that order in the very narrow and uncomfortable little armchairs
used by the students during lectures.

At last Kennedy was ready to begin. He took his position behind
the long, flat-topped table which he used for his demonstrations
before his classes. "I realise, ladies and gentlemen," he began
formally, "that I am about to do a very unusual thing; but, as
you all know, the police and the coroner have been completely
baffled by this terrible mystery and have requested me to attempt
to clear up at least certain points in it. I will begin what I
have to say by remarking that the tracing out of a crime like
this differs in nothing, except as regards the subject-matter,
from the search for a scientific truth. The forcing of man's
secrets is like the forcing of nature's secrets. Both are pieces
of detective work. The methods employed in the detection of crime
are, or rather should be, like the methods employed in the
process of discovering scientific truth. In a crime of this sort,
two kinds of evidence need to be secured. Circumstantial evidence
must first be marshalled, and then a motive must be found. I have
been gathering facts. But to omit motives and rest contented with
mere facts would be inconclusive. It would never convince anybody
or convict anybody. In other words, circumstantial evidence must
first lead to a suspect, and then this suspect must prove equal
to accounting for the facts. It is my hope that each of you may
contribute something that will be of service in arriving at the
truth of this unfortunate incident."

The tension was not relieved even when Kennedy stopped speaking
and began to fuss with a little upright target which he set up at
one end of his table. We seemed to be seated over a powder