"That is good. Now I would like to question the servants."

Muller had already started for the door, then he turned back into
the room and pointing toward the second door he asked: "Is that
door locked?"

"Yes," answered the Count. "I found it locked when I examined it
myself a short time ago."

"It was locked on the inside?"

"Yes, locked on the inside."

"Very well. Then we have nothing more to do here for the time
being. Let us go back into the dining-room."

The men returned to the dining-room, Muller last, for he stopped
to lock the door of the study and put the key in his pocket. Then
he began his examination of the servants.

The old housekeeper, who, as usual, was the first to rise in the
household, had also, as usual, rung the bell to waken the other
servants. Then when Liska came downstairs she had sent her up
to the pastor's room. His bedroom was to the right of the
dining-room. Liska had, as usual, knocked on the door exactly at
seven o'clock and continued knocking for some few minutes without
receiving any answer. Slightly alarmed, the girl had gone back
and told the housekeeper that the pastor did not answer.