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now stands。 No assassin； it will be clear to them； could have entered or
left this room unobserved。 If； therefore； a man did enter the room and
kill our friend； we； all of us； must be his accomplices。〃 This remark drew
some sort of exclamatory protest from every other person in the room save
Browne。
〃Ah； that is probably the true solution；〃 said the artist with ill…
concealed disgust。
This remark and the tone in which it was uttered would have been
discourteous under any circumstances； at this particular time and in the
painful situation in which we all found ourselves it was boorish almost
beyond endurance。
There was nothing in Maitland's manner to indicate that he had heard
Browne's remark； as he quietly continued：
〃You see this cold…blooded view； the mere statement of which causes
you all to shudder； … the more so because one of our number is the
daughter of the dead man； … is not to be entertained a moment and is only
mentioned to show the logical chain which will force the officers into the
certain conviction that no assassin did enter or leave this room。 What； then；
remains of their theory？ Two possibilities。 First； the murderer may
have done the deed without entering。 If so； it is clear that he must have
made use of the partly…opened window。 This seems so likely that they
will seize upon it with avidity。 At first they will suggest that the assassin
reached in at the window and struck his victim as he sat by it。 This； they
will urge； accounts for our not finding the weapon； and they will be so
sure that this is the correct solution of the problem that I shall probably
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have to point out to them its patent absurdity。 This illustrates the danger
of forming an hypothesis from imperfect data。 Remind them that Mr。
Darrow did not sit by the window； but eight feet three and one…half inches
from it； in almost the exact centre of the room； and their theory falls to the
ground； only to be hastily replaced； as a drowning man catches at a straw；
by a slightly varied theory。 If the victim sat that distance from the
window； they will inform us； it is clear the murderous implement must
have been thrown or shot at him by the assassin。〃
〃Indeed；〃 said Mr。 Herne； 〃though I had not thought of that theory it
seems to me so plausible； now that you mention it； that I think the officers
will show rare acumen if they adopt it。 Very properly may they hold that
some projectile might have been shot through the partly opened window
and none of us have detected the act。〃
〃Ah； yes；〃 rejoined Maitland； 〃but when I ask them where this
implement is under this assumption； and remind them of what I shall
already have told them； viz。； that Mr。 Darrow sat back to the window as
well as over eight feet from it； and sat in a chair； the solid back of which
extended； like a protecting shield； fully six inches above the top of his
head； they will find it difficult to show how； unless projectiles travel in
sharp curves or angles； a man in this position could thus receive a wound
directly beneath his chin； a wound so slight as not to penetrate the thyroid
cartilage immediately under it。
〃The abandonment of this hypothesis will force them to relinquish the
idea that the murder was committed from without。 What then remains？
Only the second alternative。 They must either give up altogether the idea
of murder； or have recourse to what is known as the theory of exclusive
opportunity。〃
〃Theory of exclusive opportunity；〃 repeated Gwen； as a puzzled look
overspread her countenance。 〃I … I fear I do not quite understand what
you mean。〃
〃Pardon me； Miss Darrow； for not making my meaning clearer to you；〃
said Maitland with a deferential inclination of the head。 〃The theory of
exclusive opportunity； to state it plainly in this case； means simply this： if
Mr。 Darrow were murdered； some one of us five； we being the only ones
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The Darrow Enigma
having an opportunity to do the deed； must be the assassin。 Whether this
view be taken； or that of suicide； it becomes of paramount importance to
find the weapon。 Do you not now see why I objected to having anyone
leave the room？ If； as appears likely from my search； the weapon is not
to be found； and if； as I feel reasonably certain； either the suicide or the
murder theory be substantiated； then； anyone who left the room before
official search was made would be held to have taken the weapon with
him and disposed of it； because his would have been the exclusive
opportunity of so doing。 Someone must have disposed of it； and no one
else had a chance to do so； that would be the way it would be stated。 But；
since no one of us has left the room； a thorough search both of it and of
our persons； must convince the officers that we； at least； are not
responsible for the fact that the weapon is not forthcoming。〃
Maitland paused and looked at Browne as if he expected him to speak；
but that gentleman only shut his square jaws the more firmly together and
held his peace； … at least in so far as words were concerned。 If looks； like
actions； 〃speak louder than words；〃 this black visage with its two points of
fire made eloquent discourse。 I charged all this display of malice to
jealousy。 It is not altogether pleasant to be placed at a disadvantage
before the one being whose good opinion one prizes above all things else；
… that is to say； I have read that such is the case。 I do not consider my
own views upon such matters expert testimony。 In all affairs of the heart
my opinions cease to have weight at exactly the point where that organ
ceases to be a pump。
Even Gwen； I think； noticed Browne's determined silence； for she said
to Maitland：
〃I am very grateful that your forethought prevented me from causing
Mr。 Browne even temporary annoyance by making him my messenger。〃
She paused a moment and then continued：
〃You were speaking of the officers' theories。 When they have
convinced themselves that no one of us has removed the weapon； what
then？〃
〃In my opinion；〃 said Maitland； 〃they will ultimately fall back upon
the suicide theory； but they must find the weapon here before they can
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substantiate it； for if it be not here someone must have taken it away and
that someone could have only been the one who used it … the assassin； in
short … but here are the officers。 Let each one of us insist upon being
searched。 They can send to the station for a woman to search you；〃 he
said in an undertone to Gwen and then added： 〃I trust you will pardon my
suggesting a course which； in your case； seems so utterly unnecessary； but；
believe me； there are