Langen put his hand to his cheek, looking at Muller between his
lashes as he said, "To murder? Who can prove that?"

"We have all the proofs we need."

"I will acknowledge only that I wanted Asta to disappear."

Muller smiled. "What good would that have done you? You wanted
her entire fortune, did you not? But that could have come to you
only after thirty years, and you are not likely to have waited that
long. Your plan was to murder your step-sister, even if you could
not get a letter from her telling of her intention to commit suicide."

Langen rose suddenly, but controlled himself again and sank back
easily in his chair. "Then the old woman has been talking?" he
asked.

Muller shook his head. "We knew it through Miss Langen herself."

"She has spoken to no one for over ten days."

"But you let her throw her notebook out of the window of the cab."

"Ah - "

"There, you see, you should not have let that happen."

Drops of perspiration stood out on Langen's forehead. Until now,
perhaps, he had had some possible hope of escape. It was useless