Speaker 1: of reddish marble, the same with which the entire floor
• 1:06:19
  Speaker 1: of the church was tiled. This flag was very thin
• 1:06:23
  Speaker 1: and could easily be raised and placed back against the wall.
• 1:06:28
  Speaker 1: Muller took up his candle, too greatly excited to stop
• 1:06:31
  Speaker 1: to get a stick for it. He felt assured that
• 1:06:34
  Speaker 1: now he would soon be able to solve at least
• 1:06:37
  Speaker 1: part of the mystery. He climbed down the steps carefully
• 1:06:41
  Speaker 1: and found that they led into the crypt as he supposed.
• 1:06:46
  Speaker 1: They were kept spotlessly clean, as was the entire crypt
• 1:06:49
  Speaker 1: as far as he could see by the light of
• 1:06:52
  Speaker 1: his flickering candle. He was not surprised to discover that
• 1:06:56
  Speaker 1: the air was perfectly pure here. There must be wind
• 1:07:00
  Speaker 1: or ventilators somewhere. This he knew from the way his
• 1:07:03
  Speaker 1: candle behaved. The ancient fault had a high, arched ceiling
• 1:07:08
  Speaker 1: and heavy, massive pillars. It was a subterranean repetition of
• 1:07:13
  Speaker 1: the church above. There had evidently been a convent attached
• 1:07:18
  Speaker 1: to this church at one time, for here stood a
• 1:07:21
  Speaker 1: row of simple wooden coffins, all exactly alike, bearing each
• 1:07:26
  Speaker 1: one upon its lid a roughly painted cross, surrounded by
• 1:07:30
  Speaker 1: a wreath. Thus were buried the monks of days long past.
• 1:07:35
  Speaker 1: Muller walked slowly through the rows of coffins, looking eagerly
• 1:07:39
  Speaker 1: to each side. Suddenly he stopped and stood still. His
• 1:07:44
  Speaker 1: hand did not tremble, but his thin face was pale,
• 1:07:48
  Speaker 1: pale as that face which looked up at him out
• 1:07:51
  Speaker 1: of one of the coffins. The lid of the coffin
• 1:07:55
  Speaker 1: stood up against the wall, and Muller saw that there
• 1:07:58
  Speaker 1: were several other ones further on, waiting for their silent occupants.
• 1:08:05
  Speaker 1: The body in the open coffin before which Muller stood
• 1:08:09
  Speaker 1: was the body of the man who had been missing
• 1:08:11
  Speaker 1: since the day previous. He lay there quite peacefully, his
• 1:08:16
  Speaker 1: hands crossed over his breast, his eyes closed, a line
• 1:08:20
  Speaker 1: of pain about his lips. In the crossed fingers was
• 1:08:25
  Speaker 1: a little bunch of dark yellow roses. At first glance,
• 1:08:29
  Speaker 1: one might have almost thought that loving hands had laid
• 1:08:32
  Speaker 1: the old pasture in his coffin. But the red stain
• 1:08:35
  Speaker 1: on the white cloth about his throat, and the bloody
• 1:08:38
  Speaker 1: disorder of his snow white hair contrasted sadly with the
• 1:08:43
  Speaker 1: look of peace on the dead face. Under his head
• 1:08:47
  Speaker 1: was a white silk cushion, one of the cushions from
• 1:08:50
  Speaker 1: the altar. Muller stood looking down for some time at
• 1:08:55
  Speaker 1: this poor victim of a strange crime. Then he turned
• 1:08:58
  Speaker 1: to go. He wanted to know one more thing how
• 1:09:03
  Speaker 1: the murderer had left the crypt. The flame of his
• 1:09:06
  Speaker 1: candle told him, for it nearly went out in a
• 1:09:10
  Speaker 1: gust of wind that came down the opening right above him.
• 1:09:14
  Speaker 1: This was a window about three or four feet from
• 1:09:16
  Speaker 1: the floor, protected by rusty iron bars which had been
• 1:09:20
  Speaker 1: sawed through, leaving the opening free. It was a small window,
• 1:09:25
  Speaker 1: but it was large enough to allow a man of
• 1:09:27
  Speaker 1: much greater size than Muller to pass through it. The
• 1:09:31
  Speaker 1: detective blew out his candle and climbed up to the
• 1:09:34
  Speaker 1: open sill. He found himself outside in the corner of
• 1:09:38
  Speaker 1: the churchyard. A thicket of heavy bushes grown up over
• 1:09:42
  Speaker 1: neglected graves, completely hid the opening through which he had come.
• 1:09:48
  Speaker 1: There were thorns on these bushes, and also a few
• 1:09:51
  Speaker 1: scattered roses, dark yellow roses. Muller walked thoughtfully through the churchyard.
• 1:09:58
  Speaker 1: The sexton sat hudder in an unhappy heap at the gate.
• 1:10:02
  Speaker 1: He looked up in alarm as he saw the detective
• 1:10:05
  Speaker 1: walking towards him. Something in the stranger's face told the
• 1:10:09
  Speaker 1: little hunchback that he had made a discovery. The sexton
• 1:10:13
  Speaker 1: sprang up his lips did not dare utter the question
• 1:10:16
  Speaker 1: that his eyes asked. I have found him, said the
• 1:10:20
  Speaker 1: detective gravely. The hunchback Sextons staggered, then recovered himself and
• 1:10:27
  Speaker 1: hurried away to fetch the magistrate and the doctor. An
• 1:10:31
  Speaker 1: hour later, the murdered pastor lay in state in the
• 1:10:34
  Speaker 1: chief apartment of his home, surrounded by burning candles and
• 1:10:39
  Speaker 1: high heaped masses of flowers. But he still lay in
• 1:10:43
  Speaker 1: the simple convent coffin, and the little bunch of roses
• 1:10:47
  Speaker 1: which his murderer had placed between his stiffening fingers, had
• 1:10:51
  Speaker 1: not been touched. Two days later the pastor was buried.
• 1:10:56
  Speaker 1: The count and his family led the train of numerous mourners,
• 1:11:00
  Speaker 1: and among the last was Muller. A day or two
• 1:11:04
  Speaker 1: after the funeral, the detective sauntered slowly through the main
• 1:11:08
  Speaker 1: street of the village. He was not in a very
• 1:11:11
  Speaker 1: good humor. His answer to the greeting of those who
• 1:11:15
  Speaker 1: passed him was short. The children avoided him, for, with
• 1:11:19
  Speaker 1: the keenness of their kind, they recognized the fact that
• 1:11:23
  Speaker 1: this usually gentle little man was not in possession of
• 1:11:27
  Speaker 1: his habitual calm temper. One group of boys playing with
• 1:11:31
  Speaker 1: a top did not notice his coming, and Muller stopped
• 1:11:35
  Speaker 1: behind them to look on. Suddenly, a sharp whistle was heard,
• 1:11:40
  Speaker 1: and the boys looked up from their play, surprised at
• 1:11:43
  Speaker 1: seeing the stranger behind them. His eyes were gleaming and
• 1:11:47
  Speaker 1: his cheeks were flushed, and a few bars of a
• 1:11:50
  Speaker 1: merry tune came in a keen whistle from his lips
• 1:11:53
  Speaker 1: as he watched the spirals made by the spinning top.
• 1:11:57
  Speaker 1: Before the boys could stop their play the detas detective
• 1:12:00
  Speaker 1: had left the group and hastened onward to the little shop,
• 1:12:04
  Speaker 1: he left it again in eager haste after having made
• 1:12:08
  Speaker 1: his purchase, and hurried back to the rectory. The shopkeeper
• 1:12:12
  Speaker 1: stood in the doorway, looking in surprise at this grown
• 1:12:15
  Speaker 1: man who came in to buy a top. And at
• 1:12:19
  Speaker 1: home in the rectory, the old housekeeper listened in equal
• 1:12:22
  Speaker 1: surprise to the humming noise over her head. She thought
• 1:12:27
  Speaker 1: at first it might be a bee that had gotten
• 1:12:29
  Speaker 1: in somehow. Then she realized that it was not quite
• 1:12:33
  Speaker 1: the same noise, and having already concluded that it was
• 1:12:36
  Speaker 1: of no use to be surprised at anything the strange
• 1:12:39
  Speaker 1: guest might do. She continued reading her scriptures. Upstairs, in
• 1:12:45
  Speaker 1: the pastor's study, Muller sat in the arm chair, attentively
• 1:12:49
  Speaker 1: watching the gyrations of a spinning top. The little toy
• 1:12:54
  Speaker 1: started at a certain point, drew a line exactly parallel
• 1:12:58
  Speaker 1: to the scratch on the floor that had a ecited
• 1:13:00
  Speaker 1: his thoughts and absorbed them night and day. It was
• 1:13:05
  Speaker 1: a top, a top, repeated the detective to himself again
• 1:13:09
  Speaker 1: and again. I don't see why I didn't think of
• 1:13:13
  Speaker 1: that right away. Why, of course, nothing else could have
• 1:13:17
  Speaker 1: drawn such a perfect curve around the room, unhindered by
• 1:13:21
  Speaker 1: the legs of the desk. Only I don't see how
• 1:13:24
  Speaker 1: a toy like that could have any connection with this
• 1:13:28
  Speaker 1: cruel and purposeless murder. Why only a fool or a madman.
