slowly: "Then the murderer is still here - or else - "

"Or else?" asked the doctor.

"Or else we have a strange riddle to solve."

Johann had laid the pistol down again. Muller stretched forth his
hand and took it up. He looked at it a moment, then handed it to
the commissioner. "We have to do with a murder here. There was
not a shot fired from this revolver, for every chamber is still
loaded. And there is no other weapon in sight," said the detective
quietly.

"Yes, he was murdered. This revolver is fully loaded. Let us
begin the search at once." Horn was more excited than he cared to
show.

Johann looked about in alarm, but when he saw the others beginning
to peer into every corner and every cupboard, he himself joined in
the man-hunt. A quarter of an hour later, the four men relinquished
their fruitless efforts and gathered beside the corpse again.

"Doctor, will you have the kindness to report to the head
Commissioner of Police, and to order the taking away of the body?
We will look about for some motive for this murder in the meantime,"
said Horn, as he held out his hand to the physician.

Muller walked out to the door of the house with the doctor.

"Do you think this valet did it?" asked the physician softly.