marks, my man," cried the lieutenant. "This must
be examined into directly. Does any one know who dwells in that
mansion?"

"Signor Wagner, a wealthy German," was the reply given by a sbirro.

"Then come with me, my man," said the lieutenant; "and let us lose no
time in searching his house. One of you must remain by the corpse--and
the rest may continue the search after the bandit, Stephano."

Having issued these orders, the lieutenant, followed by the sbirro whom
he had chosen to accompany him, hastened to the mansion.

The gate was opened by an old porter, who stared in astonishment when he
beheld the functionaries of justice visiting that peaceful dwelling. But
the lieutenant ordered him to close and lock the gate; and having
secured the key, the officer said, "We must search this house; a crime
has been committed close at hand."

"A crime!" ejaculated the porter; "then the culprit is not here--for
there is not a soul beneath this roof who would perpetrate a misdeed."

"Cease your prating, old man," said the lieutenant, sternly. "We have a
duty to perform--see that we be not molested in executing it."

"But what is the crime, signor, of which----"

"Nay--that you shall know anon," interrupted the lieutenant. "In the
name of his serene highness, the duke, I command you in the first place
to lead me and my followers to the presence of your master."

The old man hastened to obey this mandate, and he conducted the sbirri
into the chamber where Wagner, having thrown off his garments, was
partaking of that rest which he so much needed.

At the sound of heavy feet and the clanking of martial weapons, Fernand
started from the slumber into which he had fallen only a few minutes
previously.

"What means this insolent intrusion?" he exclaimed, his cheeks flushing
with anger at the presence of the police.

"Pardon us, signor," said the lieutenant, in a respectful tone: "but a
dreadful crime has been committed close by--indeed within the inclosure
of your own grounds----"

"A dreadful crime!" ejaculated Wagner.

"Yes, signor; a crime----"

The officer was interrupted by an ejaculation of surprise which burst
from the lips of his attendant sbirro; and, turning hastily round, he
beheld his follower intently scrutinizing the attire which Fernand had
ere now thrown off.

"Ah! blood-stains!" cried the lieutenant, whose attention was directed
toward those marks by the finger of his man. "Then is the guilty one
speed