By this scheme, which he may be pardoned for looking upon as a stroke of genius worthy of his brilliant prime, he had set back time a full hour, restoring as by a magician's wand the conditions of that fatal moment of initial alarm.

Surely, with the knowledge of that hidden bow in his mind, he should be able now to place his hand upon the person who had made use of it to launch the fatal arrow.

No one, however sly of foot and quick of action, could have gone far from the gallery where that bow lay in the few minutes which were all that could have elapsed between the shooting of the arrow and the gasping cry which had brought all within hearing to the Apache section.

The man or woman whom he should find nearest to that concealed door in the northern gallery would have to give a very good account of himself.

Not even the Curator would escape suspicion under those circumstances.
However, it is only fair to add that Mr.Gryce had no fear of any such embarrassing end to his inquisition as that.