Explore "The French Powder Mystery" by Ellery Queen on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
The Inspector stepped forward.
"It will be necessary for every one to wait here," he began sententiously, "while we make some elementary but essential investigations. Let me say at once, to forestall any claims of special privilege that may be made, that this is undoubtedly a case of murder. In cases of murder, the most serious charge that can be brought against an individual, the law is no respecter either of persons or institutions. A woman is dead of violence. Somebody killed her. That somebody may be miles away at this moment, or in this room now. You can understand, gentlemen" -- and his tired eyes considered the five directors especially -- "that the sooner we get down to business, the better. Too much time has been lost already."