Felix Gardener came out of his room and walked softly on to the stage. Here he paused, started, bent down and rubbed his foot, whispered: "What the hell!" and limped on a few paces. The Beadles walked away down the passage towards the wardrobe-room. All this took a very short space of time. On the stage Simpson called: "Curtain up." The actors began to speak the dialogue, muttering their lines and raising their voices loudly at the end of each speech. This dialogue continued for perhaps half a minute and then the stage manager said:

"Lights."

Alleyn blew his whistle and called out:

"Everyone on the stage, please."

Once more the company assembled.

"Thank you very much," said Alleyn. "You have helped me. I am sure it has been difficult and unpleasant for all of you. I can now explain myself a little further. I think you are entitled to an explanation. This reconstruction has proved that no one, who was beyond the elbow in the passage, could have come out on to the stage without running into the two dressers, who did not go to the wardrobe room until late in the blackout period. Mr. Gardener has stated that when he went on to the stage someone trod on his foot. There are only three men who could have been offstage at that time—Mr. Simpson, the property master—and Mr. Jacob Saint."

Janet Emerald began some sort of demonstration. Alleyn glanced coldly at her and she subsided.

"Mr. Saint was in his box on the prompt side. One theory was that he came through the proscenium door, substituted the cartridges, and returned by the same route. Watkins, will you go to that door, open it and walk to the desk?"

Sergeant Watkins marched to the proscenium exit and opened the door. It gave tongue to an ear-splitting shriek.

"That disposes of that," said Alleyn. "Mr. Simpson and Props are left. The theory as regards Props is this. Props was on the stage during the black-out. He substituted the cartridges, and then made himself scarce. No one remembered seeing him offstage when the lights went up. Where did he go? The theory suggests that he went up that ladder and disappeared above the ceiling-cloth. If you'll be good enough to help me I'll demonstrate that. Mr. Simpson is in the prompt box; Miss Max, Miss Emerald, and the deceased are on the stage. Mr. Gardener comes out of the passage and runs into Props, who has just planted the cartridges. He shies off Mr. Gardener and goes up that ladder. He is wearing rubber shoes and is not heard. He wears Mr. Saint's gloves that were left on the stage. Now, Mr. Simpson, will you be good enough to play his part?"

Simpson wetted his lips.

"I—I—can't stand going up those ladders. I've no head for heights. It would—make——I can't."