Andrews, there is
the murderer of Morowitch, and there in his hands are the
Morowitch--"
Poissan had moved toward the furnace. With a quick motion he
seized the long tongs. There was a cloud of choking vapour.
Kennedy leaped to the switch and shut off the current. With the
tongs he lifted out a shapeless piece of valueless black
graphite.
"All that is left of the priceless Morowitch jewels," he
exclaimed ruefully. "But we have the murderer."
"And to-morrow a certified check for one hundred thousand dollars
goes to Mrs. Morowitch with my humblest apologies and sympathy,"
added Andrews. "Professor Kennedy, you have earned your
retainer."
VII. The Azure Ring
Files of newspapers and innumerable clippings from the press
bureaus littered Kennedy's desk in rank profusion. Kennedy
himself was so deeply absorbed that I had merely said good
evening as I came in and had started to open my mail. With an
impatient sweep of his hand, however, he brushed the whole mass
of newspapers into the waste-basket.
"It seems to me, Walter," he exclaimed in disgust, "that this
mystery is considered insoluble for the very reason which should
make it easy to solve--the extraordinary character of its
features."
Inasmuch as he had opened the subject, I laid down the letter I
was reading.
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