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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/23054-8.txt b/23054-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..902847d --- /dev/null +++ b/23054-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1092 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Dean's Watch, by Erckmann-Chatrian + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Dean's Watch + 1897 + +Author: Erckmann-Chatrian + +Translator: Ralph Browning Fiske + +Release Date: October 17, 2007 [EBook #23054] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DEAN'S WATCH *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +THE DEAN'S WATCH + +By Erckmann-Chatrian + +Translated by Ralph Browning Fiske + +Copyright, 1897, by The Current Literature Publishing Company + + + + +I + +On the day before Christmas of the year 1832, my friend Wilfred, with +his double-bass slung over his back, and I, with my violin under my arm, +started to walk from the Black Forest to Heidelberg. It was unusually +snowy weather; as far as we could see across the great, deserted plain, +there was no trace of road nor path. The wind kept up its harsh aria +with monotonous persistency, and Wilfred, with his flattened wallet at +his belt, and the vizor of his cap drawn over his eyes, moved on before +me, straddling the drifts with his long, heron legs, and whistling a gay +tune to keep up his spirits. Now and then, he would turn around with a +waggish smile, and cry: "Comrade, let's have the waltz from 'Robin,' I +feel like dancing." A burst of laughter followed these words, and then +the good fellow would resume his march courageously. I followed on +as well as I could, up to my knees in snow, and I felt a sense of +melancholy take possession of me. + +The spires of Heidelberg began to appear on the extreme horizon, and we +hoped to reach there before nightfall. It was then about five o'clock in +the afternoon, and great flakes of snow were whirling through the gray +atmosphere. Suddenly we heard the sound of a horse approaching from +behind us. When the rider was within twenty yards of us, he moderated +his speed, studying us meanwhile with a sidelong glance. We returned his +gaze. + +Picture to yourself a large man, with reddish hair and beard, in a +three-cornered hat and loose fox-skin pelisse; his arms buried to the +elbows in fur gloves. He carried a handsome valise behind him, resting +on the haunches of his powerful stallion. He was evidently some alderman +or burgomaster or personage of like importance. + +"Ho! Ho! my good fellows!" he cried; "you are on your way to Heidelberg +to perform, I see." Wilfred surveyed the traveler from the corner of his +eye, and replied briefly: "Is that of any interest to you, sir?" +"Yes, for in that case I wish to give you a bit of advice." "Advice?" +"Precisely; if you wish it." Wilfred started on without replying. I +noticed that the traveler's appearance was like that of an enormous cat; +his ears wide apart, his eyelids half closed, with a bristling mustache, +and a fatherly, almost caressing manner. "My friend," he continued, +addressing himself to me, "frankly, you will do well to retrace your +steps." "Why so, sir?" "The great Maestro Pimenti has just now announced +a concert to take place at Heidelberg on Christmas day. The entire city +will be there, and you will not earn a kreutzer." At this point, Wilfred +turned around ill-humoredly: "We care not a sou for your Maestro nor all +the Pimentis in Christendom," he said; "look at this young fellow here, +without even the sign of a beard on his chin! He has never yet played +outside of the ale-houses of the Black Forest, for the woodcutters and +charcoal-women to dance; and yet this boy, with his long yellow curls +and big blue eyes, defies all your Italian impostors. His left hand is +possessed of inimitable melody, grace, and suppleness, and his right of +a power to draw the bow, that the Almighty rarely accords us mortals." + +"Oh! ho! Indeed!" returned the other. "It is just as I tell you," +Wilfred replied, and he resumed his pace, blowing on his fingers that +were red with the cold, I saw that he was ridiculing the horseman, who +continued to follow us at an easy trot. We continued thus for a full +half mile in silence. Suddenly the stranger said to us abruptly: +"Whatever skill you may possess, go back to the Black Forest; we have +vagabonds enough in Heidelberg without you to increase the number. I +give you good advice, particularly under the existing circumstances; you +will do well to profit by it." + +Wilfred, now thoroughly out of patience, was about to reply, but the +traveler, urging his horse into a gallop, had already crossed the broad +Avenue d'Electeur. An immense flock of crows flew up from the plain and +seemed to be following him, filling the heavens with their cawing. +We reached Heidelberg at about seven o'clock, and we did indeed see +Pimenti's magnificent posters on all the walls of the city, which read: +"Grand Concert Solo." + +That same evening in visiting the various inns, we met many old comrades +from the Black Forest, who engaged us to play in their troupe. There +was old Bremer, the 'cellist, his two sons, Ludwig and Karl, both good +second violins; Heinrich Siebel, the clarionet player, and Bertha with +her harp; Wilfred with his double-bass and I with my violin made up the +number. We agreed to travel together after the Christmas concert and +divide the proceeds among us. Wilfred had already hired a room for +us both on the sixth floor of the Pied de Mouton Tavern, which stood +halfway down the Holdergasse, and for it he was to pay four kreutzers +a day. Properly speaking, it was nothing but a garret, but fortunately +there was a stove in it, and we lighted a fire to dry ourselves. + +As we were comfortably seated, toasting chestnuts over the fire and +enjoying a jug of wine, little Annette, the housemaid, appeared in a +black calico dress and velvet turban, with rosy cheeks and lips like a +cluster of cherries. She came running up the stairs, gave a hasty knock +and threw herself joyfully into my arms. I had known the pretty little +girl for a long time; we were of the same village, and if truth must be +told, her sparkling eyes and frolicsome ways had quite won my heart. +"I came up to have a little talk with you," she said, dropping into a +chair. "I saw you come up a moment ago and here I am." + +She began to chatter away, asking for this one or that one of the +village and hardly giving me time to reply. Every now and then she +would pause and look at me with the greatest tenderness. We might have +continued thus until the next morning had not Dame Grédel Dick begun +to call from the foot of the stairs: "Annette! Annette! Are you never +coming?" "Right away, ma'am!" answered the poor child reluctantly. She +tapped me lightly on the cheek and ran toward the door; but just as +she was crossing the threshold, she suddenly stopped. "By the way," she +cried, "I was forgetting to tell you; but perhaps you have heard about +it?" "About what?" "The death of our precentor, Zahn." "But how does +that, affect us?" "To be sure; only see that your passport is all +right Tomorrow morning at eight o'clock they will come to examine it. +Everybody is being arrested in the last fortnight. The precentor was +assassinated last night in the library of Saint Christopher's Chapel, +and only a week ago, old Ulmet Elias, the sacrificer, was similarly +murdered in the Rue des Juifs. Some days before that Christina Haas, the +old midwife, was also killed, as well as the agate dealer Seligmann of +the Rue Durlach. So look out for yourself, dear Kasper, and see that +your passport is all right." + +While she was speaking, Dame Grédel's voice came again from below: +"Annette! will you come here? The good-for-nothing child, leaving me to +do all the work!" + +And the sound of men's voices calling for wine, beer, ham, or sausages +mingled with her own. Further delay was out of the question. Annette +hastened down the stairs, crying as she went: "Goodness, ma'am! what has +happened? One would think that the house were afire!" Wilfred crossed +the room and closed the door behind her; then returning to his chair, we +looked at each other, not without a feeling of apprehension. + +"That is singular news," he said; "your passport is all right, I +suppose?" "Certainly," And I produced my papers. "Good! Mine is too, for +I had it made out just before leaving. But nevertheless, these murders +do not augur us any good. I am afraid we shall not be able to do much +business here; many of the families will be in mourning; and then, too, +the bother and pettifogging of the authorities." "Pshaw! you take too +gloomy a view of it," I replied. + +We continued to discuss these singular happenings until after midnight. +The glow from our little stove lighted up the angle of the roof, the +square window with its three cracked panes, the straw strewn about the +floor, the blackened beams propped against each other, and the little +firwood table that cast its uncertain shadow upon the worm-eaten +ceiling. From time to time, a mouse, enticed by the warmth, would dart +like an arrow along the wall. The wind howled in the chimney and whirled +the snow about the gutters. I was dreaming of Annette; the silence was +complete. Suddenly Wilfred exclaimed, throwing off his jacket: "It is +time for sleep. Put another stick on the fire and we will go to bed!" +"We can't do better than that," I replied. So saying, I drew off +my boots, and a moment later we stretched out on the straw with the +coverlid tucked under our chins and a log under our heads for a pillow. +Wilfred lost no time in getting to sleep. The light from the stove +flickered and trembled; the wind redoubled its force outside, and as +I lay thus with a sense of perfect contentment, I, too, dozed off. At +about two o'clock in the morning I was awakened by a strange noise. +I thought at first that it was a cat running along the gutter, but, +putting my ear to the wall, my uncertainty was at once dispelled; +somebody was walking on the roof. I nudged Wilfred. "Sh!" he whispered, +pressing my hand; he had heard it, too. The firelight was casting its +last shadows on the decrepit walls. I was considering whether I would +get up or not, when the little window, held only by a bit of brick, +slowly opened. A pale face with shining eyes, red hair, and quivering +cheeks appeared in the opening and gazed into the interior of the +chamber. Our fear was so great that we hadn't strength left to cry out. +At length the man glided through the sash and let himself down into the +loft without a sound. The man, short and thick-set, the muscles of his +face contracted like a tiger about to spring, was none other than +the ingenuous person who had volunteered his advice on the road to +Heidelberg. But how different he seemed to us now! In spite of the +bitter cold, he was in his shirt sleeves, dressed only in a pair +of breeches, woolen stockings, and silver buckled shoes. A long, +blood-stained knife glittered in his hand. + +Wilfred and I thought our last hour had surely come. But he did not +appear to see us in the oblique shadow of the loft, notwithstanding that +the fire started up again in the cold draft from the open window. +He squatted down on a chair and began to shiver in a strange manner. +Suddenly he fixed his yellowish-green eyes upon me; his nostrils dilated +and he watched me for a full minute, while the blood froze in my veins. +Then turning toward the stove, he gave a hoarse cough, like the purring +of a cat, without moving a muscle of his face. He drew a large watch +from his breeches pocket, made a gesture as if looking at the time, and +either inadvertently or purposely laid it on the table. This done, he +rose as if undecided, looked doubtfully at the window, hesitated, and +finally disappeared through the door, leaving it wide open behind him. +I sprang up to turn the lock; already the man's footsteps creaked on the +staircase two floors below. An irresistible curiosity asserted itself +over my fear, and hearing a window open, which looked upon the court, I +approached the sash of the little winding staircase on the same side of +the house. The courtyard, from where I stood, lay at a dizzy depth, and +a wall from fifty to sixty feet high divided it. On the right of the +wall was the yard of a pork butcher; on the left, the inn yard of the +Pied de Mouton. The top of this wall, which was overgrown with damp +mosses and that sort of vegetation that thrives in dark places, extended +in a straight line from the window, which the man had just opened, to +the roof of a large, sombre-looking dwelling, built in the rear of the +Bergstrasse. I took all this in at a glance while the moon shone between +the heavy, snow-laden clouds, and I shuddered as I saw the man flee +along the wall, his head bent forward and the knife still in his hand, +while the wind howled lugubriously around him. He reached the opposite +roof and disappeared. I thought I must be dreaming. For some moments I +stood there, open-mouthed with wonder, my breast bare, and hair +tossed about, drenched by the sleet that fell from the roof. At length +recovering from my bewilderment, I returned to the loft and found +Wilfred, who looked at me with a haggard expression and was mumbling +a prayer. I hastened to bolt the door, dress myself, and replenish the +fire. + +"Well," said my comrade, sitting up. "Well," I rejoined, "we have +escaped this time, but if that fellow didn't see us, it was only because +our time has not yet come." "You are right!" he cried. "He is one of +the murderers Annette spoke of. Great Heavens! What a face! And what a +knife!" And he fell back on the straw. + +I emptied at a draft what wine still remained in the jug, and then, +as the fire started up again, diffusing a grateful warmth through the +chamber, and the lock appeared sufficiently strong, my courage began to +revive. But the watch was still there and the man might return for it. +The thought filled us with horror. + +"Well, what is our next move?" asked Wilfred. "The best thing we can +do is to strike out at once for the Black Forest." "Why so?" "I have no +further desire to figure on the double-bass; you may do as you like." +"Why should we leave? We have committed no crime." "Speak low!" he +replied, "that one word 'crime' might hang us. We poor devils are made +to serve as examples for others. They don't bother their heads much +to find out whether we are guilty or not. If they should discover that +watch here, it would be enough." "Look here, Wilfred! It won't do +to lose your head! A crime has undoubtedly been committed in this +neighborhood, but what should honest men do under the circumstances? +Instead of running away from Justice, they should try to aid it." "How +aid it?" "The simplest way would be to take this watch to the bailiff +and tell him what has passed." "Never! I wouldn't even dare to touch +it!" "Very well, I will take it myself, but now let's go back to bed and +try to get some more sleep if we can." "I don't care to sleep." "Well, +light your pipe, then, and we will talk while we wait for daylight. +Let's go downstairs, there may be some one there still." "I would rather +stay here." "All right." And we sat down again before the fire. + +As soon as dawn appeared, I took the watch from the table. It was a fine +one with minute and second hands. Wilfred seemed somewhat reassured. +"Kasper," he said, "on second thoughts, it seems more suitable for me to +go to the bailiff. You are too young to take part in such matters. You +would make a mess of it when you tried to explain the affair." "Just as +you like," I replied. "Yes, it would look odd for a man of my years to +send a mere child in my place." "Very good; I understand." + +He took the watch, but I believe that only his pride drove him to this +resolution. He would have been ashamed to show less courage than I +before his comrades. We went down from the loft in a thoughtful mood. As +we crossed the alleyway that comes out on the Rue Saint Christopher, we +heard the clicking of glasses. I recognized the voice of old Bremer and +his sons, Ludwig and Karl. "By Jove," said I, "it wouldn't be a bad idea +to take a glass before we start." I pushed open the door of the +tap-room as I spoke, and we found all our company gathered there, their +instruments variously deposited about the room. We were received with +shouts of satisfaction and places were quickly made for us at the table. +"Ho! Good morning, comrades," said Bremer; "more snow and wind. All +the taverns are full of people, and every bottle that is opened means a +florin in our pockets." I saw little Annette looking as fresh and fair +as a rose, and smiling fondly at me