“Yes,” replied Doctor Lukens. “On the second finger of the right hand. But I am at a loss to explain how it came there.”
The inspector smiled as he looked at the other men present. All seemed bewildered, with the exception of the toxicologist.
“Show them, Joe,” ordered Klein.
The detective came forward. He swung the desk away from the wall so that its side faced the group.
With his right hand he operated the movable molding, raising it with his forefinger and pressing his second finger into the opening beneath. With the action, the secret drawer shot from the front of the desk.
The witnesses came forward in surprise. They examined the mechanical apparatus on the side of the desk. Then Klein moved them back and beckoned to the toxicologist.
“I sent for this man without telling you, doctor,” he said to Lukens. “You were one of the four who discovered Marchand’s body, so I left you out of it for the time being. I wanted him to see what he could find on this.”
The inspector exhibited a small envelope, from which he dropped a hollow needle upon the table.
“Don’t touch it!” warned the toxicologist. “It contains a very virulent poison! It caused Marchand’s death!”
“When Marchand operated the secret drawer,” explained Klein, “he wounded himself with the needle point. That is why he died.