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greater part of the night she lay awake； but as one of the town
clocks struck four； she dismissed her anxieties； and fell asleep。
The next day； wearied with this unusual watching； she proposed to
her sister that they should go to bed earlier than usual。 This
they did； and； on their way upstairs； Louisa happened to think
suddenly of a heavy cloak； which would improve the coverings of her
bed against the severity of the night。 The cloak was hanging up in
a closet within a closet； both leading off from a large room used
as the young ladies' dancing school。 These closets she had
examined on the previous day； and therefore she felt no particular
alarm at this moment。 The cloak was the first article which met
her sight； it was suspended from a hook in the wall； and close to
the door。 She took it down； but； in doing so； exposed part of the
wall and of the floor； which its folds had previously concealed。
Turning away hastily； the chances were that she had gone without
making any discovery。 In the act of turning； however； her light
fell brightly on a man's foot and leg。 Matchless was her presence
of mind； having previously been humming an air； she continued to do
so。 But now came the trial； her sister was bending her steps to
the same closet。 If she suffered her to do so； Lottchen would
stumble on the same discovery； and expire of fright。 On the other
hand； if she gave her a hint； Lottchen would either fail to
understand her； or； gaining but a glimpse of her meaning； would
shriek aloud； or by some equally decisive expression convey the
fatal news to the assassin that he had been discovered。 In this
torturing dilemma fear prompted an expedient； which to Lottchen
appeared madness； and to Louisa herself the act of a sibyl instinct
with blind inspiration。 〃Here；〃 said she； 〃is our dancing room。
When shall we all meet and dance again together？〃 Saying which；
she commenced a wild dance； whirling her candle round her head
until the motion extinguished it； then； eddying round her sister in
narrowing circles； she seized Lottchen's candle also； blew it out；
and then interrupted her own singing to attempt a laugh。 But the
laugh was hysterical。 The darkness； however； favored her； and；
seizing her sister's arm； she forced her along； whispering； 〃Come；
come； come！〃 Lottchen could not be so dull as entirely to
misunderstand her。 She suffered herself to be led up the first
flight of stairs； at the head of which was a room looking into the
street。 In this they would have gained an asylum； for the door had
a strong bolt。 But； as they were on the last steps of the landing；
they could hear the hard breathing and long strides of the murderer
ascending behind them。 He had watched them through a crevice； and
had been satisfied by the hysterical laugh of Louisa that she had
seen him。 In the darkness he could not follow fast； from ignorance
of the localities； until he found himself upon the stairs。 Louisa；
dragging her sister along； felt strong as with the strength of
lunacy； but Lottchen hung like a weight of lead upon her。 She
rushed into the room； but at the very entrance Lottchen fell。 At
that moment the assassin exchanged his stealthy pace for a loud
clattering ascent。 Already he was on the topmost stair； already he
was throwing himself at a bound against the door； when Louisa；
having dragged her sister into the room； closed the door and sent
the bolt home in the very instant that the murderer's hand came
into contact with the handle。 Then； from the violence of her
emotions； she fell down in a fit； with her arm around the sister
whom she had saved。
How long they lay in this state neither ever knew。 The two old
ladies had rushed upstairs on hearing the tumult。 Other persons
had been concealed in other parts of the house。 The servants found
themselves suddenly locked in； and were not sorry to be saved from
a collision which involved so awful a danger。 The old ladies had
rushed； side by side； into the very center of those who were
seeking them。 Retreat was impossible； two persons at least were
heard following them upstairs。 Something like a shrieking
expostulation and counter…expostulation went on between the ladies
and the murderers； then came louder voicesthen one heart…piercing
shriek； and then anotherand then a slow moaning and a dead
silence。 Shortly afterwards was heard the first crashing of the
door inward by the mob； but the murderers had fled upon the first
alarm； and； to the astonishment of the servants； had fled upward。
Examination； however； explained this： from a window in the roof
they had passed to an adjoining house recently left empty； and
here； as in other cases； we had proof how apt people are； in the
midst of elaborate provisions against remote dangers； to neglect
those which are obvious。
The reign of terror； it may be supposed； had now reached its acme。
The two old ladies were both lying dead at different points on the
staircase； and； as usual； no conjecture could be made as to the
nature of the offense which they had given； but that the murder WAS
a vindictive one； the usual evidence remained behind； in the proofs
that no robbery had been attempted。 Two new features； however；
were now brought forward in this system of horrors； one of which
riveted the sense of their insecurity to all families occupying
extensive houses； and the other raised ill blood between the city
and the university； such as required years to allay。 The first
arose out of the experience； now first obtained； that these
assassins pursued the plan of secreting themselves within the house
where they meditated a murder。 All the care； therefore； previously
directed to the securing of doors and windows after nightfall
appeared nugatory。 The other feature brought to light on this
occasion was vouched for by one of the servants； who declared that；
the moment before the door of the kitchen was fastened upon herself
and fellow servant； she saw two men in the hall； one on the point
of ascending the stairs； the other making toward the kitchen； that
she could not distinguish the faces of either； but that both were
dressed in the academic costume belonging to the students of the
university。 The consequences of such a declaration need scarcely
be mentioned。 Suspicion settled upon the students； who were more
numerous since the general peace； in a much larger proportion
military； and less select or respectable than heretofore。 Still；
no part of the mystery was cleared up by this discovery。 Many of
the students were poor enough to feel the temptation that might be
offered by any LUCRATIVE system of outrage。 Jealous and painful
collusions were； in the meantime； produced； and； during the latter
two months of this winter； it may be said that our city exhibited
the very anarchy of evil passions。 This condition of things lasted
until the dawning of another spring。
It will be supposed that communications were made to the supr