Therefore the shot must have been fired some time earlier than we are told.

But there could be no mistake about such a matter as that.

We are in the presence, therefore, of a deliberate conspiracy upon the part of the two people who heard the gunshot--of the man Barker and of the woman Douglas.
When on the top of this I am able to show that the blood mark on the windowsill was deliberately placed there by Barker, in order to give a false clue to the police, you will admit that the case grows dark against him.
"Now we have to ask ourselves at what hour the murder actually did occur.

Up to half-past ten the servants were moving about the house; so it was certainly not before that time.

At a quarter to eleven they had all gone to their rooms with the exception of Ames, who was in the pantry.