The fact is highly important," he added, "because there is no need of his being wounded in the hand for him to be the murderer." Rouletabille seemed to be thinking deeply.

After a moment he said: "There is something--a something, Monsieur Frederic Larsan, much graver than the misuse of logic the disposition of mind in some detectives which makes them, in perfect good faith, twist logic to the necessities of their preconceived ideas.

You, already, have your idea about the murderer, Monsieur Fred.

Don't deny it; and your theory demands that the murderer should not have been wounded in the hand, otherwise it comes to nothing.

And you have searched, and have found something else.