Part 6 (2/2)
”No other,” replied Arus, ”and foullysteadily all night, because, as you know, there is an immense amount of wealth stored here
Kallian Publico had rich patrons scholars, princes and wealthy collectors of rarities Well, only a few o I tried the door which opens on the portico, and found it to be only bolted The door is provided with a bolt, which works both froreat lock which can be worked only from without Only Kallian Publico had a key to that, the key which you see now hanging at his girdle
”Naturally my suspicions were roused, for Kallian Publico always locks the door with the great lock when he closes the Temple; and I had not seen hi for his villa in the eastern suburbs of the city I have a key that works the bolt; I entered and found the body lying as you see I have not touched it”
”So,” Deer ”And who is this?”
”The murderer, without doubt!” cried Arus ”He came from that door yonder He is a northern barbarian of some sort a Hyperborean or a Bossonian, perhaps”
”Who are you?” asked Demetrio
”I am Conan,” answered the barbarian ”I am a Cimmerian”
”Did you kill this man?”
The Cimmerian shook his head
”Answer lint rose in the ,” he replied resentfully
”Oh, an insolent fellow!” sneered Denia of prefect of police ”An independent cur! One of these citizens with rights, eh? I'll soon knock it out of him! Here, you! Come clean! Why did you murder ”
”Just a moment, Dionus,” ordered Demetrio curtly ”Fellow, I am chief of the Inquisitorial Council of the city of Numalia You had best tell me why you are here, and if you are not the murderer, prove it”
The Cihtly bewildered, as a barbarian always is when confronted by the evidence of civilized networks and syste andit over,” rapped De to Arus, ”tell ?”
”No, he's usually gone when I arrive to begin reat door was bolted and locked”
”Could he have entered the building again without your having seen him?”
”Why, it's possible, but hardly probable The Tee, and I walk clear around it in a few minutes If he had returned from his villa, he would of course have co way and who ever heard of Kallian Publico travelling otherwise? Even if I had been on the other side of the Temple, I'd have heard the wheels of the chariot on the cobblestones And I've heard no such thing, nor seen any chariots, except those which always pass along the streets just at dusk”
”And the door was locked earlier in the night?”
”I'll swear to it I try all doors several tiht The door was locked on the outside until perhaps half an hour ago that was the last time I tried it, until I found it unlocked”
”You heard no cries or struggles?”
”No But that's not strange The walls of the Temple are so thick, they're practically soundproof an effect increased by the heavy hangings”
”Why go to all this trouble of questions and speculations?” complained the burly prefect ”It's49much easier to beat a confession out of a suspect Here's our man, no doubt about it Let's take hiet a statement if I have to smash his bones to a pulp”
Demetrio looked at the barbarian
”You understand what he said?” asked the Inquisitor ”What have you to say?”