? ? ? ? "I remember."
? ? ? ? "I fancy that he had taken steps to make that draught efficacious, and that he quite relied upon your being unconscious. Of course, I understood that he would repeat the attempt whenever it could be done with safety. Your leaving the room gave him the chance he wanted. I kept Miss Harrison in it all day so that he might not anticipate us. Then, having given him the idea that the coast was clear, I kept guard as I have described. I already knew that the papers were probably in the room, but I had no desire to rip up all the planking and skirting in search of them. I let him take them, therefore, from the hiding-place, and so saved myself an infinity of trouble. Is there any other point which I can make clear?"
? ? ? ? "Why did he try the window on the first occasion," I asked, "when he might have entered by the door?"
? ? ? ? "In reaching the door he would have to pass seven bedrooms. On the other hand, he could get out on to the lawn, with ease, Anyt!ling else?"
? ? ? ? "You do not think," asked Phelps, "that he had any murderous intention? The knife was only meant as a tool.
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