“Yes, Mr. Berry. I am. But I admit my willingness to be proved mistaken by anyone but Mr. Belknap.”
“I’ve remarked that you and Mr. Belknap don’t exactly see eye to eye.” Berry’s lips twitched in a half-smile. “Or is it that you’ve sighted identically, to the point of interference—had you hit on the Dorn solution too? You don’t fancy such a formidable rival, is that it?”
“Perhaps. Yes, Dorn was my original suspicion, and begins to look like my last. Do you really think he’s Mr. Belknap’s, though? Isn’t Mr. Belknap afraid of the woman in the case?”
“You mean Miss Mdevani, I suppose. Hold on now, you shouldn’t be asking me questions, young man.” Berry caught himself up. “You’re here to answer them. Don’t misunderstand me and think I’m taking you on as a Watson.”
But severe as the tone was, a quick glance at Berry’s face revealed a twinkle behind it, and Julian was thrilled down to his bootstraps at the intimate badinage.
“I promise not to flatter myself too much, Mr. Berry,” Julian smiled shyly. “Now about those shots, sir,—and then I have a clue or two I’ve been hoarding just for you. I heard two shots, unless my hearing had gone double. I was tired, but I hadn’t been drinking. However, I’m wrong by the facts; the Colt had been fired but once. So my testimony doesn’t signify.”
“Amateur reasoning, Prentice. Try to figure out why after you go to bed tonight—I hope you are going to bed—and the effort will put you to sleep better than sheep-counting. Or come and tell me if you do find the nigger in your wood pile. All right, give us your clues. I’m all excited.”
Julian produced his slip of thin white paper with its cryptic message.
“You see Colonel Blake was tagged and numbered,” he said.
“I’m surprised you knew the code. Very keen of you. Where did you find this?”