Chapter 8 chapter eight

Before daybreak, rumors of the strange events that had happened in the Rothlichs were spreading all over the city.Early in the morning, major newspapers reported these anecdotes truthfully.What else? …As I expected, at first, no one believed this to be true.But the arguments are conclusive, things did happen and cannot be changed.As for making a reasonable explanation, that's another matter. Needless to say, if something like this happened, the party could only end in a hurry.It looks like Mark and Mira are having a hard time.The engagement bouquet was trampled, and the bridal crown was gone before my eyes! ... What an ominous omen that all this happened on the eve of the wedding!

In the morning, many people gathered in front of Rothlich's house.Many more, mainly women, flooded under the closed windows of the Batiani embankment. The crowd chattered.Some people express absurd opinions, what about others?They just looked at the doctor's house with a look of horror and uneasiness. Madame Rotelich and her daughter did not go out for Mass as usual.Mira stayed with her mother.What happened the night before frightened her, and she is still in shock and needs a good rest. At 8:00, the door of my room was pushed open, and Mark led the doctor and his son in.We need to have a good talk, to come up with a contingency plan, but it's best not to have the talk at the Rothlich's.Mark and I went back to the apartment, and Mark went to the doctor's house early in the morning to inquire about Mrs. Rothlich and Mira.The doctor and the captain accepted his advice, and the three couldn't wait to return to the Temeswar apartment.

Let's cut to the chase right away. "Henry," said Mark, "I've told no one to disturb me here. Nobody's going to overhear our conversation. We're the only ones in the house!" It hurts my heart to see my brother now.His face, yesterday radiant with happiness, was now frighteningly pale and dejected.It's depressing right now, but I think Mark is too disheartened too. Captain Haralan bit his lips tightly, his eyes were dazed, it seemed that he was enduring pain in his heart.The doctor, unlike his son, was extremely restrained and calm. I decided that, in this case, I must keep my head clear.

My first concern was the situation of Frau Rothlich and Mademoiselle Mira. "They were all terrified by what happened last night," replied the doctor, "and it will take a few days to recover. But Mira was stronger than her mother, and in spite of the pain she endured bravely and tried to comfort her mother." ...I hope that the unpleasant memories of last night will soon be forgotten by her. I hope that those unfortunate events will not be repeated..." "It will happen again?" I said. "Don't worry, doctor. There won't be any occasions for these strange phenomena—what else can I call them?—."

"Who can predict?" said the doctor. "Who can predict? So, I want to marry them both quickly, because I feel..." The doctor didn't go on, but the willingness was obvious.Mark paid no attention to his words, because he had no knowledge of William Storitz's recent proposal of marriage. Captain Haralan had his own opinion, but he didn't say anything, perhaps waiting for my opinion on the strange things that happened the night before. "Monsieur Vidal," continued the doctor, "what is your opinion of all this?" I think we'd better be skeptical and not take what we've seen to be true.Don't think the matter is eccentric because of its inexplicability (if that word can be used).The doctor's question also made me embarrassed, how could I prevaricate him?

"Mr. Rothlich," I said, "I confess to you that what you call 'all this' I don't think is necessary to get to the bottom of it. Maybe it's just a nasty joke! There's a bad fellow Mixing in the guests, shaming, adding that ventriloquism to the entertainment of the evening, with tragic effect... You know, it's all the rage these days to do tricks like that, and it's very skillful..." Captain Haralan turned around and looked into my eyes, as if he wanted to see through my intention... His eyes clearly said: "We are not here to listen to such meaningless explanations!"

The doctor said again: "Forgive me, Mr. Vidal, I don't believe in magic..." "Doctor," I defended myself, "other than that, I can't find any other explanation, unless it is a supernatural method, but this, even I can't believe it..." "Of course it's not supernatural," Captain Haralan interrupted me, "it's just that we don't know the secret yet..." "However," I insisted, "the voice we hear is clearly a human voice, so why isn't it ventriloquism?" Dr. Rothlich shook his head, resolutely refusing to accept this explanation.