with her lips and eyes. This sight +reanimated me. It was I who got the daintiest morsels, and whenever +she approached to set a glass of wine at my elbow, she touched me +caressingly on the shoulder, and I thought, with a beating heart, of the +days when we used to go chestnutting together. But in spite of this, the +pale face of our strange visitor of the night before recurred to me from +time to time, and made me tremble. I looked at Wilfred; he, too, seemed +thoughtful. + +Eight o'clock came and our party was about to start out, when the door +was thrown open, and three big fellows, with lead-colored complexions, +their eyes shining like rats, and their hats awry, appeared on the +threshold, followed by several others of a like description. One of +them, with a razor-back nose, and with a heavy club bound to his wrist, +stepped forward, crying: "Your passports, gentlemen!" Each one hastened +to comply with the request. Unfortunately, Wilfred, who stood near the +stove, was seized with a sudden trembling. The officer's experienced eye +detected his agitation, and as he paused in his reading to give him a +questioning look, my comrade conceived the unlucky idea of slipping +the watch into his boot; but before it had reached its destination, the +official slapped his hand against the other's hip, and said jeeringly: +"Something seems to trouble you here." To everybody's amazement, Wilfred +was seized with a fainting spell and dropped upon a bench pale as death. +Without further ceremony, Madoc, the Chief of Police, pulled up his +trousers' leg and drew out the watch with a burst of evil laughter. He +had no sooner glanced at it, however, than he became sober, and, turning +to his men, he cried in a terrible voice: "Let no one leave the room! +We have caught the whole band at last! Look! this is the watch of Dean +Daniel Van den Berg. Bring hither the handcuffs!" This order chilled us +to the marrow. A tumult followed, and I, believing that we were lost, +slid under a bench near the wall. As I was watching them chain the hands +of poor old Bremer and his sons, Karl and Ludwig, together with Heinrich +and Wilfred, I felt Annette's little hand brush against my cheek and +she drew me gently toward her--slowly and quietly toward the open cellar +door. I was unnoticed in the general confusion; I slipped within; the +door closed behind me. It was but the matter of a second. Scarcely had +I concealed myself, before I heard my poor comrades depart; then all +became silent. + +I will leave you to imagine the nature of my reflections during an +entire day, crouched down behind a wine cask with my legs gathered under +me, and realizing that if a dog should enter the cellar, if the landlady +should take the notion to come downstairs to fill a pitcher, if the cask +should run out before night and were to be replaced; in short, if +the slightest thing went amiss, it would be all up with me. All these +thoughts and a thousand others passed through my mind, and I fancied +that I already saw my comrades being led to execution. Little Annette, +no less anxious than myself, closed the door prudently each time that +she came up from the cellar. At last, I heard the old woman cry: "Leave +the door open! Are you mad to lose half your time in shutting it?" After +that the door remained ajar, and from my nook in the shadows I could see +the tables gradually filling with new customers. + +Stories, discussions, and exclamations concerning the famous band of +robbers reached my ears. "Oh! the rascals!" cried one; "thank Heaven +they are caught. What a scourge they have been to Heidelberg! No one +dared risk himself in the streets after ten o'clock, and even business +was beginning to suffer; but now things are changed and in a fortnight +it will all be forgotten." + +"Those musicians of the Black Forest are a lot of bandits!" chimed in +another; "they make their way into the houses under pretext of playing, +and meanwhile they are examining the locks, bolts, chests, and windows, +and some fine morning we hear that such a one has had his throat cut in +his bed; that his wife has been murdered, his children strangled, and +his house rifled from top to bottom. The wretches should be strung up +without mercy! Then we might have some peace." "The whole village will +turn out to see them hanged," said Mother Grédel, "and as for me, it +will be the happiest day of my life." "Do you know, if it hadn't been +for Dean Daniel's watch, no trace of them would have been found. Last +night the watch disappeared, and this morning the Dean notified the +police. An hour later, Madoc bagged them all! Ha! Ha! Ha!" The entire +roomful burst out laughing, and I trembled with shame, indignation, and +fear in turn. + +Meanwhile, the night drew on. Only a few loungers remained. The people +of the inn, who had sat up the night before, were anxious to get to bed. +I heard the landlady yawn and mutter: "Oh, dear! How long before we can +get some sleep?" Most of the tipplers comprehended the force of this +remark and withdrew; only one remained, sitting half asleep before +his glass. The watchman, going his rounds, woke him up and he went off +grumbling and staggering. + +"At last!" I said to myself; "this is good luck; Mother Grédel has +gone to bed and Annette will not be slow in getting me out." With this +agreeable prospect in view, I had already stretched out my stiffened +limbs, when Dame Grédel's voice reached my ear: "Annette, go and lock +up, and don't forget to bolt the door! I am going down cellar." It +appeared that this was a wise custom of hers to assure herself that +everything was right. "But, madame," stammered the girl, "the cask isn't +empty. You needn't bother to--" "Mind your own business," interrupted +the mistress, whose candle was already lighting up the passageway. I +had barely time to squat down again behind the cask, when the old woman, +stooping beneath the low, dingy ceiling, passed from one keg to another, +mumbling as she went: "Oh! the little wretch. How she lets the wine +leak. I'll teach her to close the spigots tighter; did ever any one +see the like?" The candle threw great shadows against the damp wall. I +huddled closer and closer. Suddenly, just as I thought the visit happily +ended, and was beginning to breathe easier again, I heard the old +creature give a sigh so long and so full of woe that I knew something +unusual was happening. I risked just the least glance, and I saw Dame +Grédel Dick, her under jaw dropped and her eyes sticking out of her +head, staring at the bottom of the barrel behind which I lay. She had +caught sight of one of my feet underneath the joist that served as +a wedge to keep the cask in place. She evidently believed she had +discovered the chief of the robbers concealed there for the purpose of +strangling her during the night. I formed a sudden resolution. "Madame, +for God's sake, have pity on me!" I cried: "I am--" Without looking at +me, or listening to a word I said, she set up an ear-splitting shriek +and started up the stairs as quickly as her great weight would permit. +Seized with inexpressible terror, I clung to her skirt and went down on +my knees. This only made matters worse. "Help! seize the assassin! Oh, +my God! release me! Take my money! Oh! Oh!" + +It was horrible. In vain did I cry: "Only look at me, my dear madame; I +am not what you think me!" She was beside herself with fear; she raved +and screamed in such piercing tones that had we not been underground, +the whole neighborhood would inevitably have been aroused. In this +extremity, consulting only my rage, I overturned her, and gaining the +door before her, I slammed it in her face, taking care to slip the bolt. +During the struggle the candle had been extinguished and Dame Grédel +was left in the dark. Her cries grew fainter and fainter. I stared +at Annette, giddy, and with hardly strength enough left to stand. Her +agitation equaled mine. We neither of us seemed able to speak, and +stood listening to the expiring cries of the mistress, which soon ceased +altogether. The poor woman had fainted. + +"Oh! Kasper," cried Annette, wringing her hands, "what is to be done? +Fly! fly! You may have been heard! Did you kill her?" "Kill her? I?" "I +am so glad! But fly! I will open the door for you." She unbarred it, and +I fled into the street, without stopping even to thank her; but I was so +terrified and there was not a moment to lose. The night was inky black; +not a star in the sky, and the street lamps unlighted. The weather was +abominable; it was snowing hard and the wind howled dismally. Not until +I had run for a good half-hour did I stop to take breath. Imagine my +horror when I found myself directly opposite the Pied de Mouton Tavern. +In my terror I had run around the square a dozen times for aught I knew. +My legs felt like lead and my knees tottered under me. + +The inn, but a moment before deserted, swarmed like a bee-hive, and +lights danced about from window to window. It was evidently filled with +the police. And now, at my wits' end, desperate, exhausted with cold +and hunger, and not knowing where to find refuge, I resolved upon the +strangest possible course. "By Jove," I said to myself, "as well be +hanged as leave my bones on the road to the Black Forest." And I walked +into the tavern with the intention of giving myself up to the officials. +Besides the fellows with their cocked hats tilted rakishly over their +ears, and the clubs fastened to their wrists, whom I had already seen +in the morning, and who were now running here and there, and turning +everything upside down, there was the bailiff, Zimmer, standing before +one of the tables, dressed in black, with a grave air and penetrating +glance, and near him the secretary Roth, with his red wig, imposing +countenance, and large ears, flat as oyster shells. They paid no +attention to my entrance, and this circumstance altered my resolution at +once. I sat down in a corner of the room behind the big cast-iron stove, +in company with two or three of the neighbors, who had run hither to +see what was going on, and I ordered a pint of wine and a dish of +sauerkraut. Annette came near betraying me. "Goodness!" she cried, "is +it possible!" But one exclamation, more or less, in such a babel of +voices possessed but little significance. It passed unnoticed, and, +while I ate with a ravenous appetite, I listened to the examination to +which Dame Grédel was subjected as she lay back in a large armchair, her +hair falling down and her eyes bulged out with fright. "How old did the +man appear to be?" asked the bailiff. "Between forty and fifty, sir. He +was an enormous man with black side whiskers, or maybe brown, I don't +exactly remember, with a long nose and green eyes." "Did he have any +birthmark or scars?" "I don't remember any. He only had a big hammer and +pistols." "Very good! And what did he say to you?" "He seized me by +the throat, but fortunately I screamed so loud it frightened him, and I +defended myself with my finger-nails. When any one tries to murder +you, you fight hard for your life, sir." "Nothing is more natural or +legitimate, madame. Take this down, Roth! The coolness of this good +woman is remarkable." The rest of the deposition was in the same strain. +They questioned Annette afterward, but she testified to having been so +frightened that she could remember nothing. + +"That will do," said the bailiff; "if we need anything further, we will +return to-morrow morning." Everybody withdrew, and I asked Dame Grédel +for a room for the night. So great had been her fear that she had not +the slightest recollection of having seen me before. "Annette," said +she, "Show the gentleman to the little room on the third floor. I can +not stand on my legs. Oh! dear! what trials we have to bear in this +world." She began to weep. + +Annette, having lighted a candle, led me up to the little chamber, +and when we found ourselves alone, she cried innocently: "Oh! Kasper, +Kasper! Who would have believed that you were one of the band! I can +never console myself for having loved a robber!" "What! you, too, +believe us guilty, Annette?" I exclaimed despairingly, dropping into a +chair; "that is the last straw on the camel's back." "No! no! you can +not be. You are too much of a gentleman, dear Kasper! And you were so +brave to come back." I explained to her that I was perishing with cold +and hunger, and that that was the only consideration which led me to +return. + +We were left to ourselves for some time; then Annette departed, lest she +should arouse Madame Grédel's suspicions. Left to myself, after having +ascertained that the windows were not approached by any wall, and that +the sashes were securely fastened, I thanked God that I had thus far +been brought safely through the perils which surrounded me, and then +going to bed, I was soon fast asleep. + + + + +II + +I got up at about eight o'clock the next morning. It was foggy and dark. +As I drew aside the hangings of the bed, I noticed that the snow was +drifted on a level with the windows; the sashes were all white. I began +to reflect upon the sad condition of my companions; they must have +suffered with the cold, particularly old Bremer and Bertha, and the idea +filled me with sorrow. As I was reflecting thus, a strange noise arose +outside. It drew near the inn, and I sprang anxiously to the window to +see if some new dangers were threatening. They were bringing the +famous band of robbers to confront Dame Grédel Dick, who was not yet +sufficiently recovered from her fright to venture out of doors. My +poor comrades came down the street between a double file of police, +and followed by a crowd of street urchins, who screamed and yelled like +savages. It seems to me that I can still see that terrible scene; poor +Bremer chained between his sons, Ludwig and Karl, Wilfred behind them, +and Bertha bringing up the rear and crying piteously: "In the name of +Heaven, my masters, have pity on a poor, innocent harpist! I kill? I +steal? O God! can it be?" She wrung her hands distractedly. The others +proceeded with bowed heads, their hair falling over their faces. + +The crowd swarmed into the dark alleyway of the inn. The guards drove +back the rabble, and the door was closed and barred. The eager crowd +remained outside, standing ankle-deep in slush, with their noses +flattened against the panes. A profound silence settled upon the house. +Having by this time got into my clothes, I opened the door part way to +listen, and see if it would be possible to escape from my unpleasant +quarters. I heard the sound of voices and of people moving about on +the lower floors, which convinced me that the passages were strongly +guarded. My door opened on the landing, directly opposite the window +through which the man had fled two nights before. I did not pay any +attention to this circumstance at first, but as I stood there I suddenly +noticed that the window was open, and that there was no snow on the +sill; approaching it, I saw fresh tracks along the wall. I shuddered. +The man must have returned last night; perhaps visited the inn every +night. It was a revelation to me, and at once the mystery began to clear +up. + +"Oh! if it were only true," I said to myself, "that fortune had placed +the murderer's fate in my hands, my unhappy fellows would be saved!" +And I followed with my eyes the footprints, which led with surprising +distinctness to the opposite roof. At this moment some words fell on +my ear. The door of the dining hall had just been opened to let in the +fresh air, and I heard the following conversation: "Do you recall having +taken part in the murder of Ulmet Elias on the twentieth of this month?" +Some unintelligible words followed. "Close the door, Madoc!" said the +bailiff; "the woman is ill." I heard no more. As I stood with my head +resting against the balusters, a sudden resolution seized me. "I can +save my comrades!" I exclaimed; "God has pointed out to me the means, +and if I fail to do my duty, their blood will be upon my head. My +self-respect and peace of mind will be forever lost, and I shall +consider myself the most cowardly of wretches." It took me some time, +however, to summon up resolution enough. Then I went downstairs and +entered the dining-room. + +"Did you ever see this watch before?" the bailiff was saying to Dame +Grédel. "Do your best to remember!" Without waiting for her answer, I +stepped forward and replied firmly: "That watch, bailiff? I have seen it +before in the hands of the murderer himself. I recognize it perfectly, +and if you will only listen to me, I will agree to deliver the man +into your hands this very night." Perfect stillness followed my bold +declaration. + +The officials stared at each other, dumfounded; my comrades seemed to +cheer up a