Once he bent quickly and picked up something, then he walked on with
his usual quiet manner, out of which every trace of excitement had
now vanished.

The dull winter sun seemed only to make the gloom of the dark
vestibule more visible. Johann turned up the light, and Horn, who
had visited the Professor several times and knew the situation of
the rooms, went at once to the heavy, carved and iron trimmed door
of the study. He attempted to open the door, but it resisted all
pressure. The heavy key was in the inner side of the big lock with
its medieval iron ornamentation. But the key was turned so that
the lower part of the lock was free, a round opening of unusual size.
Horn made sure of this by holding a lighted match to the door.

"You are right," he said to the valet, "the door is locked from the
inside. We'll have to go through the bedroom. Johann, bring me a
chisel or a hatchet. Muller, you stay here and open the door when
the doctor comes."

Muller nodded. Johann disappeared, returning in a few moments with
a small hatchet, and followed the commissioner through the
dining-room. It was an attractive apartment with its high wooden
paneling and its dainty breakfast table. But a slight shiver ran
through the commissioner's frame as he realised that some misfortune,
some crime even might be waiting for them on the other side of the
closed door. The bedroom door also was locked on the inside, and
after some moments of knocking and calling, Horn set the hatchet to
the framework just as the bell of the house-door pealed out.

With a cracking and tearing of wood the bedroom door fell open, and