fell, to the moment when the doctor first raised the cry of murder?"

"Yes. Mr. Slater, the assistant manager, who was in the lobby at
the time, says that ten minutes at least must have elapsed."

"Ten minutes and no blood! The weapon must still have been there.
Some weapon with a short and inconspicuous handle. I think they
said there were flowers over and around the place where it struck?"

"Yes, great big scarlet ones. Nobody noticed--nobody looked. A
panic like that seems to paralyse people."

"Ten minutes! I must see every one who approached her during those
ten minutes. Every one, Sweetwater, and I must myself talk with
Miss Clarke."

"You will like her. You will believe every word she says."

"No doubt. All the more reason why I must see her. Sweetwater,
someone drew that weapon out. Effects still have their causes,
notwithstanding the new cult. The question is who? We must
leave no stone unturned to find that out."

"The stones have all been turned over once."

"By you?"

"Not altogether by me."

"Then they will bear being turned over again. I want to be witness