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Kerkel was discharged as free from all suspicion； there was a low
growl of disappointed wrath heard from numerous groups。
This may sympathetically be understood by whomsoever remembers the
painful uneasiness of the mind under a great stress of excitement
with no definite issue。 The lust for a vengeance； demanded by the
aroused sensibilities of compassion； makes men credulous in their
impatience； they easily believe anyone is guilty； because they feel
an imperious need for fastening the guilt upon some definite head。
Few verdicts of 〃Not Guilty〃 are well received； unless another
victim is at hand upon whom the verdict of guilty is likely to
fall。 It was demonstrable to all judicial minds that Kerkel was
wholly； pathetically innocent。 In a few days this gradually became
clear to the majority； but at first it was resisted as an attempt
to balk justice； and to the last there were some obstinate
doubters； who shook their heads mysteriously； and said； with a
certain incisiveness； 〃Somebody must have done it； I should very
much like to know who。〃
Suspicion once more was drifting aimlessly。 None had pointed in
any new direction。 No mention of anyone whom I could identify with
the stranger had yet been made； but； although silent on the
subject； I kept firm in my conviction； and I sometimes laughed at
the pertinacity with which I scrutinized the face of every man I
met； if he happened to have a black beard； and as black beards are
excessively common； my curiosity； though never gratified； was never
allowed repose。
Meanwhile Lieschen's funeral had been emphatically a public
mourning。 Nay； so great was the emotion； that it almost deadened
the interest which otherwise would have been so powerful； in the
news now daily reaching us from Paris。 Blood had flowed upon her
streetsin consequence of that pistol…shot； which； either by
accident or criminal intent； had converted the demonstration before
the hotel of the Minister of Foreign Affairs into an insurrection。
Paris had risen； barricades were erected。 The troops were under
arms。 This was agitating news。
Such is the solidarity of all European nations； and so quick are
all to vibrate in unison with the vibrations of each； that events
like those transacted in Paris necessarily stirred every city； no
matter how remote； nor politically how secure。 And it says much
for the intense interest excited by the Lehfeldt tragedy that
Nuremberg was capable of sustaining that interest even amid the
tremendous pressure of the February Revolution。 It is true that
Nuremberg is at all times somewhat sequestered from the great
movements of the day； following slowly in the rear of great waves；
it is true； moreover； that some politicians showed remarkable
eagerness in canvassing the characters and hopes of Louis Philippe
and Guizot； but although such events would at another period have
formed the universal interest； the impenetrable mystery hanging
over Lieschen's death threw the Revolution into the background of
their thoughts。 If when a storm is raging over the dreary
moorland； a human cry of suffering is heard at the door； at once
the thunders and the tumult sink into insignificance； and are not
even heard by the ear which is pierced with the feeble human voice：
the grandeurs of storm and tempest； the uproar of surging seas； the
clamorous wail of sea…birds amid the volleying artillery of heaven；
in vain assail the ear that has once caught even the distant cry of
a human agony； or serve only as scenical accompaniments to the
tragedy which is foreshadowed by that cry。 And so it was amid the
uproar of 1848。 A kingdom was in convulsions； but here； at our
door； a young girl had been murdered； and two hearths made
desolate。 Rumors continued to fly about。 The assassin was always
about to be discovered； but he remained shrouded in impenetrable
darkness。 A remark made by Bourgonef struck me much。 Our host；
Zum Bayerischen Hof； one day announced with great satisfaction that
he had himself heard from the syndic that the police were on the
traces of the assassin。
〃I am sorry to hear it；〃 said Bourgonef。
The guests paused from eating； and looked at him with astonishment。
〃It is a proof；〃 he added； 〃that even the police now give it up as
hopeless。 I always notice that whenever the police are said to be
on the traces the malefactor is never tracked。 When they are on
his traces they wisely say nothing about it； they allow it to be
believed that they are baffled； in order to lull their victim into
a dangerous security。 When they know themselves to be baffled；
there is no danger in quieting the public mind； and saving their
own credit； by announcing that they are about to be successful。〃
IV
A DISCOVERY
Bourgonef's remark had been but too sagacious。 The police were
hoplessly baffled。 In all such cases possible success depends upon
the initial suggestion either of a motive which leads to a
suspicion of the person； or of some person which leads to a
suspicion of the motive。 Once set suspicion on the right track；
and evidence is suddenly alight in all quarters。 But； unhappily；
in the present case there was no assignable motive； no shadow
darkening any person。
An episode now came to our knowledge in which Bourgonef manifested
an unusual depth of interest。 I was led to notice this interest；
because it had seemed to me that in the crime itself； and the
discussions which arose out of it； he shared but little of the
universal excitement。 I do not mean that he was indifferentby no
means； but the horror of the crime did not seem to fascinate his
imagination as it fascinated ours。 He could talk quite as readily
of other things； and far more readily of the French affairs。 But
on the contrary； in this new episode he showed peculiar interest。
It appeared that Lehfeldt； moved； perhaps； partly by a sense of the
injustice which had been done to Kerkel in even suspecting him of
the crime； and in submitting him to an examination more poignantly
affecting to him under such circumstances than a public trial would
have been under others； and moved partly by the sense that
Lieschen's love had practically drawn Kerkel within the familyfor
her choice of him as a husband had made him morally； if not
legally； a son…in…law； and moved partly by the sense of loneliness
which had now settled on their childless home；Lehfeldt had in the
most pathetic and considerate terms begged Kerkel to take the place
of his adopted son； and become joint partner with him in the
business。 This； however； Kerkel had gently yet firmly declined。
He averred that he felt no injury； though great pain had been
inflicted on him by the examination。 He himself in such a case
would not have shrunk from demanding that his own brother should be
tried； under suspicions of similar urgency。 It was simple justice
that all who were suspected should be examined； justice also to
them that they might for ever clear themselves of doubtful
appearances。 But for the rest； while he felt his old affectionate
respect for his master； he could recognize no claim to be removed
from his present position。 Had she lived； said the heartbroken
youth； he would gladly have consented to accept any fortune which
her love might bestow； because he felt that his own love and the
devotion of a life might repay it。 But there was nothing now that
he could give in exchange。 For his services he was amply paid； his
feelings towards Lieschen's parents must continue what they had
ever been。 In vain Lehfeldt pleaded； in vain many friends argued。
Franz remained respectfully firm in his refusal。
This； as I said； interested Bourgonef immensely。 He seemed to
enter completely into the minds of the sorrowing； pleading parents；
and the sorrowing； denying lover。 He appreciated and expounded
their motives with a subtlety and delicacy of perception which
surprised and delighted me。 It showed the refinement of his moral
nature。 But； at the same time； it rendered his minor degree of
interest in the other episodes of the story； those which had a more
direct and overpowering appeal to the heart； a greater paradox。
Human nature is troubled in the presence of all mystery which has
not by long familiarity lost its power of soliciting attention； and
for my own part； I have always been uneasy in the presence of moral
problems。 Puzzled by the contradictions which I noticed in
Bourgonef； I tried to discover whether he had any general
repugnance to stories of crimes； or any special repugnance to
murders； or； finally； any strange repugnance to this particular
case now everywhere discussed。 And it is not a little remarkable
that during three separate interviews； in the course of which I
severally； and as I thought artfully； introduced these topics；
making them seem to arise naturally out of the suggestion of our
talk； I totally failed to arrive at any distinct conclusion。 I was
afraid to put the direct question： Do you not share the common
feeling of interest in criminal stories？ This question would
doubtless have elicited a categorical reply； but somehow； the
consciousness of an arriere…pensee made me shrink from putting such
a question。
Reflec