Then, when I found speech again, I said:
"If there are intruders in this place, they could not have escaped; they
must certainly be upstairs. I agree with Mr. Langton that it is
certainly very curious that these doors should have been forced."
"How did you know that the Professor is in Scotland?" he inquired of me
eagerly.
In an instant I had a ready reply.
"Antonio told me so when I called on Monday."
"Did he say when his master would be back?" asked the inspector.
"He said he expected him to return last night, as he had an engagement
to go with his daughter to a ball."
"Then he may have returned and gone to the dance," remarked the officer.
"He may also have lost his keys and been compelled to break open the
doors--quite a likely circumstance. Three persons dined downstairs
to-night. He and his daughter and a friend probably dined and
afterwards went out; while the servants, knowing they would not return
before midnight, may have followed them out to spend the evening. That
at least is my theory at the present."
"That certainly seems to be the most logical conclusion, inspector," I
remarked.
"We must search the upper premises before I accept it," exclaimed
Langton, who, I could see, was still very suspicious that something
unusual had happened. The meeting with Antonio in the buffet at Calais
had caused him to doubt, and most naturally so.
My eager eyes were fixed upon the glowing furnace, the large, square,
iron door of which was still red-hot, though the heat was now
decreasing. At the side was a large air-shaft, in which were fitted
electric fans, while on the wall were three switches by which a strong
forced draught could be obtained.
Before the furnace door was a portion of the tiled floor railed off, to
prevent the cinders from being trodden about, and in there I saw a
quantity of ashes. At the side were several large crucibles, one of
which, still gripped by the iron tongs or holders, contained some metal
which looked like steel.
Carelessly I made a tour of the place, passing the corner where had lain
the Professor's body. I saw that all traces of blood had been carefully
removed from the tiles. No one would suspect that any tragedy had
occurred there.
Was this Kirk's work? Had the man who had such a contempt for the
police--whom he denounced as red-taped blunderers--succeeded in removing
all trace of the crime?
If so, was not that sufficient proof of his own guilt? Was he not
fooling me when, all the time, he was the actual assassin?
Every fresh fact as presented in that house that night increased rather
than elucidated the mystery.
I longed to take the dead girl's lover into my confidence and tell him,
there and then, all I knew, just as I have told you; but I hesitated.
Had I not given my word of honour to be silent? And, moreover, like a
confounded fool, I had allowed Kirk to escape!
So now, more than ever, were my lips sealed. I was bound hand and foot.
In a few moments the four men passed out of the laboratory, while I, as
I had done below, remained behind for a moment.