• 1:13:34
  Speaker 1: Mueller sprang up from his chair, and again a sharp,
• 1:13:38
  Speaker 1: shrill whistle came from his lips. A madman, he repeated,
• 1:13:43
  Speaker 1: beating his own forehead. It could only have been a
• 1:13:46
  Speaker 1: madman who committed this murder, and the pastor was not
• 1:13:50
  Speaker 1: the first. There were two other murders here within a
• 1:13:53
  Speaker 1: comparatively short time, I think I will take advantage of
• 1:13:58
  Speaker 1: doctor Orsey's infantation and of section four section five of
• 1:14:10
  Speaker 1: the Pool of Blood in the Pasture's Study by Grace's
• 1:14:13
  Speaker 1: Abel Colbron and Augusta Groner. This is a LibriVox recording.
• 1:14:19
  Speaker 1: Half an hour later, Muller and the doctor sat together
• 1:14:22
  Speaker 1: in the summerhouse, from the windows of which one could
• 1:14:25
  Speaker 1: see the park surrounding the asylum. To almost its entire extent.
• 1:14:30
  Speaker 1: The park was arranged with due regard to its purpose.
• 1:14:34
  Speaker 1: The eye could sweep through it unhindered. There were no
• 1:14:38
  Speaker 1: bushes except immediately along the high wall. Otherwise there were
• 1:14:42
  Speaker 1: beautiful lawns, flower beds, and groups of fine old trees
• 1:14:46
  Speaker 1: with tall trunks, as would be natural in visiting such
• 1:14:50
  Speaker 1: a place. Muller had induced the doctor to talk about
• 1:14:53
  Speaker 1: his patients. Doctor Orse was an excellent talker and possessed
• 1:14:59
  Speaker 1: the power of painting a personality for his listeners. He
• 1:15:03
  Speaker 1: was pleased and flattered by the evident interest with which
• 1:15:06
  Speaker 1: the detective listened to his remarks. Then your patients are
• 1:15:10
  Speaker 1: all quite harmless, asked Muller thoughtfully, when the doctor came
• 1:15:15
  Speaker 1: to a pause, Yes, all quite harmless. Of course, there
• 1:15:19
  Speaker 1: is the man who, strangely enough, considers himself the reincarnation
• 1:15:23
  Speaker 1: of the famous French murderer, the Goldsmith Cardiac, who, as
• 1:15:28
  Speaker 1: you remember, kept all Paris in a fervor of excitement
• 1:15:32
  Speaker 1: by his crimes during the reign of Louis the fourteenth.
• 1:15:36
  Speaker 1: But in spite of his weird mania, this man is
• 1:15:39
  Speaker 1: the most good natured of any. He has been shut
• 1:15:43
  Speaker 1: up in his room for several days now. He was
• 1:15:45
  Speaker 1: a mechanic by trade, living in Budapest, and an unsuccessful
• 1:15:50
  Speaker 1: invention turned his mind. Is he large a powerful man?
• 1:15:55
  Speaker 1: Muller asked, Doctor Orzay looked a bit surprised. Why do
• 1:16:00
  Speaker 1: you ask that? He does happen to be a large
• 1:16:03
  Speaker 1: man of considerable strength? But in spite of it, I
• 1:16:06
  Speaker 1: have no fear of him. I have an attendant who
• 1:16:10
  Speaker 1: is invaluable to me, a man of such strength that
• 1:16:14
  Speaker 1: even the fiercest of them cannot overcome him. And yet
• 1:16:17
  Speaker 1: with a mind and a personal magnetism which they cannot resist,
• 1:16:22
  Speaker 1: he can always master our patients mentally and physically. Most
• 1:16:26
  Speaker 1: of them are afraid of him, and they know that
• 1:16:29
  Speaker 1: they must do as he says. There is something in
• 1:16:33
  Speaker 1: his very glance which has the power to paralyze even
• 1:16:36
  Speaker 1: healthy nerves, for it shows the strength of will possessed
• 1:16:40
  Speaker 1: by this man. And what is the name of this
• 1:16:44
  Speaker 1: invaluable attendant? Asked Muller, with a strange smile, which the
• 1:16:48
  Speaker 1: doctor took to be slightly ironical. You're a kovosh. You
• 1:16:53
  Speaker 1: are amused by my enthusiasm, But consider my position here.
• 1:16:58
  Speaker 1: I am an old man and have never been a
• 1:17:00
  Speaker 1: strong man. At my age. I would not have strength
• 1:17:04
  Speaker 1: enough to force that little woman there. She thinks herself possessed,
• 1:17:08
  Speaker 1: and is quite cranky at times to go to her
• 1:17:11
  Speaker 1: room when she doesn't want to. And do you see
• 1:17:14
  Speaker 1: that man over there in the blue blouse. He is
• 1:17:17
  Speaker 1: an excellent gardener, but he believes himself to be Napoleon,
• 1:17:21
  Speaker 1: and when he has his acute attacks, I would be
• 1:17:24
  Speaker 1: helpless to control him were it not for uri. And
• 1:17:28
  Speaker 1: you are not afraid of cardiac interrupted Muller. Not in
• 1:17:32
  Speaker 1: the least. He is as good natured as a child
• 1:17:36
  Speaker 1: and as confiding. I can let him walk around here
• 1:17:39
  Speaker 1: as much as he likes, if it were not for
• 1:17:42
  Speaker 1: the absurd nonsense that he talks when he has one
• 1:17:45
  Speaker 1: of his attacks, and which frightens those who do not
• 1:17:49
  Speaker 1: understand him. I could let him go free altogether. Then
• 1:17:53
  Speaker 1: you never let him leave the asylum grounds. Oh, yes,
• 1:17:58
  Speaker 1: I take him out with me quite frequently. He is
• 1:18:01
  Speaker 1: a man of considerable education and a very clever talker.
• 1:18:05
  Speaker 1: It is quite a pleasure to be with him. That
• 1:18:08
  Speaker 1: was the opinion of my poor friend, also, my poor
• 1:18:11
  Speaker 1: murdered friend, the pastor. He often invited Cardiac to come
• 1:18:16
  Speaker 1: to the rectory with me. Indeed, then Cardiac knew the
• 1:18:20
  Speaker 1: inside of the rectory. Yes, the pastor used to lend
• 1:18:24
  Speaker 1: him books and let him choose them himself from the
• 1:18:27
  Speaker 1: library shelves. The people in the village are very kind
• 1:18:30
  Speaker 1: to my poor patients here. I have long since had
• 1:18:33
  Speaker 1: the habit of taking some of the quieter ones with
• 1:18:36
  Speaker 1: me down into the village and letting the people become
• 1:18:39
  Speaker 1: acquainted with them. It is good for both parties. It
• 1:18:43
  Speaker 1: gives the patients some little diversion, and it takes away
• 1:18:47
  Speaker 1: the worst of the senseless fears these peasants had at
• 1:18:51
  Speaker 1: first of the asylum and its inmates. Cardiac in particular,
• 1:18:56
  Speaker 1: is always welcome when he comes, for he brings the
• 1:18:59
  Speaker 1: children all sorts of toys that he makes in his cell.
• 1:19:03
  Speaker 1: The detective had listened attentively, and once his eyes flashed
• 1:19:07
  Speaker 1: and his lips shut tight, as if to keep in
• 1:19:10
  Speaker 1: the betraying whistle. Then he asked, calmly, but the patients
• 1:19:14
  Speaker 1: are only allowed to go out when you accompany them.
• 1:19:17
  Speaker 1: I suppose, Oh no, the attendants take them out sometimes.
