"I hope you will be happier on the drive back," said the detective
and added, "You stay here with the commissioner now."

The latter had already left his cab with his companion. His sharp
eyes glanced over the heavily shaded garden and the little house in
its midst. A little light shone from two windows of the first story.
The men's eyes looked toward them, then the detective and Amster
walked toward a high picket fence which closed the garden on the
side nearest its neighbours. They shook the various pickets without
much caution, for the wind made noise enough to kill any other sound.
Amster called to Muller, he had found a loose picket, and his strong
young arms had torn it out easily. Muller motioned to the other
three to join them. A moment later they were all in the garden,
walking carefully toward the house.

The door was closed but there were no bars at the windows of the
ground floor. Amster looked inquiringly at the commissioner and
the latter nodded and said, "All right, go ahead."

The next minute Amster had broken in through one pane of the window
and turned the latch. The inner window was broken already so that
it was not difficult for him to open it without any further noise.
He disappeared into the dark room within. In a few seconds they
heard a key turn in the door and it opened gently. The men entered,
all except the policeman, who remained outside. The blind of his
lantern was slightly opened, and he had his revolver ready in his
hand.

Muller had opened his lantern also, and they saw that they were