destined to fling this earliest murder into the shade。 Nobody
could now be unprepared； and yet the tragedies； henceforward； which
passed before us； one by one； in sad； leisurely； or in terrific
groups； seemed to argue a lethargy like that of apoplexy in the
victims； one and all。 The very midnight of mysterious awe fell
upon all minds。
Three weeks had passed since the murder at Mr。 Weishaupt'sthree
weeks the most agitated that had been known in this sequestered
city。 We felt ourselves solitary； and thrown upon our own
resources； all combination with other towns being unavailing from
their great distance。 Our situation was no ordinary one。 Had
there been some mysterious robbers among us； the chances of a
visit； divided among so many； would have been too small to distress
the most timid； while to young and high…spirited people； with
courage to spare for ordinary trials； such a state of expectation
would have sent pulses of pleasurable anxiety among the nerves。
But murderers！ exterminating murderers！clothed in mystery and
utter darknessthese were objects too terrific for any family to
contemplate with fortitude。 Had these very murderers added to
their functions those of robbery； they would have become less
terrific； nine out of every ten would have found themselves
discharged； as it were； from the roll of those who were liable to a
visit； while such as knew themselves liable would have had warning
of their danger in the fact of being rich； and would； from the very
riches which constituted that danger； have derived the means of
repelling it。 But； as things were； no man could guess what it was
that must make him obnoxious to the murderers。 Imagination
exhausted itself in vain guesses at the causes which could by
possibility have made the poor Weishaupts objects of such hatred to
any man。 True； they were bigoted in a degree which indicated
feebleness of intellect； but THAT wounded no man in particular；
while to many it recommended them。 True； their charity was narrow
and exclusive； but to those of their own religious body it expanded
munificently； and； being rich beyond their wants； or any means of
employing wealth which their gloomy asceticism allowed； they had
the power of doing a great deal of good among the indigent papists
of the suburbs。 As to the old gentleman and his wife； their
infirmities confined them to the house。 Nobody remembered to have
seen them abroad for years。 How； therefore； or when could they
have made an enemy？ And； with respect to the maiden sisters of Mr。
Weishaupt； they were simply weak…minded persons； now and then too
censorious； but not placed in a situation to incur serious anger
from any quarter； and too little heard of in society to occupy much
of anybody's attention。
Conceive； then； that three weeks have passed away； that the poor
Weishaupts have been laid in that narrow sanctuary which no
murderer's voice will ever violate。 Quiet has not returned to us；
but the first flutterings of panic have subsided。 People are
beginning to respire freely again； and such another space of time
would have cicatrized our woundswhen； hark！ a church bell rings
out a loud alarm；the night is starlight and frostythe iron
notes are heard clear； solemn； but agitated。 What could this mean？
I hurried to a room over the porter's lodge； and； opening the
window； I cried out to a man passing hastily below； 〃What； in God's
name； is the meaning of this？〃 It was a watchman belonging to our
district。 I knew his voice； he knew mine； and he replied in great
agitation：
〃It is another murder； sir； at the old town councilor's； Albernass；
and this time they have made a clear house of it。〃
〃God preserve us！ Has a curse been pronounced upon this city？
What can be done？ What are the magistrates going to do？〃
〃I don't know； sir。 I have orders to run to the Black Friars；
where another meeting is gathering。 Shall I say you will attend；
sir？〃
〃Yesnostop a little。 No matter； you may go on； I'll follow
immediately。〃
I went instantly to Maximilian's room。 He was lying asleep on a
sofa； at which I was not surprised； for there had been a severe
stag chase in the morning。 Even at this moment I found myself
arrested by two objects； and I paused to survey them。 One was
Maximilian himself。 A person so mysterious took precedency of
other interests even at a time like this； and especially by his
features； which； composed in profound sleep； as sometimes happens；
assumed a new expression； which arrested me chiefly by awaking some
confused remembrance of the same features seen under other
circumstances and in times long past； but where？ This was what I
could not recollect； though once before a thought of the same sort
had crossed my mind。 The other object of my interest was a
miniature； which Maximilian was holding in his hand。 He had gone
to sleep apparently looking at this picture； and the hand which
held it had slipped down upon the sofa； so that it was in danger of
falling。 I released the miniature from his hand； and surveyed it
attentively。 It represented a lady of sunny； oriental complexion；