• 1:19:22
  Speaker 1: I prefer, however, to let them go only with Uri,
• 1:19:26
  Speaker 1: for I can depend upon him more than upon any
• 1:19:28
  Speaker 1: of the others. Then he and Cardiac have been out
• 1:19:32
  Speaker 1: together occasionally, Oh, yes, quite frequently. But pardon me, this
• 1:19:38
  Speaker 1: is almost like a cross examination. I beg your pardon, doctor.
• 1:19:42
  Speaker 1: It's a bad habit of mine. One gets so accustomed
• 1:19:45
  Speaker 1: to it in my profession. What is it you want,
• 1:19:49
  Speaker 1: asked doctor Orsay, turning to a fine looking young man
• 1:19:52
  Speaker 1: of superb build who entered just then and stood by
• 1:19:55
  Speaker 1: the door. I just wanted to announce, sir, that number
• 1:19:59
  Speaker 1: three zero two is quiet again. Three zero two is
• 1:20:03
  Speaker 1: Cardiac himself, mister Muller, or to give him his right name,
• 1:20:08
  Speaker 1: lios Varna, explained the doctor, turning to his guest. He
• 1:20:12
  Speaker 1: is the three hundred second patient who has been received
• 1:20:15
  Speaker 1: here in these twenty years. Then Cardiac is quiet again,
• 1:20:19
  Speaker 1: he asked, looking up at the young giant, I am
• 1:20:22
  Speaker 1: glad of that you can announce our visitor to him.
• 1:20:25
  Speaker 1: This gentleman wants to inspect the asylum. Muller realized that
• 1:20:30
  Speaker 1: this was the attendant Eurie, and he looked at him attentively.
• 1:20:34
  Speaker 1: He was soon clear in his own mind that this
• 1:20:37
  Speaker 1: remarkably handsome man did not please him, in fact, awoke
• 1:20:41
  Speaker 1: a feeling of repulsion. The attendant's quiet, almost catlike movements
• 1:20:47
  Speaker 1: were in strange contrast to the massivity of his superb frame,
• 1:20:52
  Speaker 1: and his large round eyes shaped for open honest glances,
• 1:20:57
  Speaker 1: were shifty and cunning. They seem to be asking are
• 1:21:01
  Speaker 1: you trying to discover anything about me? Coupled with a
• 1:21:05
  Speaker 1: threat for your own sake, you had better not do it.
• 1:21:10
  Speaker 1: When the young man had left the room, Muller rose
• 1:21:12
  Speaker 1: hastily and walked up and down several times. His face
• 1:21:16
  Speaker 1: was flushed and his lips tight set. Suddenly, he exclaimed,
• 1:21:21
  Speaker 1: I do not like this yury. Doctor Orsey looked up, astonished.
• 1:21:26
  Speaker 1: There are many others who do not like him, most
• 1:21:29
  Speaker 1: of his fellow warders, for instance, and all of the patients.
• 1:21:33
  Speaker 1: I think there must be something in the contrast of
• 1:21:36
  Speaker 1: such quiet movements with such a big body that gets
• 1:21:39
  Speaker 1: on people's nerves. But consider, mister Muller, that the man's
• 1:21:44
  Speaker 1: work would naturally make him a little different from other people.
• 1:21:48
  Speaker 1: I have known Urie for five years as a faithful
• 1:21:51
  Speaker 1: and unassuming servant, always willing and ready for any duty,
• 1:21:55
  Speaker 1: however difficult or dangerous. If he has but one fault,
• 1:22:00
  Speaker 1: if I may call it such, that is that he
• 1:22:03
  Speaker 1: has a mistress who is known to be mercenary and
• 1:22:06
  Speaker 1: hard hearted. She lives in the neighboring village for five years,
• 1:22:11
  Speaker 1: you say, and how long has Cardiac been here? Cardiac,
• 1:22:16
  Speaker 1: he has been here almost three years. For almost three years.
• 1:22:20
  Speaker 1: And it is not almost three years, Muller interrupted himself.
• 1:22:24
  Speaker 1: Are we quite alone? Is no one listening? The doctor
• 1:22:29
  Speaker 1: nodded greatly surprised, and the detective continued, almost in a whisper.
• 1:22:34
  Speaker 1: And it is just about three years now that there
• 1:22:37
  Speaker 1: have been committed, at intervals three terrible crimes, notable from
• 1:22:42
  Speaker 1: the cleverness with which they were carried out, and from
• 1:22:45
  Speaker 1: the utter impossibility, apparently of discovering the perpetrator. Orze sprang up,
• 1:22:52
  Speaker 1: his face, flushed, and then grew livid, and he put
• 1:22:56
  Speaker 1: his hand to his forehead. Then he forced a smile
• 1:22:59
  Speaker 1: and said, in a voice that trembled in spite of himself,
• 1:23:03
  Speaker 1: mister Muller, your imagination is wonderful. And which of these
• 1:23:08
  Speaker 1: two do you think it is that has committed these crimes?
• 1:23:11
  Speaker 1: The perpetrator of which you have come here to find.
• 1:23:15
  Speaker 1: I will tell you that later I must speak to
• 1:23:17
  Speaker 1: number three O two first, and I must speak to
• 1:23:20
  Speaker 1: him in the presence of yourself, Anne Yuri. The detective's
• 1:23:24
  Speaker 1: deep gravity was contagious. Mister Orsey had sufficiently controlled himself
• 1:23:29
  Speaker 1: to remember what he had heard in former days, and
• 1:23:33
  Speaker 1: just now recently from the district judge about this man's
• 1:23:37
  Speaker 1: marvelous deeds. He realized that when Muller said a thing,
• 1:23:42
  Speaker 1: no matter how extravagant it may sound, it was worth
• 1:23:45
  Speaker 1: taking seriously. This realization brought great uneasiness and grief to
• 1:23:51
  Speaker 1: the doctor's heart, for he had grown fond of both
• 1:23:54
  Speaker 1: of the men on whom terrible suspicion was cast by
• 1:23:58
  Speaker 1: such an authority. Muller himself was uneasy, but the gloom
• 1:24:03
  Speaker 1: that had hung over him for the past day or
• 1:24:05
  Speaker 1: two had vanished. The impenetrable darkness that had surrounded the
• 1:24:11
  Speaker 1: mystery of the pastor's murder had gotten none his nerves.
• 1:24:14
  Speaker 1: He was not accustomed to work so long over a
• 1:24:17
  Speaker 1: problem without getting some light on it. But now, since
• 1:24:21
  Speaker 1: the chance watching of the spinning top in the street
• 1:24:24
  Speaker 1: had given him his first inkling of the trail, he
• 1:24:27
  Speaker 1: was following it up to a clear issue. The eagerness,
• 1:24:31
  Speaker 1: the blissful vibrating of every nerve that he always felt
• 1:24:35
  Speaker 1: at this stage of the game, was on him again.
• 1:24:39
  Speaker 1: He knew that from now on what was still to
• 1:24:42
  Speaker 1: be done would be easy. Hitherto, his mind had been
• 1:24:46
  Speaker 1: made up on one point that one man alone was
• 1:24:49
  Speaker 1: concerned in the crime. Now he understood the possibility that
• 1:24:54
  Speaker 1: there might have been too, the harmless mechanician who fancied
• 1:24:58
  Speaker 1: himself a dangerous murderer, and the handsome young giant with
• 1:25:02
  Speaker 1: the evil eyes. The two men stood looking at each
• 1:25:06
  Speaker 1: other in a silence that was almost hostile. Had this
• 1:25:10
  Speaker 1: stranger come to disturb the peace of the refuge for
• 1:25:13
  Speaker 1: the unfortunate, and to prove that Doctor Orse, the friend
• 1:25:17
  Speaker 1: of all the village, had unwittingly been giving shelter to
• 1:25:21
  Speaker 1: such criminals, Shall we go now, asked the detective. Finally,
• 1:25:26
  Speaker 1: if you wish it, sir, answered the doctor, in a
• 1:25:29
  Speaker 1: tone that was decidedly cool. Muller held out his hand.
• 1:25:33
  Speaker 1: Don't let us be foolish here, doctor. If you should
• 1:25:36
  Speaker 1: find yourself terribly deceived, and I should have been the
• 1:25:40
  Speaker 1: means of proving it, promise me that you will not
• 1:25:43
  Speaker 1: be angry with me. Doctor Orse pressed the offered hand
• 1:25:48
  Speaker 1: with a sigh. He realized the other's position and knew
• 1:25:52
  Speaker 1: it was his duty to give him every possible assistance.
• 1:25:57
  Speaker 1: What is there for me to do now, he asked, sadly.
