After scrutinizing it carefully, he replaced it in the case with an air of satisfaction.
"Greig," he said, moving his head slightly to one side, so as to face his assistant, "what do you make of the case ?" "Just this, Lieutenant!" He paused as if in deep reflection.

"We've got to decide whether those clerks are telling the truth.

If we accept their statement that they saw no one enter Whitmore's office and heard no shot--" "I have already accepted their statement as the truth," interrupted Britz.
"The possibility of suicide is eliminated, of course," pursued Greig.
"The pistol we found is brand new and has never been fired.

Certainly Whitmore didn't shoot himself and then swallow the gun.

And since the clerks are sure that no one entered or left the office, why, the only explanation I can give is that some supernatural agency was employed to bring about Whitmore's death." Britz bestowed on his assistant a tolerant smile.
"Then I suppose we might as well charge the crime up to the spirits and drop the case!" he said ironically.