bit. "I am the companion of these unfortunate people," I +continued, "and I say it without shame, for every one of them is +honest, even if he is poor, and there is not one among them capable of +committing the crimes imputed to him." + +Again silence followed. Dame Bertha began to weep quietly. At last the +bailiff aroused himself. Looking at me sharply, he said: "Where do you +pretend to deliver the assassin into our hands?" "Right here in this +very house! And to convince you of it, I only ask for a moment's private +conversation." "Let us hear what you have to say," he replied, rising. +He motioned Madoc to follow us; the others remained. We left the room. I +went hastily up the stairs, with the others at my heels. Pausing at the +window on the third floor, I showed them the man's footprints in the +snow. "Those are the murderer's tracks!" I said; "he visits this house +every night. Yesterday he came at two in the morning; last night he +returned, and he will undoubtedly be back again this evening." + +The bailiff and Madoc examined the footprints without a word. "How +do you know that these are the murderer's tracks?" asked the chief of +police, doubtfully. Thereupon I told him of the man's appearance in our +loft. I pointed out to them the little window above us through which I +had watched him as he fled in the moonlight, and which Wilfred had not +seen, as he remained in bed. I admitted that it was mere chance that had +led me to the discovery of the tracks made the night before. + +"It is strange!" muttered the bailiff; "this greatly modifies the +position of the accused. But how do you explain the presence of the +robber in the cellar?" "That robber was myself." I now related briefly +everything that had taken place from the time of my comrades' arrest +until the moment of my flight from the inn. "That will do," said the +bailiff; and, turning toward the chief of police, he added: "I must +admit, Madoc, that the depositions of these musicians never seemed to me +very conclusive of their guilt; moreover, their passports established an +alibi difficult to controvert. Nevertheless, young man," turning to me, +"in spite of the plausibility of the proofs you have given us, you must +remain in our power until they are verified. Keep him in sight, Madoc, +and take your measures accordingly." The bailiff descended the stairs +thoughtfully, and, refolding his papers, he said, without continuing the +examination: "Let the accused be taken back to the prison!" And with a +scornful glance at the landlady, he departed, followed by the secretary. +Madoc alone remained with two officials. + +"Madame," he said to Dame Grédel, "maintain the strictest secrecy +about what has happened, and give this brave young man the same room he +occupied night before last." Madoc's look and emphasis admitted of no +reply. Dame Grédel swore she would do whatever was required of her if +she could only be rid of the robbers! Madoc replied: "We shall stay here +all day and to-night to protect you. Go about your work in peace, and +begin by giving us some breakfast. My good fellow, you will give us the +pleasure of dining with us?" My situation did not permit me to decline. +I accepted accordingly, and we soon found ourselves seated before a leg +of ham and a jug of Rhine wine. Other people arrived from time to time, +and endeavored to elicit the confidence of Dame Grédel and Annette, but +they maintained a discreet silence, for which they deserve no little +credit. We spent the afternoon smoking our pipes and emptying our mugs; +no one paid any attention to us. + +The chief of police, in spite of his sallow face, piercing glance, pale +lips, and sharp nose, was excellent company after a bottle or two; he +told us some excellent stories, and at every word of his the other two +burst out laughing. I remained gloomy and silent. "Come, young fellow!" +he said with a smile, "forget for a little the death of your respectable +grandmother. Take a drop, and put your troublesome thoughts to flight." + +Others joined in the conversation, and the time passed in the midst of +tobacco smoke, the clinking of glasses, and the ringing of mugs. But +at nine o'clock, after the watchman's visit, the expression of things +changed. Madoc rose and said: "Well, my friends, let us proceed to +business. Fasten the doors and shutters quietly! You, ladies, may go +to bed!" His two tattered followers looked more like robbers themselves +than like props of law and order. Each drew a club with a knob of lead +attached to one end, from his trousers' leg, and Madoc tapped his breast +pocket to make sure that his pistol was there. This done, he bid me lead +them to the loft. We climbed the stairs. Having reached the little room, +where thoughtful little Annette had taken care to light a fire, Madoc, +cursing between his teeth, hastened to throw water on the coals; then +motioning to the pile of straw, he said to me: "You may go to sleep if +you like." + +He sat down, together with his two acolytes, at the end of the room +close to the wall, and they put out the light. I lay down on the straw, +breathing a prayer to the Almighty to send hither the assassin. After +midnight the silence became so profound that you would never have +suspected three men were there with wide-open eyes, on the alert for +the slightest sound. The hours wore slowly away. I could not sleep. +A thousand terrible ideas teemed in my brain. One o'clock--two +o'clock--three o'clock struck, and nothing appeared. At three o'clock +one of the officials stirred slightly. I thought the man had come at +last. But again all was still. I began to think that Madoc would take +me for an impostor, and that in the morning things would fare badly with +me; thus, instead of helping my companions, I should only be fettered +with them. + +The time seemed to me to pass very rapidly after three o'clock. I wished +the night might last forever, that the only ray of hope might not be +gone. I was starting to go over all these thoughts for the fiftieth +time, when, suddenly, without my having heard a sound, the window opened +and two eyes glistened in the opening. Nothing stirred in the loft. +"The others are asleep," I thought. The head remained in the opening, +listening. The wretch seemed to suspect something. My heart galloped +and the blood coursed through my veins. I dared not even breathe. A few +moments passed thus. Then, suddenly, the man seemed to make up his +mind. He let himself down into the loft with the same caution as on +the preceding night. On the instant a terrible cry, short, piercing, +blood-curdling, resounded through the house. "We've got him!" + +The whole house shook from cellar to attic; cries, struggles, and hoarse +shouts, coupled with muttered oaths, filled the loft. The man roared +like, a wild beast, and his opponents breathed painfully as they +battled with his terrible strength. Then there was a crash that made the +flooring creak, and I heard nothing more but a gritting of teeth and a +rattle of chains. "A light here!" cried the formidable Madoc. And as the +sulphur burned, illuminating the place with its bluish light, I vaguely +distinguished the forms of the three officials kneeling above the +prostrate man. One of them was holding him by the throat, another had +sunk his knees into his chest, and Madoc encircled his wrists with +handcuffs hard enough to crush them. The man, in his shirt sleeves as +before, seemed inert, save that one of his powerful legs, naked from the +knee to the ankle, raised up from time to time and struck the floor with +a convulsive movement. His eyes were literally starting from his head, +and his lips were covered with a bloody foam. Scarcely had I lighted the +taper when the officials exclaimed, thunderstruck: "Our Dean!" All three +got up and stood staring at each other, white with astonishment. The +bloodshot eyes of the murderer turned on Madoc. He tried to speak, and +after a moment I heard him murmur: "What a terrible dream! My God, what +a terrible dream!" Then he sighed and became motionless. + +I approached to take a look at him. It was indeed the man who had given +us advice on the road to Heidelberg. Perhaps he had had a presentiment +that we would be the means of his destruction, for people do sometimes +have these terrible borebodings. As he did not stir, and a tiny stream +of blood flowed on the dusty floor, Madoc, rousing himself from his +stupor, bent over him and tore away his shirt; we then saw that he +had stabbed himself to the heart with his great knife. "Ho! ho!" cried +Madoc, with a sinister smile, "our Dean has cheated the gallows. You +others stay here while I go and notify the bailiff." He picked up his +hat, that had fallen off during the mêlée, and left without another +word. I remained opposite the corpse, with the two others. + +The news spread like wildfire. It was a sensation for the neighborhood. +Dean Daniel Van den Berg enjoyed a fortune and a reputation so well +established that many people refused to believe in the abominable +instincts which dominated him. The matter was discussed from every +conceivable point of view. Some held that he was a somnambulist and +irresponsible for his acts; others that he was a murderer through love +of blood, having no other possible motive for committing these crimes. +Perhaps both were right, for it is an undeniable fact that moral being, +will, soul, whatever name you choose to call it by, is wanting in the +somnambulist. The animal nature left to itself naturally yields to the +dictates of its pacific or sanguinary instincts. Be that as it may, my +comrades were at once restored to liberty. Little Annette was quoted +for a long time after as a model of devotion. She was even sought in +marriage by the son of the burgomaster Trungott, a youth, who will one +day disgrace his family. + +As for me, I lost no time in returning to the Black Forest, where, since +that time I have officiated as leader of the orchestra at the Sabre Vert +Tavern, on the road to Tubingen. If you should ever happen to pass that +way, and my story has interested you, come in and see me. We will drink +a bottle or two together, and I will relate to you certain details that +will make your hair stand on end. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Dean's Watch, by Erckmann-Chatrian + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DEAN'S WATCH *** + +***** This file should be named 23054-8.txt or 23054-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/3/0/5/23054/ + +Produced by David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/23054-8.zip b/23054-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9dc5375 --- /dev/null +++ b/23054-8.zip diff --git a/23054-h.zip b/23054-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c34dc98 --- /dev/null +++ b/23054-h.zip diff --git a/23054-h/23054-h.htm b/23054-h/23054-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..43cc11f --- /dev/null +++ b/23054-h/23054-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1213 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="iso-8859-1"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> + <head> + <title> + The Dean's Watch, by Erckmann-Chatrian + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Dean's Watch, by Erckmann-Chatrian + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Dean's Watch + 1897 + +Author: Erckmann-Chatrian + +Translator: Ralph Browning Fiske + +Release Date: October 17, 2007 [EBook #23054] +Last Updated: January 26, 2013 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DEAN'S WATCH *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + <div style="height: 8em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h1> + THE DEAN'S WATCH + </h1> + <h2> + By Erckmann-Chatrian + </h2> + <h4> + Translated by Ralph Browning Fiske <br /> <br /> Copyright, 1897, by The + Current Literature Publishing Company + </h4> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + Contents + </h2> + <table summary="" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto"> + <tr> + <td> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0001"> I </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0002"> II </a> + </p> + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2H_4_0001" id="link2H_4_0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + I + </h2> + <p> + On the day before Christmas of the year 1832, my friend Wilfred, with his + double-bass slung over his back, and I, with my violin under my arm, + started to walk from the Black Forest to Heidelberg. It was unusually + snowy weather; as far as we could see across the great, deserted plain, + there was no trace of road nor path. The wind kept up its harsh aria with + monotonous persistency, and Wilfred, with his flattened wallet at his + belt, and the vizor of his cap drawn over his eyes, moved on before me, + straddling the drifts with his long, heron legs, and whistling a gay tune + to keep up his spirits. Now and then, he would turn around with a waggish + smile, and cry: "Comrade, let's have the waltz from 'Robin,' I feel like + dancing." A burst of laughter followed these words, and then the good + fellow would resume his march courageously. I followed on as well as I + could, up to my knees in snow, and I felt a sense of melancholy take + possession of me. + </p> + <p> + The spires of Heidelberg began to appear on the extreme horizon, and we + hoped to reach there before nightfall. It was then about five o'clock in + the afternoon, and great flakes of snow were whirling through the gray + atmosphere. Suddenly we heard the sound of a horse approaching from behind + us. When the rider was within twenty yards of us, he moderated his speed, + studying us meanwhile with a sidelong glance. We returned his gaze. + </p> + <p> + Picture to yourself a large man, with reddish hair and beard, in a + three-cornered hat and loose fox-skin pelisse; his arms buried to the + elbows in fur gloves. He carried a handsome valise behind him, resting on + the haunches of his powerful stallion. He was evidently some alderman or + burgomaster or personage of like importance. + </p> + <p> + "Ho! Ho! my good fellows!" he cried; "you are on your way to Heidelberg to + perform, I see." Wilfred surveyed the traveler from the corner of his eye, + and replied briefly: "Is that of any interest to you, sir?" "Yes, for in + that case I wish to give you a bit of advice." "Advice?" "Precisely; if + you wish it." Wilfred started on without replying. I noticed that the + traveler's appearance was like that of an enormous cat; his ears wide + apart, his eyelids half closed, with a bristling mustache, and a fatherly, + almost caressing manner. "My friend," he continued, addressing himself to + me, "frankly, you will do well to retrace your steps." "Why so, sir?" "The + great Maestro Pimenti has just now announced a concert to take place at + Heidelberg on Christmas day. The entire city will be there, and you will + not earn a kreutzer." At this point, Wilfred turned around ill-humoredly: + "We care not a sou for your Maestro nor all the Pimentis in Christendom," + he said; "look at this young fellow here, without even the sign of a beard + on his chin! He has never yet played outside of the ale-houses of the + Black Forest, for the woodcutters and charcoal-women to dance; and yet + this boy, with his long yellow curls and big blue eyes, defies all your + Italian impostors. His left hand is possessed of inimitable melody, grace, + and suppleness, and his right of a power to draw the bow, that the + Almighty rarely accords us mortals." + </p> + <p> + "Oh! ho! Indeed!" returned the other. "It is just as I tell you," Wilfred + replied, and he resumed his pace, blowing on his fingers that were red + with the cold, I saw that he was ridiculing the horseman, who continued to + follow us at an easy trot. We continued thus for a full half mile in + silence. Suddenly the stranger said to us abruptly: "Whatever skill you + may possess, go back to the Black Forest; we have vagabonds enough in + Heidelberg without you to increase the number. I give you good advice, + particularly under the existing circumstances; you will do well to profit + by it." + </p> + <p> + Wilfred, now thoroughly out of patience, was about to reply, but the + traveler, urging his horse into a gallop, had already crossed the broad + Avenue d'Electeur. An immense flock of crows flew up from the plain and + seemed to be following him, filling the heavens with their cawing. We + reached Heidelberg at about seven o'clock, and we did indeed see Pimenti's + magnificent posters on all the walls of the city, which read: "Grand + Concert Solo." + </p> + <p> + That same evening in visiting the various inns, we met many old comrades + from the Black Forest, who engaged us to play in