|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 24
Dr. Orszay sank down on the chair beside the door. Muller, now
completely master of the situation, turned to the insane man who
stood looking at him in a surprise which was mingled with admiration.
"And now, my dear Cardillac, you must tell us of your great deeds
here," said the detective in a friendly tone.
The unfortunate man bent over him with shining eyes and whispered:
"But you'll shoot him first, won't you?"
"Why should I shoot him?"
"Because he won't let me say a word without beating me. He is so
cruel. He sticks pins into me if I don't do what he wants."
"Why didn't you tell the doctor?"
"Gyuri would have treated me worse than ever then. I am a coward,
sir, I'm so afraid of pain and he knew that--he knew that I was
afraid of being hurt and that I'd always do what he asked of me.
And because I don't like to be hurt myself I always finished them
off quickly."
"Finished who?"
"Why, there was Red Betty, he wanted her money."
"Who wanted it?"
"Gyuri."
The man at the wall moved when he heard this terrible accusation.
But the detective took up his revolver again. "Be quiet there!" he
called, with a look such as he might have thrown at an angry dog.
Gyuri stood quiet again but his eyes shot flames and great drops
stood out on his forehead.
"Now go on, friend Cardillac," continued the detective. "We were
talking about Red Betty."
"I strangled her. She did not even know she was dying. She was
such a weak old woman, it really couldn't have hurt her."
"No, certainly not," said Muller soothingly, for he saw that the
thought that his victim might have suffered was beginning to make
the madman uneasy. "You needn't worry about that. Old Betty died
a quiet death. But tell me, how did Gyuri know that she had money?"
"The whole village knew it. She laid cards for people and earned
a lot of money that way. She was very stingy and saved every bit.
Somebody saw her counting out her money once, she had it in a big
stocking under her bed. People in the village talked about it.
That's how Gyuri heard of it."
"And so he commanded you to kill Betty and steal her money?"
"Yes. He knew that I loved to give them riddles to guess, just as
I did in Paris so long ago."
"Oh, yes, you're Cardillac, aren't you? And now tell us about the
smith's swineherd."
"You mean Janos? Oh, he was a stupid lout," answered Varna
scornfully.
"He had cast an eye on the beautiful Julcsi, Gyuri's mistress, so
of course I had to kill him."
"Did you do that alone?"
"No, Gyuri helped me."
"Why did you cut the bridge supports?"
"Because I enjoy giving people riddles, as I told you. But Gyuri
forbade me to kill people uselessly. I liked the chance of getting
out though. The doctor's so good to me and the others too. Gyuri
is good to me when I have done what he wanted. But you see, Mr.
Muller, I am like a prisoner here and that makes me angry. I made
Gyuri let me out nights sometimes."
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|