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exquisite terror。
An examination went on that night before the magistrates； but all
was dark； although suspicion attached to a negro named Aaron； who
had occasionally been employed in menial services by the family；
and had been in the house immediately before the murder。 The
circumstances were such as to leave every man in utter perplexity
as to the presumption for and against him。 His mode of defending
himself； and his general deportment； were marked by the coolest；
nay； the most sneering indifference。 The first thing he did； on
being acquainted with the suspicions against himself； was to laugh
ferociously； and to all appearance most cordially and unaffectedly。
He demanded whether a poor man like himself would have left so much
wealth as lay scattered abroad in that housegold repeaters； massy
plate； gold snuff boxesuntouched？ That argument certainly
weighed much in his favor。 And yet again it was turned against
him； for a magistrate asked him how HE happened to know already
that nothing had been touched。 True it was； and a fact which had
puzzled no less than it had awed the magistrates； that； upon their
examination of the premises； many rich articles of bijouterie；
jewelry； and personal ornaments； had been found lying underanged；
and apparently in their usual situations； articles so portable that
in the very hastiest flight some might have been carried off。 In
particular； there was a crucifix of gold； enriched with jewels so
large and rare； that of itself it would have constituted a prize of
great magnitude。 Yet this was left untouched； though suspended in
a little oratory that had been magnificently adorned by the elder
of the maiden sisters。 There was an altar； in itself a splendid
object； furnished with every article of the most costly material
and workmanship； for the private celebration of mass。 This
crucifix； as well as everything else in the little closet； must
have been seen by one at least of the murderous party； for hither
had one of the ladies fled； hither had one of the murderers
pursued。 She had clasped the golden pillars which supported the
altarhad turned perhaps her dying looks upon the crucifix； for
there； with one arm still wreathed about the altar foot； though in
her agony she had turned round upon her face； did the elder sister
lie when the magistrates first broke open the street door。 And
upon the beautiful parquet； or inlaid floor which ran round the
room； were still impressed the footsteps of the murderer。 These；
it was hoped； might furnish a clew to the discovery of one at least
among the murderous band。 They were rather difficult to trace
accurately； those parts of the traces which lay upon the black
tessellae being less distinct in the outline than the others upon
the white or colored。 Most unquestionably； so far as this went； it
furnished a negative circumstance in favor of the negro； for the
footsteps were very different in outline from his； and smaller； for
Aaron was a man of colossal build。 And as to his knowledge of the
state in which the premises had been found； and his having so
familiarly relied upon the fact of no robbery having taken place as
an argument on his own behalf； he contended that he had himself
been among the crowd that pushed into the house along with the
magistrates； that； from his previous acquaintance with the rooms
and their ordinary condition； a glance of the eye had been
sufficient for him to ascertain the undisturbed condition of all
the valuable property most obvious to the grasp of a robber that；
in fact； he had seen enough for his argument before he and the rest
of the mob had been ejected by the magistrates； but； finally； that
independently of all this； he had heard both the officers； as they
conducted him； and all the tumultuous gatherings of people in the
street； arguing for the mysteriousness of the bloody transaction
upon that very circumstance of so much gold； silver； and jewels；
being left behind untouched。
In six weeks or less from the date of this terrific event； the
negro was set at liberty by a majority of voices among the
magistrates。 In that short interval other events had occurred no
less terrific and mysterious。 In this first murder； though the
motive was dark and unintelligible； yet the agency was not so；
ordinary assassins apparently； and with ordinary means； had
assailed a helpless and unprepared family； had separated them；
attacked them singly in flight （for in this first case all but one
of the murdered persons appeared to have been making for the street
door）； and in all this there was no subject for wonder； except the
original one as to the motive。 But now came a series of cases
destined to fling this earliest murder into the shade。 Nobody
could now be unprepared； and yet the tragedies； henceforward； which
passed before us； one by one； in sad； leisurely； or in terrific
groups； seemed to argue a lethargy like that of apoplexy in the
victims； one and all。 The very midnight of mysterious awe fell
upon all minds。
Three weeks had passed since the murder at Mr。 Weishaupt'sthree
weeks the most agitated that had been known in this sequestered
city。 We felt ourselves solitary； and thrown upon our own
resources； all combination with other towns being unavailing from
their great distance。 Our situation was no ordinary one。 Had
there been some mysterious robbers among us； the chances of a
visit； divided among so many； would have been too small to distress
the most timid； while to young and high…spirited people； with
courage to spare for ordinary trials； such a state of expectation
would have sent pulses of pleasurable anxiety among the nerves。
But murderers！ exterminating murderers！clothed in mystery and
utter darknessthese were objects too terrific for any family to
contemplate with fortitude。 Had these very murderers added to
their functions those of robbery； they would have become less
terrific； nine out of every ten would have found themselves
discharged； as it were； from the roll of those who were liable to a
visit； while such as knew themselves liable would have had warning
of their danger in the fact of being rich； and would； from the very
riches which constituted that danger； have derived the means of
repelling it。 But； as things were； no man could guess what it was
that must make him obnoxious to the murderers。 Imagination
exhausted itself in vain guesses at the causes which could by
possibility have made the poor Weishaupts objects of such hatred to
any man。 True； they were bigoted in a degree which indicated
feebleness of intellect； but THAT wounded no man in particular；
while to many it recommended them。 True； their charity was narrow
and exclusive； but to those of their own religious body it expanded
munificently； and； being rich beyond their wants； or any means of
employing wealth which their gloomy asceticism allowed； they had
the power of doing a great deal of good among the indigent papists
of the suburbs。 As to the old gentleman and his wife； their
infirmities confined them to the house。 Nobody remembered to have
seen them abroad for years。 How； therefore； or when could they
have made an enemy？ And； with respect to the maiden sisters of Mr。
Weishaupt； they were simply weak…minded persons； now and then too
censorious； but not placed in a situation to incur serious anger
from any quarter； and too little heard of in society to occupy much
of anybody's attention。
Conceive； then； that three weeks have passed away； that the poor
Weishaupts have been laid in that narrow sanctuary which no
murderer's voice will ever violate。 Quiet has not returned to us；
but the first flutterings of panic have subsided。 People are
beginning to respire freely again； and such another space of time
would have cicatrized our woundswhen； hark！ a church bell rings
out a loud alarm；the night is starlight and frostythe iron
notes are heard clear； solemn； but agitated。 What could this mean？
I hurried to a room over the porter's lodge； and； opening the
window； I cried out to a man passing hastily below； 〃What； in God's
name； is the meaning of this？〃 It was a watchman belonging to our
district。 I knew his voice； he knew mine； and he replied in great
agitation：
〃It is another murder； sir； at the old town councilor's； Albernass；
and this time they have made a clear house of it。〃
〃God preserve us！ Has a curse been pronounced upon this city？
What can be done？ What are the magistrates going to do？〃
〃I don't know； sir。 I have orders to run to the Black Friars；
where another meeting is gathering。 Shall I say you will attend；
sir？〃
〃Yesnostop a little。 No matter； you may go on； I'll follow
immediately。〃
I went instantly to Maximilian's room。 He was lying asleep on a
sofa； at which I was not surprised； for there had been a severe
stag chase in the morning。 Even at this moment I found myself
arreste