their troupe. There was + old Bremer, the 'cellist, his two sons, Ludwig and Karl, both good second + violins; Heinrich Siebel, the clarionet player, and Bertha with her harp; + Wilfred with his double-bass and I with my violin made up the number. We + agreed to travel together after the Christmas concert and divide the + proceeds among us. Wilfred had already hired a room for us both on the + sixth floor of the Pied de Mouton Tavern, which stood halfway down the + Holdergasse, and for it he was to pay four kreutzers a day. Properly + speaking, it was nothing but a garret, but fortunately there was a stove + in it, and we lighted a fire to dry ourselves. + </p> + <p> + As we were comfortably seated, toasting chestnuts over the fire and + enjoying a jug of wine, little Annette, the housemaid, appeared in a black + calico dress and velvet turban, with rosy cheeks and lips like a cluster + of cherries. She came running up the stairs, gave a hasty knock and threw + herself joyfully into my arms. I had known the pretty little girl for a + long time; we were of the same village, and if truth must be told, her + sparkling eyes and frolicsome ways had quite won my heart. "I came up to + have a little talk with you," she said, dropping into a chair. "I saw you + come up a moment ago and here I am." + </p> + <p> + She began to chatter away, asking for this one or that one of the village + and hardly giving me time to reply. Every now and then she would pause and + look at me with the greatest tenderness. We might have continued thus + until the next morning had not Dame Grédel Dick begun to call from the + foot of the stairs: "Annette! Annette! Are you never coming?" "Right away, + ma'am!" answered the poor child reluctantly. She tapped me lightly on the + cheek and ran toward the door; but just as she was crossing the threshold, + she suddenly stopped. "By the way," she cried, "I was forgetting to tell + you; but perhaps you have heard about it?" "About what?" "The death of our + precentor, Zahn." "But how does that, affect us?" "To be sure; only see + that your passport is all right Tomorrow morning at eight o'clock they + will come to examine it. Everybody is being arrested in the last + fortnight. The precentor was assassinated last night in the library of + Saint Christopher's Chapel, and only a week ago, old Ulmet Elias, the + sacrificer, was similarly murdered in the Rue des Juifs. Some days before + that Christina Haas, the old midwife, was also killed, as well as the + agate dealer Seligmann of the Rue Durlach. So look out for yourself, dear + Kasper, and see that your passport is all right." + </p> + <p> + While she was speaking, Dame Grédel's voice came again from below: + "Annette! will you come here? The good-for-nothing child, leaving me to do + all the work!" + </p> + <p> + And the sound of men's voices calling for wine, beer, ham, or sausages + mingled with her own. Further delay was out of the question. Annette + hastened down the stairs, crying as she went: "Goodness, ma'am! what has + happened? One would think that the house were afire!" Wilfred crossed the + room and closed the door behind her; then returning to his chair, we + looked at each other, not without a feeling of apprehension. + </p> + <p> + "That is singular news," he said; "your passport is all right, I suppose?" + "Certainly," And I produced my papers. "Good! Mine is too, for I had it + made out just before leaving. But nevertheless, these murders do not augur + us any good. I am afraid we shall not be able to do much business here; + many of the families will be in mourning; and then, too, the bother and + pettifogging of the authorities." "Pshaw! you take too gloomy a view of + it," I replied. + </p> + <p> + We continued to discuss these singular happenings until after midnight. + The glow from our little stove lighted up the angle of the roof, the + square window with its three cracked panes, the straw strewn about the + floor, the blackened beams propped against each other, and the little + firwood table that cast its uncertain shadow upon the worm-eaten ceiling. + From time to time, a mouse, enticed by the warmth, would dart like an + arrow along the wall. The wind howled in the chimney and whirled the snow + about the gutters. I was dreaming of Annette; the silence was complete. + Suddenly Wilfred exclaimed, throwing off his jacket: "It is time for + sleep. Put another stick on the fire and we will go to bed!" "We can't do + better than that," I replied. So saying, I drew off my boots, and a moment + later we stretched out on the straw with the coverlid tucked under our + chins and a log under our heads for a pillow. Wilfred lost no time in + getting to sleep. The light from the stove flickered and trembled; the + wind redoubled its force outside, and as I lay thus with a sense of + perfect contentment, I, too, dozed off. At about two o'clock in the + morning I was awakened by a strange noise. I thought at first that it was + a cat running along the gutter, but, putting my ear to the wall, my + uncertainty was at once dispelled; somebody was walking on the roof. I + nudged Wilfred. "Sh!" he whispered, pressing my hand; he had heard it, + too. The firelight was casting its last shadows on the decrepit walls. I + was considering whether I would get up or not, when the little window, + held only by a bit of brick, slowly opened. A pale face with shining eyes, + red hair, and quivering cheeks appeared in the opening and gazed into the + interior of the chamber. Our fear was so great that we hadn't strength + left to cry out. At length the man glided through the sash and let himself + down into the loft without a sound. The man, short and thick-set, the + muscles of his face contracted like a tiger about to spring, was none + other than the ingenuous person who had volunteered his advice on the road + to Heidelberg. But how different he seemed to us now! In spite of the + bitter cold, he was in his shirt sleeves, dressed only in a pair of + breeches, woolen stockings, and silver buckled shoes. A long, + blood-stained knife glittered in his hand. + </p> + <p> + Wilfred and I thought our last hour had surely come. But he did not appear + to see us in the oblique shadow of the loft, notwithstanding that the fire + started up again in the cold draft from the open window. He squatted down + on a chair and began to shiver in a strange manner. Suddenly he fixed his + yellowish-green eyes upon me; his nostrils dilated and he watched me for a + full minute, while the blood froze in my veins. Then turning toward the + stove, he gave a hoarse cough, like the purring of a cat, without moving a + muscle of his face. He drew a large watch from his breeches pocket, made a + gesture as if looking at the time, and either inadvertently or purposely + laid it on the table. This done, he rose as if undecided, looked + doubtfully at the window, hesitated, and finally disappeared through the + door, leaving it wide open behind him. I sprang up to turn the lock; + already the man's footsteps creaked on the staircase two floors below. An + irresistible curiosity asserted itself over my fear, and hearing a window + open, which looked upon the court, I approached the sash of the little + winding staircase on the same side of the house. The courtyard, from where + I stood, lay at a dizzy depth, and a wall from fifty to sixty feet high + divided it. On the right of the wall was the yard of a pork butcher; on + the left, the inn yard of the Pied de Mouton. The top of this wall, which + was overgrown with damp mosses and that sort of vegetation that thrives in + dark places, extended in a straight line from the window, which the man + had just opened, to the roof of a large, sombre-looking dwelling, built in + the rear of the Bergstrasse. I took all this in at a glance while the moon + shone between the heavy, snow-laden clouds, and I shuddered as I saw the + man flee along the wall, his head bent forward and the knife still in his + hand, while the wind howled lugubriously around him. He reached the + opposite roof and disappeared. I thought I must be dreaming. For some + moments I stood there, open-mouthed with wonder, my breast bare, and hair + tossed about, drenched by the sleet that fell from the roof. At length + recovering from my bewilderment, I returned to the loft and found Wilfred, + who looked at me with a haggard expression and was mumbling a prayer. I + hastened to bolt the door, dress myself, and replenish the fire. + </p> + <p> + "Well," said my comrade, sitting up. "Well," I rejoined, "we have escaped + this time, but if that fellow didn't see us, it was only because our time + has not yet come." "You are right!" he cried. "He is one of the murderers + Annette spoke of. Great Heavens! What a face! And what a knife!" And he + fell back on the straw. + </p> + <p> + I emptied at a draft what wine still remained in the jug, and then, as the + fire started up again, diffusing a grateful warmth through the chamber, + and the lock appeared sufficiently strong, my courage began to revive. But + the watch was still there and the man might return for it. The thought + filled us with horror. + </p> + <p> + "Well, what is our next move?" asked Wilfred. "The best thing we can do is + to strike out at once for the Black Forest." "Why so?" "I have no further + desire to figure on the double-bass; you may do as you like." "Why should + we leave? We have committed no crime." "Speak low!" he replied, "that one + word 'crime' might hang us. We poor devils are made to serve as examples + for others. They don't bother their heads much to find out whether we are + guilty or not. If they should discover that watch here, it would be + enough." "Look here, Wilfred! It won't do to lose your head! A crime has + undoubtedly been committed in this neighborhood, but what should honest + men do under the circumstances? Instead of running away from Justice, they + should try to aid it." "How aid it?" "The simplest way would be to take + this watch to the bailiff and tell him what has passed." "Never! I + wouldn't even dare to touch it!" "Very well, I will take it myself, but + now let's go back to bed and try to get some more sleep if we can." "I + don't care to sleep." "Well, light your pipe, then, and we will talk while + we wait for daylight. Let's go downstairs, there may be some one there + still." "I would rather stay here." "All right." And we sat down again + before the fire. + </p> + <p> + As soon as dawn appeared, I took the watch from the table. It was a fine + one with minute and second hands. Wilfred seemed somewhat reassured. + "Kasper," he said, "on second thoughts, it seems more suitable for me to + go to the bailiff. You are too young to take part in such matters. You + would make a mess of it when you tried to explain the affair." "Just as + you like," I replied. "Yes, it would look odd for a man of my years to + send a mere child in my place." "Very good; I understand." + </p> + <p> + He took the watch, but I believe that only his pride drove him to this + resolution. He would have been ashamed to show less courage than I before + his comrades. We went down from the loft in a thoughtful mood. As we + crossed the alleyway that comes out on the Rue Saint Christopher, we heard + the clicking of glasses. I recognized the voice of old Bremer and his + sons, Ludwig and Karl. "By Jove," said I, "it wouldn't be a bad idea to + take a glass before we start." I pushed open the door of the tap-room as I + spoke, and we found all our company gathered there, their instruments + variously deposited about the room. We were received with shouts of + satisfaction and places were quickly made for us at the table. "Ho! Good + morning, comrades," said Bremer; "more snow and wind. All the taverns are + full of people, and every bottle that is opened means a florin in our + pockets." I saw little Annette looking as fresh and fair as a rose, and + smiling fondly at me with her lips and eyes. This sight reanimated me. It + was I who got the daintiest morsels, and whenever she approached to set a + glass of wine at my elbow, she touched me caressingly on the shoulder, and + I thought, with a beating heart, of the days when we used to go + chestnutting together. But in spite of this, the pale face of our strange + visitor of the night before recurred to me from time to time, and made me + tremble. I looked at Wilfred; he, too, seemed thoughtful. + </p> + <p> + Eight o'clock came and our party was about to start out, when the door was + thrown open, and three big fellows, with lead-colored complexions, their + eyes shining like rats, and their hats awry, appeared on the threshold, + followed by several others of a like description. One of them, with a + razor-back nose, and with a heavy club bound to his wrist, stepped + forward, crying: "Your passports, gentlemen!" Each one hastened to comply + with the request. Unfortunately, Wilfred, who stood near the stove, was + seized with a sudden trembling. The officer's experienced eye detected his + agitation, and as he paused in his reading to give him a questioning look, + my comrade conceived the unlucky idea of slipping the watch into his boot; + but before it had reached its destination, the official slapped his hand + against the other's hip, and said jeeringly: "Something seems to trouble + you here." To everybody's amazement, Wilfred was seized with a fainting + spell and dropped upon a bench pale as death. Without further ceremony, + Madoc, the Chief of Police, pulled up his trousers' leg and drew out the + watch with a burst of evil laughter. He had no sooner glanced at it, + however, than he became sober, and, turning to his men, he cried in a + terrible voice: "Let no one leave the room! We have caught the whole band + at last! Look! this is the watch of Dean Daniel Van den Berg. Bring hither + the handcuffs!" This order chilled us to the marrow. A tumult followed, + and I, believing that we were lost, slid under a bench near the wall. As I + was watching them chain the hands of poor old Bremer and his sons, Karl + and Ludwig, together with Heinrich and Wilfred, I felt Annette's little + hand brush against my cheek and she drew me gently toward her—slowly + and quietly toward the open cellar door. I was unnoticed in the general + confusion; I slipped within; the door closed behind me. It was but the + matter of a second. Scarcely had I concealed myself, before I heard my + poor comrades depart; then all became silent. + </p> + <p> + I will leave you to imagine the nature of my reflections during an entire + day, crouched down behind a wine cask with my legs gathered under me, and + realizing that if a dog should enter the cellar, if the landlady should + take the notion to come downstairs to fill a pitcher, if the cask should + run out before night and were to be replaced; in short, if the slightest + thing went amiss, it would be all up with me. All these thoughts and a + thousand others passed through my mind, and I fancied that I already saw + my comrades being led to execution. Little Annette, no less anxious than + myself, closed the door prudently each time that she came up from the + cellar. At last, I heard the old woman cry: "Leave the door open! Are you + mad to lose half your time in shutting it?" After that the door remained + ajar, and from my nook in the shadows I could see the tables gradually + filling with new customers. + </p> + <p> + Stories, discussions, and exclamations concerning the famous band of + robbers reached my ears. "Oh! the rascals!" cried one; "thank Heaven they + are caught. What a scourge they have been to Heidelberg! No one dared risk + himself in the streets after ten o'clock, and even business was beginning + to suffer; but now things are changed and in a fortnight it will all be + forgotten." + </p> + <p> + "Those musicians of the Black Forest are a lot of bandits!" chimed in + another; "they make their way into the houses under pretext of playing, + and meanwhile they are examining the locks, bolts, chests, and windows, + and some fine morning we hear that such a one has had his throat cut in + his bed; that his wife has been murdered, his children strangled, and his + house rifled from top to bottom. The wretches should be strung up without + mercy! Then we might have some peace." "The whole village will turn out to + see them hanged," said Mother Grédel, "and as for me, it will be the + happiest day of my life." "Do you know, if it hadn't been for Dean + Daniel's watch, no trace of them would have been found. Last night the + watch disappeared, and this morning the Dean notified the police. An hour + later, Madoc bagged them all! Ha! Ha! Ha!" The entire roomful burst out + laughing, and I trembled with shame, indignation, and fear in turn. