may they hold that some projectile might have been shot through the
partly opened window and none of us have detected the act。〃
〃Ah； yes；〃 rejoined Maitland； 〃but when I ask them where this
implement is under this assumption； and remind them of what I shall
already have told them； viz。； that Mr。 Darrow sat back to the window
as well as over eight feet from it； and sat in a chair； the solid
back of which extended； like a protecting shield； fully six inches
above the top of his head； they will find it difficult to show how；
unless projectiles travel in sharp curves or angles； a man in this
position could thus receive a wound directly beneath his chin； a
wound so slight as not to penetrate the thyroid cartilage immediately
under it。
〃The abandonment of this hypothesis will force them to relinquish
the idea that the murder was committed from without。 What then
remains？ Only the second alternative。 They must either give up
altogether the idea of murder； or have recourse to what is known as
the theory of exclusive opportunity。〃
〃Theory of exclusive opportunity；〃 repeated Gwen； as a puzzled look
overspread her countenance。 〃I … I fear I do not quite understand
what you mean。〃
〃Pardon me； Miss Darrow； for not making my meaning clearer to you；〃
said Maitland with a deferential inclination of the head。 〃The
theory of exclusive opportunity； to state it plainly in this case；
means simply this： if Mr。 Darrow were murdered； some one of us five；
we being the only ones having an opportunity to do the deed； must
be the assassin。 Whether this view be taken； or that of suicide； it
becomes of paramount importance to find the weapon。 Do you not now
see why I objected to having anyone leave the room？ If； as appears
likely from my search； the weapon is not to be found； and if； as I
feel reasonably certain； either the suicide or the murder theory be
substantiated； then； anyone who left the room before official search
was made would be held to have taken the weapon with him and disposed
of it； because his would have been the exclusive opportunity of so
doing。 Someone must have disposed of it； and no one else had a
chance to do so； that would be the way it would be stated。 But；
since no one of us has left the room； a thorough search both of it
and of our persons； must convince the officers that we； at least；
are not responsible for the fact that the weapon is not forthcoming。〃
Maitland paused and looked at Browne as if he expected him to speak；
but that gentleman only shut his square jaws the more firmly together
and held his peace； … at least in so far as words were concerned。
If looks； like actions； 〃speak louder than words；〃 this black visage
with its two points of fire made eloquent discourse。 I charged all
this display of malice to jealousy。 It is not altogether pleasant
to be placed at a disadvantage before the one being whose good
opinion one prizes above all things else； … that is to say； I have
read that such is the case。 I do not consider my own views upon
such matters expert testimony。 In all affairs of the heart my
opinions cease to have weight at exactly the point where that organ
ceases to be a pump。
Even Gwen； I think； noticed Browne's determined silence； for she
said to Maitland：
〃I am very grateful that your forethought prevented me from causing
Mr。 Browne even temporary annoyance by making him my messenger。〃
She paused a moment and then continued：
〃You were speaking of the officers' theories。 When they have
convinced themselves that no one of us has removed the weapon； what
then？〃
〃In my opinion；〃 said Maitland； 〃they will ultimately fall back upon
the suicide theory； but they must find the weapon here before they
can substantiate it； for if it be not here someone must have taken
it away and that someone could have only been the one who used it
… the assassin； in short … but here are the officers。 Let each one
of us insist upon being searched。 They can send to the station for
a woman to search you；〃 he said in an undertone to Gwen and then
added： 〃I trust you will pardon my suggesting a course which； in
your case； seems so utterly unnecessary； but； believe me； there are
urgent reasons for it which I can explain later。 If we would hope
to solve this mystery； everything depends upon absolute thoroughness
at this juncture。〃
〃I should evince but poor appreciation；〃 Gwen replied； 〃of the
ability you have already shown should I fail to follow your slightest
suggestion。 It is all I can offer you by way of thanks for the
kind interest you have taken。〃
