“Sometimes we never get him.”
“Oh, come a bit closer than that.”
“Generally, given a clear run, with an established motive, we know who he is within eight days.”
“Wednesday, in effect?”
“Can’t say, this time?”
“Suppose, as a hypothesis, you are convinced of a man’s guilt, but can obtain little or no evidence?”
“He goes through life a free and independent citizen of this or any other country. Arrests on suspicion are not my long suit.”
“How does one get evidence?” purred Hart. “It isn’t scattered broadcast by a clever criminal. And you fellows seem to object to my method, which has been the only effectual one so far in this affair.”
“If you had shot that specter the other night there would have been the deuce to pay.”
“But you would now be sure of the murderer?”