“MR. VAIL,” spoke up the chief, a new smoothness and consideration in his manner, “it is my duty to mention for the second time this evening that anything you may say is liable to be used against you. I merely speak of it. Now that I’ve done so, if you care to go on answering my questions—”
“Fire away!” said Vail.
“The slayer of Willis Chase,” said the chief portentously “was outside the house. He climbed in by an open window. His deed accomplished, he climbed hastily out again. In other words he, too, was outside the house shortly before and shortly after the crime.”
“What do you mean?”
“You say you made the rounds outside the house. You declare you were awake and on guard. Did you not see or hear any one climbing to the veranda roof or walking on it or getting into that open window? From your own statement you could not have been far from that window, at least once, in circling or starting to circle the house. You could not have avoided seeing or hearing any trespasser on the trellis or on the roof just above you. It is established that you were out there at the time the murder must have been committed.”
“I did not see any one or hear any one out there,” said Vail.
“Yet you admit you were there?”
“Yes. And nobody else was. I’d have heard him on the roof. And I’d have heard the vines rustle.”
“I agree with you. You would. Mr. Vail, I have had much respect for you. I had still more for your great-uncle, Mr. Osmun Vail. But I am afraid it will be my painful duty to place you under arrest. Unless we—”
“Reuben Quimby, you old fool!” shrilled Miss Gregg. “Why, this boy is—”