"Inspector Drake tells me old Sir George Fleet gave away his rapier-collection about November of 1925. Sir George never did like steel; he preferred guns; and after there'd been a knife-murder at Priory Hill he gave the stuff away to Major Colwell, the Governor of Pentecost But was the Puckston girl killed with that dagger?
"There's very strong evidence she was. You can't identify a knife-wound certain-sure like a bullet-wound. But unusual blade; unusual wounds corresponding; fits exactly. Blood-group type's same. Yes; there you are."
Whereupon Masters sat up straight '
"Sir, that girl was killed in the garden between the two prison-wings. There's evidence: I tell you straight. She was carried down under the gallows-trap in a travelling-robe. After (mind you) being brought to the garden alive. And that took time. Lots of time. What's the result?
"It's this. Every one of you five people who went to the prison, and were together even before then, has got an alibi as big as a house. Eh?" "I hadn't thought about it So that's the perfect alibi, is it?" "We-el!" said Masters, regarding him with broad and fishy skepticism. "No. I don't say perfect. I could pick a flaw in it
But it’d go down with a jury like peaches and cream. You'd want strong evidence to upset it?"
"And you think you can upset it?" "If you ask me whether I want to upset It" Masters said i violently, "the answer is: yes. I smacking well do! If you ask me whether I can upset it, the answer is: probably. I'll know tomorrow. There's a little camera-trick, Mr. Drake, that might
interest you."
Sir Henry Merrivale, at this point lumbered very slowly into I the room and passed them without appearing to see them.] H.M.'s big face wore a mottled pallor, and there were beads of sweat on his forehead. It struck Martin Drake with a chill of dread. And Masters — who had sworn at the time of the Bronze Lamp case he would never again be worried by the old man's carryings-on — uttered a roaring oath and jumped up. "Have you been on that roof?" Masters demanded.
H.M. did not reply. He went over and stood with his back to the fireplace, his feet wide apart Fumbling for a handkerchief in his hip pocket, he mopped his forehead slowly and returned the handkerchief. His eyes were blank. After a long time he spoke.