We dismounted in haste. Suddenly Sapt caught me by the arm.
"Look there!" he said, pointing to the ground.
I looked down. At my feet lay five or six silk handkerchiefs, torn and
slashed and rent. I turned to him questioningly.
"They're what I tied the old woman up with," said he. "Fasten the
horses, and come along."
The handle of the door turned without resistance. We passed into the
room which had been the scene of last night's bout. It was still strewn
with the remnants of our meal and with empty bottles.
"Come on," cried Sapt, whose marvellous composure had at last almost
given way.
We rushed down the passage towards the cellars. The door of the
coal-cellar stood wide open.
"They found the old woman," said I.
"You might have known that from the handkerchiefs," he said.
Then we came opposite the door of the wine-cellar. It was shut. It
looked in all respects as it had looked when we left it that morning.
"Come, it's all right," said I.
A loud oath from Sapt rang out. His face turned pale, and he pointed
again at the floor. From under the door a red stain had spread over the
floor of the passage and dried there. Sapt sank against the opposite
wall. I tried the door. It was locked.
"Where's Josef?" muttered Sapt.
"Where's the King?" I responded.
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