Evening journal., 1922-12-09

He was found with his throat
cut.
drops dripped from the point OF it,"
THAT would be possible, mon
sieur" replied Jonquelle. That
might happen"
The Oriental stopped over little
and glanced along the floor.
you have observed these blood
drops. monsieur? They are quite
clear"
Il have observed them closely" ="
replied the Prefect OF Police. There
are seven OF these blood-drops
They are about the length of a
mans step apart. and they are each
clearly visible on a white square OF
the floor Your explanation seems
admirable. monsieur"
He turned suddenly from a con-
temptation OF these evidences into a
vague casulstry.
Monsieur" he said. Il have
thought a great deal about chance
evidences of crime. Do you suppose
there are any laws OF chance?"
The Oriental seemed to reflect.
THE very word chance. mon
sleur." he said. "precludes the run
ming OF any law. Events which re-
suit from the operation of law are
naturally outside OF the definition OF
the word chance
The Prefect OF Police did not pause
to discuss this comment; he went
on, as though the reply were merely
an interruption OF his discourse.
Events" he said, "all indicatory
evidences in criminal investigation
we divide into two classes; those
which happen by design and those
which happen by chance. BY de-
sign we mean by the win and inten-
ton OF some Individual, and by
chance we mean all those events
which happen by chance. BY de-
sign we mean by the will and inten-
ton Of some individual. and by
chance we mean all those events
which happen outside of such an in
tendon. Would you think, monsieur,
that there would be any distinguish
ing features. by virtue Of which one
might put indicatory evidences OF
crime under one or the other OF these
heads?"
He continued as though he had
entered upon a subject which closely
engaged his attention.
1T is an immense and fascinating
field for speculation. II seems to be
the persistent belief Of every human
that IL can, by design.
create a sequence OF iRdicatory evil
dences. which will have all the ap-
pearance Of n happening by chance.
But after long reflection and the
study Of innumerable instances. I
have come 10 the conclusion that this
thing cannot be done. Il Is my epin-
ion that no human intelligence can
grasp the vast ramification OF events
with a sufficient comprehension TO
enable IT 20 lay down a sequence OF
false evidences that will have. az
every point, the aspect OF a chance
He did not wait for a reply. He
seemed to lose all interest in the
subject with the closing word Of his
final sentence. He turned abruptly
10 another phase Of the matter.
Monsieur" he said, what, in
your opinion, was the motive for |
his death OF Dernburg?"
The Oriental replied at once:
Il do not know that, monsieur" I
he said. But does it matter? We |
are not concerned to establish the /
motive for this matter 1 do not |
care even 70 establish the identity .
OF the assassin. We have estab- /
lished that he is French. and that is ]
sufficient for the indemnity. You
may determine the motive, II you |
like"
Il have already determined It,"
replied Jonquelle.
And what was it, monsieur, since
you have determined it?"
1t was despairi" replied the Pre-
feet Of Police. do you know what
Dernhurg Pasha was doing in
Paris?"
Another instalIment of this advcn-
ture Of VI. Jonquelle will appear i'm