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