Otto, I have questioned Claus; I told you that he was as innocent as you or I; as I thought, he has no information to give me. Can you take it upon yourself to let him move about freely, so that he may see the gardeners and workmen and make enquiries which may lead to the discovery of the murderer? OTTO By all means; I trust him fully. Come with me, Claus; I’ll give the necessary orders. (_Exit with_ CLAUS.) THE BURGOMASTER (_Taking out his watch and looking at the clock._) Three o’clock. There’s not much time to lose. (_Enter_ OTTO.) Well, what have you learnt on your side? OTTO I am feeling a little less uneasy; but everything depends on you. To begin with, Dr. van Cassel, of this town, has made a hurried post-mortem examination. It appears that the bullet entered by the back of the neck, passed through the brain and came out at the forehead. The bullet has not been found. The wound shows that it was of military calibre. THE BURGOMASTER That’s something, at any rate, for it proves that there is no question of a sporting-gun. OTTO Yes, but it may have been a revolver-bullet. Also, I don’t believe it is possible that one of our men committed the crime. At the time when the shot was fired, we had only a hundred and fifty men here, in addition to a dozen Uhlans. The soldiers stacked their rifles in the square and never left the square. Six men, with their arms, were posted in the little yard behind the stables and they never left the yard. These are the men who ran up after the shot was fired. As for the Uhlans, with the exception of two who were on sentry duty outside the house, they were grooming their horses in the stable of the Unicorn Hotel. I have personally examined the arms of those six men. They did not look as if they had been used this morning at all; the barrels were oiled and shiny, they might have just come from the gunsmith’s. THE BURGOMASTER It is easy enough to polish up a rifle-barrel. OTTO Of course; but remember that the Major will never admit that one of his men committed the murder, unless we bring him a concrete and undeniable proof. THE BURGOMASTER So there is nothing more to be hoped for in that direction? OTTO I fear not. THE BURGOMASTER That closes one more door against us. Have you seen the Major since? OTTO Yes; and I came away with a very hopeful feeling. But, once more, everything will depend upon yourself.... First of all, though, here is the proclamation which he handed me for you to sign. I may tell you, it is already in print and will soon be posted in the town. THE BURGOMASTER Show me the proclamation.