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile, the night drew on. Only a few loungers remained. The people of + the inn, who had sat up the night before, were anxious to get to bed. I + heard the landlady yawn and mutter: "Oh, dear! How long before we can get + some sleep?" Most of the tipplers comprehended the force of this remark + and withdrew; only one remained, sitting half asleep before his glass. The + watchman, going his rounds, woke him up and he went off grumbling and + staggering. + </p> + <p> + "At last!" I said to myself; "this is good luck; Mother Grédel has gone to + bed and Annette will not be slow in getting me out." With this agreeable + prospect in view, I had already stretched out my stiffened limbs, when + Dame Grédel's voice reached my ear: "Annette, go and lock up, and don't + forget to bolt the door! I am going down cellar." It appeared that this + was a wise custom of hers to assure herself that everything was right. + "But, madame," stammered the girl, "the cask isn't empty. You needn't + bother to—" "Mind your own business," interrupted the mistress, + whose candle was already lighting up the passageway. I had barely time to + squat down again behind the cask, when the old woman, stooping beneath the + low, dingy ceiling, passed from one keg to another, mumbling as she went: + "Oh! the little wretch. How she lets the wine leak. I'll teach her to + close the spigots tighter; did ever any one see the like?" The candle + threw great shadows against the damp wall. I huddled closer and closer. + Suddenly, just as I thought the visit happily ended, and was beginning to + breathe easier again, I heard the old creature give a sigh so long and so + full of woe that I knew something unusual was happening. I risked just the + least glance, and I saw Dame Grédel Dick, her under jaw dropped and her + eyes sticking out of her head, staring at the bottom of the barrel behind + which I lay. She had caught sight of one of my feet underneath the joist + that served as a wedge to keep the cask in place. She evidently believed + she had discovered the chief of the robbers concealed there for the + purpose of strangling her during the night. I formed a sudden resolution. + "Madame, for God's sake, have pity on me!" I cried: "I am—" Without + looking at me, or listening to a word I said, she set up an ear-splitting + shriek and started up the stairs as quickly as her great weight would + permit. Seized with inexpressible terror, I clung to her skirt and went + down on my knees. This only made matters worse. "Help! seize the assassin! + Oh, my God! release me! Take my money! Oh! Oh!" + </p> + <p> + It was horrible. In vain did I cry: "Only look at me, my dear madame; I am + not what you think me!" She was beside herself with fear; she raved and + screamed in such piercing tones that had we not been underground, the + whole neighborhood would inevitably have been aroused. In this extremity, + consulting only my rage, I overturned her, and gaining the door before + her, I slammed it in her face, taking care to slip the bolt. During the + struggle the candle had been extinguished and Dame Grédel was left in the + dark. Her cries grew fainter and fainter. I stared at Annette, giddy, and + with hardly strength enough left to stand. Her agitation equaled mine. We + neither of us seemed able to speak, and stood listening to the expiring + cries of the mistress, which soon ceased altogether. The poor woman had + fainted. + </p> + <p> + "Oh! Kasper," cried Annette, wringing her hands, "what is to be done? Fly! + fly! You may have been heard! Did you kill her?" "Kill her? I?" "I am so + glad! But fly! I will open the door for you." She unbarred it, and I fled + into the street, without stopping even to thank her; but I was so + terrified and there was not a moment to lose. The night was inky black; + not a star in the sky, and the street lamps unlighted. The weather was + abominable; it was snowing hard and the wind howled dismally. Not until I + had run for a good half-hour did I stop to take breath. Imagine my horror + when I found myself directly opposite the Pied de Mouton Tavern. In my + terror I had run around the square a dozen times for aught I knew. My legs + felt like lead and my knees tottered under me. + </p> + <p> + The inn, but a moment before deserted, swarmed like a bee-hive, and lights + danced about from window to window. It was evidently filled with the + police. And now, at my wits' end, desperate, exhausted with cold and + hunger, and not knowing where to find refuge, I resolved upon the + strangest possible course. "By Jove," I said to myself, "as well be hanged + as leave my bones on the road to the Black Forest." And I walked into the + tavern with the intention of giving myself up to the officials. Besides + the fellows with their cocked hats tilted rakishly over their ears, and + the clubs fastened to their wrists, whom I had already seen in the + morning, and who were now running here and there, and turning everything + upside down, there was the bailiff, Zimmer, standing before one of the + tables, dressed in black, with a grave air and penetrating glance, and + near him the secretary Roth, with his red wig, imposing countenance, and + large ears, flat as oyster shells. They paid no attention to my entrance, + and this circumstance altered my resolution at once. I sat down in a + corner of the room behind the big cast-iron stove, in company with two or + three of the neighbors, who had run hither to see what was going on, and I + ordered a pint of wine and a dish of sauerkraut. Annette came near + betraying me. "Goodness!" she cried, "is it possible!" But one + exclamation, more or less, in such a babel of voices possessed but little + significance. It passed unnoticed, and, while I ate with a ravenous + appetite, I listened to the examination to which Dame Grédel was subjected + as she lay back in a large armchair, her hair falling down and her eyes + bulged out with fright. "How old did the man appear to be?" asked the + bailiff. "Between forty and fifty, sir. He was an enormous man with black + side whiskers, or maybe brown, I don't exactly remember, with a long nose + and green eyes." "Did he have any birthmark or scars?" "I don't remember + any. He only had a big hammer and pistols." "Very good! And what did he + say to you?" "He seized me by the throat, but fortunately I screamed so + loud it frightened him, and I defended myself with my finger-nails. When + any one tries to murder you, you fight hard for your life, sir." "Nothing + is more natural or legitimate, madame. Take this down, Roth! The coolness + of this good woman is remarkable." The rest of the deposition was in the + same strain. They questioned Annette afterward, but she testified to + having been so frightened that she could remember nothing. + </p> + <p> + "That will do," said the bailiff; "if we need anything further, we will + return to-morrow morning." Everybody withdrew, and I asked Dame Grédel for + a room for the night. So great had been her fear that she had not the + slightest recollection of having seen me before. "Annette," said she, + "Show the gentleman to the little room on the third floor. I can not stand + on my legs. Oh! dear! what trials we have to bear in this world." She + began to weep. + </p> + <p> + Annette, having lighted a candle, led me up to the little chamber, and + when we found ourselves alone, she cried innocently: "Oh! Kasper, Kasper! + Who would have believed that you were one of the band! I can never console + myself for having loved a robber!" "What! you, too, believe us guilty, + Annette?" I exclaimed despairingly, dropping into a chair; "that is the + last straw on the camel's back." "No! no! you can not be. You are too much + of a gentleman, dear Kasper! And you were so brave to come back." I + explained to her that I was perishing with cold and hunger, and that that + was the only consideration which led me to return. + </p> + <p> + We were left to ourselves for some time; then Annette departed, lest she + should arouse Madame Grédel's suspicions. Left to myself, after having + ascertained that the windows were not approached by any wall, and that the + sashes were securely fastened, I thanked God that I had thus far been + brought safely through the perils which surrounded me, and then going to + bed, I was soon fast asleep. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0002" id="link2H_4_0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + II + </h2> + <p> + I got up at about eight o'clock the next morning. It was foggy and dark. + As I drew aside the hangings of the bed, I noticed that the snow was + drifted on a level with the windows; the sashes were all white. I began to + reflect upon the sad condition of my companions; they must have suffered + with the cold, particularly old Bremer and Bertha, and the idea filled me + with sorrow. As I was reflecting thus, a strange noise arose outside. It + drew near the inn, and I sprang anxiously to the window to see if some new + dangers were threatening. They were bringing the famous band of robbers to + confront Dame Grédel Dick, who was not yet sufficiently recovered from her + fright to venture out of doors. My poor comrades came down the street + between a double file of police, and followed by a crowd of street + urchins, who screamed and yelled like savages. It seems to me that I can + still see that terrible scene; poor Bremer chained between his sons, + Ludwig and Karl, Wilfred behind them, and Bertha bringing up the rear and + crying piteously: "In the name of Heaven, my masters, have pity on a poor, + innocent harpist! I kill? I steal? O God! can it be?" She wrung her hands + distractedly. The others proceeded with bowed heads, their hair falling + over their faces. + </p> + <p> + The crowd swarmed into the dark alleyway of the inn. The guards drove back + the rabble, and the door was closed and barred. The eager crowd remained + outside, standing ankle-deep in slush, with their noses flattened against + the panes. A profound silence settled upon the house. Having by this time + got into my clothes, I opened the door part way to listen, and see if it + would be possible to escape from my unpleasant quarters. I heard the sound + of voices and of people moving about on the lower floors, which convinced + me that the passages were strongly guarded. My door opened on the landing, + directly opposite the window through which the man had fled two nights + before. I did not pay any attention to this circumstance at first, but as + I stood there I suddenly noticed that the window was open, and that there + was no snow on the sill; approaching it, I saw fresh tracks along the + wall. I shuddered. The man must have returned last night; perhaps visited + the inn every night. It was a revelation to me, and at once the mystery + began to clear up. + </p> + <p> + "Oh! if it were only true," I said to myself, "that fortune had placed the + murderer's fate in my hands, my unhappy fellows would be saved!" And I + followed with my eyes the footprints, which led with surprising + distinctness to the opposite roof. At this moment some words fell on my + ear. The door of the dining hall had just been opened to let in the fresh + air, and I heard the following conversation: "Do you recall having taken + part in the murder of Ulmet Elias on the twentieth of this month?" Some + unintelligible words followed. "Close the door, Madoc!" said the bailiff; + "the woman is ill." I heard no more. As I stood with my head resting + against the balusters, a sudden resolution seized me. "I can save my + comrades!" I exclaimed; "God has pointed out to me the means, and if I + fail to do my duty, their blood will be upon my head. My self-respect and + peace of mind will be forever lost, and I shall consider myself the most + cowardly of wretches." It took me some time, however, to summon up + resolution enough. Then I went downstairs and entered the dining-room. + </p> + <p> + "Did you ever see this watch before?" the bailiff was saying to Dame + Grédel. "Do your best to remember!" Without waiting for her answer, I + stepped forward and replied firmly: "That watch, bailiff? I have seen it + before in the hands of the murderer himself. I recognize it perfectly, and + if you will only listen to me, I will agree to deliver the man into your + hands this very night." Perfect stillness followed my bold declaration. + </p> + <p> + The officials stared at each other, dumfounded; my comrades seemed to + cheer up a bit. "I am the companion of these unfortunate people," I + continued, "and I say it without shame, for every one of them is honest, + even if he is poor, and there is not one among them capable of committing + the crimes imputed to him." + </p> + <p> + Again silence followed. Dame Bertha began to weep quietly. At last the + bailiff aroused himself. Looking at me sharply, he said: "Where do you + pretend to deliver the assassin into our hands?" "Right here in this very + house! And to convince you of it, I only ask for a moment's private + conversation." "Let us hear what you have to say," he replied, rising. He + motioned Madoc to follow us; the others remained. We left the room. I went + hastily up the stairs, with the others at my heels. Pausing at the window + on the third floor, I showed them the man's footprints in the snow. "Those + are the murderer's tracks!" I said; "he visits this house every night. + Yesterday he came at two in the morning; last night he returned, and he + will undoubtedly be back again this evening." + </p> + <p> + The bailiff and Madoc examined the footprints without a word. "How do you + know that these are the murderer's tracks?" asked the chief of police, + doubtfully. Thereupon I told him of the man's appearance in our loft. I + pointed out to them the little window above us through which I had watched + him as he fled in the moonlight, and which Wilfred had not seen, as he + remained in bed. I admitted that it was mere chance that had led me to the + discovery of the tracks made the night before. + </p> + <p> + "It is strange!" muttered the bailiff; "this greatly modifies the position + of the accused. But how do you explain the presence of the robber in the + cellar?" "That robber was myself." I now related briefly everything that + had taken place from the time of my comrades' arrest until the moment of + my flight from the inn. "That will do," said the bailiff; and, turning + toward the chief of police, he added: "I must admit, Madoc, that the + depositions of these musicians never seemed to me very conclusive of their + guilt; moreover, their passports established an alibi difficult to + controvert. Nevertheless, young man," turning to me, "in spite of the + plausibility of the proofs you have given us, you must remain in our power + until they are verified. Keep him in sight, Madoc, and take your measures + accordingly." The bailiff descended the stairs thoughtfully, and, + refolding his papers, he said, without continuing the examination: "Let + the accused be taken back to the prison!" And with a scornful glance at + the landlady, he departed, followed by the secretary. Madoc alone remained + with two officials. + </p> + <p> + "Madame," he said to Dame Grédel, "maintain the strictest secrecy about + what has happened, and give this brave young man the same room he occupied + night before last." Madoc's look and emphasis admitted of no reply. Dame + Grédel swore she would do whatever was required of her if she could only + be rid of the robbers! Madoc replied: "We shall stay here all day and + to-night to protect you. Go about your work in peace, and begin by giving + us some breakfast. My good fellow, you will give us the pleasure of dining + with us?" My situation did not permit me to decline. I accepted + accordingly, and we soon found ourselves seated before a leg of ham and a + jug of Rhine wine. Other people arrived from time to time, and endeavored + to elicit the confidence of Dame Grédel and Annette, but they maintained a + discreet silence, for which they deserve no little credit. We spent the + afternoon smoking our pipes and emptying our mugs; no one paid any + attention to us. + </p> + <p> + The chief of police, in spite of his sallow face, piercing glance, pale + lips, and sharp nose, was excellent company after a bottle or two; he told + us some excellent stories, and at every word of his the other two burst + out laughing. I remained gloomy and silent. "Come, young fellow!" he said + with a smile, "forget for a little the death of your respectable + grandmother. Take a drop, and put your troublesome thoughts to flight." + </p> + <p> + Others joined in the conversation, and the time passed in the midst of + tobacco smoke, the clinking of glasses, and the ringing of mugs. But at + nine o'clock, after