spoke, completing the other's words: "And therefore you wish to
save me from the prison or from the gallows? I thank you. What
is your name?" The unhappy man spoke as calmly as if the matter
scarcely concerned him at all.

The detective told him his name.

"Muller, Muller," repeated the Councillor, as if he were
particularly anxious to remember the name. He held out his hand
to the detective. "I thank you, ab, indeed, it thank you," he
said with the first sign of emotion he had shown, and then added
low: "Do not fear that you will have trouble on my account. They
can find me in my home." With these words he turned away and sat
down in his chair again. When Bauer entered the room a few moments
later, Kniepp was smoking calmly.

"Now, Muller, I'm ready. Horn will be in in a moment, friend
Kniepp; I know you will enjoy his chatter." The chief led the way
out of the room through another door. He could not see the ghastly
pale face of the guest he left behind him, for it was almost hidden
in a cloud of thick smoke, but Muller turned back once more at the
threshold and caught a last grateful glance from eyes shadowed by
deep sadness, as the Councillor raised his hand in a friendly
gesture.

"Dear Muller, you take so long to get at the point of the story!
Don't you see you are torturing me?" This outburst came from the
Chief about an hour later. But the detective would not permit
himself to be interrupted in spinning out his story in his own
way, and it was nearly another hour before Bauer knew that the man