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until the motion extinguished it； then； eddying round her sister in
narrowing circles； she seized Lottchen's candle also； blew it out；
and then interrupted her own singing to attempt a laugh。 But the
laugh was hysterical。 The darkness； however； favored her； and；
seizing her sister's arm； she forced her along； whispering； 〃Come；
come； come！〃 Lottchen could not be so dull as entirely to
misunderstand her。 She suffered herself to be led up the first
flight of stairs； at the head of which was a room looking into the
street。 In this they would have gained an asylum； for the door had
a strong bolt。 But； as they were on the last steps of the landing；
they could hear the hard breathing and long strides of the murderer
ascending behind them。 He had watched them through a crevice； and
had been satisfied by the hysterical laugh of Louisa that she had
seen him。 In the darkness he could not follow fast； from ignorance
of the localities； until he found himself upon the stairs。 Louisa；
dragging her sister along； felt strong as with the strength of
lunacy； but Lottchen hung like a weight of lead upon her。 She
rushed into the room； but at the very entrance Lottchen fell。 At
that moment the assassin exchanged his stealthy pace for a loud
clattering ascent。 Already he was on the topmost stair； already he
was throwing himself at a bound against the door； when Louisa；
having dragged her sister into the room； closed the door and sent
the bolt home in the very instant that the murderer's hand came
into contact with the handle。 Then； from the violence of her
emotions； she fell down in a fit； with her arm around the sister
whom she had saved。
How long they lay in this state neither ever knew。 The two old
ladies had rushed upstairs on hearing the tumult。 Other persons
had been concealed in other parts of the house。 The servants found
themselves suddenly locked in； and were not sorry to be saved from
a collision which involved so awful a danger。 The old ladies had
rushed； side by side； into the very center of those who were
seeking them。 Retreat was impossible； two persons at least were
heard following them upstairs。 Something like a shrieking
expostulation and counter…expostulation went on between the ladies
and the murderers； then came louder voicesthen one heart…piercing
shriek； and then anotherand then a slow moaning and a dead
silence。 Shortly afterwards was heard the first crashing of the
door inward by the mob； but the murderers had fled upon the first
alarm； and； to the astonishment of the servants； had fled upward。
Examination； however； explained this： from a window in the roof
they had passed to an adjoining house recently left empty； and
here； as in other cases； we had proof how apt people are； in the
midst of elaborate provisions against remote dangers； to neglect
those which are obvious。
The reign of terror； it may be supposed； had now reached its acme。
The two old ladies were both lying dead at different points on the
staircase； and； as usual； no conjecture could be made as to the
nature of the offense which they had given； but that the murder WAS
a vindictive one； the usual evidence remained behind； in the proofs
that no robbery had been attempted。 Two new features； however；
were now brought forward in this system of horrors； one of which
riveted the sense of their insecurity to all families occupying
extensive houses； and the other raised ill blood between the city
and the university； such as required years to allay。 The first
arose out of the experience； now first obtained； that these
assassins pursued the plan of secreting themselves within the house
where they meditated a murder。 All the care； therefore； previously
directed to the securing of doors and windows after nightfall
appeared nugatory。 The other feature brought to light on this
occasion was vouched for by one of the servants； who declared that；
the moment before the door of the kitchen was fastened upon herself
and fellow servant； she saw two men in the hall； one on the point
of ascending the stairs； the other making toward the kitchen； that
she could not distinguish the faces of either； but that both were
dressed in the academic costume belonging to the students of the
university。 The consequences of such a declaration need scarcely
be mentioned。 Suspicion settled upon the students； who were more
numerous since the general peace； in a much larger proportion
military； and less select or respectable than heretofore。 Still；
no part of the mystery was cleared up by this discovery。 Many of
the students were poor enough to feel the temptation that might be
offered by any LUCRATIVE system of outrage。 Jealous and painful
collusions were； in the meantime； produced； and； during the latter
two months of this winter； it may be said that our city exhibited
the very anarchy of evil passions。 This condition of things lasted
until the dawning of another spring。
It will be supposed that communications were made to the supreme
government of the land as soon as the murders in our city were
understood to be no casual occurrences； but links in a systematic
series。 Perhaps it might happen from some other business； of a
higher kind； just then engaging the attention of our governors；
that our representations did not make the impression we had
expected。 We could not； indeed； complain of absolute neglect from
the government。 They sent down one or two of their most
accomplished police officers； and they suggested some counsels；
especially that we should examine more strictly into the quality of
the miscellaneous population who occupied our large suburb。 But
they more than hinted that no necessity was seen either for
quartering troops upon us； or for arming our local magistracy with
ampler powers。
This correspondence with the central government occupied the month
of March； and； before that time； the bloody system had ceased as
abruptly as it began。 The new police officer flattered himself
that the terror of his name had wrought this effect； but judicious
people thought otherwise。 All； however； was quiet until the depth
of summer； when； by way of hinting to us； perhaps； that the
dreadful power which clothed itself with darkness had not expired；
but was only reposing from its labors； all at once the chief jailer
of the city was missing。 He had been in the habit of taking long
rides in the forest； his present situation being much of a
sinecure。 It was on the first of July that he was missed。 In
riding through the city gates that morning； he had mentioned the
direction which he meant to pursue； and the last time he was seen
alive was in one of the forest avenues； about eight miles from the
city； leading toward the point he had indicated。 This jailer was
not a man to be regretted on his own account； his life had been a
tissue of cruelty and brutal abuse of his powers； in which he had
been too much supported by the magistrates； partly on the plea that
it was their duty to back their own officers against all
complainers； partly also from the necessities created by the
turbulent times for a more summary exercise of their magisterial
authority。 No man； therefore； on his own separate account； could
more willingly have been spared than this brutal jailer； and it was
a general remark that； had the murderous band within our walls
swept away this man only； they would have merited the public
gratitude as purifiers from a public nuisance。 But was it certain
that the jailer had died by the same hands as had so deeply
afflicted the peace of our city during the winteror； indeed； that
he had been murdered at all？ The forest was too extensive to be
searched； and it was possible that he might have met with some
fatal accident。 His horse had returned to the city gates in the
night； and was found there in the morning。 Nobody； however； for
months could give information about his rider； and it seemed
probable that he would not be discovered until the autumn and the
winter should again carry the sportsman into every thicket and
dingle of this sylvan tract。 One person only seemed to have more
knowledge on this subject than others； and that was poor Ferdinand
von Harrelstein。 He was now a mere ruin of what he had once been；
both as to intellect and moral feeling； and I observed him
frequently smile when the jailer was mentioned。 〃Wait；〃 he would
say； 〃till the leaves begin to drop； then you will see what fine
fruit our forest bears。〃 I did not repeat these expressions to
anybody except one friend； who agreed with me that the jailer had
probably been hanged in some recess of the forest； which summer
veiled with its luxuriant umbrage； and that Ferdinand； constantly
wandering in the forest； had discovered the body； but we both
acquitted him of having been an accomplice in the murder。
Meantime the marriage between Margaret Liebenheim and Maximilian
was understood to b