t watchman reported that he
had heard a hollow-sounding crash in that unoccupied part of the house
during the night. But that was nothing unusual, as there was a general
belief in the neighborhood that the house was haunted.

For hollow noises were often heard there, and sounds as of money
falling on the floor, and rattling and clinking as of a factory
machine. Enlightened people, it is true, explained these sounds as
echoes of the stamping and other natural noises from a large stable
just behind the old house. But in spite of these explanations and
their eminent feasibility, the dread of the unoccupied portion of the
house was so great that not even the most reckless man servant could
be persuaded to enter it alone after nightfall.

Next morning at eight o'clock Winther appeared at his mother-in-law's
door, saying that he had forgotten something of importance in the
great hall the night before. Madame Wolff had not yet arisen, but the
maid who let in the early visitor noticed with surprise that he had a
large pistol sticking out of one of his pockets.

Winther had been to his cousin's apartment and found it locked. He now
entered the great hall, and at first glance thought it empty. To his
alarm and astonishment, however, he saw that the sealed door had been
broken open. He approached it with anxiety, and found his wife's
cousin, the doughty duelist, lying pale and lifeless on the threshold.
Beside him lay a large stone which had struck his head in falling and
must have killed him at once. Over the door was a hole in the wall,
just the size of the stone. The latter had evidently rested on the
upper edge of the door, and must certainly have fallen on its opening.
The unfortunate man lay half in the mysterious chamber and half in the
hall, just as he must have fallen when the stone struck him.

The formal investigation of the closed room was made in the presence
of the police authorities. It contained nothing but a small safe which
was built into the wall. When the safe had been opened by force, an
inner chamber, which had to be broken open by itself, was found to
contain a number of rolls of gold pieces, many jewels and numerous
notes and I.O.U.'s. The treasure was covered by an old document. From
this latter it was learned that the owner of the house two hundred
years ago had been a silk weaver by the name of Flemming Ambrosius
Wolff. He was said to have lent money on security for many years, but
had died apparentl