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but it became suddenly invested with a dreadful significance； now
that it was rumored that he had been Lieschen's lover。 Of all men
he would be the most affected by the tragic news； of all men he
would have been the first to tender sympathy and aid to the
afflicted parents； and the most clamorous in the search for the
undiscovered culprit。 Yet； while all Nuremberg was crowding round
the house of sorrow； which was also his house of business； he alone
remained away。 This naturally pointed suspicion at him。 When the
messengers had gone to seek him； his mother refused them admission；
declaring in incoherent phrases； betraying great agitation； that
her son was gone distracted with grief and could see no one。 On
this it was determined to order his arrest。 The police went； the
house was searched； and the waistcoat found。
The testimony of the girl who lived as servant in Kerkel's house
was also criminatory。 She deposed that on the night in question
she awoke about half…past eleven with a violent toothache； she was
certain as to the hour； because she heard the clock afterwards
strike twelve。 She felt some alarm at hearing voices in the rooms
at an hour when her mistress and young master must long ago have
gone to bed； but as the voices were seemingly in quiet
conversation； her alarm subsided； and she concluded that instead of
having gone to bed her mistress was still up。 In her pain she
heard the door gently open； and then she heard footsteps in the
garden。 This surprised her very much。 She couldn't think what the
young master could want going out at that hour。 She became
terrified without knowing exactly at what。 Fear quite drove away
the toothache； which had not since returned。 After lying there
quaking for some time； again she heard footsteps in the garden； the
door opened and closed gently； voices were heard； and she at last
distinctly heard her mistress say； 〃Be a man； Franz。 Good…night
sleep well；〃 upon which Franz replied in a tone of great agony；
〃There's no chance of sleep for me。〃 Then all was silent。 Next
morning her mistress seemed 〃very queer。〃 Her young master went
out very early； but soon came back again； and there were dreadful
scenes going on in his room； as she heard； but she didn't know what
it was all about。 She heard of the murder from a neighbor； but
never thought of its having any particular interest for Mr。 Franz；
though； of course； he would be very sorry for the Lehfeldts。
The facts testified to by the servant； especially the going out at
that late hour； and the 〃dreadful scenes〃 of the morning； seemed to
bear but one interpretation。 Moreover； she identified the
waistcoat as the one worn by Franz on the day preceding the fatal
night。
III
THE ACCUSED
Now at last the pent…up wrath found a vent。 From the distracting
condition of wandering uncertain suspicion； it had been recalled
into the glad security of individual hate。 Although up to this
time Kerkel had borne an exemplary reputation； it was now
remembered that he had always been of a morose and violent temper；
a hypocrite in religion； a selfish sensualist。 Several sagacious
critics had long 〃seen through him〃； others had 〃never liked him〃；
others had wondered how it was he kept his place so long in
Lehfeldt's shop。 Poor fellow！ his life and actions； like those of
every one else when illuminated by a light thrown back upon them；
seemed so conspicuously despicable； although when illuminated in
their own light they had seemed innocent enough。 His mother's
frantic protestations of her son's innocenceher assertions that
Franz loved Lieschen more than his own soulonly served to envelop
her in the silent accusation of being an accomplice； or at least of
being an accessory after the fact。
I cannot say why it was； but I did not share the universal belief。
The logic seemed to me forced； the evidence trivial。 On first
hearing of Kerkel's arrest； I eagerly questioned my informant
respecting his personal appearance； and on hearing that he was
fair； with blue eyes and flaxen hair； my conviction of his
innocence was fixed。 Looking back on these days； I am often amused
at this characteristic of my constructive imagination。 While
rejecting the disjointed logic of the mob； which interpreted his
guilt； I was myself deluded by a logic infinitely less rational。
Had Kerkel been dark； with dark eyes and beard； I should probably
have sworn to his guilt； simply because the idea of that stranger
had firmly fixed itself in my mind。
All that afternoon； and all the next day； the busy hum of voices
was raised by the one topic of commanding interest。 Kerkel had
been examined。 He at once admitted that a secret betrothal had for
some time existed between him and Lieschen。 They had been led to
take this improper step by fear of her parents； who； had the
attachment been discovered； would； it was thought； have separated
them for ever。 Herr Lehfeldt's sternness； no less than his
superior position； seemed an invincible obstacle； and the good
mother； although doting upon her only daughter； was led by the very
intensity of her affection to form ambitious hopes of her
daughter's future。 It was barely possible that some turn in events
might one day yield an opening for their consent； but meanwhile
prudence dictated secrecy； in order to avert the most pressing
danger； that of separation。
And so the pretty Lieschen； with feminine instinct of ruse； had
affected to treat her lover with indifference； and to compensate
him and herself for this restraint； she had been in the habit of
escaping from home once or twice a week； and spending a delicious
hour or two at night in the company of her lover and his mother。
Kerkel and his mother lived in a cottage a little way outside the
town。 Lehfeldt's shop stood not many yards from the archway。 Now；
as in Nuremberg no one was abroad after ten o'clock； except a few
loungers at the cafes and beer…houses； and these were only to be
met inside the town； not outside it； Lieschen ran extremely little
risk of being observed in her rapid transit from her father's to
her lover's house。 Nor； indeed； had she ever met anyone in the
course of these visits。
On the fatal night Lieschen was expected at the cottage。 Mother
and son waited at first hopefully； then anxiously； at last with
some vague uneasiness at her non…appearance。 It was now a quarter
past elevennearly an hour later than her usual time。 They
occasionally went to the door to look for her； then they walked a
few yards down the road； as if to catch an earlier glimpse of her
advancing steps。 But in vain。 The half…hour struck。 They came
back into the cottage； discussing the various probabilities of
delay。 Three…quarters struck。 Perhaps she had been detected；
perhaps she was ill； perhapsbut this was his mother's suggestion；
and took little hold of himthere had been visitors who had stayed
later than usual； and Lieschen； finding the night so advanced； had
postponed her visit to the morrow。 Franz； who interpreted
Lieschen's feelings by his own； was assured that no postponement of
a voluntary kind was credible of her。 Twelve o'clock struck。
Again Fran