Another matter, of course, was the placing of the needle in the silk.  For that purpose some one had to go to Tarrytown ahead of the others, or at least had to precede the others into the living room.  Offhand I was compelled to admit that this was easiest for Phelps—­Phelps, the man who had insisted that the scene be taken in his library.  At the same time, I knew it was quite possible for the director to have entered ahead of anyone else, possible for him to have issued orders to his people which would keep them out of the way for the brief moment he needed.

A third consideration was the finding of the ampulla in McGroarty’s car.  Stella, Marilyn, Jack Gordon, Merle Shirley, and Werner had ridden out together.  Werner had not returned.  While this fact did not indicate definitely that he might have dropped it, coupled with the other considerations it pointed the suspicion of guilt at the director.

Then there was the finding of the towel in the washroom of the office building at the studio.  While Kennedy now said it was not used to wipe the needle, while we now knew that the needle remained in the portieres from the morning of Stella’s death until late that night, yet Kennedy affirmed the connection of the towel with the crime in some subtle way.  It was true that members of the cast sometimes used the washroom, yet it was evident that Manton, Millard, and Werner, who had rooms on the floor, were the more apt to be concerned in the attempt to dispose of it.  Against Manton I could see no real grounds for suspicion.  In a general way we had been compelled to eliminate Millard early in our investigation.  Again I was brought, in this analysis of the mystery, to Werner.

One other point remained—­the identity of the nocturnal visitor to Tarrytown.  In connection with that I remembered the remark of Marilyn.  Werner was acting as he always acted when he was out late the night before, she had said.  While my theories offered no explanation of the second man, the watcher, I saw—­with an inner feeling of triumph—­that everything again pointed to the director.

I determined not to tell my conclusion to Kennedy, yet.  I did not want to distract him.  Besides, I felt he would disagree.

“What do you think of this, Craig?” I suggested.  “Suppose I start out while you’re busy and try to dig up some more facts about these people?”

“Excellent!” was his reply.  “I can’t say how much longer my analysis will keep me.  By all means do so, Walter.  I shall be here, or, if not, I’ll leave a note so you can find me.”

Accordingly, I took up my search, determined to go slowly and carefully, not to be misled by any promising but fallacious clues.  I knew that Werner would be working at the studio, from all we had heard in the morning.  I determined upon a visit to his apartment in his absence.