next house; you must go there."

"I must go there," repeated the old man.

"Follow me," cried Veitel, leading him along the gallery, and then down
the covered staircase.

The old man tottered down the steps, firmly holding the coat of his
guide, who had almost to carry him. In this way they came down step
after step till they reached the last one, over which water was rushing.
Veitel went first, and unconcernedly stepped up to his knee in the
stream, only intent upon leading the old man after him.

As soon as Hippus felt the cold on his boot, he stood still and cried
out, "Water!"

"Hush!" angrily whispered Veitel; "not a word."

"Water!" screamed the old man. "Help! he will murder me!"

Veitel seized him and put his hand on his mouth; but the fear of death
had again roused the lawyer's energies, and, placing his foot on the
next step, he clung as firmly as he could to the banisters, and again
screamed out, "Help!"

"Accursed wretch!" muttered Veitel, gnashing his teeth with rage at this
determined resistance; then, forcing his hat over his face, he took him
by the neckcloth with all his strength, and hurled him into the water.
There was a splash--a heavy fall--a hollow gurgling--and all was still.

Beneath the leaden clouds that overhung the river, a dark mass might be
seen rolling along with the current. Soon it disappeared; the mist
concealed it; the stream rushed on; the water broke wailingly over the
steps and palings, and the night-wind kept howling out its monotonous
complaint.

The murderer stood for a few moments motionless in the darkness, leaning
against the staircase railings. Then he slowly went up the steps. While
doing so he felt his trowsers to see how high up they were wet. He
thought to himself that he must dry them at the stove this very night,
and saw in fancy the fire in the stove, and himself sitting before it in
his dressing-gown, as he was accustomed to do when thinking over his
business. If he had ever in his life known comfortable repose, it had
been when, weary of the cares of the day, he sat before his stove-fire
and watched it till his heavy eyelids drooped. He realized how tired he
was now, and what good it would do him to go to sleep before a warm
fire. Lost in the thought, he stood for a moment like one overcome with
drowsiness, when suddenly he felt a strange pressure within
him--something that made it difficult to breathe, and bound his breast
as with iron bars. Then he thou