the watchman's visit, the expression of things + changed. Madoc rose and said: "Well, my friends, let us proceed to + business. Fasten the doors and shutters quietly! You, ladies, may go to + bed!" His two tattered followers looked more like robbers themselves than + like props of law and order. Each drew a club with a knob of lead attached + to one end, from his trousers' leg, and Madoc tapped his breast pocket to + make sure that his pistol was there. This done, he bid me lead them to the + loft. We climbed the stairs. Having reached the little room, where + thoughtful little Annette had taken care to light a fire, Madoc, cursing + between his teeth, hastened to throw water on the coals; then motioning to + the pile of straw, he said to me: "You may go to sleep if you like." + </p> + <p> + He sat down, together with his two acolytes, at the end of the room close + to the wall, and they put out the light. I lay down on the straw, + breathing a prayer to the Almighty to send hither the assassin. After + midnight the silence became so profound that you would never have + suspected three men were there with wide-open eyes, on the alert for the + slightest sound. The hours wore slowly away. I could not sleep. A thousand + terrible ideas teemed in my brain. One o'clock—two o'clock—three + o'clock struck, and nothing appeared. At three o'clock one of the + officials stirred slightly. I thought the man had come at last. But again + all was still. I began to think that Madoc would take me for an impostor, + and that in the morning things would fare badly with me; thus, instead of + helping my companions, I should only be fettered with them. + </p> + <p> + The time seemed to me to pass very rapidly after three o'clock. I wished + the night might last forever, that the only ray of hope might not be gone. + I was starting to go over all these thoughts for the fiftieth time, when, + suddenly, without my having heard a sound, the window opened and two eyes + glistened in the opening. Nothing stirred in the loft. "The others are + asleep," I thought. The head remained in the opening, listening. The + wretch seemed to suspect something. My heart galloped and the blood + coursed through my veins. I dared not even breathe. A few moments passed + thus. Then, suddenly, the man seemed to make up his mind. He let himself + down into the loft with the same caution as on the preceding night. On the + instant a terrible cry, short, piercing, blood-curdling, resounded through + the house. "We've got him!" + </p> + <p> + The whole house shook from cellar to attic; cries, struggles, and hoarse + shouts, coupled with muttered oaths, filled the loft. The man roared like, + a wild beast, and his opponents breathed painfully as they battled with + his terrible strength. Then there was a crash that made the flooring + creak, and I heard nothing more but a gritting of teeth and a rattle of + chains. "A light here!" cried the formidable Madoc. And as the sulphur + burned, illuminating the place with its bluish light, I vaguely + distinguished the forms of the three officials kneeling above the + prostrate man. One of them was holding him by the throat, another had sunk + his knees into his chest, and Madoc encircled his wrists with handcuffs + hard enough to crush them. The man, in his shirt sleeves as before, seemed + inert, save that one of his powerful legs, naked from the knee to the + ankle, raised up from time to time and struck the floor with a convulsive + movement. His eyes were literally starting from his head, and his lips + were covered with a bloody foam. Scarcely had I lighted the taper when the + officials exclaimed, thunderstruck: "Our Dean!" All three got up and stood + staring at each other, white with astonishment. The bloodshot eyes of the + murderer turned on Madoc. He tried to speak, and after a moment I heard + him murmur: "What a terrible dream! My God, what a terrible dream!" Then + he sighed and became motionless. + </p> + <p> + I approached to take a look at him. It was indeed the man who had given us + advice on the road to Heidelberg. Perhaps he had had a presentiment that + we would be the means of his destruction, for people do sometimes have + these terrible borebodings. As he did not stir, and a tiny stream of blood + flowed on the dusty floor, Madoc, rousing himself from his stupor, bent + over him and tore away his shirt; we then saw that he had stabbed himself + to the heart with his great knife. "Ho! ho!" cried Madoc, with a sinister + smile, "our Dean has cheated the gallows. You others stay here while I go + and notify the bailiff." He picked up his hat, that had fallen off during + the mêlée, and left without another word. I remained opposite the corpse, + with the two others. + </p> + <p> + The news spread like wildfire. It was a sensation for the neighborhood. + Dean Daniel Van den Berg enjoyed a fortune and a reputation so well + established that many people refused to believe in the abominable + instincts which dominated him. The matter was discussed from every + conceivable point of view. Some held that he was a somnambulist and + irresponsible for his acts; others that he was a murderer through love of + blood, having no other possible motive for committing these crimes. + Perhaps both were right, for it is an undeniable fact that moral being, + will, soul, whatever name you choose to call it by, is wanting in the + somnambulist. The animal nature left to itself naturally yields to the + dictates of its pacific or sanguinary instincts. Be that as it may, my + comrades were at once restored to liberty. Little Annette was quoted for a + long time after as a model of devotion. She was even sought in marriage by + the son of the burgomaster Trungott, a youth, who will one day disgrace + his family. + </p> + <p> + As for me, I lost no time in returning to the Black Forest, where, since + that time I have officiated as leader of the orchestra at the Sabre Vert + Tavern, on the road to Tubingen. If you should ever happen to pass that + way, and my story has interested you, come in and see me. We will drink a + bottle or two together, and I will relate to you certain details that will + make your hair stand on end. + </p> + <div style="height: 6em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Dean's Watch, by Erckmann-Chatrian + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DEAN'S WATCH *** + +***** This file should be named 23054-h.htm or 23054-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/3/0/5/23054/ + +Produced by David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Dean's Watch + 1897 + +Author: Erckmann-Chatrian + +Translator: Ralph Browning Fiske + +Release Date: October 17, 2007 [EBook #23054] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DEAN'S WATCH *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +THE DEAN'S WATCH + +By Erckmann-Chatrian + +Translated by Ralph Browning Fiske + +Copyright, 1897, by The Current Literature Publishing Company + + + + +I + +On the day before Christmas of the year 1832, my friend Wilfred, with +his double-bass slung over his back, and I, with my violin under my arm, +started to walk from the Black Forest to Heidelberg. It was unusually +snowy weather; as far as we could see across the great, deserted plain, +there was no trace of road nor path. The wind kept up its harsh aria +with monotonous persistency, and Wilfred, with his flattened wallet at +his belt, and the vizor of his cap drawn over his eyes, moved on before +me, straddling the drifts with his long, heron legs, and whistling a gay +tune to keep up his spirits. Now and then, he would turn around with a +waggish smile, and cry: "Comrade, let's have the waltz from 'Robin,' I +feel like dancing." A burst of laughter followed these words, and then +the good fellow would resume his march courageously. I followed on +as well as I could, up to my knees in snow, and I felt a sense of +melancholy take possession of me. + +The spires of Heidelberg began to appear on the extreme horizon, and we +hoped to reach there before nightfall. It was then about five o'clock in +the afternoon, and great flakes of snow were whirling through the gray +atmosphere. Suddenly we heard the sound of a horse approaching from +behind us. When the rider was within twenty yards of us, he moderated +his speed, studying us meanwhile with a sidelong glance. We returned his +gaze. + +Picture to yourself a large man, with reddish hair and beard, in a +three-cornered hat and loose fox-skin pelisse; his arms buried to the +elbows in fur gloves. He carried a handsome valise behind him, resting +on the haunches of his powerful stallion. He was evidently some alderman +or burgomaster or personage of like importance. + +"Ho! Ho! my good fellows!" he cried; "you are on your way to Heidelberg +to perform, I see." Wilfred surveyed the traveler from the corner of his +eye, and replied briefly: "Is that of any interest to you, sir?" +"Yes, for in that case I wish to give you a bit of advice." "Advice?" +"Precisely; if you wish it." Wilfred started on without replying. I +noticed that the traveler's appearance was like that of an enormous cat; +his ears wide apart, his eyelids half closed, with a bristling mustache, +and a fatherly, almost caressing manner. "My friend," he continued, +addressing himself to me, "frankly, you will do well to retrace your +steps." "Why so, sir?" "The great Maestro Pimenti has just now announced +a concert to take place at Heidelberg on Christmas day. The entire city +will be there, and you will not earn a kreutzer." At this point, Wilfred +turned around ill-humoredly: "We care not a sou for your Maestro nor all +the Pimentis in Christendom," he said; "look at this young fellow here, +without even the sign of a beard on his chin! He has never yet played +outside of the ale-houses of the Black Forest, for the woodcutters and +charcoal-women to dance; and yet this boy, with his long yellow curls +and big blue eyes, defies all your Italian impostors. His left hand is +possessed of inimitable melody, grace, and suppleness, and his right of +a power to draw the bow, that the Almighty rarely accords us mortals." + +"Oh! ho! Indeed!" returned the other. "It is just as I tell you," +Wilfred replied, and he resumed his pace, blowing on his fingers that +were red with the cold, I saw that he was ridiculing the horseman, who +continued to follow us at an easy trot. We continued thus for a full +half mile in silence. Suddenly the stranger said to us abruptly: +"Whatever skill you may possess, go back to the Black Forest; we have +vagabonds enough in Heidelberg without you to increase the number. I +give you good advice, particularly under the existing circumstances; you +will do well to profit by it." + +Wilfred, now thoroughly out of patience, was about to reply, but the +traveler, urging his horse into a gallop, had already crossed the broad +Avenue d'Electeur. An immense flock of crows flew up from the plain and +seemed to be following him, filling the heavens with their cawing. +We reached Heidelberg at about seven o'clock, and we did indeed see +Pimenti's magnificent posters on all the walls of the city, which read: +"Grand Concert Solo." + +That same evening in visiting the various inns, we met many old comrades +from the Black Forest, who engaged us to play in their troupe. There +was old Bremer, the 'cellist, his two sons, Ludwig and Karl, both good +second violins; Heinrich Siebel, the clarionet player, and Bertha with +her harp; Wilfred with his double-bass and I with my violin made up the +number. We agreed to travel together after the Christmas concert and +divide the proceeds among us. Wilfred had already hired a room for +us both on the sixth floor of the Pied de Mouton Tavern, which stood +halfway down the Holdergasse, and for it he was to pay four kreutzers +a day. Properly speaking, it was nothing but a garret, but fortunately +there was a stove in it, and we lighted a fire to dry ourselves. + +As we were comfortably seated, toasting chestnuts over the fire and +enjoying a jug of wine, little Annette, the housemaid, appeared in a +black calico dress and velvet turban, with rosy cheeks and lips like a +cluster of cherries. She came running up the stairs, gave a hasty knock +and threw herself joyfully into my arms. I had known the pretty little +girl for a long time; we were of the same village, and if truth must be +told, her sparkling eyes and frolicsome ways had quite won my heart. +"I came up to have a little talk with you," she said, dropping into a +chair. "I saw you come up a moment ago and here I am." + +She began to chatter away, asking for this one or that one of the +village and hardly giving me time to reply. Every now and then she +would pause and look at me with the greatest tenderness. We might have +continued thus until the next morning had not Dame Gredel Dick begun +to call from the foot of the stairs: "Annette! Annette! Are you never +coming?" "Right away, ma'am!" answered the poor child reluctantly. She +tapped me lightly on the cheek and ran toward the door; but just as +she was crossing the threshold, she suddenly stopped. "By the way," she +cried, "I was forgetting to tell you; but perhaps you have heard about +it?" "About what?" "The death of our precentor, Zahn." "But how does +that, affect us?" "To be sure; only see that your passport is all +right Tomorrow morning at eight o'clock they will come to examine it. +Everybody is being arrested in the last fortnight. The precentor was +assassinated last night in the library of Saint Christopher's Chapel, +and only a week ago, old Ulmet Elias, the sacrificer, was similarly +murdered in the Rue des Juifs. Some days before that Christina Haas, the +old midwife, was also killed, as well as the agate dealer Seligmann of +the Rue Durlach. So look out for yourself, dear Kasper, and see that +your passport is all right." + +While she was speaking, Dame Gredel's voice came again from below: +"Annette! will you come here? The good-for-nothing child, leaving me to +do all the work!" + +And the sound of men's voices calling for wine, beer, ham, or sausages +mingled with her own. Further delay was out of the question. Annette +hastened down the stairs, crying as she went: "Goodness, ma'am! what has +happened? One would think that the house were afire!" Wilfred crossed +the room and closed the door behind her; then returning to his chair, we +looked at each other, not without a feeling of apprehension. + +"That is singular news," he said; "your passport is all right, I +suppose?" "Certainly," And I produced my papers. "Good! Mine is too, for +I had it made out just before leaving. But nevertheless, these murders +do not augur us any good. I am afraid we shall not be able to do much +business here; many of the families will be in mourning; and then, too, +the bother and pettifogging of the authorities." "Pshaw! you take too +gloomy a view of it," I replied. + +We continued to discuss these singular happenings until after midnight. +The glow from our little stove lighted up the angle of the roof, the +square window with its three cracked panes, the straw strewn about the +floor, the blackened beams propped against each other, and the little +firwood table that cast its uncertain shadow upon the worm-eaten +ceiling. From time to time, a mouse, enticed by the warmth, would dart +like an arrow along the wall. The wind howled in the chimney and whirled +the snow about the gutters. I was dreaming of Annette; the silence was +complete. Suddenly Wilfred exclaimed, throwing off his jacket: "It is +time for sleep. Put another stick on the fire and we will go to bed!" +"We can't do better than that," I replied. So saying, I drew off +my boots, and a moment later we stretched out on the straw with the +coverlid tucked under our chins and a log under our heads for a pillow. +Wilfred lost no time in getting to sleep. The light from the stove +flickered and trembled; the wind redoubled its force outside, and as +I lay thus with a sense of perfect contentment, I, too, dozed off. At +about two o'clock in the morning I was awakened by a strange noise. +I thought at first that it was a cat running along the gutter, but, +putting my ear to the wall, my uncertainty was at once dispelled; +somebody was walking on the roof. I nudged Wilfred. "Sh!" he whispered, +pressing my hand; he had heard it, too. The firelight was casting its +last shadows on the decrepit walls. I was considering whether I would +get up or not, when the little window, held only by a bit of brick, +slowly opened. A pale face with shining eyes, red hair, and quivering +cheeks appeared in the opening and gazed into the interior of the +chamber. Our fear was so great that we hadn't strength left to cry out. +At length the man glided through the sash and let himself