police station。 As this was but a few rods away and the messenger
was fleet of foot； an officer was soon upon the scene。 〃We were
able；〃 he said to us generally as he entered the room； 〃to catch
Medical Examiner Ferris by 'phone at his home in F… Street； and
he will be here directly。 In the meantime I have been sent along
merely to see that the body is not moved before his examination and
that everything in the room remains exactly as it was at the time
of the old gentleman's death。 Did I not understand；〃 he said to
Maitland in an undertone； 〃that there is a suspicion of foul play？〃
〃Yes；〃 replied George； 〃that is one explanation which certainly will
have to be considered。〃
〃I thought I heard the Cap'n say 'murder' when he 'phoned in town
for some specials。 They're for detective work on this case； I reckon。
Hello！ That sounds like the Doctor's rig。〃
A moment later the bell rang and Dr。 Ferris entered the room。
〃Ah； Doctor；〃 he said extending his hand to me； 〃what have we here？〃
Before I could answer he had noticed Maitland and advanced to shake
hands with him。
〃Is this indeed so serious as I have been told？〃 he asked； after
his greeting。
〃It seems to me likely；〃 replied Maitland slowly； 〃to develop into
the darkest mystery I have ever known。〃
〃Hum！〃 replied the Examiner。 〃Has the body been moved or the
disposition of its members altered？〃
〃Not since I arrived；〃 replied Officer Barker。
〃And before？〃 queried Dr。 Ferris； turning to Maitland。
〃Everything is absolutely intact。 I have made a few notes and
measurements； but I have disturbed nothing；〃 replied Maitland。
〃Good；〃 said the Examiner。 〃May I see those notes before I go？
You were on that Parker case and you have； you know； something of a
reputation for thoroughness。 Perhaps you may have noted something
that would escape me。〃
〃The notes； Doctor； are at your service；〃 George replied。
Dr。 Ferris' examination of the body was very thorough； yet； since
it was made with the rapid precision which comes from extended
practice； it was soon over。 Short as it was； however； it was still
an ordeal under which Gwen suffered keenly； to judge from her manner。
The Examiner then took Maitland aside； looked at his notes； and
conversed earnestly with him in an undertone for several minutes。 I
do not know what passed between them。 When he left； a few moments
later； Officer Barker accompanied him。
As soon as the door closed behind them Gwen turned to Maitland。
〃Did he give you his opinion？〃 she asked with a degree of interest
which surprised me。
〃He will report death as having resulted from causes at present
unknown；〃 rejoined Maitland。
Gwen seemed greatly relieved by this answer； though I confess I was
utterly at a loss to see why she should be。
Observing this change in her manner Maitland approached her； saying：
〃Will you now permit me to explain my seeming rudeness in interfering
with your plan to make Mr。 Browne your messenger； and at the same
time allow me to justify myself in the making of yet another request？〃
Gwen bowed assent and he proceeded to state the following case as
coolly and accurately as if it were a problem in geometry。
〃Mr。 Darrow；〃 he began； 〃has just died under peculiar circumstances。
Three possible views of the case at once suggest themselves。 First：
his death may have been due to natural causes and his last expressions
the result of an hallucination under which he was labouring。 Second：
he may have committed suicide； as the result； perhaps； of a mania
which in that case would also serve to explain his last words and
acts； or； … you will pardon me； Miss Darrow； … these last appearances
may have been intentionally assumed with a view to deceiving us。 The
officers you have summoned will not be slow in looking for motives
for such a deception； and several possible ones cannot fail at once
to suggest themselves to them。 Third： your father may have been
murdered and his last expressions a more or less accurate description
of the real facts of the case。 It seems to me that these three
theories exhaust the possibilities of the case。 Can anyone suggest
anything further？〃 And he paused for a reply。
〃It is clear；〃 replied Mr。 Herne with portly deliberation； 〃that all
deaths must be either natural or unnatural； and equally clear that
when unnatural the agent； if human； must be either the victim himself；
or some person external to him。〃
〃Precisely so；〃 continued Maitland。 〃Now our friend； the Doctor；
believes that Mr。 Darrow's death resulted from natural causes。 The
official authorities will at first； in all probability； agree with
him； but it is impossible to tell what theory they will ultimately
adopt。 If sufficient motive for the act can be found； some are
almost certain to adopt the suicide theory。 Miss Darrow has
expressed her conviction that we are dealing with a case of murder。
Mr。 Browne and Mr。 Herne have expressed no opinion on the subject；
so far as I am aware。〃
At this point Gwen； with an eagerness she had not before displayed；
… or possibly it was nervousness； … exclaimed： 〃And your own view
