54.
It was the Dutchman's room.
Help arrived.

The door was forced open, and Vandervelt was found dead.
The case from which he had taken the pistol was lying on the sofa.

When Marie saw that, she knew that she had been an unconscious accomplice.
Her tender heart overflowed with grief.
Whilst others were lifting him up, she leaned her head against the wall, and sobbed.
"It was my fault, it was my fault!" she cried.

"I gave him the case.
But how was I to know ?" They took her away, and tried to comfort her, but it was all in vain.
"And he gave me five francs," she sobbed.

"I shudder to think of them." It was all in vain that Waerli gave her a letter for which she had been longing for many days.
"It is from your _Mutterli_," he said, as he put it into her hands.