“Yes, I’m pretty sure it’s his.”
“And do you remember whether he was carrying it on Tuesday night when he went out?”
The man hesitated some time before replying. Finally, “No,” he said, “I can’t say. Maybe he was—I rather think he was. But I’m not sure.”
“And when he came in?”
“He had a stick, I remember. He rapped at the door with it. I expect it was this one. No, I don’t think it was. It was a plain stick, I’m almost sure.”
“Remember that this may be of the utmost importance. You can’t remember whether or not Mr. Brooklyn had a stick when he went out?”
“Not for sure. I think he had.”
“But you can’t say whether it was this stick?”
“No, not for certain.”
“And when he came in?”