Part 11 (1/2)
”Yes? Does any one present know where Mr Binney--is that the name?--spent this evening? Or any way to learn of his whereabouts?”
”He went out about before I came on,” volunteered Moore. ”The day doorman will know, or the elevator girl who brought him down.”
”All right. That's keep. Now, I want to get at the actual facts of his discovery here. It would seem, Moore, that you're the only one who can give any information in that respect.”
”I've already told you all I know.”
”And this Mr Vail you took upstairs,--he wouldn't know anything?”
”I can't answer for that, but when Mr Vail came in, and I took him up in the elevator, there wasn't any sign of Sir Herbert Binney about, dead or alive!”
”No; that's so. Well, then, when you came down, and found the wounded man, you went at once for the doctor?”
”Almost at once. I paused a moment, because he was trying so hard to speak, and I reasoned that if he succeeded it would be of utmost importance that some one should hear his words.”
”H'm--yes, that's so. Well, and then, he gave over trying and died, you say; and then?”
”Then I ran up at once to Doctor Pagett's apartment, it is only one flight up, and he came down as soon as he could.”
”Go on from there, Doctor.”
”I came right down, as soon as I could hurry on some clothes. I found Sir Binney dead, and can a.s.severate that he had been dead but a few moments.”
”He was stabbed?”
”Yes, and the weapon used was removed and must have been taken away by the murderer, as it cannot be found.”
”H'm there are other explanations. But never mind that. The wound was such as to cause almost instantaneous death?”
”Apparently it _did_ do so. Death was, of course, hastened by the immediate removal of the knife. Had that remained in the wound, the victim would doubtless have lived long enough to make a clear dying statement.”
”What was the weapon? Can you divine?”
”A sharp knife, dagger, or some such implement.”
”A paper-cutter, say?”
”Not likely. Unless it was an unusually sharp one. The cut is so cleanly made that it presupposes a very sharp blade.”
”And your diagnosis of the killing corresponds in all points with this night porter's story?”
”So far as I can judge, there is no discrepancy in his narrative.”
Dr Pagett was of the pompous school, and dearly loved to be in an important role. But he was evidently a learned and skilled physician and his words were spoken with a positive air that carried conviction.
”There is little more to be learned from viewing the scene,” the detective said, at last, after he had put a few more direct questions to Bob Moore and had advised some with his companion policemen.
”Nope; might as well let in the undertakers,” agreed Kelsey.
”Oh, do,” urged Moore. ”It's really imperative that we get all traces of the tragedy away before daylight. And it's almost four o'clock now!”