“To mislead. To arouse false theories. To accomplish the very thing which has been accomplished. To make people believe that Henry Marchand’s death was an accident — when in reality it was a cleverly contrived murder!”
“A murder!” Lukens gripped the arms of the chair.
“Speak softly,” urged the stranger. “I am talking to you in confidence. I closed the door when I entered. We must be overheard by no one.”
The physician nodded.
“I must admit,” said the stranger quietly, “that the circumstances of Henry Marchand’s death substantiated my belief that the paper was a spurious code.
“I am familiar with the most important details. On that account I see great flaws in the theory which Inspector Klein presented as a solution of Marchand’s death.”
“What, in particular?”
“First,” continued the strange man, “the preventive measure of a poisoned needle.
“Marchand had an alarm upon his safe; a tear-gas ejector upon the closet door. Neither of these were dangerous. Why, then, should he have a death-dealing device hidden in this desk?”
“Because this paper — code or no code — must have been of vital importance—”