“I at once suspected, therefore, that Garside had been watching outside, that he had seen us entering the house, and that he followed us as quickly as he dared, bent upon learning how we regarded the crime, and also lest Madame Clayton might say something of definite significance, in spite of her mental derangement.”
“You decided, then, that he was responsible for that, also.”
“Certainly. That was a perfectly natural deduction, Patsy, if I was justified in suspecting him at all.”
“Sure thing, chief; so it was.”
“I immediately shaped a course, therefore, which I thought would enable me to confirm my suspicions.”
“I see.”
“I soon succeeded in doing so,” Nick continued. “I sent Chick from the room and pretended to make Garside my confidant. I soon found that he was very willing to fix the crime upon Madame Clayton. For he not only agreed with all I said to that effect, but he no sooner found that I was forming that opinion, or supposed that I was, than he began to point out evidence and circumstances in support of it. All this, mind you, regardless of the woman’s lofty character and exemplary past.[Pg 19]”
“I get you, chief,” nodded Patsy. “He evidently was afraid you might overlook something.”
“He appeared to be, certainly,” Nick replied. “He then informed me that the revolver found there belonged to Clayton, also that it had been taken from the table drawer. He did so before having examined it, Patsy, when he could not possibly have been positive of the fact.”
“He overleaped his mount, eh?”