“There is evidence in support of your belief,” Nick frankly admitted, disregarding the tinge of sarcasm with which the physician had spoken.
“I thought you would find it.”
“I may find something more, perhaps, before I end my work in this case.”
Nick’s voice took on a more subtle ring when he replied, stepping out into the yard with his chief assistant.
There in the damp earth they found numerous hardly discernible footprints, most of them near the two holes Nick had observed from the window, or leading toward a gate opening into the alley. All of them were so intermingled and partly effaced, however, that they were of little value. After carefully inspecting them, nevertheless, Nick said quietly:
“Three men have been here. I think that was the number, judging from these faint imprints. One of them held a short ladder while the others entered that window. They brought out the body, whether dead or alive, and got away with it.”
“You still suspect trickery on Margate’s part?” questioned Chick.
“I do,” said Nick. “I believe there is something more than a coincidence in the theft of this man’s body so soon after his supposed suicide. We must go deeper, however, before I can form a more definite opinion. Let’s have a look in the alley.”
Nick found the gate unbolted and called Chick’s attention to it.
“They did not delay to fasten it,” he remarked. “Ah, here is something of more significance! The body was taken away in a box.”