that is wrapped up in the doings and dealings of the earth often has at hand, Krespel gives vent to in outrageous gestures and agile caprioles.  But these are his lightning conductor.  What comes up out of the earth he gives again to the earth, but what is divine, that he keeps; and so I believe that his inner consciousness, in spite of the apparent madness which springs from it to the surface, is as right as a trivet.  To be sure, Antonia’s sudden death grieves him sore, but I warrant that to-morrow will see him going along in his old jog-trot way as usual.”  And the Professor’s prediction was almost literally filled.  Next day the Councillor appeared to be just as he formerly was, only he averred that he would never make another violin, nor yet ever play on another.  And, as I learned later, he kept his word.

Hints which the Professor let fall confirmed my own private conviction that the so carefully guarded secret of the Councillor’s relations to Antonia, nay, that even her death, was a crime which must weigh heavily upon him, a crime that could not be atoned for.  I determined that I would not leave H——­ without taxing him with the offence which I conceived him to be guilty of; I determined to shake his heart down to its very roots, and so compel him to make open confession of the terrible deed.  The more I reflected upon the matter, the clearer it grew in my own mind that Krespel must be a villain, and in the same proportion did my intended reproach, which assumed of itself the form of a real rhetorical masterpiece, wax more fiery and more impressive.  Thus equipped and mightily incensed, I hurried to his house.  I found him with a calm smiling countenance making playthings.  “How can peace,” I burst out—­“how can peace find lodgment even for a single moment in your breast, so long as the memory of your horrible deed preys like a serpent upon you?” He gazed at me in amazement, and laid his chisel aside.  “What do you mean, my dear sir?” he asked; “pray take a seat.”  But my indignation chafing me more and more, I went on to accuse him directly of having murdered Antonia, and to threaten him with the vengeance of the Eternal.

Further, as a newly full-fledged lawyer, full of my profession, I went so far as to give him to understand that I would leave no stone unturned to get a clue to the business, and so deliver him here in this world into the hands of an earthly judge.  I must confess that I was considerably disconcerted when, at the conclusion of my violent and pompous harangue, the Councillor, without answering so much as a single word, calmly fixed his eyes upon me as though expecting me to go on again.  And this I did indeed attempt to do, but it sounded so ill-founded and so stupid as well that I soon grew silent again.  Krespel gloated over my embarrassment, whilst a malicious ironical smile flitted across his face.  Then he grew very grave, and addressed me in solemn tones.  “Young man, no doubt you think I am foolish, insane; that