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even in these hours when so thrilling an interest had possession of
all minds。 Many ladies fainted； among them Miss Liebenheimand
she would have fallen to the ground but for Maximilian； who sprang
forward and caught her in his arms。 She was long of returning to
herself； and； during the agony of his suspense； he stooped and
kissed her pallid lips。 That sight was more than could be borne by
one who stood a little behind the group。 He rushed forward； with
eyes glaring like a tiger's； and leveled a blow at Maximilian。 It
was poor； maniacal Von Harrelstein； who had been absent in the
forest for a week。 Many people stepped forward and checked his
arm； uplifted for a repetition of this outrage。 One or two had
some influence with him； and led him away from the spot； while as
to Maximilian； so absorbed was he that he had not so much as
perceived the affront offered to himself。 Margaret； on reviving；
was confounded at finding herself so situated amid a great crowd；
and yet the prudes complained that there was a look of love
exchanged between herself and Maximilian； that ought not to have
escaped her in such a situation。 If they meant by such a
situation； one so public； it must be also recollected that it was a
situation of excessive agitation； but； if they alluded to the
horrors of the moment； no situation more naturally opens the heart
to affection and confiding love than the recoil from scenes of
exquisite terror。
An examination went on that night before the magistrates； but all
was dark； although suspicion attached to a negro named Aaron； who
had occasionally been employed in menial services by the family；
and had been in the house immediately before the murder。 The
circumstances were such as to leave every man in utter perplexity
as to the presumption for and against him。 His mode of defending
himself； and his general deportment； were marked by the coolest；
nay； the most sneering indifference。 The first thing he did； on
being acquainted with the suspicions against himself； was to laugh
ferociously； and to all appearance most cordially and unaffectedly。
He demanded whether a poor man like himself would have left so much
wealth as lay scattered abroad in that housegold repeaters； massy
plate； gold snuff boxesuntouched？ That argument certainly
weighed much in his favor。 And yet again it was turned against
him； for a magistrate asked him how HE happened to know already
that nothing had been touched。 True it was； and a fact which had
puzzled no less than it had awed the magistrates； that； upon their
examination of the premises； many rich articles of bijouterie；
jewelry； and personal ornaments； had been found lying underanged；
and apparently in their usual situations； articles so portable that
in the very hastiest flight some might have been carried off。 In
particular； there was a crucifix of gold； enriched with jewels so
large and rare； that of itself it would have constituted a prize of
great magnitude。 Yet this was left untouched； though suspended in
a little oratory that had been magnificently adorned by the elder
of the maiden sisters。 There was an altar； in itself a splendid
object； furnished with every article of the most costly material
and workmanship； for the private celebration of mass。 This
crucifix； as well as everything else in the little closet； must
have been seen by one at least of the murderous party； for hither
had one of the ladies fled； hither had one of the murderers
pursued。 She had clasped the golden pillars which supported the
altarhad turned perhaps her dying looks upon the crucifix； for
there； with one arm still wreathed about the altar foot； though in
her agony she had turned round upon her face； did the elder sister
lie when the magistrates first broke open the street door。 And
upon the beautiful parquet； or inlaid floor which ran round the
room； were still impressed the footsteps of the murderer。 These；
it was hoped； might furnish a clew to the discovery of one at least
among the murderous band。 They were rather difficult to trace
accurately； those parts of the traces which lay upon the black
tessellae being less distinct in the outline than the others upon
the white or colored。 Most unquestionably； so far as this went； it
furnished a negative circumstance in favor of the negro； for the
footsteps were very different in outline from his； and smaller； for
Aaron was a man of colossal build。 And as to his knowledge of the
state in which the premises had been found； and his having so
familiarly relied upon the fact of no robbery having taken place as
an argument on his own behalf； he contended that he had himself
been among the crowd that pushed into the house along with the
magistrates； that； from his previous acquaintance with the rooms
and their ordinary condition； a glance of the eye had been
sufficient for him to ascertain the undisturbed condition of all
the valuable property most obvious to the grasp of a robber that；
in fact； he had seen enough for his argument before he and the rest
of the mob had been ejected by the magistrates； but； finally； that
independently of all this； he had heard both the officers； as they
conducted him； and all the tumultuous gatherings of people in the
street； arguing for the mysteriousness of the bloody transaction
upon that very circumstance of so much gold； silver； and jewels；
being left behind untouched。
In six weeks or less from the date of this terrific event； the
negro was set at liberty by a majority of voices among the
magistrates。 In that short interval other events had occurred no
less terrific and mysterious。 In this first murder； though the
motive was dark and unintelligible； yet the agency was not so；
ordinary assassins apparently； and with ordinary means； had
assailed a helpless and unprepared family； had separated them；
attacked them singly in flight （for in this first case all but one
of the murdered persons appeared to have been making for the street
door）； and in all this there was no subject for wonder； except the
original one as to the motive。 But now came a series of cases
destined to fling this earliest murder into the shade。 Nobody
could now be unprepared； and yet the tragedies； henceforward； which
passed before us； one by one； in sad； leisurely； or in terrific
groups； seemed to argue a lethargy like that of apoplexy in the
victims； one and all。 The very midnight of mysterious awe fell
upon all minds。
Three weeks had passed since the murder at Mr。 Weishaupt'sthree
weeks the most agitated that had been known in this sequestered
city。 We felt ourselves solitary； and thrown upon our own
resources； all combination with other towns being unavailing from
their great distance。 Our situation was no ordinary one。 Had
there been some mysterious robbers among us； the chances of a
visit； divided among so many； would have been too small to distress
the most timid； while to young and high…spirited people； with
courage to spare for ordinary trials； such a state of expectation
would have sent pulses of pleasurable anxiety among the nerves。
But murderers！ exterminating murderers！clothed in mystery and
utter darknessthese were o