"And the piece of paper with the threat on it? and the, revolver
you left so handy for her? oh, but I forgot, the old woman took
the weapon away before the lady could use it in her despair," said
Muller.

"Quite right. I see you know every detail."

"But why didn't you complete your crime in the room in the old
house?" persisted Muller.

"Because I lost my false beard one day upon the staircase, and I
feared the old woman might have seen my face enough to recognise me
again. I thought it better to look for another place."

"And then you found this house."

"Yes, but several days later."

"And you hired it in the name of Miss Asta Langen? Who would then
have been found dead here several days after you had entered the
house?"

"Several days, several weeks perhaps. I preferred to wait until
the woman who rented the house had read in the papers that Asta
Langen had disappeared and was being sought for. Somebody would
have found her here, and her identity would have easily been
established, for I knew that she had some important family documents
with her."

Muller was silent a moment, with an expression of deep pity on his