• 1:26:01
  Speaker 1: You must see that all the patients are shut up
• 1:26:03
  Speaker 1: in their cells, so that the other attendants are at
• 1:26:07
  Speaker 1: our disposal if we need them. Varna's room has barred windows,
• 1:26:11
  Speaker 1: I suppose, yes, And I suppose also that it has
• 1:26:16
  Speaker 1: but one door. I believe you told me that your
• 1:26:19
  Speaker 1: asylum was built on the cell system. Yes, there is
• 1:26:22
  Speaker 1: but one door to the room. Let the four other
• 1:26:25
  Speaker 1: attendants stand outside this door. URI will be inside with me.
• 1:26:30
  Speaker 1: Tell the men outside that they are to seize and
• 1:26:33
  Speaker 1: hold whom ever I shall designate to them. I will
• 1:26:37
  Speaker 1: call them in by a whistle. You can trust your
• 1:26:40
  Speaker 1: people yes, I think I can well, I have my revolver,
• 1:26:45
  Speaker 1: said Muller calmly. Now we can go. They left the
• 1:26:50
  Speaker 1: room together and found Yuri waiting for them a little
• 1:26:53
  Speaker 1: further along the corridor. Aren't you well, sir, the attendant
• 1:26:57
  Speaker 1: asked the doctor with an anxious note in his voice.
• 1:27:01
  Speaker 1: The man's anxiety was not feigned. He was really a
• 1:27:04
  Speaker 1: faithful servant in his devotion to the old doctor, although
• 1:27:08
  Speaker 1: Muller had not misjudged him when he decided that this
• 1:27:11
  Speaker 1: young giant was capable of anything. Good and evil often
• 1:27:16
  Speaker 1: lie so close together in the human heart. The doctor's
• 1:27:21
  Speaker 1: emotion prevented him from speaking, and the detective answered in
• 1:27:25
  Speaker 1: his place. It is a sudden indisposition, he said, lead
• 1:27:30
  Speaker 1: me to number three O two, who was waiting for us.
• 1:27:33
  Speaker 1: I suppose the doctor wants to lie down a moment
• 1:27:36
  Speaker 1: in his own room. Yuri glanced distrustfully at this man,
• 1:27:40
  Speaker 1: whom he had met for the first time to day,
• 1:27:43
  Speaker 1: but who was no stranger to him, for he had
• 1:27:46
  Speaker 1: already learned the identity of the guest in the rectory.
• 1:27:50
  Speaker 1: Then he turned his eyes on his master. The latter
• 1:27:53
  Speaker 1: nodded and said, take the gentleman to Varna's room. I
• 1:27:56
  Speaker 1: will follow shortly. The cell to which they were was
• 1:28:00
  Speaker 1: the first one at the head of the staircase. Extremely convenient,
• 1:28:05
  Speaker 1: thought Muller to himself. It was a large room, comfortably furnished,
• 1:28:10
  Speaker 1: and filled now with the red glow of the setting sun.
• 1:28:14
  Speaker 1: A turning lathe stood by the window, and an elderly
• 1:28:17
  Speaker 1: man was at work at it. Yuri called to him,
• 1:28:21
  Speaker 1: and he turned and rose when he saw a stranger.
• 1:28:25
  Speaker 1: Lios Varna was a tall, loose jointed man, with sallow
• 1:28:29
  Speaker 1: skin and tired eyes. He gave only a hasty glance
• 1:28:33
  Speaker 1: at his visitor, then looked at Uri. The expression in
• 1:28:37
  Speaker 1: his eyes as he turned them on those of the
• 1:28:40
  Speaker 1: warder was like the look in the eyes of a
• 1:28:42
  Speaker 1: well trained dog when it watches its master's face. Yuri's
• 1:28:47
  Speaker 1: brows were drawn close together and his mouth set tight
• 1:28:51
  Speaker 1: to a narrow line. His eyes fairly bored themselves into
• 1:28:55
  Speaker 1: the patient's eyes with an expression like that of a hypnotizer.
• 1:29:00
  Speaker 1: Muller knew now what he wanted to know. This young
• 1:29:04
  Speaker 1: man understood how to bend the other's will, even the
• 1:29:07
  Speaker 1: will of a sick mind, to his own desires. The
• 1:29:11
  Speaker 1: little silent scene he had watched had lasted just the
• 1:29:15
  Speaker 1: length of time it had taken the detective to walk
• 1:29:18
  Speaker 1: through the room and hold out his hand to the patient.
• 1:29:22
  Speaker 1: I don't want to disturb you, mister Varna, he said
• 1:29:25
  Speaker 1: in a friendly tone, with a motion towards the bench
• 1:29:28
  Speaker 1: from which the mechanician had just arisen. Varna sat down again,
• 1:29:33
  Speaker 1: obedient as a child. He was not always so, apparently,
• 1:29:37
  Speaker 1: for Muller saw a red mark over the fingers of
• 1:29:40
  Speaker 1: one hand that was evidently the mark of a blow.
• 1:29:44
  Speaker 1: Yuri was not very choice in the methods by which
• 1:29:48
  Speaker 1: he controlled the patients confided to his care. May I
• 1:29:52
  Speaker 1: sit down, also asked Muller. Varna pushed a chair towards him.
• 1:29:57
  Speaker 1: His movements were like those of an automa. And now
• 1:30:01
  Speaker 1: tell me, how do you like it? Here began the detective.
• 1:30:06
  Speaker 1: Varna answered with a low, soft voice, Oh, I like
• 1:30:09
  Speaker 1: it very much, sir. As he spoke, he looked up
• 1:30:13
  Speaker 1: at Eurie, whose eyes still bore their commanding expression. They
• 1:30:18
  Speaker 1: treat you kindly here. Oh yes, the doctor is very
• 1:30:22
  Speaker 1: good to you. Ah, the doctor is so good. Varna's
• 1:30:26
  Speaker 1: dull eyes brightened. And the others are good to you also,
• 1:30:31
  Speaker 1: Oh yes, the momentary gleam in his sad eyes had
• 1:30:34
  Speaker 1: vanished again. Where did you get this red scar? The
• 1:30:39
  Speaker 1: patient became uneasy. He moved anxiously on his chair and
• 1:30:44
  Speaker 1: looked up at Yurie. It was evident that he realized
• 1:30:47
  Speaker 1: there would be more red marks if he told the
• 1:30:50
  Speaker 1: truth to this stranger. Mother did not insist upon an answer.
• 1:30:54
  Speaker 1: You are uneasy and nervous sometimes, aren't you. Yes, sir,
• 1:30:59
  Speaker 1: I have been nervous lately, and they don't let you
• 1:31:02
  Speaker 1: go out at such times. Why I No, I may
• 1:31:08
  Speaker 1: not go out at such times, but the doctor takes
• 1:31:11
  Speaker 1: you with him sometimes, the doctor, or ury, asked the detective. Yes,
• 1:31:18
  Speaker 1: I haven't had him out with me for weeks, interrupted
• 1:31:21
  Speaker 1: the attendant. He seemed particularly anxious to have the four
• 1:31:26
  Speaker 1: weeks clearly heard by this inconvenient questioner, Muller dropped this
• 1:31:31
  Speaker 1: subject and took up another. They tell me you are
• 1:31:34
  Speaker 1: very fond of children, and I can see that you
• 1:31:37
  Speaker 1: are making toys for them here. Yes, I love children,
• 1:31:41
  Speaker 1: and I am so glad they are not afraid of me.
• 1:31:45
  Speaker 1: These words were spoken with more warmth and greater interest
• 1:31:49
  Speaker 1: than anything the man had yet said. And they tell
• 1:31:52
  Speaker 1: me that you take gifts with you for the children
• 1:31:55
  Speaker 1: every time you go down to the village. This is
• 1:31:58
  Speaker 1: pretty work here, and it must be a pleasant diversion
• 1:32:02
  Speaker 1: for you. Muller had taken up a dainty little spinning
• 1:32:05
  Speaker 1: wheel which was almost completed. Isn't it made from the
• 1:32:09
  Speaker 1: wood of a red yew tree. Yes, the doctor gave
• 1:32:13
  Speaker 1: me a whole tree that had been cut down in
• 1:32:16
  Speaker 1: the park, and that gave you wood for a long time. Yes, indeed,
• 1:32:22
  Speaker 1: I have been making toys from it for months. Varna
• 1:32:25
  Speaker 1: had become quite eager and interested as he handed his
• 1:32:29
  Speaker 1: visitor a number of pretty trifles. The two had risen
• 1:32:33
  Speaker 1: from their chairs and were leaning over the wide window seat,
• 1:32:37
  Speaker 1: which served as a store house for the wares turned
• 1:32:40
  Speaker 1: out by the busy workmen. They were toys, mostly, all
• 1:32:44
  Speaker 1: sorts of little pots and plates, dolls, furniture balls of
• 1:32:49
  Speaker 1: various sizes, miniature bowling pins and tops. Mueller took up
• 1:32:54
  Speaker 1: one of the ladder. How very clever you are and
• 1:32:58
  Speaker 1: how industrious, he ac exclaimed, sitting down again and turning
• 1:33:02
  Speaker 1: the top in his hands. It was covered with gray varnish,
• 1:33:06
  Speaker 1: with little yellow stripes painted on it. Towards the lower
• 1:33:10
  Speaker 1: point A little bit of the varnish had been broken off,
• 1:33:13
  Speaker 1: and the reddish wood underneath was visible. The top was
• 1:33:17
  Speaker 1: much better constructed than the cheap toys sold in the village.
