“Nonsense!” interrupted Hardwick, “that’s absurd, Mr. Tracy. When I speak of murder, it is in the abstract, and because it is right that we should consider the matter from every angle. We must even think of suicide, and of——”
“Suicide is as absurd as murder,” said Landon, indignantly. “But what other atrocity had you in mind?”
“Don’t lose your temper, please,” the Professor said, mildly. “I am obliged to preserve an impersonal attitude, or I can’t think at all! The other thought is, that one of the victims killed himself and the other one.”
“Please, Professor,” said Eve, “at least confine yourself to rational common sense. But since you raise this absurd theory, let’s settle it once and for all. Could Mr. Bruce have willingly killed himself and Vernie?” she asked of them all.
“No!” replied Landon. “Mr. Bruce was fond of life and he adored that child! Cut that out!”
“Then,” pursued Eve, “could Vernie have killed herself and her uncle?”
“Rubbish!” cried Landon, “don’t say such things, Eve. Professor, are you answered?”
“And remember,” put in Tracy, “the two were the width of this hall apart. What means could have been employed?”
“What means were employed, anyway?” said Norma. “Oh, what did kill those people?”
“The utter absence of any material means proves the fact that it was supernatural,” declared the Professor. “I only mentioned those other theories to prove their absurdity. Now, as I say, I am a convert to spiritualism in all its form and phases. How can one help being after this? And I, for one, desire to stay here for a time and I feel sure that the departed spirits of our friends will communicate with us.”