The Deans Watch | Page 8

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