f this case. But I assure you I wouldn't do it if
it wasn't Fellner. Good-bye. Oh, and one thing more. Please send a
physician at once to Fellner's house, No. 7 Field Street."

Horn opened the door and passed on into the adjoining room, accompanied
by Johann. The commissioner halted a moment as his eyes fell upon a
little man who sat in the corner reading a newspaper. "Hello, Muller;
you there? Suppose I take you with me? You aren't doing anything now,
are you?"

"No, sir.

"Well, come with me, then. If this should turn out to be anything
serious, we may need you."

The three men entered one of the cabs waiting outside the police
station. As they rattled through the streets, Commissioner Horn
continued his examination of the valet. "When did you see your master
last?"

"About eleven o'clock last evening."

"Did you speak with him then?

"No, I looked through the keyhole."

"Oh, indeed; is that a habit of yours?"

Dummel blushed deeply, but his eyes flashed, and he looked angry.

"No, it is not, sir," he growled. "I only did it this time because I was
anxious about the master. He's been so worked up and nervous the last
few days. Last night I went to the theatre, as I always do Saturday
evenings. When I returned, about half-past ten it was, I knocked at the
door of his bedroom. He didn't answer, and I walked away softly, so
as not to disturb him in case he'd gone to sleep already. The hall was
dark, and as I went through it I saw a ray of light coming from the
keyhole of the Professor's study. That surprised me, because he never
worked as late as that before. I thought it over a moment, then I crept
up and looked through the keyhole."

"And what did you see?"

"He sat at his desk, quite quiet. So I felt easy again, and went off to
bed."

"Why didn't you go into the room?"

"I didn't dare, sir. The Professor never wanted to be disturbed when he
was writing."

"Well, and this morning?"

"I got up at the usual time this morning, set the breakfast table, and
then knocked at the Professor's bedroom door to waken him. He didn't
answer, and I thought he might want to sleep, seeing as it was Sunday,
and he was up late last night. So I waited until ten o'clock. Then
I knocked again and tried the door, but it was locked. That made me
uneasy, because he never locked his bedroom door before. I banged at the
door and called out, but there wasn't a sound. Then I ran to the police
station."

Horn was evidently