“Ach!” the Russian snorted impatiently. “Behold! Let us say that Mr. Breese wanted to kill his wife. Now, the unfortunate lady was killed at about nine-fifteen. What time was your engagement with Mr. Breese?” “At ten!” “Excellent! He calls Smith up in the morning and makes an engagement with him for ten o’clock that night. Do you see? He comes here at nine-fifteen, kills his wife, takes a taxi and gets back to the hotel at least ten minutes before you arrive. He tells you that he fears something is going to happen to Mrs. Breese. He plants very obviously suspicion against the actor. While you are there, he receives a phone call informing him of his wife’s murder. Psychologically, he impresses you with his alibi. You do not reason that he may have gone out and just returned. Because you are there with him when he receives the news, you believe he is just as innocent and ignorant of the crime as you are. But it is diabolically clever!” CHAPTER XII THE SUSPECT REFUSES TO TALK The psychological alibi! As the Russian’s theory dawned on me I was shocked to find that every detail clicked into place. Breese _had_ summoned us to his hotel exactly three-quarters of an hour after the murder had been committed. His entire demeanor during the interview now seemed highly suspicious to me. I rose from my chair determinedly and reached for the telephone. “I’m going to call up Ben Smith,” I said, “and tell him about this.” But the Russian stopped me. “You’ll do nothing of the kind,” he said. “You are entirely too hasty, my friend. I have given you a theory, and you have jumped to a conclusion.” I resented the Russian’s assumption of superiority. I resented his amusement at my haste. Possibly it was because of this that I sought to destroy his reasoned conclusions. I remember I said: “Perhaps I am hasty. After all there’s no motive.” The Russian smiled. “But what motive would he have?” I protested. “Motive? His wife has dragged his name into scandal. Despite her foolishness she emerged triumphant from the divorce trial. He was hopelessly beaten. His own children turned against him. He comes down here, swallowing his pride and begging for a reconciliation. His wife will not see him. His children will not see him. He admits as much, doesn’t he? He learns his wife wants to marry this actor. Mr. Breese is an old man. His pride is gone. His home is gone. His children are gone. “Consider his character. He is not used to defeat. He is a man who has had his own way. He is a hard man, obstinate. And who is to blame for his position? Put yourself in his place. Can’t you see a steadily growing malignant hatred of his wife? I assure you, men have committed murder for much less!