Elliott now spoke up: "Oakes, you said the murderer was a good shot. Is Maloney a good shot with a revolver?"
"Yes, he was; he used to belong to the National Guard years ago. He was a splendid shot then, according to evidence procured by my men."
"But the revolver to-day was not the old one?" queried the Chief.
"No," answered Oakes; "but he can easily have two."
"I had better arrest him now as a suspicious person," exclaimed Hallen excitedly.
"Not yet. Let us be sure first—remember Skinner has a motive for crossing us; he has tried to defeat the aims of justice right through. He was dealing money this morning to someone; suppose it was to Maloney—what is his reason?"
Hallen thumped the table furiously as though a new thought had come to him. "Skinner answers the physical requirements also, Mr. Oakes—he was also a guardsman—a good shot."
"Yes," answered Oakes, "but scarcely strong enough to overpower me at the Mansion."
"Unless he was acting while in mania, as we presume this criminal acts," said Moore.
I sat spellbound as these men discussed the intricacies of the affair, realizing the truth of their reasonings and marvelling at the clues, conceptions and brilliant memories revealed, especially by the masterly Oakes.