"Strange!" said Maxwell, thoughtfully: "no one seems to have heard a pistol shot, and yet such an unusual thing must have attracted attention."
"You forget that Sir Rupert's study was some distance away from the sleeping apartments, and I think at the time he was killed every one was in bed."
"But he was not shot in the room, but from the terrace."
"I don't know it, I only presume so. The body was found lying half in and half out of the window; so my theory is that Sir Rupert came to the open window for a breath of air, and the assassin, concealed in the shadow of the terrace, shot him through the head."
"It's a very excellent theory--still, it is only theory."
"Yes, I know that," said Maxwell, ruefully. "You don't know if Sir Rupert had any enemies, Mrs. Belswin?"
"I! Why I did not even know Sir Rupert himself until I spoke to him that night in his study."
There was no doubt that Mrs. Belswin was a magnificent actress, for she uttered this lie without the least hesitation.
"No, of course not," answered Maxwell, after a pause. "I know he was a stranger to you. Still he must have had enemies. I wonder if Kaituna could tell me."
"No, I won't. It will only upset her. She is so agitated over the whole affair. I'll go and see the detective who had the case in hand, and I won't tell Kaituna anything until I can say, 'This is the murderer of your father.'"
"Perhaps. Still something may be discovered."
At this moment Kaituna returned, dressed for walking, and after bidding fare well to Mrs. Belswin, Archie went out with his sweetheart, leaving the chaperon still standing by the window.
Mrs. Belswin twisted her hands together, and looked at the carpet with an angry frown.
"Something maybe discovered," she repeated in a thoughtful tone. "I don't think so. The assassin came out of the night, fulfilled his mission, and disappeared again into the night. Not all the machinery of the law could find out the truth, and where the law failed I don't think you'll succeed, Archibald Maxwell."
I. "The present becomes the future. Yes! but the present does not again become the past; Time goes forward forever--we cannot return on his footsteps, For the laws of the universe are unalterable, unchangeable and fixed.