I cannot say why it was, but I did not share the universal belief. The logic11 seemed to me forced; the evidence trivial. On first hearing of Kerkel's arrest, I eagerly questioned my informant respecting his personal appearance; and on hearing that he was fair, with blue eyes and flaxen hair, my conviction of his innocence was fixed12. Looking back on these days, I am often amused at this characteristic of my constructive13 imagination. While rejecting the disjointed logic of the mob, which interpreted his guilt14, I was myself deluded15 by a logic infinitely16 less rational. Had Kerkel been dark, with dark eyes and beard, I should probably have sworn to his guilt, simply because the idea of that stranger had firmly fixed itself in my mind.
All that afternoon, and all the next day, the busy hum of voices was raised by the one topic of commanding interest. Kerkel had been examined. He at once admitted that a secret betrothal17 had for some time existed between him and Lieschen. They had been led to take this improper18 step by fear of her parents, who, had the attachment19 been discovered, would, it was thought, have separated them for ever. Herr Lehfeldt's sternness, no less than his superior position, seemed an invincible20 obstacle, and the good mother, although doting21 upon her only daughter, was led by the very intensity22 of her affection to form ambitious hopes of her daughter's future. It was barely possible that some turn in events might one day yield an opening for their consent; but meanwhile prudence23 dictated24 secrecy25, in order to avert26 the most pressing danger, that of separation.
And so the pretty Lieschen, with feminine instinct of ruse27, had affected28 to treat her lover with indifference29; and to compensate30 him and herself for this restraint, she had been in the habit of escaping from home once or twice a week, and spending a delicious hour or two at night in the company of her lover and his mother. Kerkel and his mother lived in a cottage a little way outside the town. Lehfeldt's shop stood not many yards from the archway. Now, as in Nuremberg no one was abroad after ten o'clock, except a few loungers at the cafes and beer-houses, and these were only to be met inside the town, not outside it, Lieschen ran extremely little risk of being observed in her rapid transit31 from her father's to her lover's house. Nor, indeed, had she ever met anyone in the course of these visits.
On the fatal night Lieschen was expected at the cottage. Mother and son waited at first hopefully, then anxiously, at last with some vague uneasiness at her non-appearance. It was now a quarter past eleven—nearly an hour later than her usual time. They occasionally went to the door to look for her; then they walked a few yards down the road, as if to catch an earlier glimpse of her advancing steps. But in vain. The half-hour struck. They came back into the cottage, discussing the various probabilities of delay. Three-quarters struck. Perhaps she had been detected; perhaps she was ill; perhaps—but this was his mother's suggestion, and took little hold of him—there had been visitors who had stayed later than usual, and Lieschen, finding the night so advanced, had postponed32 her visit to the morrow. Franz, who interpreted Lieschen's feelings by his own, was assured that no postponement33 of a voluntary kind was credible34 of her. Twelve o'clock struck. Again Franz went out into the road, and walked nearly up to the archway; he returned with heavy sadness and foreboding at his heart, reluctantly admitting that now all hope of seeing her that night was over. That night? Poor sorrowing heart, the night was to be eternal! The anguish35 of the desolate36 "never more" was awaiting him.
There is something intensely pathetic in being thus, as it were, spectators of a tragic37 drama which is being acted on two separate stages at once—the dreadful link of connection, which is unseen to the separate actors, being only too vividly39 seen by the spectators. It was with some interest that I, who believed in Kerkel's innocence, heard this story; and in imagination followed its unfolding stage. He went to bed, not, as may be expected, to sleep; tossing restlessly in feverish40 agitation41, conjuring42 up many imaginary terrors—but all of them trifles compared with the dread38 reality which he was so soon to face. He pictured her weeping—and she was lying dead on the cold pavement of the dark archway. He saw her in agitated43 eloquence44 pleading with offended parents—and she was removed for ever from all agitations45, with the peace of death upon her young face.
