“Come with me,” murmured the woman. She seemed to understand that further resistance was useless. She carefully locked the outside door. Amster remained down stairs in the corridor, while Muller followed the old woman up the stairs. The staircase to the third story was made of wood. The house was evidently very old, with low ceilings and many dark corners.
The woman led Muller into the room in which she had cared for the strange lady at the order of the latter’s “husband.” He had told her that it was only until he could take the lady to an asylum. One look at the wall paper, a glance out of the window, and Muller knew that this was where Asta Langen had been imprisoned. He sat down on a chair and looked at the woman, who stood frightened before him.
“Do you know where they have taken the lady?”
“No, sir.
“Do you know the gentleman’s name?”
“No, sir.
“You did not send the lady’s name to the authorities?” *
“No, sir.”
* Any stranger taking rooms in a hotel or lodging house must
be registered with the police authorities by the proprietor
of the house within forty-eight hours of arrival.
“Were you not afraid you would get into trouble?”