The logic of this remark was apparent to his hearers. Ganimard continued:
“One more question, Monsieur Charles. You were awakened by the ringing of your bell. Now, who, do you think, rang it?”
“Monsieur le baron, of course.”
“When could he ring it?”
“After the struggle ... when he was dying.”
“Impossible; because you found him lying, unconscious, at a point more than four metres from the bell-button.”
“Then he must have rung during the struggle.”
“Impossible,” declared Ganimard, “since the ringing, as you have said, was continuous and uninterrupted, and lasted seven or eight seconds. Do you think his antagonist would have permitted him to ring the bell in that leisurely manner?”
“Well, then, it was before the attack.”
“Also, quite impossible, since you have told us that the lapse of time between the ringing of the bell and your entrance to the room was not more than three minutes. Therefore, if the baron rang before the attack, we are forced to the conclusion that the struggle, the murder and the flight of the assassin, all occurred within the short space of three minutes. I repeat: that is impossible.”