personally and liked him. "What have you to report to me?" he
asked eagerly.

"I - I don't know whether I ought to have come here, but at home - "

"Well, is anything the matter?" insisted Horn.

"Why, sir, I don't know; but the Professor - he is so still - he
doesn't answer."

Horn sprang from his chair. "Is he ill?" he asked.

"I don't know, sir. His room is locked - he never locked it before."

"And you are certain he is at home?"

"Yes, sir. I saw him during the night - and the key is in the lock
on the inside."

The commissioner had his hat in his hand when the colleague who was
to relieve him appeared. "Good and cold out to-day!" was the
latter's greeting. Horn answered with an ironical: "Then I suppose
you'll be glad if I relieve you of this case. But I assure you I
wouldn't do it if it wasn't Fellner. Good-bye. Oh, and one thing
more. Please send a physician at once to Fellner's house, No. 7
Field Street."

Horn opened the door and passed on into the adjoining room,
accompanied by Johann. The commissioner halted a moment as his
eyes fell upon a little man who sat in the corner reading a