That is greatly in your favour." "Why ?" Hume disdained the police, but Brett's remark evoked curiosity.
"Because Mr.Winter is a most excellent officer, whose intellect is shackled by handcuffs.

'De l'audace!' says the Frenchman, as a specific for human conduct.

'Lock 'em up,' says Mr.Winter, when he is inquiring into a crime.

Of course, he is right nine times out of ten; but if, in the tenth case, intellect conflicts with handcuffs, the handcuffs win, being stronger in his instance." Hume was in no mood to appreciate the humours of Scotland Yard, so the other continued: "The most telling point against you was the fact that not only the butler, footman, and two housemaids, but you yourself, at the coroner's inquest, swore that the small Japanese knife was in its sheath during the afternoon; indeed, the footman said it was there, to the best of his belief, at midnight.

Then, again, a small drawer in Sir Alan's writing-table had been wrenched open whilst you were alone in the room.