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Page 10
"Well, then, sir, we might just as well sit down and wait for the
detective's arrival," said the judge.
"You are waiting for some one besides the doctor?" asked the local
magistrate timidly.
"Yes, His Grace telegraphed to Budapest," answered the district
judge, looking at his watch. "And if the train is on time, the man
we are waiting for ought to be here in an hour. You sent the
carriage to the station, didn't you? Is the driver reliable?"
"Yes, sir, he is a dependable man," said the old housekeeper.
Dr. Orszay entered the room just then and the Count introduced him
to the district judge, who was still a stranger to him.
"I fear, Count, that our eyes will serve but little in discovering
the truth of this mystery," said the doctor.
The nobleman nodded. "I agree with you," he replied. "And I have
sent for sharper eyes than either yours or mine."
The doctor looked his question, and the Count continued: "When the
news came to me I telegraphed to Pest for a police detective,
telling them that the case was peculiar and urgent. I received an
answer as I stopped at the station on my way here. This is it:
'Detective Joseph Muller from Vienna in Budapest by chance. Have
sent him to take your case.'"
"Muller?" exclaimed Dr. Orszay. "Can it be the celebrated Muller,
the most famous detective of the Austrian police? That would indeed
be a blessing."
"I hope and believe that it is," said the Count gravely. "I have
heard of this man and we need such a one here that we may find the
source of these many misfortunes which have overwhelmed our peaceful
village for two years past. It is indeed a stroke of good luck that
has led a man of such gifts into our neighbourhood at a time when
he is so greatly needed. I believe personally that it is the same
person or persons who have been the perpetrators of all these
outrages and I intend once for all to put a stop to it, let it cost
what it may."
"If any one can discover the truth it will be Muller," said the
district judge. "It was I who told the Count how fortunate we were
that this man, who is known to the police throughout Austria and far
beyond the borders of our kingdom, should have chanced to be in
Budapest and free to come to us when we called. You and I"--he
turned with a smile to the local magistrate--"you and I can get
away with the usual cases of local brutality hereabouts. But the
cunning that is at the bottom of these crimes is one too many for
us."
The men had taken their places around the great dining-table. The
old housekeeper had crept out again, her terror making her forget
her usual hospitality. And indeed it would not have occurred to the
guests to ask or even to wish for any refreshment. The maid brought
a lamp, which sent its weak rays scarcely beyond the edges of the
big table. The four men sat in silence for some time.
"I suppose it would be useless to ask who has been coming and going
from the rectory the last few days?" began the Count.
"Oh, yes, indeed, sir," said the district judge with a sigh. "For
if this murderer is the same who committed the other crimes he must
live here in or near the village, and therefore must be known to
all and not likely to excite suspicion."
"I beg your pardon, sir," put in the doctor. "There must be at
least two of them. One man alone could not have carried off the
farm hand who was killed to the swamp where his body was found.
Nor could one man alone have taken away the bloody body of the
pastor. Our venerable friend was a man of size and weight, as
you know, and one man alone could not have dragged his body from
he room without leaving an easily seen trail."
The judge blushed, but he nodded in affirmation to the doctor's
words. This thought had not occurred to him before. In fact, the
judge was more notable for his good will and his love of justice
rather than for his keen intelligence. He was as well aware of
this as was any one else, and he was heartily glad that the Count
had sent to the capital for reinforcements.
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