"I repeat," I said, "it is entirely possible that an uninvited guest sneaked into the living room ... singing the German national anthem, the "Song of Hate," deliberately hurting the Magyars' national feelings and challenging their patriotic feelings!" If the limitation to this matter is man-made, this explanation is barely plausible.But the doctor agreed with my speculation and at the same time, he simply asked me: "Suppose I agree with you, Monsieur Verda, that a prankster, or a troublemaker, should come into my house, and we should all be ridiculed by ventriloquists,--indeed, I believe it is far from the truth, But how do you explain the destruction of the bouquet and the wreckage of the wreath by an invisible hand?"

If a master magician is to be blamed for these two strange events, no matter how skilled he is, it would be unacceptable rationally.Captain Haralan pressed further: "My dear Vidal, your ventriloquist can tear a bouquet petal by leaf, can take the corolla, and carry it through several halls... steal it like a thief!" I can't answer. "Do you think we have been fooled by hallucinations by chance?" he added excitedly. Absolutely not!More than a hundred people witnessed that strange event with their own eyes! For a while, everyone fell silent, and I didn't want to break the silence.Finally, the doctor concluded:

"Let's be realistic, accept things for what they are, and stop kidding ourselves... We've all seen it with our own eyes, and while it's hard to explain right now, it's undeniable... Let's just stay in reality and see if anyone , this person is not a prankster, but our enemy, for the purpose of revenge, want to destroy this engagement party?" These words reveal the crux of the problem. "Enemies?" cried Mark. "Enemies of your family, or mine, Mr. Routledge? I didn't know I had enemies! . . . Do you know?" "I know." Captain Haralan said with certainty.

