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had a misgiving that he had done wrong。 A man entered in a
horseman's cloak； and so muffled up that the journeyman could
discover none of his features。 In a low tone the stranger said；
〃Where's Heinberg？〃〃Upstairs。〃〃Call him down； then。〃 The
journeyman went to the door by which Mr。 Heinberg had left him； and
called； 〃Mr。 Heinberg； here's one wanting you！〃 Mr。 Heinberg heard
him； for the man could distinctly catch these words： 〃God bless me！
has the man opened the door？ O； the traitor！ I see it。〃 Upon
this he felt more and more consternation； though not knowing why。
Just then he heard a sound of feet behind him。 On turning round；
he beheld three more men in the room； one was fastening the outer
door； one was drawing some arms from a cupboard； and two others
were whispering together。 He himself was disturbed and perplexed；
and felt that all was not right。 Such was his confusion； that
either all the men's faces must have been muffled up； or at least
he remembered nothing distinctly but one fierce pair of eyes
glaring upon him。 Then； before he could look round； came a man
from behind and threw a sack over his head； which was drawn tight
about his waist； so as to confine his arms； as well as to impede
his hearing in part； and his voice altogether。 He was then pushed
into a room； but previously he had heard a rush upstairs； and words
like those of a person exulting； and then a door closed。 Once it
opened； and he could distinguish the words； in one voice； 〃And for
THAT！〃 to which another voice replied； in tones that made his heart
quake； 〃Aye； for THAT； sir。〃 And then the same voice went on
rapidly to say； 〃O dog！ could you hope〃at which word the door
closed again。 Once he thought that he heard a scuffle； and he was
sure that he heard the sound of feet； as if rushing from one corner
of a room to another。 But then all was hushed and still for about
six or seven minutes； until a voice close to his ear said； 〃Now；
wait quietly till some persons come in to release you。 This will
happen within half an hour。〃 Accordingly； in less than that time；
he again heard the sound of feet within the house； his own bandages
were liberated； and he was brought to tell his story at the police
office。 Mr。 Heinberg was found in his bedroom。 He had died by
strangulation； and the cord was still tightened about his neck。
During the whole dreadful scene his youthful wife had been locked
into a closet； where she heard or saw nothing。
In the second case； the object of vengeance was again an elderly
man。 Of the ordinary family； all were absent at a country house；
except the master and a female servant。 She was a woman of
courage； and blessed with the firmest nerves； so that she might
have been relied on for reporting accurately everything seen or
heard。 But things took another course。 The first warning that she
had of the murderers' presence was from their steps and voices
already in the hall。 She heard her master run hastily into the
hall； crying out； 〃Lord Jesus！Mary； Mary； save me！〃 The servant
resolved to give what aid she could； seized a large poker； and was
hurrying to his assistance； when she found that they had nailed up
the door of communication at the head of the stairs。 What passed
after this she could not tell； for； when the impulse of intrepid
fidelity had been balked； and she found that her own safety was
provided for by means which made it impossible to aid a poor fellow
creature who had just invoked her name； the generous…hearted
creature was overcome by anguish of mind； and sank down on the
stair； where she lay； unconscious of all that succeeded； until she
found herself raised in the arms of a mob who had entered the
house。 And how came they to have entered？ In a way
characteristically dreadful。 The night was starlit； the patrols
had perambulated the street without noticing anything suspicious；
when two foot passengers； who were following in their rear；
observed a dark…colored stream traversing the causeway。 One of
them； at the same instant tracing the stream backward with his
eyes； observed that it flowed from under the door of Mr。 Munzer；
and； dipping his finger in the trickling fluid； he held it up to
the lamplight； yelling out at the moment； 〃Why； this is blood！〃 It
was so； indeed； and it was yet warm。 The other saw； heard； and
like an arrow flew after the horse patrol； then in the act of
turning the corner。 One cry； full of meaning； was sufficient for
ears full of expectation。 The horsemen pulled up； wheeled； and in
another moment reined up at Mr。 Munzer's door。 The crowd；
gathering like the drifting of snow； supplied implements which soon
forced the chains of the door and all other obstacles。 But the
murderous party had escaped； and all traces of their persons had
vanished； as usual。
Rarely did any case occur without some peculiarity more or less
interesting。 In that which happened on the following night； making
the fifth in the series； an impressive incident varied the monotony
of horrors。 In this case the parties aimed at were two elderly
ladies； who conducted a female boarding school。 None of the pupils
had as yet returned to school from their vacation； but two sisters；
young girls of thirteen and sixteen； coming from a distance； had
stayed at school throughout the Christmas holidays。 It was the
youngest of these who gave the only evidence of any value； and one
which added a new feature of alarm to the existing panic。 Thus it
was that her testimony was given： On the day before the murder； she
and her sister were sitting with the old ladies in a room fronting
to the street； the elder ladies were reading； the younger ones
drawing。 Louisa； the youngest； never had her ear inattentive to
the slightest sound； and once it struck her that she heard the
creaking of a foot upon the stairs。 She said nothing； but；
slipping out of the room； she ascertained that the two female
servants were in the kitchen； and could not have been absent； that
all the doors and windows； by which ingress was possible； were not
only locked； but bolted and barreda fact which excluded all
possibility of invasion by means of false keys。 Still she felt
persuaded that she had heard the sound of a heavy foot upon the
stairs。 It was； however； daylight； and this gave her confidence；
so that； without communicating her alarm to anybody； she found
courage to traverse the house in every direction； and； as nothing
was either seen or heard； she concluded that her ears had been too
sensitively awake。 Yet that night； as she lay in bed； dim terrors
assailed her； especially because she considered that； in so large a
house； some closet or other might have been overlooked； and； in
particular； she did not remember to have examined one or two
chests； in which a man could have lain concealed。 Through the
greater part of the night she lay awake； but as one of the town
clocks struck four； she dismissed her anxieties； and fell asleep。
The next day； wearied with this unusual watching； she proposed to
her sister that they should go to bed earlier than usual。 This
they did； and； on their way upstairs； Louisa happened to think
suddenly of a heavy cloak； which would improve the coverings of her
bed against the severity of the night。 The cloak was hanging up in
a closet within a closet； both leading off from a large room used
as the young ladies' dancing school。 These closets she had
examined on the previous day； and therefore she felt no particular
alarm at this moment。 The cloak was the first article which met
her sight； it was suspended from a hook in the wall； and close to
the door。 She took it down； but； in doing so； exposed part of the
wall and of the floor； which its folds had previously concealed。
Turning away hastily； the chances were that she had gone without
making any discovery。 In the act of turning； however； her light
fell brightly on a man's foot and leg。 Matchless was her presence
of mind； having previously been humming an air； she continued to do
so。 But now came the trial； her sister was bending her steps to
the same closet。 If she suffered her to do so； Lottchen would
stumble on the same discovery； and expire of fright。 On the other
hand； if she gave her a hint； Lottchen would either fail to
understand her； or； gaining but a glimpse of her meaning； would
shriek aloud； or by some equally decisive expression convey the
fatal news to the assassin that he had been discovered。 In this
torturing dilemma fear prompted an expedient； which to Lottchen
appeared madness； and to Louisa herself the act of a sibyl instinct
with blind inspiration。 〃Here；〃 said she； 〃is our dancing room。
When shall we all meet and dance again together？〃 Saying which；
she commenced a wild dance； whirling her candle round her head
until the motion extinguished it； then； eddying round her sister in
narrowing circles； she seized Lottchen's candle also； blew i