a sharp blade with great force. No bullet and no powder are used
in it. But when it is placed directly over a vital point of the
skull so that the aim is unerring, a trigger lets a long knife
shoot out with tremendous force, and death is instantaneous."

Near the door, leading to the courtyard that opened on the side
street, were some spots of blood. They were so far from the place
where the valet had discovered the body of the chef that there
could be no doubt that they were blood from the murderer himself.
Kennedy's reasoning in the matter seemed irresistible.

He looked under the table near the door, covered with a large
light cloth. Beneath the table and behind the cloth he found
another blood spot.

"How did that land there?" he mused aloud. "The table-cloth is
bloodless."

Craig appeared to think a moment. Then he unlocked and opened the
door. A current of air was created and blew the cloth aside.

"Clearly," he exclaimed, "that drop of blood was wafted under the
table as the door was opened. The chances are all that it came
from a cut on perhaps the hand or face of the murderer himself."

It seemed to be entirely reasonable, for the bloodstains about the
room were such as to indicate that he had been badly cut by the
carving-knife.

"Whoever attacked the chef must have been deeply wounded," I