"Who?" "Just before you, the one who proposed to my sister-in-law." "William Storitz?" "William Storitz!" This is the name I've been waiting for for a long time... the name of that mysterious guy with strange movements! Mark knew now what had been kept from him.The doctor told him that William Storitz had made a new attempt only a few days ago... No doubt he would be rejected, Mira Rothlich was betrothed, he should have no delusions, he still Proposed again!My brother learned of the doctor's flat refusal, and of the threats his rivals had made against the Rotrichs, which in part gave reason to suspect that he had been behind the drama of the night before. "You didn't say anything to me!" Marc cried. "You told me today when Mira was threatened! . . ..." "Let's deal with him, Mark," said Captain Haralan. "He insulted my family in public." "He insulted my fiancée!" Mark couldn't hold back anymore, and said with righteous indignation. Although, the two were so angry that they lost their minds.If William Storitz wanted to take revenge on the Rothlichs and act on his threats, it was possible!But the idea that he was involved in Eve's plot and played the part himself doesn't hold water.He cannot be blamed on mere speculation: you sneaked into the living room last night...you tore up the engagement bouquet...you stole the bridal crown!No one saw him, no one! ...can't reasonably explain the weirdness that happened! In the end, after a long debate, after I stated the following thoughts, we came to the only sane decision. "My friends, go to the city hall... If the chief of police doesn't understand what's going on, tell him, and explain the German's relationship with the Rothlichs, his threats to Marc and his fiancée . . . to state our suspicions about him . . . and even to say that he has the ability to challenge all human power! . . . He is simply bragging! . . . Then the Chief of Police will decide whether to take action against the German!" In the present situation, is this not the most appropriate, or even the only way?Intervention by the police is far more effective than individual recklessness.If Captain Haralan and Mark broke into Storitz's house directly, he would definitely not open the door, because his door was never open to any outsiders.Forcing the door open? ...Why? ... But the police have this right, so it is the best policy to seek help from the police. In the end we unanimously decided that Mark would go back to the Rothlichs first, and the doctor, Captain Haralan, and I went straight to the city hall. It's half past ten.As I expected, the whole city of Raz knew about the incident at the engagement party the night before.Seeing the doctor and his son walking towards the city hall, people guessed the motive of their trip. When we arrived, the doctor handed us his business card, and the police chief ordered us to be taken to his office immediately. Mr. Henrish Staplek, Chief Constable, was a small man with a determined expression, a searching eye, a shrewd wit, a practicality, a keen and reliable sense of smell, a man who is now called "a man of means."On many occasions he was not only cordial but tactful.You can rest assured that he will use all possible means to unravel the fog of the mysterious case that occurred at Dr. Rothlich's house.But the problem is that this case is unusual. Can he intervene effectively? The director knew every detail of the whole thing, except for the secret between the doctor, Captain Haralan and myself. When he saw us he said: "I expected you to come, Mr. Rothlich. If you don't come to me, I will come to you. I heard about the strange things that happened in your house last night. Your guests were greatly frightened." , This is completely understandable. I would like to add that this terrifying atmosphere has infected the entire city, and it seems that the city of Raz will no longer be peaceful." We understand that the easiest way to touch on this topic is to wait for Mr. Staplek to ask questions. "Mr. Doctor, I would like to ask first whether you have any enmity with someone, and whether because of this enmity, that person wants to take revenge on your family. Mr. Dahl's marriage..." "I think so," replied the doctor. "Who is this person?" "Prussian Wilhelm Storitz!" I don't think the chief of police was at all surprised that Haralan uttered the name. Dr. Rothlich went on.Mr. Staplek knew that William Stolitz had proposed marriage to Miss Myra Routledge.But he didn't know that the man came to propose again recently, and after being rejected again, he threatened to have the ability to challenge all human forces, and wanted to prevent Mira and Mark's marriage. "So he went into action and tore up the wedding notice without anyone noticing it!" Mr. Staplek said. We all agree with him, but things still don't make sense.Unless there is a "black hand" as Victor Hugo said! ... This is nothing but the imagination of the poet!Not in reality.The police can only act within the scope of reality, and his iron fist can only fall on flesh and blood by surprise!He never apprehended a goblin!To tear off the placard, to tear the bouquet, to steal the wreath, whoever is earthly and corporeal must be caught. Mr. Staplek admitted that their suspicions and speculations about William Storitz were well founded. "Even though he was never charged, I always found this man to be suspicious," he said. "His life was secretive...no one knew how he lived and what he lived on!...Why did he leave his hometown of Spurs? Lemberg?... Why would a South Prussian go to settle in a Magyar country, which is so prejudiced against them?... Why would he shut himself up with an old servant in the house on Dikely Street, Never allow outsiders to enter?... I repeat, this is really too suspicious... too suspicious..." "What do you intend to do, Mr. Staplek?" Captain Haralan asked. "The action to be taken is obvious," replied the Chief Constable. "A search of his house may lead us to find something..." "But to conduct a search," Dr. Rötlich asked, "should the governor's permission be obtained first?" "This matter involves a foreigner... a foreigner who threatens your family, the governor will approve it, you don't have to worry about it!" "The Governor was at the party last night, too," I told the chief of police. "I know, Monsieur Verda, that the Governor has called my attention to what he has witnessed." "Can he understand?" asked the doctor. "No!... He couldn't find a reasonable explanation either." "However," I said, "if he knows of William Storitz's involvement in the matter..." "He will be more eager to know the truth of the matter," replied Mr. Staplek. "Gentlemen, please wait, I will go to the Governor's Palace, and in half an hour I will bring back a warrant to search the house in Dai Kaili Street. .” "We will accompany you to Daikeli Street." Captain Haralan said. "As long as you want, Captain...you can go too, Mr. Vidal." The police chief added. "I," said Dr. Routlich, "I promise you to go with Mr. Staplek and the police. I will hurry home, and when the search is over, you will come back and tell me the final results." "Wait until arrest, if necessary," declared Mr. Stapler solemnly.I could see that he was determined to get to the bottom of the case.He is going to the Governor's Palace. The doctor left with him and went home to wait for news. Captain Haralan and I remained in the chief's office.Neither of us spoke.We're about to break into that suspicious house! ...is the owner at home now? ... I don't know if Captain Haralan would have been able to control his emotions if he was there. Mr. Stapler returned in half an hour.He brought back a search warrant, and the governor authorized him to use all means necessary against the foreigner. "Now, gentlemen," he said to us, "you go ahead . "That's it," Captain Haralan replied. The two of us left the city hall and walked towards the Battiani Embankment.