• 1:33:22
  Speaker 1: It was hollow and contained in its interior a mechanism
• 1:33:26
  Speaker 1: started by the pressure of the upper end. Once set
• 1:33:29
  Speaker 1: in motion, the little top spun about the room for
• 1:33:33
  Speaker 1: some time. Oh isn't that pretty? Is this mechanism your
• 1:33:38
  Speaker 1: own invention, asked Muller, smiling. Eurie watched the top with
• 1:33:43
  Speaker 1: drawn brows and murmured something about childish foolishness. Yes, it
• 1:33:49
  Speaker 1: is my own invention, said the patient. Flattered, he started
• 1:33:53
  Speaker 1: out on an absolutely technical explanation of the mechanism of
• 1:33:58
  Speaker 1: tops in general, and of his own in particular, an
• 1:34:02
  Speaker 1: explanation so lucid and so well put that no one
• 1:34:06
  Speaker 1: would have believed the man who was speaking was not
• 1:34:09
  Speaker 1: in possession of the full powers of his mind. Muller
• 1:34:13
  Speaker 1: listened very attentively with unfeigned interest. But you have made
• 1:34:18
  Speaker 1: more important inventions than this, haven't you, he asked? When
• 1:34:22
  Speaker 1: the others stopped talking. Varna's eyes flashed and his voice
• 1:34:27
  Speaker 1: dropped to a tone of mystery as he answered, Yes, indeed,
• 1:34:31
  Speaker 1: I have. But I did not have time to finish them,
• 1:34:35
  Speaker 1: for I became some one else, some one else, Cardiac,
• 1:34:41
  Speaker 1: whispered Varna, whose mania was now getting the best of him. Again, Cardiac,
• 1:34:47
  Speaker 1: you mean the notorious goldsmith who lived in Paris two
• 1:34:51
  Speaker 1: hundred years ago. Why he's dead, Varna's pale lips curled
• 1:34:56
  Speaker 1: in a superior smile. Oh, yes, that's what people think,
• 1:35:01
  Speaker 1: but it's a mistake. He is still alive. I am
• 1:35:05
  Speaker 1: I have, although of course there isn't much opportunity here.
• 1:35:10
  Speaker 1: Uri cleared his throat with a rasping noise. What are
• 1:35:14
  Speaker 1: you saying, friend, Cardiac, asked Muller, with a great show
• 1:35:18
  Speaker 1: of interest. I have done things here that nobody has
• 1:35:22
  Speaker 1: found out. It gives me great pleasure to see the
• 1:35:25
  Speaker 1: authorities so helpless over the riddles I have given them
• 1:35:28
  Speaker 1: to solve. Oh, indeed, sir, you would never imagine how
• 1:35:33
  Speaker 1: stupid they are. In other words, friend Cardiac, you are
• 1:35:37
  Speaker 1: too clever for the authorities here. Yes, that's it, said
• 1:35:42
  Speaker 1: the insane man. Greatly flattered, he raised his head proudly
• 1:35:47
  Speaker 1: and smiled down at his guest. At this moment, the
• 1:35:50
  Speaker 1: doctor came into the room, and Yuri walked forward to
• 1:35:54
  Speaker 1: the group at the window. You are making him nervous, sir,
• 1:35:58
  Speaker 1: he said to Muller in a tone that was almost harsh.
• 1:36:01
  Speaker 1: You can leave that to me, answered the detective calmly,
• 1:36:05
  Speaker 1: and you will please place yourself behind mister Varna's chair,
• 1:36:09
  Speaker 1: not behind me. It is your eyes that are making
• 1:36:12
  Speaker 1: him uneasy. The attendant was alarmed and lost control of
• 1:36:17
  Speaker 1: himself for a moment. Sir, he exclaimed in an outburst,
• 1:36:22
  Speaker 1: my name is Muller. In case you do not know
• 1:36:24
  Speaker 1: it already, Joseph Muller, Detective Juri Kovash, you will do
• 1:36:30
  Speaker 1: what I tell you to do. I am master here
• 1:36:33
  Speaker 1: just now, Is it not so, doctor, Yes, it is so,
• 1:36:37
  Speaker 1: said the doctor. What does this mean, murmured Yuri, turning pale.
• 1:36:43
  Speaker 1: It means that the best thing for you to do
• 1:36:46
  Speaker 1: is to stand up against that wall and fold your
• 1:36:48
  Speaker 1: arms on your breast, said Muller firmly. He took a
• 1:36:52
  Speaker 1: revolver from his pocket and laid it beside him on
• 1:36:56
  Speaker 1: the turning lathe. The young giant, cowed by the sight
• 1:36:59
  Speaker 1: of the weapon, obeyed the commands of this little man,
• 1:37:03
  Speaker 1: whom he could have easily crushed with a single blow,
• 1:37:08
  Speaker 1: and of Section five section six of the Case of
• 1:37:17
  Speaker 1: the Pool of Blood in the Pasture's Study by Grace
• 1:37:20
  Speaker 1: Isabel Colbran and Augusta Groener. This LibriVox recording is in
• 1:37:25
  Speaker 1: the public domain. Doctor Orzey sank down on the chair
• 1:37:29
  Speaker 1: beside the door. Muller, now completely master of the situation,
• 1:37:34
  Speaker 1: turned to the insane man, who stood looking at him
• 1:37:37
  Speaker 1: in surprise, which was mingled with admiration. And now, my
• 1:37:41
  Speaker 1: dear cardiac, you must tell us of your great deeds here,
• 1:37:45
  Speaker 1: said the detective in a friendly tone. The unfortunate man
• 1:37:50
  Speaker 1: bent over him with shining eyes and whispered, But you'll
• 1:37:53
  Speaker 1: shoot him first, won't you? Why should I shoot him?
• 1:37:57
  Speaker 1: Because he won't let me say a word without beating me.
• 1:38:01
  Speaker 1: He is so cruel, he sticks pins into me if
• 1:38:04
  Speaker 1: I don't do what he wants. Why didn't you tell
• 1:38:07
  Speaker 1: the doctor Yuri would have treated me worse than ever? Then?
• 1:38:13
  Speaker 1: I am a coward, sir. I'm so afraid of pain.
• 1:38:16
  Speaker 1: And he knew that. He knew that I was afraid
• 1:38:19
  Speaker 1: of being hurt, and that I'd always do what he
• 1:38:22
  Speaker 1: asked of me. And because I don't like to be
• 1:38:25
  Speaker 1: hurt myself, I always finished them off quickly, finish too.
• 1:38:31
  Speaker 1: Why there was Red Betty? He wanted her money? Who
• 1:38:35
  Speaker 1: wanted it? Uri, the man at the wall, moved when
• 1:38:39
  Speaker 1: he heard this terrible accusation, but the detective took up
• 1:38:44
  Speaker 1: his revolver again. Be quiet, there, he called out, with
• 1:38:48
  Speaker 1: a look such as he might have thrown at an
• 1:38:51
  Speaker 1: angry dog. Uri stood quiet again, but his eyes shot flames,
• 1:38:56
  Speaker 1: and great drops stood out on his forehead. Go on now, friend, Cardiac,
• 1:39:03
  Speaker 1: continued the detective. We were talking about Red Betty. I
• 1:39:07
  Speaker 1: strangled her. She did not even know she was dying.
• 1:39:11
  Speaker 1: She was such a weak old woman. It really couldn't
• 1:39:14
  Speaker 1: have hurt her. No, certainly not, said Detective Muller smoothly,
• 1:39:20
  Speaker 1: for he saw that the thought that his victim might
• 1:39:23
  Speaker 1: have suffered was beginning to make the madman uneasy. You
• 1:39:28
  Speaker 1: needn't worry about that. Old Betty died a quiet death.
