Mrs. Thorne
to Graz to her father, then to return herself to Vienna and take care of
the house as usual, until his attorney could settle up his affairs and
sell the property. For Thorne said that neither he nor his wife would
ever want to set foot in the house again. He spoke calmly, he thought of
everything--he thought even of the possibility that he might have to pay
the death penalty for his deed.

For who could tell how the authorities would judge this murder?

It had indeed been a murder by merest chance only. Thorne told his old
nurse all about it. When she had given him the signal he had hurried
down into the garden, and walking quietly along the path, he had
found his wife at the garden gate in conversation with a man who was
a stranger to him. That part of their talk which he overheard told him
that the man was a blackmailer, and that he was making money on the fact
that he had caught Theobald Leining cheating at cards.

This chance had put the officer into Winkler's power. The clerk knew
that he could get nothing from the guilty man himself, so he had turned
to the latter's sister, who was rich, and had threatened to bring about
a disgraceful scandal if she did not pay for his silence. For more than
a year he had been getting money from her by means of these threats.
All this was clear from the conversation. The man spoke in tones of
impertinence, or sneering obsequiousness, the woman s voice showed
contempt and hatred.

Thorne's blood began to boil. His fingers tightened about the revolver
which he had brought with him to be ready for any emergency, and he
stepped designedly upon a twig which broke under his feet with a noise.
He wanted to frighten his wife and send her back to the house. This was
what did occur. But the blackmailer was alarmed as well and fled hastily
from the garden when he realised that he was not alone with his victim.
Thorne followed the man's disappearing figure, calling him to halt. He
did not call loudly for he too wanted to avoid a scandal. His intention
was to force the man to follow him into the house, to get his written
confession of blackmail--then to finish him off with a large sum once
for all and kick him out of the place.

In this manner Herbert Thorne thought to free himself and his wife from
the persecutions of the rascal. His heart was filled with hatred towards
the man. For since Mrs. Bernauer had told him what she had discovered,
he knew that it was because of this