Free Sent to the Devil by Laura Lebow Page B

trouble,” Benda continued. “But she insisted the work of packing would help assuage her grief— No! You there! Those are not mine. Those go to the cart over here, the one for the church.” He leaned toward me and lowered his voice. “The general’s clothes,” he murmured. “She didn’t wish to part with them, but I convinced her that the church would benefit greatly by selling them.”
    He called over to the steward, and turned back to me. “After we marry, we’ll sell this house and the Belvedere estate and move to Prague. I must take Christiane away from all of these painful memories.”
    The steward joined us. “Altmann, tell Signor Da Ponte what you told me, about the night the general died,” Benda instructed.
    The man nodded a greeting at me. “Well, sir, I saw the general leave that night. It was very late, a little before one in the morning. It was quite strange to see him.”
    â€œHe did not often leave the house at night?” I asked.
    â€œNo, sir. The general kept to a strict schedule—a habit from his military days, I suppose. He went to bed at ten o’clock every night. He claimed a good night’s sleep kept him fit for battle.” The steward smiled sadly at the remembrance of his master. “He was an old man, but I think he secretly hoped the emperor would call on him once more.”
    â€œWhat time do you close up the house?” I asked.
    â€œBefore midnight, sir. As I said, the general always retired at ten. The young mistress often stayed up later, talking with the count in the salon. And she likes to read late into the night, those sentimental novels about love all the young ladies enjoy these days. Sometimes when I am making my rounds before I lock up, I’ll see the light still on in her chamber. Her maid Charlotte scolds her, telling her she’ll ruin her eyes. But other than that, it is a quiet household.”
    â€œWhy were you up at one that night?” Benda prompted.
    â€œThe weather that day had been very windy, as though a storm were coming. I always sleep with one ear cocked, since the palais is my responsibility. I heard a door slam. My first thought was that I had forgotten to secure one of the doors, and the wind had blown it shut. But a few moments later I heard footsteps, someone running. I dressed and went down to check.”
    â€œWas that when you saw your master?” I asked.
    â€œNo, sir. No, I heard the noise a few minutes before I saw him. When I got down here to the courtyard, I saw no one. I went out into the street to see if anyone was about, but everything was dark and quiet. I tested the doors here. They all were locked.” He pointed toward a small door set in the right-hand side of the courtyard. “I had just entered the servants’ door to return to my room when I heard the front door open. I cracked the servants’ door open a bit so I could see. I heard the door close, then I saw the general cross the court and go out through the passageway.”
    â€œDid you call to him?” I asked.
    He shook his head. “No, sir. Oh, no. The general would not have appreciated me inquiring into his business. It wasn’t my place to ask where he was going in the middle of the night.”
    â€œDid you notice anything strange about him? How was he dressed?”
    â€œHe was wearing a suit, sir, but no cloak. That night was the beginning of this warm spell. He looked as if he were going out on business for the day.” He thought for a moment. “Now that I think about it, there was something odd. He was carrying an object in his hand.”
    â€œA satchel? A bag?” Benda pressed.
    â€œNo. Please, sir, let me think. No, not a bag. Ah, I remember. It was a piece of paper.”
    Benda glanced at me.
    â€œHow did he seem to you?” I asked the steward. “Could he have been sleepwalking?”
    The man stared at me with surprise, and then