• 1:39:32
  Speaker 1: But tell me, how did Yurie know that she had money?
• 1:39:36
  Speaker 1: The whole village knew it. She laid cards for people
• 1:39:40
  Speaker 1: and earned a lot of money that way. She was
• 1:39:43
  Speaker 1: very stingy and saved every bit. Somebody saw her counting
• 1:39:47
  Speaker 1: out her money once she had it in a big
• 1:39:50
  Speaker 1: stocking under her bed. People in the village talked about it.
• 1:39:54
  Speaker 1: That's how Yuri heard of it, And so he commanded
• 1:39:58
  Speaker 1: you to kill Betty and steal her money. Yes, he
• 1:40:03
  Speaker 1: knew that. I loved to give them riddles to guess,
• 1:40:06
  Speaker 1: just as I did in Paris so long ago. Oh, yes,
• 1:40:10
  Speaker 1: your cardiac, aren't you? And now tell us about the
• 1:40:15
  Speaker 1: smith's swineherd. You mean Janos? Oh he was a stupid lout,
• 1:40:21
  Speaker 1: answered Varnas scornfully. He had cast an eye on beautiful
• 1:40:25
  Speaker 1: jalsy URI's mistress, so of course I had to kill him.
• 1:40:31
  Speaker 1: Did you do that alone? No? Uri helped me. Why
• 1:40:36
  Speaker 1: did you cut the bridge supports? Because I enjoy giving
• 1:40:40
  Speaker 1: people riddles, as I told you. But Uri forbade me
• 1:40:44
  Speaker 1: to kill people uselessly. I like the chance of getting
• 1:40:48
  Speaker 1: out though. The Doctor's so good to me and the
• 1:40:51
  Speaker 1: others too. Urie is good to me when I have
• 1:40:54
  Speaker 1: done what he wanted. But you see, mister Muller, I
• 1:40:58
  Speaker 1: am like a prisoner here, and that makes me angry.
• 1:41:02
  Speaker 1: I made Ury let me out nights sometimes. You mean
• 1:41:06
  Speaker 1: he let you out alone, all alone. Yes, of course,
• 1:41:11
  Speaker 1: for I threatened to tell the doctor everything. If he didn't.
• 1:41:15
  Speaker 1: You wouldn't have dared do that. No, that's true, smiled Varner, shyly.
• 1:41:21
  Speaker 1: But Uri was afraid I might do it, for he
• 1:41:24
  Speaker 1: isn't always strong enough to frighten me with those eyes.
• 1:41:28
  Speaker 1: Those were the hours when I could make him afraid.
• 1:41:31
  Speaker 1: I liked those hours. What did you do when you
• 1:41:35
  Speaker 1: were out alone at night? I just walked about. I
• 1:41:39
  Speaker 1: set fire to a tree in the woods once, then
• 1:41:42
  Speaker 1: the rain came and put it out. Once I killed
• 1:41:45
  Speaker 1: a dog, and another time I cut through the bridge supports.
• 1:41:49
  Speaker 1: That took me several hours to do and made me
• 1:41:53
  Speaker 1: very tired. But it was such fun to know that
• 1:41:56
  Speaker 1: people would be worrying and fussing about who did it?
• 1:41:59
  Speaker 1: Var When I rubbed his hands gleefully, he did not
• 1:42:02
  Speaker 1: look the least bit malicious, but only very much amused.
• 1:42:07
  Speaker 1: The doctor groaned. Ury's great body trembled, his arms shook,
• 1:42:12
  Speaker 1: but he did not make a single voluntary movement. He
• 1:42:16
  Speaker 1: saw the revolver in Muller's hand and felt the keen
• 1:42:20
  Speaker 1: gray eyes resting on him in pitiless calm. And now
• 1:42:25
  Speaker 1: tell us about the pastor, said the detective in a firm,
• 1:42:28
  Speaker 1: clear voice. Oh he was a dear, good gentleman, said
• 1:42:33
  Speaker 1: number three O two, with an expression of pitying sorrow
• 1:42:37
  Speaker 1: on his face. I owed him much gratitude. That's why
• 1:42:42
  Speaker 1: I put the roses in his hand. Yes, but you
• 1:42:46
  Speaker 1: murdered him first, of course, Eury told me too, and
• 1:42:51
  Speaker 1: why he hated the pastor, for the old gentleman had
• 1:42:56
  Speaker 1: no confidence in him. Is this true? Muller turned to
• 1:43:00
  Speaker 1: the doctor. I did not notice it, said Orzay, with
• 1:43:04
  Speaker 1: a voice that showed deep sorrow. And you, Muller's eyes
• 1:43:09
  Speaker 1: bored themselves into the orbs of the young giant. Now
• 1:43:12
  Speaker 1: dulled with fear, Eury started and shivered. He looked at
• 1:43:17
  Speaker 1: me sharply. Every now and then, he murmured, and that
• 1:43:21
  Speaker 1: is why he was killed. The warder's head sank on
• 1:43:25
  Speaker 1: his breast. No, not only for that reason, continued number
• 1:43:30
  Speaker 1: three O two. Euri needed money again. He ordered me
• 1:43:34
  Speaker 1: to bring him the silver candlesticks off the altar. Murder
• 1:43:39
  Speaker 1: anne sacrilege, said the detective, calmly. No, I did not
• 1:43:44
  Speaker 1: rob the church. When I had buried the reverend. Gentlemen,
• 1:43:48
  Speaker 1: I heard the cock crowing. I was afraid I might
• 1:43:51
  Speaker 1: get home here too late, and I forgot the candlesticks.
• 1:43:55
  Speaker 1: I had to stop to wash my hands in the brook.
• 1:43:58
  Speaker 1: While I was there, I saw Shepherd Yancey coming along,
• 1:44:02
  Speaker 1: and I hid behind the willows. He almost discovered me once,
• 1:44:07
  Speaker 1: But Yancey's a dreamer. He's these things nobody else sees,
• 1:44:11
  Speaker 1: and he doesn't see things that everyone else does see.
• 1:44:15
  Speaker 1: I couldn't help laughing at his sleepy face, but I
• 1:44:19
  Speaker 1: didn't laugh. When I came back to the asylum. Yurie
• 1:44:22
  Speaker 1: was waiting for me at the door. When he saw
• 1:44:25
  Speaker 1: that I hadn't brought the candlesticks, he beat me and
• 1:44:28
  Speaker 1: tortured me worse than he'd ever done before. And you
• 1:44:33
  Speaker 1: didn't tell anyone? Why no? Because I was afraid that
• 1:44:37
  Speaker 1: if I told on him, I'd never be able to
• 1:44:40
  Speaker 1: go out again. And you quite alone could carry the
• 1:44:44
  Speaker 1: pastor's body out of his room. I am very strong.
• 1:44:49
  Speaker 1: How did you arrange it that there should be no
• 1:44:52
  Speaker 1: traces of blood to betray you? I waited until the
• 1:44:56
  Speaker 1: body had stiffened. Then I tied up the wound and
• 1:45:00
  Speaker 1: and carried him down into the crypt. Why did you
• 1:45:03
  Speaker 1: do that? I didn't want to leave him in that
• 1:45:06
  Speaker 1: horrid pool of blood. Were you sorry for him? Then? Why? Yes?
• 1:45:13
  Speaker 1: It looked so horrid to see him lying there, and
• 1:45:16
  Speaker 1: he had always been so good to me. He was
• 1:45:19
  Speaker 1: so good to me that evening when I went into
• 1:45:22
  Speaker 1: his study, he recognized you, certainly. He sprang up from
• 1:45:28
  Speaker 1: his chair when I came in through the passage from
• 1:45:31
  Speaker 1: the church. I saw that he was startled, but he
• 1:45:34
  Speaker 1: smiled at me and reached out his hand to me
• 1:45:37
  Speaker 1: and said, what brings you here, my dear cardiac? And
• 1:45:41
  Speaker 1: then I struck. I wanted him to die with that
• 1:45:45
  Speaker 1: smile on his lips. It is beautiful to see a
• 1:45:49
  Speaker 1: man die smiling. It shows that he has not been
• 1:45:52
  Speaker 1: afraid of death. He was dead at once. I always
• 1:45:57
  Speaker 1: killed that way. I know just how to strike and
• 1:46:00
  Speaker 1: where I killed more than a hundred people years ago
• 1:46:04
  Speaker 1: in Paris, and I didn't leave one of them the
• 1:46:07
  Speaker 1: time for even a sigh. I was renowned for that.