and features the most noble that it is possible to conceive。 One
might have imagined such a lady； with her raven locks and imperial
eyes； to be the favorite sultana of some Amurath or Mohammed。 What
was she to Maximilian； or what HAD she been？ For； by the tear
which I had once seen him drop upon this miniature when he believed
himself unobserved； I conjectured that her dark tresses were
already laid low； and her name among the list of vanished things。
Probably she was his mother； for the dress was rich with pearls；
and evidently that of a person in the highest rank of court
beauties。 I sighed as I thought of the stern melancholy of her
son； if Maximilian were he； as connected； probably； with the fate
and fortunes of this majestic beauty； somewhat haughty； perhaps； in
the expression of her fine features； but still noblegenerous
confiding。 Laying the picture on the table； I awoke Maximilian；
and told him of the dreadful news。 He listened attentively； made
no remark； but proposed that we should go together to the meeting
of our quarter at the Black Friars。 He colored upon observing the
miniature on the table； and； therefore； I frankly told him in what
situation I had found it； and that I had taken the liberty of
admiring it for a few moments。 He pressed it tenderly to his lips；
sighed heavily； and we walked away together。
I pass over the frenzied state of feeling in which we found the
meeting。 Fear； or rather horror； did not promote harmony； many
quarreled with each other in discussing the suggestions brought
forward； and Maximilian was the only person attended to。 He
proposed a nightly mounted patrol for every district。 And in
particular he offered； as being himself a member of the university；
that the students should form themselves into a guard； and go out
by rotation to keep watch and ward from sunset to sunrise。
Arrangements were made toward that object by the few people who
retained possession of their senses； and for the present we
separated。
Never； in fact； did any events so keenly try the difference between
man and man。 Some started up into heroes under the excitement。
Some； alas for the dignity of man！ drooped into helpless
imbecility。 Women； in some cases； rose superior to men； but yet
not so often as might have happened under a less mysterious danger。
A woman is not unwomanly because she confronts danger boldly。 But
I have remarked； with respect to female courage； that it requires；
more than that of men； to be sustained by hope； and that it droops
more certainly in the presence of a MYSTERIOUS danger。 The fancy
of women is more active； if not stronger； and it influences more
directly the physical nature。 In this case few were the women who
made even a show of defying the danger。 On the contrary； with THEM
fear took the form of sadness； while with many of the men it took
that of wrath。
And how did the Russian guardsman conduct himself amidst this
panic？ Many were surprised at his behavior； some complained of it；
I did neither。 He took a reasonable interest in each separate
case； listened to the details with attention； and； in the
examination of persons able to furnish evidence； never failed to
suggest judicious questions。 But still he manifested a coolness
almost amounting to carelessness； which to many appeared revolting。
But these people I desired to notice that all the other military
students； who had been long in the army； felt exactly in the same
way。 In fact； the military service of Christendom； for the last
ten years； had been anything but a parade service； and to those；
therefore； who were familiar with every form of horrid butchery；
the mere outside horrors of death had lost much of their terror。
In the recent murder there had not been much to call forth
sympathy。 The family consisted of two old bachelors； two sisters；
and one grandniece。 The niece was absent on a visit； and the two
old men were cynical misers； to whom little personal interest
attached。 Still； in this case as in that of the Weishaupts； the
same twofold mystery confounded the public mindthe mystery of the
HOW； and the profounder mystery of the WHY。 Here； again； no atom
of property was taken； though both the misers had hordes of ducats
and English guineas in the very room where they died。 Their bias；
again； though of an unpopular character； had rather availed to make
them unknown than to make them hateful。 In one point this case
differed memorably from the otherthat； instead of falling
helpless； or flying victims （as the Weishaupts had done）； these old
men； strong； resolute； and not so much taken by surprise； left
proofs that they had made a desperate defense。 The furniture was
partly smashed to pieces； and the other details furnished evidence
still more revolting of the acharnement with which the struggle had
been maintained。 In fact； with THEM a surprise must have been
impracticable； as they admitted nobody into their house on visiting
terms。 It was thought singular that from each of these domestic
tragedies a benefit of the same sort should result to young pers