"Miss Graumann tells me
that you have come from Vienna to take up this case. It is only
natural that we should want to give you every assistance in our
power."
"What is your opinion about it?" was Muller's next remark, made
rather suddenly after a moment's pause.
The directness of the question seemed to shake the girl out of her
enforced calm. A slow flush mounted into her pale cheeks and then
died away, again leaving them whiter than before. "I do not know
--oh, I do not know what to believe."
"But you do not think Mr. Graumann capable of such a crime, do you?"
"Not of the robbery, of course not; that would be absurd! But has
it been clearly proven that there is a robbery? Might it not have
been--might they not have--"
"You mean, might they not have quarreled? Of course there is
that possibility. And that is why I wanted to speak to you. You
are the one person who could possibly throw light on this subject.
Was there any other reason beyond the dead man's past that would
render your guardian unwilling to have you marry him?"
Again the slow flush mounted to Eleonora Roemer's cheeks and her
head drooped.
"I fear it may be painful for you to answer this," said Muller
gently, "and yet I must insist on it in the interest of justice."
"He--my guardian--wished to marry me himself," the girl's words
came slowly and painfully.
Muller drew in his breath so sharply that it was almost like a
whistle.
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