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panic？ Many were surprised at his behavior； some complained of it；
I did neither。 He took a reasonable interest in each separate
case； listened to the details with attention； and； in the
examination of persons able to furnish evidence； never failed to
suggest judicious questions。 But still he manifested a coolness
almost amounting to carelessness； which to many appeared revolting。
But these people I desired to notice that all the other military
students； who had been long in the army； felt exactly in the same
way。 In fact； the military service of Christendom； for the last
ten years； had been anything but a parade service； and to those；
therefore； who were familiar with every form of horrid butchery；
the mere outside horrors of death had lost much of their terror。
In the recent murder there had not been much to call forth
sympathy。 The family consisted of two old bachelors； two sisters；
and one grandniece。 The niece was absent on a visit； and the two
old men were cynical misers； to whom little personal interest
attached。 Still； in this case as in that of the Weishaupts； the
same twofold mystery confounded the public mindthe mystery of the
HOW； and the profounder mystery of the WHY。 Here； again； no atom
of property was taken； though both the misers had hordes of ducats
and English guineas in the very room where they died。 Their bias；
again； though of an unpopular character； had rather availed to make
them unknown than to make them hateful。 In one point this case
differed memorably from the otherthat； instead of falling
helpless； or flying victims （as the Weishaupts had done）； these old
men； strong； resolute； and not so much taken by surprise； left
proofs that they had made a desperate defense。 The furniture was
partly smashed to pieces； and the other details furnished evidence
still more revolting of the acharnement with which the struggle had
been maintained。 In fact； with THEM a surprise must have been
impracticable； as they admitted nobody into their house on visiting
terms。 It was thought singular that from each of these domestic
tragedies a benefit of the same sort should result to young persons
standing in nearly the same relation。 The girl who gave the alarm
at the ball； with two little sisters； and a little orphan nephew；
their cousin； divided the very large inheritance of the Weishaupts；
and in this latter case the accumulated savings of two long lives
all vested in the person of the amiable grandniece。
But now； as if in mockery of all our anxious consultations and
elaborate devices； three fresh murders took place on the two
consecutive nights succeeding these new arrangements。 And in one
case； as nearly as time could be noted； the mounted patrol must
have been within call at the very moment when the awful work was
going on。 I shall not dwell much upon them； but a few
circumstances are too interesting to be passed over。 The earliest
case on the first of the two nights was that of a currier。 He was
fifty years old； not rich； but well off。 His first wife was dead；
and his daughters by her were married away from their father's
house。 He had married a second wife； but； having no children by
her； and keeping no servants； it is probable that； but for an
accident； no third person would have been in the house at the time
when the murderers got admittance。 About seven o'clock； a
wayfaring man； a journeyman currier； who； according to our German
system； was now in his wanderjahre； entered the city from the
forest。 At the gate he made some inquiries about the curriers and
tanners of our town； and； agreeably to the information he received；
made his way to this Mr。 Heinberg。 Mr。 Heinberg refused to admit
him； until he mentioned his errand； and pushed below the door a
letter of recommendation from a Silesian correspondent； describing
him as an excellent and steady workman。 Wanting such a man； and
satisfied by the answers returned that he was what he represented
himself； Mr。 Heinberg unbolted his door and admitted him。 Then；
after slipping the bolt into its place； he bade him sit to the
fire； brought him a glass of beer； conversed with him for ten
minutes； and said： 〃You had better stay here to…night； I'll tell
you why afterwards； but now I'll step upstairs； and ask my wife
whether she can make up a bed for you； and do you mind the door
while I'm away。〃 So saying； he went out of the room。 Not one
minute had he been gone when there came a gentle knock at the door。
It was raining heavily； and； being a stranger to the city； not
dreaming that in any crowded town such a state of things could
exist as really did in this； the young man； without hesitation；
admitted the person knocking。 He has declared sincebut； perhaps；
confounding the feelings gained from better knowledge with the
feelings of the momentthat from the moment he drew the bolt he
had a misgiving that he had done wrong。 A man entered in a
horseman's cloak； and so muffled up that the journeyman could
discover none of his features。 In a low tone the stranger said；
〃Where's Heinberg？〃〃Upstairs。〃〃Call him down； then。〃 The
journeyman went to the door by which Mr。 Heinberg had left him； and
called； 〃Mr。 Heinberg； here's one wanting you！〃 Mr。 Heinberg heard
him； for the man could distinctly catch these words： 〃God bless me！
has the man opened the door？ O； the traitor！ I see it。〃 Upon
this he felt more and more consternation； though not knowing why。
Just then he heard a sound of feet behind him。 On turning round；
he beheld three more men in the room； one was fastening the outer
door； one was drawing some arms from a cupboard； and two others
were whispering together。 He himself was disturbed and perplexed；
and felt that all was not right。 Such was his confusion； that
either all the men's faces must have been muffled up； or at least
he remembered nothing distinctly but one fierce pair of eyes
glaring upon him。 Then； before he could look round； came a man
from behind and threw a sack over his head； which was drawn tight
about his waist； so as to confine his arms； as well as to impede
his hearing in part； and his voice altogether。 He was then pushed
into a room； but previously he had heard a rush upstairs； and words
like those of a person exulting； and then a door closed。 Once it
opened； and he could distinguish the words； in one voice； 〃And for
THAT！〃 to which another voice replied； in tones that made his heart
quake； 〃Aye； for THAT； sir。〃 And then the same voice went on
rapidly to say； 〃O dog！ could you hope〃at which word the door
closed again。 Once he thought that he heard a scuffle； and he was
sure that he heard the sound of feet； as if rushing from one corner
of a room to another。 But then all was hushed and still for about
six or seven minutes； until a voice close to his ear said； 〃Now；
wait quietly till some persons come in to release you。 This will
happen within half an hour。〃 Accordingly； in less than that time；
he again heard the sound of feet within the house； his own bandages
were liberated； and he was brought to tell his story at the police
office。 Mr。 Heinberg was found in his bedroom。 He had died by
strangulation； and the c