d 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