human
It seems the little photographer has been getting more and more jealous lately. He was satisfied that his lady love and the medical student used this balcony as a lover's lane, and he began lying in wait at his window for the medical student to steal past toward the dress-maker's room.
gpt
Yes?
human
For several nights last week he waited and nothing happened. But he's a patient little shrimp, so he waited again Saturday night and--something _did_ happen. Saturday night!
gpt
The night of the murder,
human
That's it. It was a little after midnight, he says, and suddenly, as he stood waiting and listening, he heard a cautious step coming along the balcony from the direction of the medical student's room, G. Then he saw a man pass his window, and he was sure it was the medical student. He stepped out softly and followed him as far as the window of room C. Then, feeling certain his suspicions were justified, he sprang upon the man from behind, intending to chastise him, but he had caught the wrong pig by the ear, for the man turned on him like a flash and--_it wasn't the medical student_.
gpt
Who was it? Go on!
human
He doesn't know who it was, or anything about the man except that his hand shut like a vise on the shrimp's throat and nearly choked the life out of him. You can see the nail marks still on the cheek and neck; but he remembers distinctly that the man carried something in his hand.
gpt
My God! The missing pair of boots! cried Coquenil.
human
Was it?
gpt
Sure! He was carrying 'em loose in his hand. I mean they were not wrapped up, he was going to leave 'em in Kittredge's room--here it is, A.
human
It's true, it must be true, murmured M. Paul.
gpt
And what then?
human
Nothing. I guess the man saw it was only a shrimp he had hold of, so he shook him two or three times and dropped him back into his own room; _and he never said a word_.
gpt
And the boots?
human
He must have taken the boots with him. The shrimp peeped out and saw him go back into this room F, which has been empty for several weeks. Then he heard steps on the stairs and the slam of the heavy street door. The man was gone.
gpt
It was the assassin, he said;
human
Mightn't it have been some one he sent?
gpt
No--that would have meant trusting his secret to another man, and he hasn't trusted anyone. Besides, the fierce way he turned on the photographer shows his nervous tension. It was the murderer himself and-- The detective stopped short at the flash of a new thought.
human
Great heavens! he cried,
gpt
I can prove it, I can settle the thing right now. You say his nail marks show?
human
They show as little scratches, but not enough for any funny business with a microscope.
gpt
Little scratches are all I want, said the other, snapping his fingers excitedly.
human
It's simply a question which side of his throat bears the thumb mark. We know the murderer is a left-handed man, and, being suddenly attacked, he certainly used the full strength of his left hand in the first desperate clutch. He was facing the man as he took him by the throat, so, if he used his left hand, the thumb mark must be on the left side of the photographer's throat, whereas if a right-handed man had done it, the thumb mark would be on the right side. Stand up here and take me by the throat. That's it! Now with your left hand! Don't you see?
gpt
Yes, said Tignol, making the experiment,
human
I see.
gpt
Now bring the man in here, wake him, tell him--tell him anything you like. I must know this.
human
I'll get him in, said the commissary.
gpt
Come,