At an early hour he started, that he might put an end to his suspense46. He had not yet reached the archway before the shattering news burst upon him. From that moment he remembered nothing. But his mother described his ghastly agitation, as, throwing himself upon her neck, he told her, through dreadful sobs48, the calamity49 which had fallen. She did her best to comfort him; but he grew wilder and wilder, and rolled upon the ground in the agony of an immeasurable despair. She trembled for his reason and his life. And when the messengers came to seek him, she spoke50 but the simple truth in saying that he was like one distracted. Yet no sooner had a glimpse of light dawned on him that some vague suspicion rested on him in reference to the murder, than he started up, flung away his agitation, and, with a calmness which was awful, answered every question, and seemed nerved for every trial. From that moment not a sob47 escaped him until, in the narrative51 of the night's events, he came to that part which told of the sudden disclosure of his bereavement52. And the simple, straightforward53 manner in which he told this tale, with a face entirely54 bloodless, and eyes that seemed to have withdrawn55 all their light inwards, made a great impression on the audience, which was heightened into sympathy when the final sob, breaking through the forced calmness, told of the agony which was eating its fiery56 way through the heart.
The story was not only plausible57 in itself, but accurately58 tallied59 with what before had seemed like the criminating evidence of the maid; tallied, moreover, precisely60 as to time, which would hardly have been the case had the story been an invention. As to the waistcoat which had figured so conspicuously in all the rumors61, it appeared that suspicion had monstrously62 exaggerated the facts. Instead of a waistcoat plashed with blood—as popular imagination pictured it—it was a gray waistcoat, with one spot and a slight smear63 of blood, which admitted of a very simple explanation. Three days before, Franz had cut his left hand in cutting some bread; and to this the maid testified, because she was present when the accident occurred. He had not noticed that his waistcoat was marked by it until the next day, and had forgotten to wash out the stains.
People outside shook skeptical64 heads at this story of the cut hand. The bloody65 waistcoat was not to be disposed of in that easy way. It had fixed itself too strongly in their imagination. Indeed, my belief is that even could they have seen the waistcoat, its insignificant66 marks would have appeared murderous patches to their eyes. I had seen it, and my report was listened to with ill- concealed67 disbelief, when not with open protestation. And when Kerkel was discharged as free from all suspicion, there was a low growl68 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 lust70 for a vengeance71, demanded by the aroused sensibilities of compassion72, makes men credulous73 in their impatience74; 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 judicial75 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 balk76 justice; and to the last there were some obstinate77 doubters, who shook their heads mysteriously, and said, with a certain incisiveness78, "Somebody must have done it; I should very much like to know who."
Suspicion once more was drifting aimlessly. None had pointed69 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 pertinacity79 with which I scrutinized80 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 repose81.
Meanwhile Lieschen's funeral had been emphatically a public mourning. Nay82, 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 streets—in consequence of that pistol-shot, which, either by accident or criminal intent, had converted the demonstration83 before the hotel of the Minister of Foreign Affairs into an insurrection. Paris had risen; barricades84 were erected85. The troops were under arms. This was agitating86 news.
Such is the solidarity87 of all European nations, and so quick are all to vibrate in unison88 with the vibrations89 of each, that events like those transacted90 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 sequestered91 from the great movements of the day, following slowly in the rear of great waves; it is true, moreover, that some politicians showed remarkable92 eagerness in canvassing93 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 dreary94 moorland, a human cry of suffering is heard at the door, at once the thunders and the tumult95 sink into insignificance96, and are not even heard by the ear which is pierced with the feeble human voice: the grandeurs of storm and tempest, the uproar97 of surging seas, the clamorous98 wail99 of sea-birds amid the volleying artillery100 of heaven, in vain assail101 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 hearths102 made desolate. Rumors continued to fly about. The assassin was always about to be discovered; but he remained shrouded103 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 astonishment104.
"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 malefactor105 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 lull106 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."
