Even in the dead of night both sides were active. For, plan
cautiously and skillfully as he might, Rudolf fought with an
antagonist who lost no chances, and who had found an apt and
useful tool in that same Bauer, a rascal, and a cunning rascal,
if ever one were bred in the world. From the beginning even to
the end our error lay in taking too little count of this fellow,
and dear was the price we paid.
Both to my wife and to Rudolf himself the street had seemed empty
of every living being when she watched and he set out. Yet
everything had been seen, from his first arrival to the moment
when she closed the window after him. At either end of my house
there runs out a projection, formed by the bay windows of the
principal drawing-room and of the dining room respectively. These
projecting walls form shadows, and in the shade of one of
them--of which I do not know, nor is it of moment--a man watched
all that passed; had he been anywhere else, Rudolf must have seen
him. If we had not been too engrossed in playing our own hands,
it would doubtless have struck us as probable that Rupert would
direct Rischenheim and Bauer to keep an eye on my house during
his absence; for it was there that any of us who found our way to
the city would naturally resort in the first instance.
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