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appalling effect of IMITATION acting contagiously upon a criminal
imagination； of which contagion there have been； unfortunately； too
many exampleshorrible crimes prompting certain weak and feverish
imaginations； by the very horror they inspire； first to dwell on；
and finally to realize their imitations。
It was this latter hypothesis which found general acceptance。
Indeed it was the only one which rested upon any ground of
experience。 The disastrous influence of imitation； especially
under the fascination of horror； was well known。 The idea of any
diabolical malice moving one man to pass from city to city； and
there quietly single out his victimsboth of them； by the very
hypothesis； unrelated to him； both of them at the epoch of their
lives； when
〃The bosom's lord sits lightly on its throne；〃
when the peace of the heart is assured； and the future is radiantly
beckoning to them；that any man should choose such victims for
such crimes was too preposterous an idea long to be entertained。
Unless the man were mad； the idea was inconceivable； and even a
monomaniac must betray himself in such a course； because he would
necessarily conceive himself to be accomplishing some supreme act
of justice。
It was thus I argued； and indeed I should much have preferred to
believe that one maniac were involved； rather than the contagion of
crime；since one maniac must inevitably be soon detected； whereas
there were no assignable limits to the contagion of imitation。 And
this it was which so profoundly agitated German society。 In every
family in which there happened to be a bride； vague tremors could
not be allayed； and the absolute powerlessness which resulted from
the utter uncertainty as to the quarter in which this dreaded
phantom might next appear； justified and intensified those tremors。
Against such an apparition there was no conceivable safeguard。
From a city stricken with the plague； from a district so stricken；
flight is possible； and there are the resources of medical aid。
But from a moral plague like this； what escape was possible？
So passionate and profound became the terror； that I began to share
the opinion which I heard expressed； regretting the widespread
publicity of the modern press； since； with many undeniable
benefits； it carried also the fatal curse of distributing through
households； and keeping constantly under the excitement of
discussion； images of crime and horror which would tend to
perpetuate and extend the excesses of individual passion。 The mere
dwelling long on such a topic as this was fraught with evil。
This and more I heard discussed as I hurried back to Munich。 To
Munich？ Yes； thither I was posting with all speed。 Not a shadow
of doubt now remained in my mind。 I knew the assassin； and was
resolved to track and convict him。 Do not suppose that THIS time I
was led away by the vagrant activity of my constructive
imagination。 I had something like positive proof。 No sooner had I
learned that the murder had been committed at Grosshesslohe； than
my thoughts at once carried me to a now memorable visit I had made
there in company with Bourgonef and two young Bavarians。 At the
hotel where we dined； we were waited on by the niece of the
landlord； a girl of remarkable beauty； who naturally excited the
attention of four young men； and furnished them with a topic of
conversation。 One of the Bavarians had told us that she would one
day be perhaps one of the wealthiest women in the country； for she
was engaged to be married to a young farmer who had recently found
himself； by a rapid succession of deaths； sole heir to a great
brewer； whose wealth was known to be enormous。
At this moment Sophie entered bringing wine； and I saw Bourgonef
slowly turn his eyes upon her with a look which then was mysterious
to me； but which now spoke too plainly its dreadful meaning。
What is there in a look； you will say？ Perhaps nothing； or it may
be everything。 To my unsuspecting； unenlightened perception；
Bourgonef's gaze was simply the melancholy and half…curious gaze
which such a man might be supposed to cast upon a young woman who
had been made the topic of an interesting discourse。 But to my
mind； enlightened as to his character； and instructed as to his
peculiar feelings arising from his own story； the gaze was charged
with horror。 It marked a victim。 The whole succession of events
rose before me in vivid distinctness； the separate details of
suspicion gathered into unity。
Great as was Bourgonef's command over his features； he could not