The return of Officer Barker； accompanied by three other men； now
changed the tide of conversation。 Maitland advanced and shook hands
with one whom he introduced as Mr。 Osborne； and this gentleman in
turn introduced his brother officer； a Mr。 Allen； and ； a
special detective。
Osborne impressed me as a man of only mediocre ability； thoroughly
imbued with the idea that he is exceptionally clever。 He spoke
loudly and； I thought； a bit ostentatiously； yet withal in a manner
so frank and hearty that I could not help liking the fellow。
； on the contrary； seemed retiring almost to the point of
self…abnegation。 He said but little； apparently preferring to keep
in the background； where he could record his own observations in
his note…book without too frequent interruption。 His manner was
polished in the extreme； and so frank withal that he seemed to me
like a man of glass through whom every thought shone unhindered。
I wondered how one who seemed powerless to conceal his own emotions
should possess a detective's ability to thread his way through the
dark and hidden duplicity of crime。 When he spoke it was in a low；
velvety； and soothing voice； that fell upon the ear with an
irresistible charm。 When Osborne would make some thoughtless
remark fraught with bitterness for Gwen； such an expression of pain
would flit across 's fine face as one occasionally sees
in those highly organised and sympathetic natures； … usually found
among women if a doctor's experience may be trusted； … which catch
the throb of another's hurt； even as adjacent strings strive to
sing each other's songs。
seemed to me more priest than detective。 His clean…shaven
face； its beautifully chiselled features suffused with that peculiar
pallor which borrows the transparency of marble； the large； limpid
brown eyes and the delicate； kindly mouth … all these； combined with
a faultless manner and a carriage suggestive of power in reserve；
so fascinated me that I found myself watching him continually。 I
remember saying to myself： 〃What a rival he would make in a woman's
affections！〃
At just that time he was looking at Gwen with tender； solicitous
sympathy written in every feature； and that doubtless suggested my
thought。
Mr。 Allen was even more ordinary than Mr。 Osborne in manner and
appearance。 I do not presume to judge his real merits； for I did
not notice him sufficiently to properly portray him to you； even
if I had the gift of description； which I think you will admit I
have not。 He lives in my memory only as a something tall； spare；
coarse of texture； red； hairy； and redolent of poor tobacco。
How different men are！ （Of course women are all alike！） While
Osborne； like a good…natured bumble…bee； was buzzing noisily about；
as though all the world were his clover…blossom； and Allen； so far
as I know； was doing nothing； ； alert and keen despite his
gentleness and a modesty which kept him for the most part
unobtrusively in the shadow of his chosen corner； was writing
rapidly in a note…book and speaking no word。 It seemed as if
nothing escaped him。 Clearly he was there to enlighten himself
rather than others。 At length； pausing to make a measurement；
he noticed my gaze and said to me in an undertone； as he glanced
solicitously at Gwen lest she should hear：
〃Pardon me； but did any of you observe anything； at or about the
time of Mr。 Darrow's death； which impressed you as singular； … any
noise； any shadow； any draught or change of temperature； say a
rushing or I might say swishing sound； … anything； in fact； that
would seem to you as at all unusual？〃
〃Nothing whatever；〃 I replied。 〃Everything seemed perfectly normal
and commonplace。〃
〃Hum！ Strange！〃 he said； and returned to his notes。
I felt sure had had a theory and that my testimony had not
strengthened it； but he did not volunteer any information； neither
did he take part in the conversation of his companions； and so my
curiosity remained ungratified。 It was clear that 's methods
were very different from those of Osborne and Allen。
I need not weary you by further narrating what occurred at this
official examination。 Suffice it to say that； with one or two minor
exceptions； Osborne and Allen followed the precise course of
reasoning prophesied by Maitland； and； as for ； he
courteously； but firmly； held his peace。 The two officers did not；
however； lean as strongly to the theory that death resulted from
natural causes as Maitland had anticipated； and； I think； this
surprised
him。 He had already told them that he expected to be able to show
death to have resulted from poison hyp