• 1:46:11
  Speaker 1: I had a kind heart and a sure hand. Muller
• 1:46:16
  Speaker 1: interrupted the dreadful imaginings of the madman with a question,
• 1:46:20
  Speaker 1: You got into the house through the crypt? Yes, through
• 1:46:24
  Speaker 1: the crypt. I found the window one night when I
• 1:46:27
  Speaker 1: was prowling around in the churchyard, when I knew that
• 1:46:31
  Speaker 1: the pastor was to be next I cut through the
• 1:46:34
  Speaker 1: window bars. Yuri went into the church one day when
• 1:46:37
  Speaker 1: nobody was there and found out that it was easy
• 1:46:41
  Speaker 1: to lift the stone over the entrance to the crypt.
• 1:46:45
  Speaker 1: He also learned that the doors from the church to
• 1:46:47
  Speaker 1: the vestry were never locked. I knew how to find
• 1:46:51
  Speaker 1: the passageway because I had been through it several times
• 1:46:55
  Speaker 1: on my visits to the rectory. But it was a
• 1:46:57
  Speaker 1: mere chance that the door into the pastor study was unlocked,
• 1:47:02
  Speaker 1: A chance that cost the life of a worthy man,
• 1:47:05
  Speaker 1: said the detective gravely. Varna nodded sadly, but he didn't suffer.
• 1:47:12
  Speaker 1: He was dead at once. And now tell me what
• 1:47:16
  Speaker 1: this top was doing there? Number three O two looked
• 1:47:19
  Speaker 1: at the detective in great surprise, and then laid his
• 1:47:23
  Speaker 1: hand on the latter's arm. How did you know that
• 1:47:26
  Speaker 1: I had the top there, he asked, with a show
• 1:47:28
  Speaker 1: of interest. I found its traces in the room, and
• 1:47:33
  Speaker 1: it was those traces that led me here to you,
• 1:47:36
  Speaker 1: answered Muller. How strange, remarked Varna. Are you like Shepherd
• 1:47:41
  Speaker 1: Yancey that you can see things others don't. No, I
• 1:47:45
  Speaker 1: have not Yancey's gift. It would be a great comfort
• 1:47:49
  Speaker 1: to me and to help to the others, perhaps if
• 1:47:51
  Speaker 1: I had. I can only see things after they have happened.
• 1:47:56
  Speaker 1: But you can see more than others. The others did
• 1:47:59
  Speaker 1: not see, see the traces of the top. My business
• 1:48:03
  Speaker 1: is to see more than others see, said Muller. But
• 1:48:06
  Speaker 1: you have not told me yet what the top was
• 1:48:09
  Speaker 1: doing there. Why did you take a toy like that
• 1:48:12
  Speaker 1: with you when you went on such an errand it
• 1:48:16
  Speaker 1: was in my pocket by chance, when I reached for
• 1:48:18
  Speaker 1: my handkerchief to quench the flow of blood, the top
• 1:48:22
  Speaker 1: came out with it. I must have touched the spring
• 1:48:25
  Speaker 1: without knowing it, for the top began to spin. I
• 1:48:30
  Speaker 1: stood still and watched it, and then I ran after it.
• 1:48:34
  Speaker 1: It spun around the room and finally came back to
• 1:48:37
  Speaker 1: the body, so I did. The pastor was quite still
• 1:48:41
  Speaker 1: and dead by that time. You have heard everything, doctor Orsey,
• 1:48:46
  Speaker 1: asked the detective, rising from his chair. Yes, I have
• 1:48:50
  Speaker 1: heard everything, answered the venerable head of the asylum. He
• 1:48:54
  Speaker 1: was utterly crushed by the realization that all this tragedy
• 1:48:58
  Speaker 1: and horror had go out from his house. Varna Rose. Also,
• 1:49:04
  Speaker 1: he understood perfectly that now Yurie's power was at an end.
• 1:49:08
  Speaker 1: And he was as pleased as a child that had
• 1:49:11
  Speaker 1: just received a present. And now you're going to shoot him,
• 1:49:15
  Speaker 1: he asked, in a tone a boy would use if
• 1:49:18
  Speaker 1: asking when the fireworks were to begin. Muller shook his head. No,
• 1:49:23
  Speaker 1: my dear cardiac, he replied, gravely, he will not be shot.
• 1:49:27
  Speaker 1: That is a death for a brave soldier. But this
• 1:49:30
  Speaker 1: man has deserved. He did not finish the sentence, for
• 1:49:34
  Speaker 1: the warder sank to the floor unconscious. What a coward,
• 1:49:39
  Speaker 1: murmured the detective, scornfully, looking down at the giant frame
• 1:49:43
  Speaker 1: that lay prostrate before him. Even in his wide experience,
• 1:49:48
  Speaker 1: he had known of no case of a man of
• 1:49:50
  Speaker 1: such strength and such beastial cruelty, combined with such utter cowardice.
• 1:49:58
  Speaker 1: Varna also stood looking down at at the unconscious warder.
• 1:50:01
  Speaker 1: Then he glanced up with a cunning smile at the
• 1:50:04
  Speaker 1: other two men who stood there. The doctor, pale and
• 1:50:08
  Speaker 1: trembling with horror, covered his face with his hands. Muller
• 1:50:13
  Speaker 1: turned to the door to call in the attendants waiting outside.
• 1:50:17
  Speaker 1: During the moment's pause that ensued, the madman bent over
• 1:50:21
  Speaker 1: his work table, seized a knife that lay there, and
• 1:50:24
  Speaker 1: dropped on one knee beside the prostrate form. His hand
• 1:50:29
  Speaker 1: was raised to strike, when a calm voice said, Fi cardiac,
• 1:50:34
  Speaker 1: for shame, Do not belittle yourself. This man here is
• 1:50:38
  Speaker 1: not worthy of your knife. The hangman will look after him.
• 1:50:43
  Speaker 1: Varna raised his loose jointed frame and looked about with
• 1:50:47
  Speaker 1: glistening eyes and trembling lips. His mind was completely darkened.
• 1:50:51
  Speaker 1: Once more, I must kill him, I must have his blood.
• 1:50:56
  Speaker 1: There is no one to see me, he murmured. I
• 1:50:59
  Speaker 1: am a hangman too. He has made a hangman of me.
• 1:51:03
  Speaker 1: And again he bent with uplifted hand over the man
• 1:51:07
  Speaker 1: who had utilized his terrible misfortune to make a criminal
• 1:51:11
  Speaker 1: of him. But two of the waiting attendants seized his
• 1:51:15
  Speaker 1: arms and threw him back on the floor, while the
• 1:51:18
  Speaker 1: other two carted out eurie. Both unfortunates were soon securely guarded.
• 1:51:25
  Speaker 1: Do not be angry with me, doctor, said Muller gravely,
• 1:51:28
  Speaker 1: as he walked through the garden accompanied by Orse. Doctor
• 1:51:33
  Speaker 1: Orse laughed bitterly. Why should I be angry with you,
• 1:51:37
  Speaker 1: you who have discovered my inexcusable credulity inexcusable? Oh no, doctor,
• 1:51:44
  Speaker 1: it was quite natural that you should have believed a
• 1:51:47
  Speaker 1: man who had himself so well in hand, and who
• 1:51:51
  Speaker 1: knew so well how to play his part. When we
• 1:51:54
  Speaker 1: come to think of it, we realized that most crimes
• 1:51:57
  Speaker 1: have been made possible through some one else's credulity or
• 1:52:01
  Speaker 1: over confidence, a credulity which, in the light of subsequent
• 1:52:06
  Speaker 1: events seems quite incomprehensible. But do not reproach yourself, and
• 1:52:12
  Speaker 1: do not lose heart. Your only fault was that you
• 1:52:16
  Speaker 1: did not recognize the heart of the beast of prey
• 1:52:19
  Speaker 1: in this admirable human form. What course will the law take?
• 1:52:24
  Speaker 1: Asked Orza. The poor, unfortunate madman whose knife took all
• 1:52:29
  Speaker 1: these lives cannot be held responsible, can he? Oh? No,
• 1:52:34
  Speaker 1: his misfortune protects him. But as for the other, though
• 1:52:38
  Speaker 1: his hands bear no actual blood stains, he is more
• 1:52:41
  Speaker 1: truly a murderer than the unhappy man who was his tool.
• 1:52:46
  Speaker 1: Hanging is too good for him. There are times when
• 1:52:49
  Speaker 1: even I could wish that we were back in the
• 1:52:52
  Speaker 1: Middle Ages, when it was possible to torture a prisoner.
