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reasoning upon the point； and that mode _must_ lead us to a definite
decision。 … Let us examine； each by each； the possible means of
egress。 It is clear that the assassins were in the room where
Mademoiselle L'Espanaye was found； or at least in the room adjoining；
when the party ascended the stairs。 It is then only from these two
apartments that we have to seek issues。 The police have laid bare the
floors； the ceilings； and the masonry of the walls； in every
direction。 No _secret_ issues could have escaped their vigilance。
But； not trusting to _their_ eyes； I examined with my own。 There
were； then； no secret issues。 Both doors leading from the rooms into
the passage were securely locked； with the keys inside。 Let us turn
to the chimneys。 These； although of ordinary width for some eight or
ten feet above the hearths； will not admit； throughout their extent；
the body of a large cat。 The impossibility of egress； by means
already stated； being thus absolute； we are reduced to the windows。
Through those of the front room no one could have escaped without
notice from the crowd in the street。 The murderers _must_ have
passed； then； through those of the back room。 Now； brought to this
conclusion in so unequivocal a manner as we are； it is not our part；
as reasoners； to reject it on account of apparent impossibilities。 It
is only left for us to prove that these apparent 'impossibilities'
are； in reality； not such。
〃There are two windows in the chamber。 One of them is unobstructed by
furniture； and is wholly visible。 The lower portion of the other is
hidden from view by the head of the unwieldy bedstead which is thrust
close up against it。 The former was found securely fastened from
within。 It resisted the utmost force of those who endeavored to raise
it。 A large gimlet…hole had been pierced in its frame to the left；
and a very stout nail was found fitted therein； nearly to the head。
Upon examining the other window； a similar nail was seen similarly
fitted in it； and a vigorous attempt to raise this sash； failed also。
The police were now entirely satisfied that egress had not been in
these directions。 And； _therefore_； it was thought a matter of
supererogation to withdraw the nails and open the windows。
〃My own examination was somewhat more particular； and was so for the
reason I have just given … because here it was； I knew； that all
apparent impossibilities _must_ be proved to be not such in reality。
〃I proceeded to think thus … _？posteriori_。 The murderers did escape
from one of these windows。 This being so； they could not have
refastened the sashes from the inside； as they were found fastened； …
the consideration which put a stop； through its obviousness； to the
scrutiny of the police in this quarter。 Yet the sashes _were_
fastened。 They _must_； then； have the power of fastening themselves。
There was no escape from this conclusion。 I stepped to the
unobstructed casement； withdrew the nail with some difficulty and
attempted to raise the sash。 It resisted all my efforts； as I had
anticipated。 A concealed spring must； I now know； exist； and this
corroboration of my idea convinced me that my premises at least； were
correct； however mysterious still appeared the circumstances
attending the nails。 A careful search soon brought to light the
hidden spring。 I pressed it； and； satisfied with the discovery；
forbore to upraise the sash。
〃I now replaced the nail and regarded it attentively。 A person
passing out through this window might have reclosed it； and the
spring would have caught … but the nail could not have been replaced。
The conclusion was plain； and again narrowed in the field of my
investigations。 The assassins _must_ have escaped through the other
window。 Supposing； then； the springs upon each sash to be the same；
as was probable； there _must_ be found a difference between the
nails； or at least between the modes of their fixture。 Getting upon
the sacking of the bedstead； I looked over the head…board minutely at
the second casement。 Passing my hand down behind the board； I readily
discovered and pressed the spring； which was； as I had supposed；
identical in character with its neighbor。 I now looked at the nail。
It was as stout as the other； and apparently fitted in the same
manner … driven in nearly up to the head。
〃You will say that I was puzzled； but； if you think so； you must have
misunderstood the nature of the inductions。 To use a sporting phrase；
I had not been once 'at fault。' The scent had never for an instant
been lost。 There was no flaw in any link of the chain。 I had traced
the secret to its ultimate result； … and that result was _the nail。_
It had； I say； in every respect； the appearance of its fellow in the
other window； but this fact was an absolute nullity （conclusive us it
might seem to be） when compared with the consideration that here； at
this point； terminated the clew。 'There _must_ be something wrong；' I
said； 'about the nail。' I touched it； and the head； with about a
quarter of an inch of the shank； came off in my fingers。 The rest of
the shank was in the gimlet…hole where it had been broken off。 The
fracture was an old one （for its edges were incrusted with rust）； and
had apparently been accomplished by the blow of a hammer； which had
partially imbedded； in the top of the bottom sash； the head portion
of the nail。 I now carefully replaced this head portion in the
indentation whence I had taken it； and the resemblance to a perfect
nail was complete … the fissure was invisible。 Pressing the spring； I
gently raised the sash for a few inches； the head went up with it；
remaining firm in its bed。 I closed the window； and the semblance of
the whole nail was again perfect。
〃The riddle； so far； was now unriddled。 The assassin had escaped
through the window which looked upon the bed。 Dropping of its own
accord upon his exit （or perhaps purposely closed）； it had become
fastened by the spring； and it was the retention of this spring which
had been mistaken by the police for that of the nail； … farther
inquiry being thus considered unnecessary。
〃The next question is that of the mode of descent。 Upon this point I
had been satisfied in my walk with you around the building。 About
five feet and a half from the casement in question there runs a
lightning…rod。 From this rod it would have been impossible for any
one to reach the window itself； to say nothing of entering it。 I
observed； however； that the shutters of the fourth story were of the
peculiar kind called by Parisian carpenters _ferrades_ … a kind
rarely employed at the present day； but frequently seen upon very old
mansions at Lyons and Bourdeaux。 They are in the form of an ordinary
door； （a single； not a folding door） except that the lower half is
latticed or worked in open trellis … thus affording an excellent hold
for the hands。 In the present instance these shutters are fully three
feet and a half broad。 When we saw them from the rear of the house；
they were both about half open … that is to say； they stood off at
right angles from the wall。 It is probable that the police； as well
as myself； examined the back of the tenement； but； if so； in looking
at these _ferrades_ in the line of their breadth （as they must have
done）； they did not perceive this great breadth itself； or； at all
events； failed to take it into due consideration。 In fact； having
once satisfied themselves that no egress could have been made in this
quarter； they would naturally bestow here a very cursory examination。
It was clear to me； however； that the shutter belonging to the window
at the head of the bed； would； if swung fully back to the wall； reach
to within two feet of the lightning…rod。 It was also evident that； by
exertion of a very unusual degree of activity and courage； an
entrance into the window； from the rod； might have been thus
effected。 … By reaching to the distance of two feet and a half （we
now suppose the shutter open to its whole extent） a robber might have
taken a firm grasp upon the trellis…work。 Letting go； then； his hold
upon the rod； placing his feet securely against the wall； and
springing boldly from it； he might have swung the shutter so as to
close it； and； if we imagine the window open at the time； might even
have swung himself into the room。
〃I wish you to bear especially in mind that I have spoken of a _very_
unusual degree of activity as requisite to success in so hazardous
and so difficult a feat。 It is my design to show you； first； that the
thing might possibly have been accomplished： … but； secondly and
_chiefly_； I wish to impress upon your understanding the _very
extraordinary_ … the almost pr鎡ernatural character of that agility
which could have accomplished it。
〃You will say； no doubt； using the language of the law； that 'to make
out my case；' I should rather undervalue； than insist upon a full
estimation of the activity required in this matter。 This may be the
practice in law； but it is not the usage of reason。 My ultimate
object is only the truth。 My immediate purpose is to lead you to
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