"How long is it since the Professor began to give you money to go
to the theatre on Saturday evenings?"

The first time it happened was on my name day. "What's the rest
of your name? There are so many Johanns on the calendar."

"I am Johann Nepomuk."

Muller took a little calendar from his pocket and turned its pages.
"It was May sixteenth," volunteered the valet.

"Quite right. May sixteenth was a Saturday. And since then you
have gone to the theatre every Saturday evening?"

"Yes, sir.

"When did the owner of the house go away?"

"Last April. His wife was ill and he had to take her away. They
went to Italy."

"And you two have been alone in the house since April?"

"Yes, sir, we two."

"Was there no janitor?"

"No, sir. The garden was taken care of by a man who came in for
the day."