people who live in it. He rang the bell carefully, as he wished no
one but the janitor to hear him.

The latter did not seem at all surprised to find a stranger asking
for the owner of the house at so late an hour. "You come with a
telegram, I suppose? Come right up stairs then, I have orders to
let you in."

These were the words with which the old janitor greeted Muller. The
detective could see from this that Mr. Theodore Fellner's conscience
must be perfectly clear. The expected telegram probably had
something to do with the non-appearance of Asta Langen, of whose
terrible fate her guardian evidently as yet knew nothing. The
janitor knocked on one of the doors, which was opened in a few
moments by an old woman.

"Is it the telegram?" she asked sleepily.

"Yes" said the janitor.

"No," said Muller, "but I want to speak to Mr. Fellner."

The two old people stared at him in surprise.

"To speak to him?" said the woman, and shook her head as if in doubt.
"Is it about Miss Langen?"

"Yes, please wake him."

"But he is ill, and the doctor - "