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case？〃 〃I believe；〃 Maitland replied deliberately； 〃that your father's death
resulted from poison injected into the blood； but this is a matter so easily
settled that I prefer not to theorise upon it。 There are several poisons
which might have produced the effects we have observed。 If； however； I
am able to prove this conjecture correct I have still only eliminated one of
the three hypotheses and resolved the matter to a choice between the
suicide and murder theories； yet that is something gained。 It is because I
believe it can be shown death did not result from natural causes that I have
so strongly urged Mr。 Browne not to leave the room。〃
〃Pardon me； sir！〃 ejaculated Browne； growing very dark and
threatening。 〃You mean to insinuate … 〃 〃Nothing；〃 continued Maitland；
finishing his sentence for him； and then quietly ignoring the interruption。
〃As I have already said； I am somewhat familiar with the usual methods of
ferreting out crime。 As a lawyer； and also as a chemical expert； I have
listened to a great deal of evidence in criminal cases； and in this and other
ways； learned the lines upon which detectives may confidently be
expected to act； when once they have set up an hypothesis。 The means
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by which they arrive at their hypotheses occasionally surpass all
understanding； and we have； therefore； no assurance as to the view they
will take of this case。 The first thing they will do will be to make what
they will call a 'thorough examination' of the premises； but a study of
chemistry gives to the word 'thorough' a significance of which they have
no conception。 It is to shorten this examination as much as possible； … to
prevent it from being more tiresome to you than is absolutely necessary；〃
he said to Gwen； 〃that I have taken the liberty of ascertaining and
recording most of the data the officers will require。〃
〃Believe me；〃 Gwen said to him in an undertone not intended for the
rest of us； though we heard it； 〃I am duly grateful for your consideration
and shall find a fitting time to thank you。〃
With no other reply than a deprecating gesture； Maitland continued：
〃Now let us look at the matter from the standpoint of the officers。
〃They must first determine in their own minds how Mr。 Darrow met
his death。 This will constitute the basis of their first hypothesis。 I say
'first' because they are liable to change it at any moment it seems to them
untenable。 If they conclude that death resulted from natural causes； I
shall doubtless be able to induce them to waive that view of the case until
I have been given time to prove it untenable … if I can … and to act for the
present upon one of the other two possible theories。 It appears； from our
present knowledge of the case； that； whichever one of these they choose；
the same difficulty will confront them。〃
Gwen looked at him inquiringly and he continued； answering the
question in her eyes：
〃This is what I mean。 Your father； whether he committed suicide or
was murdered； in all probability met his death through that almost
imperceptible wound under his chin。 This wound； so far as I have yet
been able to examine it without a glass； was made with a somewhat blunt
instrument； able； apparently； to little more than puncture the skin and draw
a drop or so of blood。 Of course； on such a theory； death must have
resulted from poisoning。 The essential point is： Where is the instrument
that inflicted the wound？〃
〃Might it not be buried in the flesh？〃 Gwen asked。
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〃Possibly； but as I have not been able to find it I cannot believe it very
likely； though closer search may reveal it；〃 replied Maitland。 〃Your
father's right forefinger；〃 he continued； 〃is slightly stained with blood； but
the wound is of a nature which could not have been caused by a finger nail
previously poisoned。 Since we know he pressed his hand to his throat this
blood…stain makes no more strongly toward the truth of the suicide theory
than it does toward that of the murder hypothesis。 Suppose now； for we
must look at all sides of the question； the officers begin to act upon the
assumption that murder has been committed。 What will they then do？
They will satisfy themselves that the east window was opened six and
three…quarters inches and securely fastened in that position； that the two
south windows were closed and fastened and that the blinds thereof were
also closed。 They will ascertain the time when death occurred； … we can
easily tell them； … and this will show them that neither of the blinds on the
south side could have been opened without so increasing the light in the
room as to be sure to attract our attention。 They will learn also that the
folding doors were locked； as they are now； on this side and that these two
gentlemen ＇indicating Browne and Herne＇ sat against them。 They will then
turn to the hall door as the only possible means of entrance and I shall tell
them that the Doctor and I sat directly in front of this door and between it
and Mr。 Darrow。 I have taken the liberty to cut the carpet to mark the
positions of our chairs。 In view of all these facts what must they conclude？
Simply this： no one entered the room； did the deed； and then left it； at least
not without being observed。〃 〃But surely；〃 I ventured to suggest； 〃you do
not think they will presume to question the testimony of all of us that no
one was observed。〃
〃That is all negative evidence；〃 he replied； 〃and does not conclusively
prove that another might not have observed what we failed to detect。
However； it is all so self…evident that they will not question it。 I know so
well their methods of reasoning that I am already prepared to refute their
conclusions at every point； without； I regret to say； being myself able to
solve the mystery； though I may say in passing that I purposely am
refraining from formulating any theory whatever until I have ascertained
everything which it is possible to learn in the matter。 In this way I hope
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to avoid the error into which the detective is so prone to fall。 Once you
set up an hypothesis you unconsciously； and in spite of yourself；
accentuate unduly the importance of all data making toward that
hypothesis； while； on the other hand you either utterly neglect；
misconstrue； or fail to fully appreciate； the evidence oppugnant to your
theory。 In chemical research I gather the material for an entire series of
experiments before performing any； so that the first few shall not； either by
satisfying or discouraging me； cause me to leave the bush half beaten。
〃Let us see how； from the officers' standpoint； the murder hypothesis
now stands。 No assassin； it will be clear to them； could have enter