A. “She had been distracted in the morning when we rode in a cab together and I asked her to marry me. She had told me about her father. She was worried over him and she had complained of a headache.” Simple lies, establishing nothing. De Medici glanced at his hands. Would they ask him about the blood on his fingers? Q. “Do you think that Mr. Ballau committed suicide, from what you saw that night?” A. “No.” Q. “Then it is your opinion that Mr. Ballau was murdered?” A. “Yes.” De Medici waited while the coroner made notes with a pencil. Curious that he should make notes at that moment. And why had they asked him for his opinion? They had asked none of the others. Norton again. Yes, it was Norton. The coroner with his pompous words and heavy manner was a blind. It was the reddish-faced man beside him who was operating the web ... spinning it out carefully and invisibly. Well, he would cross weapons with the man. “I must find out what the fellow is,” mused De Medici behind the attentive poise of his face. Q. “Have you any idea from your observations, Mr. De Medici, by whom the dead man was murdered?” A. “Not yet.” Q. “You were present with Lieutenant Norton in the library when the first examination was made?” A. “I was.” Q. “What time did you arrive at the Ballau apartment?” A. “I don’t recall the exact time.” Q. “Did Miss Ballau have her hat on when she came out of the elevator as you entered the lobby?” A. “No.” Q. “How was she dressed?” Then they knew about the costume! A. “I don’t remember. I failed to notice.” Q. “What gave you the impression that murder had been committed?” A. “It was obvious. The room was in disorder.” Q. “You discussed the case at the time with Lieutenant Norton?” A. “Yes. I am aware of his theory.” De Medici surprised a look of amusement in the detective’s face. An irritation came into his nerves. Yes, they were playing, peering out amusedly from behind concealed evidence. “May I speak openly?” De Medici inquired. He had leaned forward in his chair. He caught a nod from the lieutenant. The coroner answered: “Yes. Go on and tell us in your own way what you believe happened. We want to get at the bottom of this mystery and if you have any ideas as a result of what you know we will be glad to hear them.” “From the questions that were asked Miss Ballau,” De Medici began, his eyes fixed on the lieutenant, “it struck me that one of the police theories might be that Miss Ballau killed her father in order to profit by his insurance money, knowing at the time that they were financially ruined. This is obviously a ridiculous notion. For Miss Ballau has testified from the first that she is convinced her father committed suicide. Inasmuch as she knows that if this is proved the insurance company will not have to pay her the money that is collectable if Mr. Ballau was murdered, the theory becomes untenable.”