down into the +loft without a sound. The man, short and thick-set, the muscles of his +face contracted like a tiger about to spring, was none other than +the ingenuous person who had volunteered his advice on the road to +Heidelberg. But how different he seemed to us now! In spite of the +bitter cold, he was in his shirt sleeves, dressed only in a pair +of breeches, woolen stockings, and silver buckled shoes. A long, +blood-stained knife glittered in his hand. + +Wilfred and I thought our last hour had surely come. But he did not +appear to see us in the oblique shadow of the loft, notwithstanding that +the fire started up again in the cold draft from the open window. +He squatted down on a chair and began to shiver in a strange manner. +Suddenly he fixed his yellowish-green eyes upon me; his nostrils dilated +and he watched me for a full minute, while the blood froze in my veins. +Then turning toward the stove, he gave a hoarse cough, like the purring +of a cat, without moving a muscle of his face. He drew a large watch +from his breeches pocket, made a gesture as if looking at the time, and +either inadvertently or purposely laid it on the table. This done, he +rose as if undecided, looked doubtfully at the window, hesitated, and +finally disappeared through the door, leaving it wide open behind him. +I sprang up to turn the lock; already the man's footsteps creaked on the +staircase two floors below. An irresistible curiosity asserted itself +over my fear, and hearing a window open, which looked upon the court, I +approached the sash of the little winding staircase on the same side of +the house. The courtyard, from where I stood, lay at a dizzy depth, and +a wall from fifty to sixty feet high divided it. On the right of the +wall was the yard of a pork butcher; on the left, the inn yard of the +Pied de Mouton. The top of this wall, which was overgrown with damp +mosses and that sort of vegetation that thrives in dark places, extended +in a straight line from the window, which the man had just opened, to +the roof of a large, sombre-looking dwelling, built in the rear of the +Bergstrasse. I took all this in at a glance while the moon shone between +the heavy, snow-laden clouds, and I shuddered as I saw the man flee +along the wall, his head bent forward and the knife still in his hand, +while the wind howled lugubriously around him. He reached the opposite +roof and disappeared. I thought I must be dreaming. For some moments I +stood there, open-mouthed with wonder, my breast bare, and hair +tossed about, drenched by the sleet that fell from the roof. At length +recovering from my bewilderment, I returned to the loft and found +Wilfred, who looked at me with a haggard expression and was mumbling +a prayer. I hastened to bolt the door, dress myself, and replenish the +fire. + +"Well," said my comrade, sitting up. "Well," I rejoined, "we have +escaped this time, but if that fellow didn't see us, it was only because +our time has not yet come." "You are right!" he cried. "He is one of +the murderers Annette spoke of. Great Heavens! What a face! And what a +knife!" And he fell back on the straw. + +I emptied at a draft what wine still remained in the jug, and then, +as the fire started up again, diffusing a grateful warmth through the +chamber, and the lock appeared sufficiently strong, my courage began to +revive. But the watch was still there and the man might return for it. +The thought filled us with horror. + +"Well, what is our next move?" asked Wilfred. "The best thing we can +do is to strike out at once for the Black Forest." "Why so?" "I have no +further desire to figure on the double-bass; you may do as you like." +"Why should we leave? We have committed no crime." "Speak low!" he +replied, "that one word 'crime' might hang us. We poor devils are made +to serve as examples for others. They don't bother their heads much +to find out whether we are guilty or not. If they should discover that +watch here, it would be enough." "Look here, Wilfred! It won't do +to lose your head! A crime has undoubtedly been committed in this +neighborhood, but what should honest men do under the circumstances? +Instead of running away from Justice, they should try to aid it." "How +aid it?" "The simplest way would be to take this watch to the bailiff +and tell him what has passed." "Never! I wouldn't even dare to touch +it!" "Very well, I will take it myself, but now let's go back to bed and +try to get some more sleep if we can." "I don't care to sleep." "Well, +light your pipe, then, and we will talk while we wait for daylight. +Let's go downstairs, there may be some one there still." "I would rather +stay here." "All right." And we sat down again before the fire. + +As soon as dawn appeared, I took the watch from the table. It was a fine +one with minute and second hands. Wilfred seemed somewhat reassured. +"Kasper," he said, "on second thoughts, it seems more suitable for me to +go to the bailiff. You are too young to take part in such matters. You +would make a mess of it when you tried to explain the affair." "Just as +you like," I replied. "Yes, it would look odd for a man of my years to +send a mere child in my place." "Very good; I understand." + +He took the watch, but I believe that only his pride drove him to this +resolution. He would have been ashamed to show less courage than I +before his comrades. We went down from the loft in a thoughtful mood. As +we crossed the alleyway that comes out on the Rue Saint Christopher, we +heard the clicking of glasses. I recognized the voice of old Bremer and +his sons, Ludwig and Karl. "By Jove," said I, "it wouldn't be a bad idea +to take a glass before we start." I pushed open the door of the +tap-room as I spoke, and we found all our company gathered there, their +instruments variously deposited about the room. We were received with +shouts of satisfaction and places were quickly made for us at the table. +"Ho! Good morning, comrades," said Bremer; "more snow and wind. All +the taverns are full of people, and every bottle that is opened means a +florin in our pockets." I saw little Annette looking as fresh and fair +as a rose, and smiling fondly at me with her lips and eyes. This sight +reanimated me. It was I who got the daintiest morsels, and whenever +she approached to set a glass of wine at my elbow, she touched me +caressingly on the shoulder, and I thought, with a beating heart, of the +days when we used to go chestnutting together. But in spite of this, the +pale face of our strange visitor of the night before recurred to me from +time to time, and made me tremble. I looked at Wilfred; he, too, seemed +thoughtful. + +Eight o'clock came and our party was about to start out, when the door +was thrown open, and three big fellows, with lead-colored complexions, +their eyes shining like rats, and their hats awry, appeared on the +threshold, followed by several others of a like description. One of +them, with a razor-back nose, and with a heavy club bound to his wrist, +stepped forward, crying: "Your passports, gentlemen!" Each one hastened +to comply with the request. Unfortunately, Wilfred, who stood near the +stove, was seized with a sudden trembling. The officer's experienced eye +detected his agitation, and as he paused in his reading to give him a +questioning look, my comrade conceived the unlucky idea of slipping +the watch into his boot; but before it had reached its destination, the +official slapped his hand against the other's hip, and said jeeringly: +"Something seems to trouble you here." To everybody's amazement, Wilfred +was seized with a fainting spell and dropped upon a bench pale as death. +Without further ceremony, Madoc, the Chief of Police, pulled up his +trousers' leg and drew out the watch with a burst of evil laughter. He +had no sooner glanced at it, however, than he became sober, and, turning +to his men, he cried in a terrible voice: "Let no one leave the room! +We have caught the whole band at last! Look! this is the watch of Dean +Daniel Van den Berg. Bring hither the handcuffs!" This order chilled us +to the marrow. A tumult followed, and I, believing that we were lost, +slid under a bench near the wall. As I was watching them chain the hands +of poor old Bremer and his sons, Karl and Ludwig, together with Heinrich +and Wilfred, I felt Annette's little hand brush against my cheek and +she drew me gently toward her--slowly and quietly toward the open cellar +door. I was unnoticed in the general confusion; I slipped within; the +door closed behind me. It was but the matter of a second. Scarcely had +I concealed myself, before I heard my poor comrades depart; then all +became silent. + +I will leave you to imagine the nature of my reflections during an +entire day, crouched down behind a wine cask with my legs gathered under +me, and realizing that if a dog should enter the cellar, if the landlady +should take the notion to come downstairs to fill a pitcher, if the cask +should run out before night and were to be replaced; in short, if +the slightest thing went amiss, it would be all up with me. All these +thoughts and a thousand others passed through my mind, and I fancied +that I already saw my comrades being led to execution. Little Annette, +no less anxious than myself, closed the door prudently each time that +she came up from the cellar. At last, I heard the old woman cry: "Leave +the door open! Are you mad to lose half your time in shutting it?" After +that the door remained ajar, and from my nook in the shadows I could see +the tables gradually filling with new customers. + +Stories, discussions, and exclamations concerning the famous band of +robbers reached my ears. "Oh! the rascals!" cried one; "thank Heaven +they are caught. What a scourge they have been to Heidelberg! No one +dared risk himself in the streets after ten o'clock, and even business +was beginning to suffer; but now things are changed and in a fortnight +it will all be forgotten." + +"Those musicians of the Black Forest are a lot of bandits!" chimed in +another; "they make their way into the houses under pretext of playing, +and meanwhile they are examining the locks, bolts, chests, and windows, +and some fine morning we hear that such a one has had his throat cut in +his bed; that his wife has been murdered, his children strangled, and +his house rifled from top to bottom. The wretches should be strung up +without mercy! Then we might have some peace." "The whole village will +turn out to see them hanged," said Mother Gredel, "and as for me, it +will be the happiest day of my life." "Do you know, if it hadn't been +for Dean Daniel's watch, no trace of them would have been found. Last +night the watch disappeared, and this morning the Dean notified the +police. An hour later, Madoc bagged them all! Ha! Ha! Ha!" The entire +roomful burst out laughing, and I trembled with shame, indignation, and +fear in turn. + +Meanwhile, the night drew on. Only a few loungers remained. The people +of the inn, who had sat up the night before, were anxious to get to bed. +I heard the landlady yawn and mutter: "Oh, dear! How long before we can +get some sleep?" Most of the tipplers comprehended the force of this +remark and withdrew; only one remained, sitting half asleep before +his glass. The watchman, going his rounds, woke him up and he went off +grumbling and staggering. + +"At last!" I said to myself; "this is good luck; Mother Gredel has +gone to bed and Annette will not be slow in getting me out." With this +agreeable prospect in view, I had already stretched out my stiffened +limbs, when Dame Gredel's voice reached my ear: "Annette, go and lock +up, and don't forget to bolt the door! I am going down cellar." It +appeared that this was a wise custom of hers to assure herself that +everything was right. "But, madame," stammered the girl, "the cask isn't +empty. You needn't bother to--" "Mind your own business," interrupted +the mistress, whose candle was already lighting up the passageway. I +had barely time to squat down again behind the cask, when the old woman, +stooping beneath the low, dingy ceiling, passed from one keg to another, +mumbling as she went: "Oh! the little wretch. How she lets the wine +leak. I'll teach her to close the spigots tighter; did ever any one +see the like?" The candle threw great shadows against the damp wall. I +huddled closer and closer. Suddenly, just as I thought the visit happily +ended, and was beginning to breathe easier again, I heard the old +creature give a sigh so long and so full of woe that I knew something +unusual was happening. I risked just the least glance, and I saw Dame +Gredel Dick, her under jaw dropped and her eyes sticking out of her +head, staring at the bottom of the barrel behind which I lay. She had +caught sight of one of my feet underneath the joist that served as +a wedge to keep the cask in place. She evidently believed she had +discovered the chief of the robbers concealed there for the purpose of +strangling her during the night. I formed a sudden resolution. "Madame, +for God's sake, have pity on me!" I cried: "I am--" Without looking at +me, or listening to a word I said, she set up an ear-splitting shriek +and started up the stairs as quickly as her great weight would permit. +Seized with inexpressible terror, I clung to her skirt and went down on +my knees. This only made matters worse. "Help! seize the assassin! Oh, +my God! release me! Take my money! Oh! Oh!" + +It was horrible. In vain did I cry: "Only look at me, my dear madame; I +am not what you think me!" She was beside herself with fear; she raved +and screamed in such piercing tones that had we not been underground, +the whole neighborhood would inevitably have been aroused. In this +extremity, consulting only my rage, I overturned her, and gaining the +door before her, I slammed it in her face, taking care to slip the bolt. +During the struggle the candle had been extinguished and Dame Gredel +was left in the dark. Her cries grew fainter and fainter. I stared +at Annette, giddy, and with hardly strength enough left to stand. Her +agitation equaled mine. We neither of us seemed able to speak, and +stood listening to the expiring cries of the mistress, which soon ceased +altogether. The poor woman had fainted. + +"Oh! Kasper," cried Annette, wringing her hands, "what is to be done? +Fly! fly! You may have been heard! Did you kill her?" "Kill her? I?" "I +am so glad! But fly! I will open the door for you." She unbarred it, and +I fled into the street, without stopping even to thank her; but I was so +terrified and there was not a moment to lose. The night was inky black; +not a star in the sky, and the street lamps unlighted. The weather was +abominable; it was snowing hard and the wind howled dismally. Not until +I had run for a good half-hour did I stop to take breath. Imagine my +horror when I found myself directly opposite the Pied de Mouton Tavern. +In my terror I had run around the square a dozen times for aught I knew. +My legs felt like lead and my knees tottered under me. + +The inn, but a moment before deserted, swarmed like a bee-hive, and +lights danced about from window to window. It was evidently filled with +the police. And now, at my wits' end, desperate, exhausted with cold +and hunger, and not knowing where to find refuge, I resolved upon the +strangest possible course. "By Jove," I said to myself, "as well be +hanged as leave my bones on the road to the Black Forest." And I walked +into the tavern with the intention of giving myself up to the officials. +Besides the fellows with their cocked hats tilted rakishly over their +ears, and the clubs fastened to their wrists, whom I had already seen +in the morning, and who were now running here and there, and turning +everything upside down, there was the bailiff, Zimmer, standing before +one of the tables, dressed in black, with a grave air and penetrating +glance, and near him the secretary Roth, with his red wig, imposing +countenance, and large ears, flat as oyster shells. They paid no +attention to my entrance, and this circumstance altered my resolution at +once. I sat down in a corner of the room behind the big cast-iron stove, +in company with two or three of the neighbors, who had run hither to +see what was going on, and I ordered a pint of wine and a dish of +sauerkraut. Annette came near betraying me. "Goodness!" she cried, "is +it possible!" But one exclamation, more or less, in such a babel of +voices possessed but little significance. It passed unnoticed, and, +while I ate with a ravenous appetite, I listened to the examination to +which Dame Gredel was subjected as she lay back in a large armchair, her +hair falling down and her eyes bulged out with fright. "How old did the +man appear to be?" asked the bailiff. "Between forty and fifty, sir. He +was