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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 objects too terrific for any family to
contemplate with fortitude。 Had these very murderers added to
their functions those of robbery； they would have become less
terrific； nine out of every ten would have found themselves
discharged； as it were； from the roll of those who were liable to a
visit； while such as knew themselves liable would have had warning
of their danger in the fact of being rich； and would； from the very
riches which constituted that danger； have derived the means of
repelling it。 But； as things were； no man could guess what it was
that must make him obnoxious to the murderers。 Imagination
exhausted itself in vain guesses at the causes which could by
possibility have made the poor Weishaupts objects of such hatred to
any man。 True； they were bigoted in a degree which indicated
feebleness of intellect； but THAT wounded no man in particular；
while to many it recommended them。 True； their charity was narrow
and exclusive； but to those of their own religious body it expanded
munificently； and； being rich beyond their wants； or any means of
employing wealth which their gloomy asceticism allowed； they had
the power of doing a great deal of good among the indigent papists
of the suburbs。 As to the old gentleman and his wife； their
infirmities confined them to the house。 Nobody remembered to have
seen them abroad for years。 How； therefore； or when could they
have made an enemy？ And； with respect to the maiden sisters of Mr。
Weishaupt； they were simply weak…minded persons； now and then too
censorious； but not placed in a situation to incur serious anger
from any quarter； and too little heard of in society to occupy much
of anybody's attention。
Conceive； then； that three weeks have passed away； that the poor
Weishaupts have been laid in that narrow sanctuary which no
murderer's voice will ever violate。 Quiet has not returned to us；
but the first flutterings of panic have subsided。 People are
beginning to respire freely again； and such another space of time
would have cicatrized our woundswhen； hark！ a church bell rings
out a loud alarm；the night is starlight and frostythe iron
notes are heard clear； solemn； but agitated。 What could this mean？
I hurried to a room over the porter's lodge； and； opening the
window； I cried out to a man passing hastily below； 〃What； in God's
name； is the meaning of this？〃 It was a watchman belonging to our
district。 I knew his voice； he knew mine； and he replied in great
agitation：
〃It is another murder； sir； at the old town councilor's； Albernass；
and this time they have made a clear house of it。〃
〃God preserve us！ Has a curse been pronounced upon this city？
What can be done？ What are the magistrates going to do？〃
〃I don't know； sir。 I have orders to run to the Black Friars；
where another meeting is gathering。 Shall I say you will attend；
sir？〃
〃Yesnostop a little。 No matter； you may go on； I'll follow
immediately。〃
I went instantly to Maximilian's room。 He was lying asleep on a
sofa； at which I was not surprised； for there had been a severe
stag chase in the morning。 Even at this moment I found myself
arrested by two objects； and I paused to survey them。 One was
Maximilian himself。 A person so mysterious took precedency of
other interests even at a time like this； and especially by his
features； which； composed in profound sleep； as sometimes happens；
assumed a new expression； which arrested me chiefly by awaking some
confused remembrance of the same features seen under other
circumstances and in times long past； but where？ This was what I
could not recollect； though once before a thought of the same sort
had crossed my mind。 The other object of my interest was a
miniature； which Maximilian was holding in his hand。 He had gone
to sleep apparently looking at this picture； and the hand which
held it had slipped down upon the sofa； so that it was in danger of
falling。 I released the miniature from his hand； and surveyed it
attentively。 It represented a lady of sunny； oriental complexion；
and features the most noble that it is possible to conceive。 One
might have imagined such a lady； with her raven locks and imperial
eyes； to be the favorite sultana of some Amurath or Mohammed。 What
was she to Maximilian； or what HAD she been？ For； by the tear
which I had once seen him drop upon this miniature when he believed
himself unobserved； I conjectured that her dark tresses were
already laid low； and her name among the list of vanished things。
Probably she was his mother； for the dress was rich with pearls；
and evidently that of a person in the highest rank of court
beauties。 I sighed as I thought of the stern melancholy of her
son； if Maximilian were he； as connected； probably； with the fate
and fortunes of this majestic beauty； somewhat haughty； perhaps； in
the expression of her fine features； but still noblegenerous
confiding。 Laying the picture on the table； I awoke Maximilian；
and told him of the dreadful news。 He listened attentively； made
no remark； but proposed that we should go