Case of Dr. Mejzlík
Written by Karel Čapek (translated, simplified and shortened)
Dr. Mejzlík, a police officer, went to ask an old magic man, Mr. Dastych, for help.
“Listen, Mr. Dastych,” Dr. Mejzlík started, “I have a case that’s bothering me.”
“Go on,” Mr. Dastych said, “who is it about?”
“Me,” Dr. Mejzlík said sadly. “The more I think about it, the less I understand it.”
“Don’t worry,” Mr. Dastych said, “What happened?”
“I caught a burglar, who broke into a safe,” Dr. Mejzlík said, “but I don’t know how. It is the right man, he said that he did it and we found the tools and the money.”
“Well, what’s the problem?” asked Mr. Dastych.
“Well,” replied Dr. Mejzlík, “I don’t understand how I got him. First, I don’t know why I was in the area where I caught him that night.”
Dr. Mejzlík continued, “It was raining and cold. In this weather, no one just walks around for no reason. Why did I go there? Maybe I had something like a feeling.”
“Could be,” Mr. Dastych agreed.
Dr. Mejzlík went on, “Or maybe it was just my habit, since criminals often stay at ‘The Three Maidens’ inn in that area. We often watch that place.”
“Just a habit, then,” said Mr. Dastych.
“Maybe,” Dr. Mejzlík agreed, “but I wasn’t on duty that night and I wanted to go home.”
“So I walked to The Three Maidens, looked around and then I started walking home.”
“It sounds like habit,” Mr. Dastych said.
“Sure, but then a man came toward me. He looked normal, but I stopped under a streetlight and looked at him carefully. But I don’t know why. Was it feeling, habit, or something else?”
Dr. Mejzlík continued, upset, “As the man passed, I noticed something strange: his shoes. They had ash on them. Remember, it was raining. The rain usually washes everything. But not this. And then I remembered that such ash is used in fireproof safes.”
“Ah, feeling!” Mr. Dastych decided.
“Feeling?” Dr. Mejzlík cried. “If it hadn’t been raining, I wouldn’t have noticed the ash at all!”
Dr. Mejzlík explained that he’d followed the man back to The Three Maidens, called for help, and they caught him with all the tools and the stolen money. “The newspapers praised our quick thinking, but it was all a lucky accident. If I hadn’t gone there, hadn’t noticed his shoes…”
“Does it matter?” Mr. Dastych said. “It was a success.”
“But what about other cases? What should I do now.” Dr. Mejzlík cried out. “Shall I listen to my feelings? Or habits? Or hope that I will be lucky again? This was my first big case, and now everyone thinks I’m some police genius with a sharp eye. What if tomorrow I get a murder case? What will I do then?”
Mr. Dastych calmly responded, “It was luck, sure, but also watching, thinking, habit, feeling, and a bit of great thinking.”
Dr. Mejzlík groaned, “But what shall I do next?”
At that moment, the phone rang. Dr. Mejzlík took the call. When he put the phone down he, looked nervous and unhappy.
“Another case—they found a stranger in a hotel. It was a murder.” He got up and went out.