an enormous man with black side whiskers, or maybe brown, I don't +exactly remember, with a long nose and green eyes." "Did he have any +birthmark or scars?" "I don't remember any. He only had a big hammer and +pistols." "Very good! And what did he say to you?" "He seized me by +the throat, but fortunately I screamed so loud it frightened him, and I +defended myself with my finger-nails. When any one tries to murder +you, you fight hard for your life, sir." "Nothing is more natural or +legitimate, madame. Take this down, Roth! The coolness of this good +woman is remarkable." The rest of the deposition was in the same strain. +They questioned Annette afterward, but she testified to having been so +frightened that she could remember nothing. + +"That will do," said the bailiff; "if we need anything further, we will +return to-morrow morning." Everybody withdrew, and I asked Dame Gredel +for a room for the night. So great had been her fear that she had not +the slightest recollection of having seen me before. "Annette," said +she, "Show the gentleman to the little room on the third floor. I can +not stand on my legs. Oh! dear! what trials we have to bear in this +world." She began to weep. + +Annette, having lighted a candle, led me up to the little chamber, +and when we found ourselves alone, she cried innocently: "Oh! Kasper, +Kasper! Who would have believed that you were one of the band! I can +never console myself for having loved a robber!" "What! you, too, +believe us guilty, Annette?" I exclaimed despairingly, dropping into a +chair; "that is the last straw on the camel's back." "No! no! you can +not be. You are too much of a gentleman, dear Kasper! And you were so +brave to come back." I explained to her that I was perishing with cold +and hunger, and that that was the only consideration which led me to +return. + +We were left to ourselves for some time; then Annette departed, lest she +should arouse Madame Gredel's suspicions. Left to myself, after having +ascertained that the windows were not approached by any wall, and that +the sashes were securely fastened, I thanked God that I had thus far +been brought safely through the perils which surrounded me, and then +going to bed, I was soon fast asleep. + + + + +II + +I got up at about eight o'clock the next morning. It was foggy and dark. +As I drew aside the hangings of the bed, I noticed that the snow was +drifted on a level with the windows; the sashes were all white. I began +to reflect upon the sad condition of my companions; they must have +suffered with the cold, particularly old Bremer and Bertha, and the idea +filled me with sorrow. As I was reflecting thus, a strange noise arose +outside. It drew near the inn, and I sprang anxiously to the window to +see if some new dangers were threatening. They were bringing the +famous band of robbers to confront Dame Gredel Dick, who was not yet +sufficiently recovered from her fright to venture out of doors. My +poor comrades came down the street between a double file of police, +and followed by a crowd of street urchins, who screamed and yelled like +savages. It seems to me that I can still see that terrible scene; poor +Bremer chained between his sons, Ludwig and Karl, Wilfred behind them, +and Bertha bringing up the rear and crying piteously: "In the name of +Heaven, my masters, have pity on a poor, innocent harpist! I kill? I +steal? O God! can it be?" She wrung her hands distractedly. The others +proceeded with bowed heads, their hair falling over their faces. + +The crowd swarmed into the dark alleyway of the inn. The guards drove +back the rabble, and the door was closed and barred. The eager crowd +remained outside, standing ankle-deep in slush, with their noses +flattened against the panes. A profound silence settled upon the house. +Having by this time got into my clothes, I opened the door part way to +listen, and see if it would be possible to escape from my unpleasant +quarters. I heard the sound of voices and of people moving about on +the lower floors, which convinced me that the passages were strongly +guarded. My door opened on the landing, directly opposite the window +through which the man had fled two nights before. I did not pay any +attention to this circumstance at first, but as I stood there I suddenly +noticed that the window was open, and that there was no snow on the +sill; approaching it, I saw fresh tracks along the wall. I shuddered. +The man must have returned last night; perhaps visited the inn every +night. It was a revelation to me, and at once the mystery began to clear +up. + +"Oh! if it were only true," I said to myself, "that fortune had placed +the murderer's fate in my hands, my unhappy fellows would be saved!" +And I followed with my eyes the footprints, which led with surprising +distinctness to the opposite roof. At this moment some words fell on +my ear. The door of the dining hall had just been opened to let in the +fresh air, and I heard the following conversation: "Do you recall having +taken part in the murder of Ulmet Elias on the twentieth of this month?" +Some unintelligible words followed. "Close the door, Madoc!" said the +bailiff; "the woman is ill." I heard no more. As I stood with my head +resting against the balusters, a sudden resolution seized me. "I can +save my comrades!" I exclaimed; "God has pointed out to me the means, +and if I fail to do my duty, their blood will be upon my head. My +self-respect and peace of mind will be forever lost, and I shall +consider myself the most cowardly of wretches." It took me some time, +however, to summon up resolution enough. Then I went downstairs and +entered the dining-room. + +"Did you ever see this watch before?" the bailiff was saying to Dame +Gredel. "Do your best to remember!" Without waiting for her answer, I +stepped forward and replied firmly: "That watch, bailiff? I have seen it +before in the hands of the murderer himself. I recognize it perfectly, +and if you will only listen to me, I will agree to deliver the man +into your hands this very night." Perfect stillness followed my bold +declaration. + +The officials stared at each other, dumfounded; my comrades seemed to +cheer up a bit. "I am the companion of these unfortunate people," I +continued, "and I say it without shame, for every one of them is +honest, even if he is poor, and there is not one among them capable of +committing the crimes imputed to him." + +Again silence followed. Dame Bertha began to weep quietly. At last the +bailiff aroused himself. Looking at me sharply, he said: "Where do you +pretend to deliver the assassin into our hands?" "Right here in this +very house! And to convince you of it, I only ask for a moment's private +conversation." "Let us hear what you have to say," he replied, rising. +He motioned Madoc to follow us; the others remained. We left the room. I +went hastily up the stairs, with the others at my heels. Pausing at the +window on the third floor, I showed them the man's footprints in the +snow. "Those are the murderer's tracks!" I said; "he visits this house +every night. Yesterday he came at two in the morning; last night he +returned, and he will undoubtedly be back again this evening." + +The bailiff and Madoc examined the footprints without a word. "How +do you know that these are the murderer's tracks?" asked the chief of +police, doubtfully. Thereupon I told him of the man's appearance in our +loft. I pointed out to them the little window above us through which I +had watched him as he fled in the moonlight, and which Wilfred had not +seen, as he remained in bed. I admitted that it was mere chance that had +led me to the discovery of the tracks made the night before. + +"It is strange!" muttered the bailiff; "this greatly modifies the +position of the accused. But how do you explain the presence of the +robber in the cellar?" "That robber was myself." I now related briefly +everything that had taken place from the time of my comrades' arrest +until the moment of my flight from the inn. "That will do," said the +bailiff; and, turning toward the chief of police, he added: "I must +admit, Madoc, that the depositions of these musicians never seemed to me +very conclusive of their guilt; moreover, their passports established an +alibi difficult to controvert. Nevertheless, young man," turning to me, +"in spite of the plausibility of the proofs you have given us, you must +remain in our power until they are verified. Keep him in sight, Madoc, +and take your measures accordingly." The bailiff descended the stairs +thoughtfully, and, refolding his papers, he said, without continuing the +examination: "Let the accused be taken back to the prison!" And with a +scornful glance at the landlady, he departed, followed by the secretary. +Madoc alone remained with two officials. + +"Madame," he said to Dame Gredel, "maintain the strictest secrecy +about what has happened, and give this brave young man the same room he +occupied night before last." Madoc's look and emphasis admitted of no +reply. Dame Gredel swore she would do whatever was required of her if +she could only be rid of the robbers! Madoc replied: "We shall stay here +all day and to-night to protect you. Go about your work in peace, and +begin by giving us some breakfast. My good fellow, you will give us the +pleasure of dining with us?" My situation did not permit me to decline. +I accepted accordingly, and we soon found ourselves seated before a leg +of ham and a jug of Rhine wine. Other people arrived from time to time, +and endeavored to elicit the confidence of Dame Gredel and Annette, but +they maintained a discreet silence, for which they deserve no little +credit. We spent the afternoon smoking our pipes and emptying our mugs; +no one paid any attention to us. + +The chief of police, in spite of his sallow face, piercing glance, pale +lips, and sharp nose, was excellent company after a bottle or two; he +told us some excellent stories, and at every word of his the other two +burst out laughing. I remained gloomy and silent. "Come, young fellow!" +he said with a smile, "forget for a little the death of your respectable +grandmother. Take a drop, and put your troublesome thoughts to flight." + +Others joined in the conversation, and the time passed in the midst of +tobacco smoke, the clinking of glasses, and the ringing of mugs. But +at nine o'clock, after the watchman's visit, the expression of things +changed. Madoc rose and said: "Well, my friends, let us proceed to +business. Fasten the doors and shutters quietly! You, ladies, may go +to bed!" His two tattered followers looked more like robbers themselves +than like props of law and order. Each drew a club with a knob of lead +attached to one end, from his trousers' leg, and Madoc tapped his breast +pocket to make sure that his pistol was there. This done, he bid me lead +them to the loft. We climbed the stairs. Having reached the little room, +where thoughtful little Annette had taken care to light a fire, Madoc, +cursing between his teeth, hastened to throw water on the coals; then +motioning to the pile of straw, he said to me: "You may go to sleep if +you like." + +He sat down, together with his two acolytes, at the end of the room +close to the wall, and they put out the light. I lay down on the straw, +breathing a prayer to the Almighty to send hither the assassin. After +midnight the silence became so profound that you would never have +suspected three men were there with wide-open eyes, on the alert for +the slightest sound. The hours wore slowly away. I could not sleep. +A thousand terrible ideas teemed in my brain. One o'clock--two +o'clock--three o'clock struck, and nothing appeared. At three o'clock +one of the officials stirred slightly. I thought the man had come at +last. But again all was still. I began to think that Madoc would take +me for an impostor, and that in the morning things would fare badly with +me; thus, instead of helping my companions, I should only be fettered +with them. + +The time seemed to me to pass very rapidly after three o'clock. I wished +the night might last forever, that the only ray of hope might not be +gone. I was starting to go over all these thoughts for the fiftieth +time, when, suddenly, without my having heard a sound, the window opened +and two eyes glistened in the opening. Nothing stirred in the loft. +"The others are asleep," I thought. The head remained in the opening, +listening. The wretch seemed to suspect something. My heart galloped +and the blood coursed through my veins. I dared not even breathe. A few +moments passed thus. Then, suddenly, the man seemed to make up his +mind. He let himself down into the loft with the same caution as on +the preceding night. On the instant a terrible cry, short, piercing, +blood-curdling, resounded through the house. "We've got him!" + +The whole house shook from cellar to attic; cries, struggles, and hoarse +shouts, coupled with muttered oaths, filled the loft. The man roared +like, a wild beast, and his opponents breathed painfully as they +battled with his terrible strength. Then there was a crash that made the +flooring creak, and I heard nothing more but a gritting of teeth and a +rattle of chains. "A light here!" cried the formidable Madoc. And as the +sulphur burned, illuminating the place with its bluish light, I vaguely +distinguished the forms of the three officials kneeling above the +prostrate man. One of them was holding him by the throat, another had +sunk his knees into his chest, and Madoc encircled his wrists with +handcuffs hard enough to crush them. The man, in his shirt sleeves as +before, seemed inert, save that one of his powerful legs, naked from the +knee to the ankle, raised up from time to time and struck the floor with +a convulsive movement. His eyes were literally starting from his head, +and his lips were covered with a bloody foam. Scarcely had I lighted the +taper when the officials exclaimed, thunderstruck: "Our Dean!" All three +got up and stood staring at each other, white with astonishment. The +bloodshot eyes of the murderer turned on Madoc. He tried to speak, and +after a moment I heard him murmur: "What a terrible dream! My God, what +a terrible dream!" Then he sighed and became motionless. + +I approached to take a look at him. It was indeed the man who had given +us advice on the road to Heidelberg. Perhaps he had had a presentiment +that we would be the means of his destruction, for people do sometimes +have these terrible borebodings. As he did not stir, and a tiny stream +of blood flowed on the dusty floor, Madoc, rousing himself from his +stupor, bent over him and tore away his shirt; we then saw that he +had stabbed himself to the heart with his great knife. "Ho! ho!" cried +Madoc, with a sinister smile, "our Dean has cheated the gallows. You +others stay here while I go and notify the bailiff." He picked up his +hat, that had fallen off during the melee, and left without another +word. I remained opposite the corpse, with the two others. + +The news spread like wildfire. It was a sensation for the neighborhood. +Dean Daniel Van den Berg enjoyed a fortune and a reputation so well +established that many people refused to believe in the abominable +instincts which dominated him. The matter was discussed from every +conceivable point of view. Some held that he was a somnambulist and +irresponsible for his acts; others that he was a murderer through love +of blood, having no other possible motive for committing these crimes. +Perhaps both were right, for it is an undeniable fact that moral being, +will, soul, whatever name you choose to call it by, is wanting in the +somnambulist. The animal nature left to itself naturally yields to the +dictates of its pacific or sanguinary instincts. Be that as it may, my +comrades were at once restored to liberty. Little Annette was quoted +for a long time after as a model of devotion. She was even sought in +marriage by the son of the burgomaster Trungott, a youth, who will one +day disgrace his family. + +As for me, I lost no time in returning to the Black Forest, where, since +that time I have officiated as leader of the orchestra at the Sabre Vert +Tavern, on the road to Tubingen. If you should ever happen to pass that +way, and my story has interested you, come in and see me. We will drink +a bottle or two together, and I will relate to you certain details that +will make your hair stand on end. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Dean's Watch, by Erckmann-Chatrian + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DEAN'S WATCH *** + +***** This file should be named 23054.txt or 23054.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/3/0/5/23054/ + +Produced by David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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