The vanmen unloaded the goods carefully and carried them in. They had great difficulty with one large trunk, and had to get assistance before they could put it into the back room. The heavy trunk plays a leading part in many of London's deepest mysteries. A tall, slim, gentlemanly man, as soon as the box had disappeared into the house, strolled across the road, entered by the open door, and raised his hat to the German lady. Madam bowed. The tall, slim gentleman was an old acquaintance. Madam had been useful to him on many occasions, supplying information which enabled him to discover the authors or authoresses of a good many robberies of a certain class. Madam was on the best terms with the police. "So you have moved from -------- Street?" said the detective. "Yes, this morning." "I've just come from -------- Street. What's been the matter in your place? One of the walls is smeared with blood." "Really?" said Madam. "It must have been there a long time. Some furniture must have hidden it. I never noticed it." "I see. Well, you are going to stay here for some time, I suppose?" "Oh, yes, I hope so." "Then why is that large trunk of yours addressed to 'The Station Master, Berlin--To be called for'?" "I am sending some things there that I don't want." "Oh! You might let me see what they are." The detective went outside, gave an order to the vanmen, a knife was produced, the cords of the huge trunk were cut, and the lock forced. The lid sprang up, and the body of a man weighing eighteen stone was discovered inside. His skull had been split open with a hatchet. The evidence brought forward at the trial saved Madam's neck by inducing the jury to make their verdict manslaughter. The sentence deprived the police of Madam's valuable information for twelve years. We have looked up at the house in which Madam's secret was discovered; let us look at the house in which the crime was committed. It is only a little distance away. Here is the street It has rather a Continental appearance. The names over the doors are mostly foreign. There is the house. Madam's room was on the first floor. The first floor is to let. Plenty of people have occupied it since Madam gave it up. Some of them have slept night after night in the very room in which a man of eighteen stone was done to death, packed up in a trunk, and addressed to the station master at Berlin. Very few of the occupants, I fancy, have had any knowledge of the story of that room. The tragedies pass and are forgotten. The houses of tragedy remain and are let to new tenants. CHAPTER IX--LUNATICS AT LARGE _The Insanity of Crime--Lunatics without restraint--What happens at the end--A dangerous monster--A craze for killing--Why the crime was committed--Amiable lunatics--Children who are insane_