This was all which could be learned about him off-hand, and at so
late an hour. I was greatly interested, of course, and had plenty
to think of till I saw George again and learned the result of the
latest investigations.

Miss Challoner had been shot, not stabbed. No other deduction was
possible from such facts as were now known, though the physicians
had not yet handed in their report, or even intimated what that
report would be. No assailant could have approached or left her,
without attracting the notice of some one, if not all of the
persons seated at a table in the same room. She could only have
been reached by a bullet sent from a point near the head of a small
winding staircase connecting the mezzanine floor with a coat-room
adjacent to the front door. This has already been insisted on, as
you will remember, and if you will glance at the diagram which
George hastily scrawled for me, you will see why.

A. B., as well as C. D., are half circular openings into the office
lobby. E. F. are windows giving upon Broadway, and G. the party
wall, necessarily unbroken by window, door or any other opening.

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| ===desk |
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| Where Miss C Fell-x o
| A o
| o
E o
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