“What’s that?” inquired Smith sharply. I looked up, too, for the Russian had given me no evidence that he had stumbled upon any vital factor in the tangled case. “Certainly,” said the Russian. “My work is done. I have just been expounding to our friend here my theory of the case. I shall tell it to you. It concerns Mr. Breese.” I sat back once more while the Russian repeated his speculations on the status and activities of the elder Breese, but Smith was evidently unimpressed and sought to interrupt the tale several times. He felt and said that the Russian jumped at conclusions entirely too glibly. “I don’t know how you do things in Russia, but we work differently where I come from,” Smith pointed out. “Your main case against old man Breese rests on the fact that he _might_ have come here, that he _might_ have hated his wife sufficiently to kill her, that he _might_ have planned an alibi by calling me to his hotel after the murder. You can’t prove any of these three points. “On the other hand, I’ve got a definite confession from the Count and a clear circumstantial case against the actor. It’s all very well in detective stories to reach way out for your suspect, but take it from me, in my experience the man who looks guilty generally is. I can answer every point you make against Breese.” “Do so!” challenged the Russian. “You concede that Mr. Breese had the key to this house and might have entered unseen?” “Certainly,” said Smith. “But let’s call up the hotel and find out if he left his rooms last night. That’s more to the point, isn’t it? Merely possessing the key means nothing.” “He could have left his hotel unseen,” said the Russian. “Or he could bribe any employee likely to see him.” “Then there’s no use even checking up on him?” demanded Smith sarcastically. “None at all,” replied the Russian easily. “You do not deny that Mr. Breese had a motive?” “Certainly I deny it,” retorted Smith. “What did he have to gain by the murder?” “His children!” the Russian answered. “Ah!” said Smith. “Do you think a man would deliberately kill his wife to get custody of his children?” “But why not?” demanded the Russian. “It is natural.” “It’s ridiculous,” said Smith. “I don’t go with you there at all. And now take your friend, the Count--why do you assume he confessed to save anybody? He had plenty of motive to kill Mrs. Breese. He certainly had the opportunity. Why do you assume the confession isn’t genuine?” “But he would not kill,” protested the Russian. “I know his character.” “And I give you the same answer on old man Breese,” retorted Smith. “I’ve watched him pretty carefully. He’s not the type either.” “So? You know why you say that? Because he is a wealthy man and respectable.” “What’s that got to do with it?” demanded Smith.