“Oh, do get on with the explanation,” Temple urged. “What was it I did? I haven’t the shadow of an idea.”
“It’s simple enough,” Billy said. “Just absent-mindedly, you sat there with a pencil in your hand, and made ticks over certain notes. As I looked down at the sheet, my attention was especially caught by these, for the excellent reason that they had not been there before. Without any volition on my part, I stood there considering the pencil marks. Within a half-minute, the great idea hit me. In the first rush, I was sure it was the right one; but I wanted to be alone to work it out. So, I just swooped down on the manuscript, and carried it off to my room. Now, to present the case in orderly sequence, here is what we may term Exhibit A.”
Billy took from his pocket a third sheet, which he gave to Saxe. This proved to be the original manuscript of the music, with the pencil markings made by Saxe. The heir of Abernethey examined the page closely, but his expression of bewilderment did not pass. Roy and David left their places to look over the other’s shoulder. For nearly a minute, the three held their gaze curiously on the sheet. Then, of one accord, they looked up, to meet the amused glance of Billy Walker.
“Well?” they demanded, in a single voice.
“You have observed the pencil marks?” came the question; and the three nodded assent.
This is the manner in which the manuscript had been affected by the absent-minded action of Saxe:
“In pursuance of the idea that had come to me,” Billy continued, “I next made a tracing. I took a piece of tissue paper, and laid it over this manuscript. I could then see quite clearly, so that it was easy to make the outline I wished. I started at the beginning, with the notes checked by Saxe, from which I had received the hint as to what to do. I started my pencil at the first top note in the first line of the composition. Then, I drew the pencil straight to the second top note, then on to the third, and so forth in order. Thus, I drew an irregular line with the pencil, from one note to another, using always the highest notes. In this manner, I drew the line indicated by the first half of the music, and I liked that so well that I kept right on, and made the second irregular line, as indicated by the second half of the music. By the time this was accomplished, I was sure that I had finally got the right idea, and that our victory over the old man’s cunning would be won. It was, of course, obvious that the two irregular lines I had secured should be joined in one. You have seen the result. Consider Exhibit B.” Billy spread out the two papers showing the outlines he had drawn, and pointed to that containing two lines.
It had this appearance.