human
The later editions, comin' out now, said the chief,
gpt
Nothing could be plainer, chief, he responded.
human
First, Bob Maillard comes to us in front of the opera house, and talks about a great joke that he's going to spring on his friends across the way----
gpt
How'd you know who he was?
human
Gramont recognized him; Ansley and I confirmed the recognition. He was more or less intoxicated--chiefly more. Now, young Maillard was not in the room at the moment of the murder--unless he was the Masquer. Five minutes afterward he was found in a near-by room, hastily changing out of an aviator's uniform into his masquerade costume. Obviously, he had assumed the guise of the Masquer as a joke on his friends, and the joke had a tragic ending. Further, he was in the aviation service during the war, and so had the uniform ready to hand. You couldn't make anybody believe that he hasn't been the Masquer all the time!
gpt
Of course, and the chief nodded perplexedly.
human
It'd be a clear case--only you call me in and say that he _wasn't_ the Masquer! Damn it, Fell, this thing has my goat!
gpt
What's Maillard's story?
human
He denies the whole thing, said the worried chief.
gpt
According to his story, which sounded straight the way he tells it, he meant to pull off the joke on his friends and was dressing in the Masquer's costume when he heard the shots. He claims that the shots startled him and made him change back. He swears that he had not entered the other room at all, except in his masquerade clothes. He says the murderer must have been the real Masquer. It's likely enough, because all young Maillard's crowd knew about the party that was to be held in that room during the Comus ball----
human
No matter, said Fell, coldly.
gpt
Chief, this is an open and shut case; the boy was bound to lie. That he killed his father was an accident, of course, but none the less it did take place.
human
The boy's a wreck this minute. The chief held a match to his unlighted cigar.
gpt
But you say that he ain't the original Masquer?
human
No! Fell spoke quickly.
gpt
The original Masquer was another person, and had nothing to do with the present case. This information is confidential and between ourselves.
human
Oh, of course, assented the chief.
gpt
Well, I suppose I got to pull Maillard, but I hate to do it. I got a hunch that he ain't the right party.
human
Virtuous man! Fell smiled thinly.
gpt
According to all the books, the chief of police is only too glad to fasten the crime on anybody----
human
Books be damned! snorted the chief, and leaned forward earnestly.
gpt
Look here, Fell! Do you believe in your heart that Maillard killed his father?
human
From the evidence, I am forced against my will to believe it, he said at last.
gpt
Of course, he'll be able to prove that he was not the Masquer on previous occasions; his alibis will take care of that. Up to the point of the murder, his story is all right. And, my friend, there is a chance--a very slim, tenuous chance--that his entire story is true. In that case, another person must have appeared as the Masquer which seems unlikely----
human
Or else, put in Ben Chacherre, smoothly,