g down an aristocratic
swindler whom he had found finally in a little French city and had
brought back to a Viennese prison. He had returned well along in the
past night and Holzer knew that the tired man would need his rest.
Still he had sent for Muller, who lived near the police station, for
the girl's report had warned him that this was a serious case. And in
serious cases the police did not like to do without Muller's help.

And as usual when his work called him, Muller was as wide awake as if
he had had a good night's sleep behind him. The interest of a new
case robbed him of every trace of fatigue. It was he alone--at his own
request--who raised the body and laid it on its back before he stepped
aside to make way for the doctor.

The physician opened the dead man's vest to see whether the bullet had
passed completely through the body. But it had not; there was not the
slightest trace of blood upon the shirt.

"There's nothing more for me to do here, Muller," said the physician, as
he bowed to the commissioner and left the place.

Muller examined the pockets of the dead man.

"It's probably a case of robbery, too," remarked the commissioner. "A
man as well-dressed as this one is would be likely to have a watch."

"And a purse," added the detective. "But this man has neither--or at
least he has them no longer."

In the various pockets of the dead man's clothes Muller found the
following articles: a handkerchief, several tramway tickets, a penknife,
a tiny mirror, and comb, and a little book, a cheap novel. He wrapped
them all in the handkerchief and put them in his own pocket. The dead
man's coat had fallen back from his body during the examination, and as
Muller turned the stiffened limbs a little he saw the opening of another
pocket high up over the right hip of the trousers. The detective passed
his hand over the pocket and heard something rattle. Then he put his
hand in the pocket and drew out a thin narrow envelope which he handed
to the commissioner. Holzer looked at it carefully. It was made of very
thin expensive paper and bore no address. But it was sealed, although
not very carefully, for the gummed edges were open in spots. It must
have been hastily closed and was slightly crushed as if it had been
carried in a clenched hand. The commissioner cut open the envelope with
his penknife. He gave an exclamation of surprise as he showed Muller the
contents. In the envelope there were three hundred-gulden