“Yes, sir. You see that I am drawing the bow to the tip of the arrow. It can’t be drawn farther. One needs a wrist guard and finger guards for this sort of work. I don’t think anyone could shoot any harder with it, sir,” he added, “not even an expert.”
“What do you mean by that last?” Bernard demanded.
“Nothing, sir,” replied the butler innocently.
Leaving Bernard on the third floor, Landis and Stimson descended to the billiard-room. From the lockers they selected the bow which seemed to them both the strongest and took it up to the third floor.
With this, Stimson managed to shoot hard enough so that the point of the Japanese arrow could be felt at the back of the target. He drew a full bow to do it. Inexperienced as they were, the detectives felt justified in believing that the bow could shoot no harder with that arrow. Yet much more force would have been required for the arrow to pass entirely through the target and chip bits of brick from the chimney beyond.
“Stimson,” said Bernard suddenly, “have you got a skeleton key to the various bedrooms in the house?”
“No, sir. I believe Miss Mount has one in her room. She would naturally keep it, sir.”
Bernard stared, then nodded slowly.
“Thank you, Stimson,” said Landis. “Now replace the two bows and the quiver where you found them and wait for us in the kitchen a while longer, if you don’t mind. We may need you again. Much obliged.”