• 1:52:56
  Speaker 1: You do not look like that sort of man, smiled
• 1:52:59
  Speaker 1: the doctor through his sadness. No, I am the most
• 1:53:03
  Speaker 1: good natured of men. Usually I think the meekest anyway,
• 1:53:07
  Speaker 1: answered Muller. But a case like this, however, as I
• 1:53:13
  Speaker 1: said before, keep a stout heart, doctor, and do not
• 1:53:16
  Speaker 1: waste time in unnecessary self reproachings. The detective pressed the
• 1:53:21
  Speaker 1: doctor's hand warmly and walked down the hill towards the village.
• 1:53:26
  Speaker 1: He went at once to the office of the magistrate
• 1:53:29
  Speaker 1: and made his report. Then returned to the rectory and
• 1:53:33
  Speaker 1: packed his grip. He arranged for its transport to the
• 1:53:37
  Speaker 1: railway station, as he himself preferred to walk the inconsiderable distance.
• 1:53:43
  Speaker 1: He passed through the village and had just entered the
• 1:53:45
  Speaker 1: open fields when he met Yancey with his flock. The
• 1:53:49
  Speaker 1: shepherd hastened his steps when he saw the detective approaching.
• 1:53:54
  Speaker 1: You have found him, sir, he exclaimed, as he came
• 1:53:57
  Speaker 1: up to Muller. The man had come to be friends.
• 1:54:00
  Speaker 1: By this time, the silent shepherd, with his power of
• 1:54:04
  Speaker 1: second sight, had won Muller's interest at once. Yes, I
• 1:54:08
  Speaker 1: found him. It was Yuri, the warder at the asylum. No, Sir,
• 1:54:13
  Speaker 1: it is not Yuri. Yuri did not do it. But
• 1:54:17
  Speaker 1: when I tell you that he did, But I tell you, sir,
• 1:54:21
  Speaker 1: Yuri did not do it. The man who did it.
• 1:54:24
  Speaker 1: He has yellowish hands. I saw them. I saw big
• 1:54:27
  Speaker 1: yellowish hands. Yuri's hands are big, but they are brown. Yancey,
• 1:54:33
  Speaker 1: you are right. I was only trying to test you.
• 1:54:36
  Speaker 1: Yuri did not do it, that is, he did not
• 1:54:39
  Speaker 1: do it with his own hands. The man who held
• 1:54:42
  Speaker 1: the knife that struck down the pastor was Varna, the
• 1:54:45
  Speaker 1: crazy mechanician. Yancey beat his forehead. Oh I am foolish
• 1:54:52
  Speaker 1: and a useless dreamer, he exclaimed. Of course it was
• 1:54:56
  Speaker 1: Varna's hands that I saw. I have seen them a
• 1:54:59
  Speaker 1: hundred times when he came down into the village, and
• 1:55:02
  Speaker 1: yet when I saw them in the vision, I did
• 1:55:04
  Speaker 1: not recognize them. We're all dreamers, Yancey, and our dreams
• 1:55:09
  Speaker 1: are very useless. Generally, yours are not useless, Sir, said
• 1:55:14
  Speaker 1: the shepherd. If I had as much brains as you have,
• 1:55:17
  Speaker 1: my dreams might be of some good. Muller smiled. And
• 1:55:22
  Speaker 1: if I had your visions, Yancey, it would be a
• 1:55:24
  Speaker 1: powerful aid to me in my profession. I don't think
• 1:55:28
  Speaker 1: you need them, sir. You can find out the hidden
• 1:55:31
  Speaker 1: things without them. You are going to leave us, yes, Yancey,
• 1:55:36
  Speaker 1: I must go back to Budapest and from there to Vienna.
• 1:55:39
  Speaker 1: They need me on another case. It's a sad work,
• 1:55:44
  Speaker 1: this bringing people to the gallows, isn't it, Yes, Yancey,
• 1:55:48
  Speaker 1: it is sometimes, but it's a good thing to be
• 1:55:51
  Speaker 1: able to avenge crime and bring justice to the injured.
• 1:55:55
  Speaker 1: Good Bye, Yancey, good bye sir, and god speed to you.
• 1:56:00
  Speaker 1: The shepherd stood, looking after the small, slight vigor of
• 1:56:03
  Speaker 1: the man who walked on rapidly through the heather. He's
• 1:56:07
  Speaker 1: the right one for the work, murmured Yancey as he
• 1:56:11
  Speaker 1: turned slowly back toward the village. An hour later, Muller
• 1:56:15
  Speaker 1: stood in the little waiting room of the railway station
• 1:56:18
  Speaker 1: writing a telegram. It was addressed to the count. Do
• 1:56:22
  Speaker 1: you know the shepherd, Yancey. It would be a good
• 1:56:25
  Speaker 1: thing to make him an official detective for the village.
• 1:56:29
  Speaker 1: He has high qualifications for the profession. If I had
• 1:56:33
  Speaker 1: his gifts combined with my own, not one could escape me.
• 1:56:38
  Speaker 1: I have found this one. However, the guards are already
• 1:56:42
  Speaker 1: taking him to you. My work here is done. If
• 1:56:45
  Speaker 1: I should be needed again, I can be found at
• 1:56:48
  Speaker 1: Police Headquarters, Vienna. Respectfully, Joseph Muller. While the detective was
• 1:56:54
  Speaker 1: writing his message. It was one of the rare moments
• 1:56:58
  Speaker 1: of humor that Muller allowed himself, and he wondered mildly
• 1:57:02
  Speaker 1: what the stately Hungarian nobleman would think of it. A
• 1:57:06
  Speaker 1: heavy farm wagon jolted over the country roads towards the
• 1:57:09
  Speaker 1: little county seat. Sitting beside the driver and riding about
• 1:57:14
  Speaker 1: the wagon were armed peasants. The figure of a man
• 1:57:18
  Speaker 1: securely bound, his face distorted by fear and rage, lay
• 1:57:23
  Speaker 1: in the wagon. It was Yuri Kovach, who had murdered
• 1:57:27
  Speaker 1: by the hands of another, and who was now on
• 1:57:30
  Speaker 1: his way to meet the death that was his due.
• 1:57:34
  Speaker 1: And at one of the barred windows in the big
• 1:57:36
  Speaker 1: yellow house stood a sallow faced man, looking out at
• 1:57:40
  Speaker 1: the rising moon with sad, tired eyes. His lips were
• 1:57:44
  Speaker 1: parted in a smile like that of a dreaming child,
• 1:57:48
  Speaker 1: and he hummed a gentle lullaby. In his compartment of
• 1:57:53
  Speaker 1: the express from Budapest to Vienna, Joseph Muller sat thinking
• 1:57:57
  Speaker 1: over the strange events that had called him to the
• 1:58:00
  Speaker 1: obscure little Hungarian village. He had met with many strange
• 1:58:05
  Speaker 1: cases in his long career, but this particular case had
• 1:58:09
  Speaker 1: some features which were unique Muller's lips set hard and
• 1:58:13
  Speaker 1: his hands tightened to fists as he murmured, I've met
• 1:58:17
  Speaker 1: with criminals who have used strange tools, but never before
• 1:58:21
  Speaker 1: have I met with one who had the cunning and
• 1:58:24
  Speaker 1: the incredible cruelty to utilize the mania of an unhinged
• 1:58:29
  Speaker 1: human mind. It is a thousand times worse than those
• 1:58:33
  Speaker 1: criminals who now and then, through the ages have trained
• 1:58:37
  Speaker 1: brute beasts to murder for them. Truly, this Hungarian peasant, Yurikovash,
• 1:58:44
  Speaker 1: deserves a high place in the infamous roll call of
• 1:58:48
  Speaker 1: the great criminals of history. A student of crime might
• 1:58:53
  Speaker 1: almost be led to think that it is a pity
• 1:58:56
  Speaker 1: his career has been cut so short. He might have
• 1:58:59
  Speaker 1: gone far but for humanity's sake. Muller's eyes gleamed. I
• 1:59:05
  Speaker 1: am thankful that I was able to discover this beast
• 1:59:08
  Speaker 1: in human form and render him innocuous. He had done
• 1:59:13
  Speaker 1: quite enough. End of section six, end of the Case
• 1:59:19
  Speaker 1: of the Pool of Blood in the Pasture's Study by
• 1:59:21
  Speaker 1: Grace Isabel Colbron and Augusta Groener, read for you by
• 1:59:26
  Speaker 1: Dawn Larson in Minnesota. Thank you for listening.