joined by the district judge, whohad remained behind to give an order sending a carriage to the nearestrailway station. The judge, too, was serious and deeply shocked, for healso had greatly admired and revered the old pastor. The stately rectoryhad been the scene of many a jovial gathering when the lord of the manorhad made it a centre for a day's hunting with his friends. The bearersof some of the proudest names in all Hungary had gathered in thehigh-arched rooms to laugh with the venerable pastor and to samplethe excellent wines in his cellar. These wines, which the gentlementhemselves would send in as presents to the master of the rectory, wouldbe carefully preserved for their own enjoyment. Not a landed proprietorfor many leagues around but knew and loved the old pastor, who had nowso strangely disappeared under such terrifying circumstances.
"Well, we might as well begin our examination," remarked the Count."Although if Dr. Orszay's sharp eyes did not find anything, I doubt verymuch if we will. You have asked the doctor to come here again, haven'tyou?"
"Yes, your Grace! As soon as I saw you coming I sent the sexton to theasylum." Then the men went in again into the room which had been thescene of the mysterious crime. The wind rattled the open window and blewout its white curtains. It was already dark in the corners of the room,one could see but indistinctly the carvings of the wainscoting. Thelight backs of the books, or the gold letters on the darker bindings,made spots of brightness in the gloom. The hideous pool of blood in thecentre of the floor was still plainly to be seen.
"Judging by the loss of blood, death must have come quickly."
"There was no struggle, evidently, for everything in the room was inperfect order when we entered it."
"There is not even a chair misplaced. His Bible is there on the desk, hemay have been preparing for to-day's sermon."
"Yes, that is the case; because see, here are some notes in hishandwriting."
The Count and Judge von Kormendy spoke these sentences at intervals asthey made their examination of the room. The local magistrate was ableto answer one or two simpler questions, but for the most part he couldonly shrug his shoulders in helplessness. Nothing had been seen or heardthat was at all unusual during the night in the rectory. When the oldhousekeeper was called up she could say nothing more than this. Indeed,it was almost impossible for the old woman to say anything, her voicechoked with sobs at every second word. None of the household force hadnoticed anything unusual, or could remember anything at all that wouldthrow light on this mystery.
"Well, then, sir, we might just as well sit down and wait for thedetective's arrival," said the judge.
"You are waiting for some one besides the doctor?" asked the localmagistrate 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 arewaiting for ought to be here in an hour. You sent the carriage to thestation, 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 tothe district judge, who was still a stranger to him.
"I fear, Count, that our eyes will serve but little in discovering thetruth of this mystery," said the doctor.
The nobleman nodded. "I agree with you," he replied. "And I have sentfor sharper eyes than either yours or mine."
The doctor looked his question, and the Count continued: "When the newscame to me I telegraphed to Pest for a police detective, telling themthat the case was peculiar and urgent. I received an answer as I stoppedat the station on my way here. This is it: 'Detective Joseph Muller fromVienna in Budapest by chance. Have sent him to take your case.'"
"Muller?" exclaimed Dr. Orszay. "Can it be the celebrated Muller, themost famous detective of the Austrian police? That would indeed be ablessing."
"I hope and believe that it is," said the Count gravely. "I have heardof this man and we need such a one here that we may find the source ofthese many misfortunes which have overwhelmed our peaceful village fortwo years past. It is indeed a stroke of good luck that has led a manof such gifts into our neighbourhood at a time when he is so greatlyneeded. I believe personally that it is the same person or persons whohave been the perpetrators of all these outrages and I intend once forall 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 districtjudge. "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 bordersof our kingdom, should have chanced to be in Budapest and free to cometo us when we called. You and I"--he turned with a smile to the localmagistrate--"you and I can get away with the usual cases of localbrutality hereabouts. But the cunning that is at the bottom of thesecrimes is one too many for us."
The men had taken their places around the great dining-table. The oldhousekeeper had crept out again, her terror making her forget her usualhospitality. And indeed it would not have occurred to the guests to askor even to wish for any refreshment. The maid brought a lamp, which sentits weak rays scarcely beyond the edges of the big table. The four mensat in silence for some time.
"I suppose it would be useless to ask who has been coming and going fromthe rectory the last few days?" began the Count.
"Oh, yes, indeed, sir," said the district judge with a sigh. "For ifthis murderer is the same who committed the other crimes he must livehere in or near the village, and therefore must be known to all and notlikely to excite suspicion."
"I beg your pardon, sir," put in the doctor. "There must be at least twoof them. One man alone could not have carried off the farm hand who waskilled to the swamp where his body was found. Nor could one man alonehave taken away the bloody body of the pastor. Our venerable friend wasa man of size and weight, as you know, and one man alone could not havedragged his body from the 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 morenotable for his good will and his love of justice rather than for hiskeen 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 forreinforcements.
Some time more passed in deep silence. Each of the men was occupied withhis own thoughts. A sigh broke the silence now and then, and a slightmovement when one or the other drew out his watch or raised his head tolook at the door. Finally, the sound of a carriage outside was heard.The men sprang up.
The driver's voice was heard, then steps which ascended the stairs lowlyand lightly, audible only because the stillness was so great.
The door opened and a small, slight, smooth-shaven man with a gentleface and keen grey eyes stood on the threshold. "I am Joseph Muller," hesaid with a low, soft voice.
The four men in the room looked at him in astonishment.
"This simple-looking individual is the man that every one is afraid of?"thought the Count, as he walked forward and held out his hand to thestranger.
"I sent for you, Mr. Muller," said the magnate, conscious of his statelysize and appearance, as well as of his importance in the presence of apersonage who so little looked what his great fame might have led one toexpect.
"Then you are Count ----?" answered Muller gently. "I was in Budapest,having just finished a difficult case which took me there. They told methat a mysterious crime had happened in your neighbourhood, and sent mehere to take charge of it. You will pardon any ignorance I may show as astranger to this locality. I will do my best and it may be possible thatI can help you."
The Count introduced the other gentlemen in order and they sat downagain at the table.
"And now what is it you want me for, Count?" asked Muller.
"There was a murder committed in this house," answered the Count.
"When?"
"Last night."
"Who is the victim?"
"Our pastor."
"How was he killed?"
"
We do not know."
"You are not a physician, then?" asked Muller, turning to Orszay.
"Yes, I am," answered the latter.
"Well?"
"The body is missing," said Orszay, somewhat sharply.
"Missing?" Muller became greatly interested. "Will you please lead me tothe scene of the crime?" he said, rising from his chair.
The others led him into the next room, the magistrate going ahead witha lamp. The judge called for more lights and the group stood around thepool of blood on the floor of the study. Muller's arms were crossed onhis breast as he stood looking down at the hideous spot. There was noterror in his eyes, as in those of the
The Case of the Pool of Blood in the Pastor's Study Page 3