Corcoran turned almost pleadingly to Captain Dolan.
“The gorilla—” he said. “Was it the gorilla from the Zoo that killed Terence McFadden?”
Captain Dolan shook his head.
“I would not say that,” he answered.
I stared at the parchment-like face in amazement. Like Corcoran, I had jumped to this conclusion. Kenton drew his hand across his forehead in perplexity.
“But you said there was no murder!” cried Corcoran. “Was it ‘Big Jim’ that killed him, after all?”
“I would not say that,” repeated Captain Dolan.
Corcoran looked at the old man dazedly. Then he spoke very softly and soothingly, as one might interrogate a backward child:
“Then tell me, Captain Dolan,” he said. “How did Terence McFadden die?”