Leaving the library, Jack Trevelyan went to Gardner to tell him to ask Miss Trevelyan if she would be so kind as to give a few minutes of her time to Inspector Stanley. All this was said loud and clear so that the inspector realized that it was a great concession on their part to make themselves available to him.
“Certainly, sir.”
The butler answered while looking at Stanley and, more particularly, at Hardman, with the disbelief that people used to have while looking at something that had the audacity to address them, even though being far below the social level. Indeed, Gardner thought it should be prohibited by law, that the agents of the authority, whichever their post, to address a gentleman. They were not accustomed to a life of sewage? So, they should keep themselves with the filthy ones and leave the good people of society alone.
While Gardner sent the maid to call Miss Elaine, Stanley and Hardman went to the room where the body was to talk to the doctor that was there trying to conclude the hour of death.
“Dr. Grossmith, have you news for us?”
“There is not much to say apart from what I have already told you, Inspector Stanley. The only thing that might not have been noticed on a first look, but that I would think is relevant is that I believe that Mrs. Trevelyan was drugged before they killed her, in an atempt to prevent her from having a reaction that would obstruct the crime. As for the rest, I believe it is quite obvious. Mrs. Trevelyan was sitting down, probably facing the aggressor, when he must have gotten up, under some pretext and, approaching behind the victim, gagged her, tied her hands and, later, strangled her with a strip of her own dress.”
“You say he tied her hands… But she is not tided up, is she?” While asking the question to the physician Stanley was trying to see if he was right, but was unable from the point where he stood.
“Actually no, Inspector, but because the victim was very white, and taking into account the force that, certainly, have had to be made in order to arrest her, her wrists have some marks. You can see it here, below, in the internal part of the wrist.” while speaking the physician pointed directly to the above-mentioned part where Stanley checked the existence of two red, thick marks, where two improvised handcuffs would have been.
“It is strange … For which reason would they have taken away the handcuffs while the gag was left behind? And with what were the handcuffs done?” Looking around, in the room “Is there anything in this room that could have made those marks?”
“This is the strangest thing … the marks left in the victim's wrists clearly indicate that a rope has been used. Not one of these fine strings that are sometimes used to hold objects, but a thick rope, maybe used to secure the animals. And obviously I could not find anything of the sort here ... not even, according to one of his agents who has been walking around, in the stables.” Explained Dr. Grossmith “It suggests that, whoever has done this, had everything planned and nothing was left to chance. The person is likely to have a logical reason even for the gag.”
“Logic?” - Stanley raised his eyebrow in a demonstration of incredulity.
“Certainly, Inspector. Maybe not logical for you or for me, but certainly logical for whom did this. My experience over the years, and in the several cases that I have followed, made me see that all the criminals, however insane their attitudes seem, always act in accordance with an instinctive logic. It is something irrational in the sense that they do not even consider to question their attitudes, because for them nothing is more natural than to act in accordance with their instinct. I cannot base my opinion on carried out studies since the human mind is, still, something of an enigma for the majority of us, doctors, but I really do believe that things really are like just as I told you.”
“Then, my dear doctor, how do you explain the necessity, of most criminals, especially murderers, to try to fabricate excuses and alibis in an attempt to escape the accusations that hang on their heads?”
“It is a curious question and it is relevant, Inspector... But I believe that also for that there is an explanation. In my point of view, what happens is that some people, usually those with some experience of life and some culture, have the wisdom to get to understand life in society and, if I am allowed to use the words, to filter out everything that is necessary to their survival. In other words, in spite of acting instinctively, they manage to separate the instinct of the reason when their survival depends on it. And our biggest mistake is believing that such people are crazy. We tend to undervalue them and have little faith in their intellectual abilities, and we just end up easy preys of our own prejudices.” with this opinion Dr. Grossmith got his thing to go away but, reaching the door, turned back and said “Believe me Stanley, you will not want to go in search for a crazy man, that in an access of rage decided to enter a home and to kill a fine lady. This” and pointed to the interior of the room “requires too much study and plan. Remember that. If you need me you know where to find me.” saying this, Grossmith turned back and left.
Stanley then turned to Harman, who had remained silent throughout the dialogue, and noticed the expression of his eyes. Harman, a twenty six-year-old young, quite tall sergeant, but with a face that did not show his actual age, had his great and kind blue eyes opened in an expression of fright and horror. It was obvious he could not believe it possible for someone other than a crazy man to have done all of this in an access of hatred. Stanley, however, has seen much in life to easily accept Dr. Grossmith’s opinion.
“Well, Hardman, it seems that it is time that we meet Miss Elaine. We don’t want to leave her waiting for us.”
“Certainly not, Sir.”