of the case？〃 〃I believe；〃 Maitland replied deliberately； 〃that
your father's death resulted from poison injected into the blood；
but this is a matter so easily settled that I prefer not to theorise
upon it。 There are several poisons which might have produced the
effects we have observed。 If； however； I am able to prove this
conjecture correct I have still only eliminated one of the three
hypotheses and resolved the matter to a choice between the suicide
and murder theories； yet that is something gained。 It is because I
believe it can be shown death did not result from natural causes
that I have so strongly urged Mr。 Browne not to leave the room。〃
〃Pardon me； sir！〃 ejaculated Browne； growing very dark and
threatening。 〃You mean to insinuate … 〃 〃Nothing；〃 continued
Maitland； finishing his sentence for him； and then quietly ignoring
the interruption。 〃As I have already said； I am somewhat familiar
with the usual methods of ferreting out crime。 As a lawyer； and
also as a chemical expert； I have listened to a great deal of
evidence in criminal cases； and in this and other ways； learned
the lines upon which detectives may confidently be expected to act；
when once they have set up an hypothesis。 The means by which they
arrive at their hypotheses occasionally surpass all understanding；
and we have； therefore； no assurance as to the view they will take
of this case。 The first thing they will do will be to make what
they will call a 'thorough examination' of the premises； but a
study of chemistry gives to the word 'thorough' a significance of
which they have no conception。 It is to shorten this examination
as much as possible； … to prevent it from being more tiresome to
you than is absolutely necessary；〃 he said to Gwen； 〃that I have
taken the liberty of ascertaining and recording most of the data
the officers will require。〃
〃Believe me；〃 Gwen said to him in an undertone not intended for the
rest of us； though we heard it； 〃I am duly grateful for your
consideration and shall find a fitting time to thank you。〃
With no other reply than a deprecating gesture； Maitland continued：
〃Now let us look at the matter from the standpoint of the officers。
〃They must first determine in their own minds how Mr。 Darrow met his
death。 This will constitute the basis of their first hypothesis。
I say 'first' because they are liable to change it at any moment it
seems to them untenable。 If they conclude that death resulted from
natural causes； I shall doubtless be able to induce them to waive
that view of the case until I have been given time to prove it
untenable … if I can … and to act for the present upon one of the
other two possible theories。 It appears； from our present
knowledge of the case； that； whichever one of these they choose；
the same difficulty will confront them。〃
Gwen looked at him inquiringly and he continued； answering the
question in her eyes：
〃This is what I mean。 Your father； whether he committed suicide
or was murdered； in all probability met his death through that
almost imperceptible wound under his chin。 This wound； so far as
I have yet been able to examine it without a glass； was made with
a somewhat blunt instrument； able； apparently； to little more than
puncture the skin and draw a drop or so of blood。 Of course； on
such a theory； death must have resulted from poisoning。 The
essential point is： Where is the instrument that inflicted the
wound？〃
〃Might it not be buried in the flesh？〃 Gwen asked。
〃Possibly； but as I have not been able to find it I cannot believe
it very likely； though closer search may reveal it；〃 replied
Maitland。 〃Your father's right forefinger；〃 he continued； 〃is
slightly stained with blood； but the wound is of a nature which
could not have been caused by a finger nail previously poisoned。
Since we know he pressed his hand to his throat this blood…stain
makes no more strongly toward the truth of the suicide theory than
it does toward that of the murder hypothesis。 Suppose now； for we
must look at all sides of the question； the officers begin to act
upon the assumption that murder has been committed。 What will
they then do？ They will satisfy themselves that the east window
was opened six and three…quarters inches and securely fastened in
that position； that the two south windows were closed and fastened
and that the blinds thereof were also closed。 They will ascertain
the time when death occurred； … we can easily tell them； … and this
will show them that neither of the blinds on the south side could
have been opened without so increasing the light in the room as to
be sure to attract our attention。 They will learn also that the
folding doors were locked； as they are now； on this side and that
these two gentlemen ＇indicating Browne and Herne＇ sat against them。
They will then turn to the hall door as the only possible means of
entrance and I shall tell them that the Doctor and I sat directly
in front of this door and between it and Mr。 Darrow。 I have taken
the liberty to cut the carpet to mark the positions