, because, of course, I had nothing to do with it."

"I want to know," said Foyle, a bit of American vernacular that came
from his lips unconsciously.

"Tell me why you never announced that I was alive?" asked Grell. "You'll
have to do it, you know."

"Well, there's no harm in admitting now that one idea was to make you
think that we were deceived, and so to throw you off your guard."

"And it did until you got hold of Ivan. Well, you've made a mistake this
time, Mr. Foyle. There were finger-prints on the dagger with which
Goldenburg was killed, eh?"

Foyle inclined his head. His blue eyes were alight with interest which
he made no effort to conceal. He half guessed what was coming, but he
found Grell's ways disconcerting and could form no certain judgment.
Certainly Grell did not behave like a guilty man--that is, a man guilty
of murder. But neither did he behave like an innocent man. He was too
totally unconcerned with the gravity of his position.

"Yes, there were finger-prints," he said. "I have a photograph of them
in my pocket if you would like them compared now."

"With mine? That's what I was about to suggest. You'll find some
writing-paper and ink in the desk behind you. I suppose they will do."

The prisoner smiled as he saw Foyle carefully shift his chair to guard
against any sudden rush, before turning his back. He was a moment
preparing the materials and then placed a blank sheet of paper on a
little table in front of Grell. "Will you kindly hold out your hands?"
he said. As Grell did so he smeared the tips of the fingers of the right
hand with ink. "Now press your fingers lightly but firmly on the paper.
Thank you."

He brought a little standard lamp closer, and under its rays studied the
two sets of prints closely. He did not need a magnifying-glass to see
that none of Grell's finger-marks agreed with the two that were clear on
the dagger. Grell leaned back in his chair as though the matter were one
of complete indifference to him.

"Does that satisfy you, Mr. Foyle?" he asked at last.

The superintendent nodded as their eyes met. "It satisfies me that you
did not actually kill the man," he said steadily. "I'll own I'm not
surprised at that. I believe if you had killed him you would have been
man enough to have stayed and faced the consequences. You will observe
that I have not formally arrested you yet. But I do believe that you
know all about the crime--that you were perhaps an eye-witness."