"That somebody was haunting the Room with the Tassels who had to open the door to get in. No ghost would need to turn a knob and open the door. They splash right through walls or anything, or they ought to, if they know their business! But this lock, as well as the knob, was oiled, and, as you know, the door was opened though locked on the inside. Clever fingers can turn a key from the other side, if they have a certain implement, used by burglars. Also, if the key was not in the door, clever people could provide a duplicate key. But these things are not necessary for ghosts. They just glide in serenely, not even thinking about keys or doors." "You're right, child," and Wise nodded approvingly at her. "Now, what other door had its lock oiled?" "Not only the lock, but the hinges of one of the bedroom doors were carefully oiled. You know which one, Penny." "I do, Zizi. Have you no suspicion, Professor?" "I'd rather not say. As a friend of all the people in our party, I simply can't bring myself to mention the name of any one of them, and, yet if one of us is a criminal, it is the duty of the others to see justice done." "Well, it must soon come out, anyway. It is Mr. Tracy's door, isn't it, Zizi?" "Yes." "Bless my soul!" cried the Professor, "Tracy! Why, he's a minister!" "No," and Penny Wise shook his head, "Mr. Tracy is not a minister and never was. On the contrary, he's about as far removed from piety of any sort, as any man on God's green earth!" "What are you saying?" cried Eve Carnforth, coming swiftly toward them. "Mr. Tracy not a minister!" "No;" repeated Wise, "John Tracy is a notorious criminal, known as Smug Johnny by his friends, and also by the police. I have just had returns from some inquiries I sent to Chicago, and I learn that this double-dyed villain is wanted on several counts, but never before has he been accused of murder." "And did he kill Mr. Bruce and Vernie?" cried Eve, her hands clenched in excitement and her long eyes narrowed with fear. "He did, I am positive. We have yet to prove it, but I have evidence enough----" "Where is he?" said Hardwick, abruptly. "Under strict surveillance," returned Wise. "My men are at his heels day and night. He can't get away." "He stole me," said Zizi; "you see I had my eye on him, 'cause of his oiled door. Then when he came, I thought he was only going to scare me, but he stuffed that old chloroform in my mouth so quick, I couldn't even yell out. If I hadn't had some experience in swimming pools and movie thrillers, I'd been down at the bottom of that horrid old lake this minute!" "But I can't understand," and Eve looked puzzled; "why would Mr. Tracy kill those people, and how did he do it? Mr. Wise, you're crazy! It's an impossible theory!" Others had gathered in the hall, now, and Pennington Wise told them all of his recent advices from Chicago, that proved the supposed clergyman a fraud and a villain.