“Did you ever see a dog with hands, Dick?” asked Renstoke quietly.
His hearers started simultaneously with a gasp of horror.
“Whatever do you mean?” they asked.
“Just this,” Lord Renstoke replied. “He was not killed by a dog at all. As you saw, the front of his throat was badly torn. But on the back of his neck were two distinct bruises, one on each side and nearly meeting, which suggested the mark of two thumbs, as if he had been seized from behind by two hands which clasped his neck. Now, no dog could have done that. Moreover no dog could have killed him so quickly that he never had a chance either to fight for his life or to call for help. Remember, he was an extremely powerful man and his nearest neighbour in the line was scarcely more than a hundred yards away. He was killed so suddenly and so swiftly that he had no time even to shout. I have seen many men who had been killed by wolves, bears, and cougars, but never one who had not made a fight for his life.”
“But what could it have been?” asked Yvette in a horrified whisper.
“There is only one animal in the world that could have done it,” replied Renstoke, “and that is a gorilla. You know the strength of the gorilla compared with that of a man is enormous. It has enormously powerful hands and teeth. A man seized unawares, as MacPherson must have been, would be dead in a few seconds; he wouldn’t have the smallest chance either to defend himself or to shout. And I happen to know, though it is not generally known, that Erckmann actually has a gorilla at Lockie. I am going over to see him after the inquest and I mean to see the gorilla as well. Erckmann is a tenant of mine, though, as it happens, I have never seen him.
“But there is one thing that puzzles me,” Renstoke went on after a pause. “The sheep-killing has been going on for several months, and I don’t see where such an animal as a gorilla, assuming that it has been at large for so long, can have been hidden without being seen. But, of course, the country is very wild and there are some big woods that may have screened it during the daytime.”
“What are you going to say at the inquest?” Dick asked abruptly.
“Nothing at all until I know a lot more,” answered Renstoke deliberately. “Remember, we don’t know anything positively yet. I am only giving you my personal opinion.”
All agreed that Renstoke’s plan was best. But they had yet to learn how far the appalling reality outstripped the horror of their suppositions.