“From behind the other pedestal!” spoke up Mr. Gryce, all fire and interest at once.  “Either the Englishman deceived us, or each pedestal had its man.”

“We’ll see!  Another shot, and from behind the further pedestal, Mr. La Fleche!”

The Indian glided into view and started for the other end of the tapestry, followed by the Inspector, his detectives and the two directors.  As they passed one by one across the face of the great hanging, they had the appearance not of living men but of a parade of specters, so silent their step and so somber their air.  The dread of some development hitherto unacknowledged made their movements slow instead of hasty.  The upper pedestal instead of the lower!  Why should this possible fact make any difference in their feelings.  Yet it did—­perhaps because it meant deception on the part of one they had instinctively believed trustworthy, or—­

But why pursue conjecture when actuality only is of moment?  Let us proceed with our relation and await the result.

Arrived at the upper pedestal, Mr. La Fleche took his place, received the third arrow and presently delivered it.  The Coroner, who had already started for the other side, hastily approached the dummy, made his examination and threw up his hand with the loud shout: 

“The shot was made from there; the matter is settled!”

Question:  Had Mr. Travis wilfully misled them, or had the presumption in his favor been strengthened by this proof that it had been shown possible for another hand than his to have shot the arrow from this same section of the gallery, without disturbing his belief that he was the only person in it at the time?

X

“AND HE STOOD HERE?”

The Inspector, finding himself very much disturbed by the doubt just mentioned, felt inclined to question whether any perceptible advancement had been made by this freak business of his canny subordinate.  He was hardly ready to say yes, and was not a little surprised when on his way toward the head of the staircase he heard the exultant voice of Mr. Gryce whisper in his ear: 

“That’s all right.  We’ve gained a point.  We know now the exact place from which the arrow was shot.”

“But not who shot it.”

“No—­except that it was not the man Travis.”

“How can you be sure of that?”

“For two reasons.  This is the first one:  If it is difficult to understand how a man could slip from behind the eastern pedestal and make his way along the open gallery to Room H, without attracting the attention of the officer posted opposite, how next to impossible we should find it, if thirty feet were added to his course—­which is the distance between the two pedestals!”

“What was that fellow doing, that he shouldn’t have seen this effort at escape, whether it involved a short flight or a long one?”