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1
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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vent
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| n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄 | |
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morose
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| adj.脾气坏的，不高兴的 | |
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illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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conspicuously
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| ad.明显地，惹人注目地 | |
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frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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8
envelop
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| vt.包，封，遮盖；包围 | |
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9
accusation
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| n.控告，指责，谴责 | |
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accomplice
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| n.从犯，帮凶，同谋 | |
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logic
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| n.逻辑(学)；逻辑性 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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constructive
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| adj.建设的，建设性的 | |
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guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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deluded
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| v.欺骗，哄骗( delude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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infinitely
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| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
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betrothal
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| n. 婚约, 订婚 | |
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improper
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| adj.不适当的，不合适的，不正确的，不合礼仪的 | |
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attachment
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| n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附 | |
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invincible
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| adj.不可征服的，难以制服的 | |
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doting
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| adj.溺爱的，宠爱的 | |
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intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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dictated
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| v.大声讲或读( dictate的过去式和过去分词 )；口授；支配；摆布 | |
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secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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avert
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| v.防止，避免；转移(目光、注意力等) | |
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ruse
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| n.诡计，计策；诡计 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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compensate
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| vt.补偿，赔偿；酬报 vi.弥补；补偿；抵消 | |
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transit
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| n.经过，运输；vt.穿越，旋转；vi.越过 | |
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postponed
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| vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发） | |
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postponement
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| n.推迟 | |
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credible
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| adj.可信任的，可靠的 | |
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anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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desolate
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| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
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tragic
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| adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的 | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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vividly
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| adv.清楚地，鲜明地，生动地 | |
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feverish
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| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
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agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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conjuring
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| n.魔术 | |
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agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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45
agitations
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| （液体等的）摇动( agitation的名词复数 )； 鼓动； 激烈争论； （情绪等的）纷乱 | |
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46
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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47
sob
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| n.空间轨道的轰炸机；呜咽，哭泣 | |
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48
sobs
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| 啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 ) | |
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49
calamity
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| n.灾害，祸患，不幸事件 | |
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50
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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51
narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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52
bereavement
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| n.亲人丧亡，丧失亲人，丧亲之痛 | |
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53
straightforward
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| adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，简单的 | |
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54
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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55
withdrawn
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| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
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56
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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57
plausible
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| adj.似真实的，似乎有理的，似乎可信的 | |
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58
accurately
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| adv.准确地，精确地 | |
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59
tallied
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| v.计算，清点( tally的过去式和过去分词 )；加标签（或标记）于；（使）符合；（使）吻合 | |
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precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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rumors
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| n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷 | |
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monstrously
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smear
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| v.涂抹；诽谤，玷污；n.污点；诽谤，污蔑 | |
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skeptical
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| adj.怀疑的，多疑的 | |
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bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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insignificant
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| adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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68
growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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lust
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| n.性(淫)欲；渴(欲)望；vi.对…有强烈的欲望 | |
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vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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credulous
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| adj.轻信的，易信的 | |
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impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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judicial
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| adj.司法的，法庭的，审判的，明断的，公正的 | |
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balk
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| n.大方木料；v.妨碍；不愿前进或从事某事 | |
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obstinate
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| adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的 | |
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incisiveness
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| n.敏锐，深刻 | |
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pertinacity
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| n.执拗，顽固 | |
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scrutinized
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| v.仔细检查，详审( scrutinize的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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82
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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83
demonstration
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| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
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84
barricades
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| 路障，障碍物( barricade的名词复数 ) | |
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85
ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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86
agitating
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| 搅动( agitate的现在分词 )； 激怒； 使焦虑不安； （尤指为法律、社会状况的改变而）激烈争论 | |
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87
solidarity
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| n.团结；休戚相关 | |
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88
unison
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| n.步调一致，行动一致 | |
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89
vibrations
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| n.摆动( vibration的名词复数 )；震动；感受；（偏离平衡位置的）一次性往复振动 | |
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90
transacted
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| v.办理（业务等）( transact的过去式和过去分词 )；交易，谈判 | |
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91
sequestered
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| adj.扣押的；隐退的；幽静的；偏僻的v.使隔绝，使隔离( sequester的过去式和过去分词 )；扣押 | |
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92
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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canvassing
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| v.（在政治方面）游说( canvass的现在分词 )；调查（如选举前选民的）意见；为讨论而提出（意见等）；详细检查 | |
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94
dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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95
tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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96
insignificance
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| n.不重要；无价值；无意义 | |
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97
uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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clamorous
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| adj.吵闹的，喧哗的 | |
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wail
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| vt./vi.大声哀号，恸哭；呼啸，尖啸 | |
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100
artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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assail
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| v.猛烈攻击，抨击，痛斥 | |
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102
hearths
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| 壁炉前的地板，炉床，壁炉边( hearth的名词复数 ) | |
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103
shrouded
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| v.隐瞒( shroud的过去式和过去分词 )；保密 | |
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104
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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malefactor
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| n.罪犯 | |
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106
lull
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| v.使安静，使入睡，缓和，哄骗；n.暂停，间歇 | |
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