“You’ve shaken my confidence,” he said. “Unless I have your promise that you will never do such a thing again while in my company, I shall ban you from this inquiry with bell, book, and candle.”
“Very well. It’s a bargain. Now let us ponder Exhibit A.”
He stretched a long arm over the table, and took the hat.
“Put it on!” commanded the detective.
Hart did so, and scowled frightfully. Furneaux bent forward and squinted.
“Notice the line of those bullet-holes,” he said to Grant.
“Any man wearing that hat must have had his scalp ploughed up,” said Grant instantly.
“Well, we know that nothing of the kind happened. Why?”
“It was perched on top of a wig,” drawled Hart.
Furneaux was slightly disappointed—there was no denying it. Being a vain little person, he liked to show off in a minor matter such as this.