conceal uneasiness as well as surprise at my appearance at the
table d'hote in Munich。 I shook hands with him； putting on as
friendly a mask as I could； and replied to his question about my
sudden return by attributing it to unexpected intelligence received
at Salzburg。
〃Nothing serious； I hope？〃
〃Well； I'm afraid it will prove very serious；〃 I said。 〃But we
shall see。 Meanwhile my visit to the Tyrol must be given up or
postponed。〃
〃Do you remain here； then？〃
〃I don't know what my movements will be。〃
Thus I had prepared him for any reserve or strangeness in my
manner； and I had concealed from him the course of my movements；
for at whatever cost； I was resolved to follow him and bring him to
justice。
But how？ Evidence I had none that could satisfy any one else；
however convincing it might be to my own mind。 Nor did there seem
any evidence forthcoming from Grosshesslohe。 Sophie's body had
been found in the afternoon lying as if asleep in one of the by…
paths of the wood。 No marks of a struggle； no traces of the
murderer。 Her affianced lover； who was at Augsburg； on hearing of
her fate； hurried to Grosshesslohe； but could throw no light on the
murder； could give no hint as to a possible motive for the deed。
But this entire absence of evidence； or even ground of suspicion；
only made MY case the stronger。 It was the motiveless malignity of
the deed which fastened it on Bourgonef； or rather； it was the
absence of any known motive elsewhere which assured me that I had
detected the motive in him。
Should I communicate my conviction to the police？ It was possible
that I might impress them with at least sufficient suspicion to
warrant his examinationand in that case the truth might be
elicited； for among the many barbarities and iniquities of the
criminal procedure in Continental States which often press heavily
on the innocent； there is this compensating advantage； that the
pressure on the guilty is tenfold heavier。 If the innocent are
often unjustly punishedimprisoned and maltreated before their
innocence can be establishedthe guilty seldom escape。 In England
we give the criminal not only every chance of escape； but many
advantages。 The love of fair…play is carried to excess。 It seems
at times as if the whole arrangements of our procedure were
established with a view to giving a criminal not only the benefit
of every doubt； but of every loophole through which he can slip。
Instead of this； the Continental procedure goes on the principle of
closing up every loophole； and of inventing endless traps into
which the accused may fall。 We warn the accused not to say
anything that may be prejudicial to him。 They entangle him in
contradictions and confessions which disclose his guilt。
Knowing this； I thought it very likely that； however artful
Bourgonef might be； a severe examination might extort from him
sufficient confirmation of my suspicion to warrant further
procedure。 But knowing also that THIS resort was open to me when
all others had failed； I resolved to wait and watch。
IX
FINALE
Two days passed； and nothing occurred。 My watching seemed
hopeless； and I resolved to try the effect of a disguised
interrogatory。 It might help to confirm my already settled
conviction； if it did not elicit any new evidence。
Seated in Bourgonef's room； in the old place； each with a cigar；
and chatting as of old on public affairs； I gradually approached
the subject of the recent murder。
〃Is it not strange；〃 I said； 〃that both these crimes should have
happened while we were casually staying in both places？〃
〃Perhaps we are the criminals；〃 he replied； laughing。 I shivered
slightly at this audacity。 He laughed as he spoke； but there was a
hard； metallic； and almost defiant tone in his voice which
exasperated me。
〃Perhaps we are；〃 I answered； quietly。 He looked full at me； but I
was prepared； and my face told nothing。 I added； as in
explanation； 〃The crime being apparently contagious； we may have
brought the infection from Nuremberg。〃
〃Do you believe in that hypothesis of imitation？〃
〃I don't know what to believe。 Do you believe in there being only
one murderer？ It seems such a preposterous idea。 We must suppose
him； at any rate； to be a maniac。〃
〃Not necessarily。 Indeed there seems to have been too much artful
contrivance in both affairs； not only in the selection of the
victims； but in the execution of the schemes。 Cunning as maniacs
often are they are still maniacs； and betray themselves。〃
〃If not a maniac；〃 said I； hoping to pique him； 〃he must be a man
of stupendous and pitiable vanity；perhaps