Page:Anna Katharine Green - Leavenworth Case.djvu/18

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8
The Leavenworth Case

in front of the threshold of a narrow passageway, opening into a room beyond.[1] "As the murdered man was discovered sitting in this chair, and consequently with his back towards the passageway, the assassin must have advanced through the doorway to deliver his shot, pausing, let us say, about here." And Mr. Gryce planted his feet firmly upon a certain spot in the carpet, about a foot from the threshold before mentioned.

"But" I hastened to interpose.

"There is no room for 'but,'" he cried. "We have studied the situation." And without deigning to dilate upon the subject, he turned immediately about and, stepping swiftly before me, led the way into the passage named. "Wine closet, clothes closet, washing apparatus, towel-rack," he explained, waving his hand from side to side as we hurried through, finishing with "Mr. Leavenworth's private apartment," as that room of comfortable aspect opened upon us.

Mr. Leavenworth's private apartment! It was here then that it ought to be, the horrible, blood-curdling it

  1. For those who are interested in the details of this affair, the following diagram is given:

    1. Library table. 2. Chair. 3. Passageway. 4. Bed. 5. Shaving stand.