“So far as deductive reasoning is concerned,” said Biscayne, “neither case is sufficiently developed to require it. You have said, yourself, commissioner, that Detective Cardona obtains results. I do not doubt it.
“By gathering many facts, he can pick those which appear pertinent to the case. One simple discovery may lead to the end of the trail.
“However” — Biscayne’s tone became thoughtful — “the necessary facts may be totally hidden. We have seen two cases of what appear to be deliberate murder. We cannot be sure in either one.
“Sometimes men are killed by mistake. I am anxious to watch Cardona as he progresses. At this stage, I cannot help him; in fact, I am quite apt to hinder him. The work he is doing now does not appeal to me.
“I am more interested in the study of the facts themselves. To me, it is fascinating to take the details of a crime — particularly murder — to know that the elusive clew is among them, and to seek it by the pure process of deduction.”
“Exactly!” exclaimed Weston. “I told Cardona, to-day, that that was his one failing — an inability to resort to scientific deduction when all other methods are insufficient. He claims that he has hunches—”
“Intuitive deductions,” interposed Biscayne with a smile.
“—but,” continued Weston, “from his past record, I have seen that he goes wide of the mark when pure theory is involved. Take, for example, the case of the man he calls The Shadow.”
“The Shadow?” echoed Biscayne.
“Yes,” said Weston. “Cardona seems to believe in the existence of a superman called The Shadow — a terror of the underworld.”