I'm
telling you God's truth, sir."
McIntyre eyed him in wrathful silence, then turned to his companions.
"The blow has knocked Grimes silly," he commented. "There is
certainly no motive for any of us to attack Grimes, nor has any
trace of a weapon been found such as must have been used against
Grimes. O'Ryan and I looked particularly for it, after removing
Grimes from the Venetian casket, where my daughter Helen, Mrs.
Brewster and I discovered him lying unconscious."
"What's this Venetian casket like?" asked Ferguson before Kent
could question McIntyre.
"It is a fine sample of carving of the Middle Ages," replied
McIntyre. "I purchased the pair when in Venice years ago. They
are over six feet in length, about three feet wide, and rest on a
carved base. There is a door at the end through which it was
customary in the Middle Ages to slide the body, after embalming,
for the funeral ceremonies, after which the body was removed,
placed in another casket and buried. There is a square opening or
peep hole on the top of the casket through which you can look at
the body; a cleverly concealed door covers this opening.
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