Our unknown operator was not preparing a skeleton as a museum specimen; he was dividing a body up into convenient-sized portions for the purpose of conveying them to various ponds.

Now what circumstances might have led him to divide it in this peculiar manner ?" "I am afraid I have no suggestion to offer.

Have you ?" Thorndyke suddenly lapsed into ambiguity.

"I think," he said, "it is possible to conceive such circumstances, and so, probably, will you if you think it over." "Did you gather anything of importance from the evidence at the inquest ?" I asked.
"It is difficult to say," he replied.

"The whole of my conclusions in this case are based on what is virtually circumstantial evidence.