"Man, you are surely travelling
overfast," said he. "I have heard no evidence yet that any
stranger was ever in the house at all."
"The open window, the blood on the sill, the queer card, the
marks of boots in the corner, the gun!"
"Nothing there that could not have been arranged. Mr. Douglas
was an American, or had lived long in America. So had Mr.
Barker. You don't need to import an American from outside in
order to account for American doings."
"Ames, the butler--"
"What about him? Is he reliable?"
"Ten years with Sir Charles Chandos--as solid as a rock. He has
been with Douglas ever since he took the Manor House five years
ago. He has never seen a gun of this sort in the house."
"The gun was made to conceal. That's why the barrels were sawed.
It would fit into any box. How could he swear there was no such
gun in the house?"
"Well, anyhow, he had never seen one."
MacDonald shook his obstinate Scotch head. "I'm not convinced
yet that there was ever anyone in the house," said he. "I'm
asking you to conseedar" (his accent became more Aberdonian as he
lost himself in his argument) "I'm asking you to conseedar what
it involves if you suppose that this gun was ever brought into
the house, and that all these strange things were done by a
person from outside.
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