“Notice that it was the man’s right hand that grasped this section of the window,” said Nick. “The relative size and position of the finger marks show that, also that he must have been facing toward the room, not coming out of it.” “By gracious, that’s so!” said Fallon, gazing. “That part of the portière which is stained and torn from the pin, moreover, is on the same side of the window.” “True.” “To have grasped them with his right hand, therefore, the man must have been backing out of the room, if leaving it.” “True again.” “There is one alternative,” said Nick. “Namely?” “That instead of backing out of the room--he was entering it.” “But that is hardly tenable, Carter.” “Why?” “Because his hand was stained with blood. He must have been leaving the room after the murder,” Fallon argued. “Unless----” “Unless what?” “Unless his hand was soiled with blood before he entered and killed the priest.” “But----” “Stop a moment,” Nick interrupted. “I now am convinced that this murder was committed in just the manner that I have described. Father Cleary heard some one back of the portière, or forcing the window, and he sprang up to see who was here. The intruder flung aside the portière and stabbed him.” “Well?” “Notice this point,” said Nick. “The murderer evidently did not remain to accomplish anything more. He did not go to the desk to see what the priest had been writing, or he would, if my previous reasoning is correct, have taken away the letter Father Cleary had begun.” “Surely,” Fallon quickly allowed. “We can safely assume, then, that the assassin got out as quickly as possible,” Nick proceeded. “Surely, then, he would not have backed out. He would have hurried straight out, drawing the portière and closing the double door.” “Undoubtedly.” “The side of the curtain which is stained, also the same section of the door, would have been to his left, therefore, and naturally would have been grasped with his left hand.” “Certainly.” “That gives rise to a very pertinent question,” said Nick. “Why was his left hand stained with blood?” “You mean?” “Most men wield a knife with the right hand,” Nick went on. “That is the hand that should have been covered with blood from the knife used, not the left, which naturally would have been raised to seize his victim by the throat or shoulder to prevent resistance.” “By Jove, there’s no getting around that, Nick, as far as it goes,” Fallon thoughtfully admitted, more deeply impressed and now more mystified. “But these prints on the door show plainly enough that it was the right hand that was soiled.” “They also show that he must have been facing the room,” said Nick. “In other words, Fallon, that he was backing out of it, which you admit is improbable--or that he was entering it with blood on his hand, which you also think is untenable.” Fallon shook his head and frowned.