Stebbins nodded reluctantly.
'That is correct, Mr. Pons. But it would not be beyond the bounds for members of the public to gain access to the Zoological Gardens after dark. There are a number of places where an athletic man could get over fences. I would say it seems like the work of an unbalanced person."
An alert expression passed across Solar Pons' feral features.
"What makes you say that?"
"Because locks have been smashed on cages where the doors could simply have been opened by the catches. Yet on the cages of dangerous animals such as the tigress, Sheba, or at the polar bear pit today, heavy padlocks, which one would expect to be smashed, have been unlocked as with a key or a lock pick."
There was a heavy silence in the room, broken only by the deep-throated roaring of some animal far off across the park. It seemed to give a dark and sinister cast to the subject under discussion.
"That is extremely interesting, Stebbins."
Solar Pons turned to me.
"You may remember, Parker, I told you there is a great deal more here than meets the eye."
"I must confess I am all at sea, Mr. Pons," said the president, obviously nonplussed.
"Nevertheless, we progress, Sir Clive. Our talk here with your Head Keeper is proving invaluable. He is evidently a man who keeps his eyes open and knows his staff."
"I do my best, sir."
"I am sure you do. You will kindly remain here and give us the benefit of your wisdom when Sir Clive questions the other actors in this strange drama. Ah, here is Hardcastle, none the worse for his little adventure at the Yard."
Indeed, almost before Pons had finished speaking, Hardcastle, his eyes bright and anxious, was sitting down before Sir Clive's desk. That worthy was considerably irritated when Solar Pons calmly rose from his seat.
"I think I have seen and heard enough here for the moment, Sir Clive. We may safely leave this important matter in your hands. As for myself, if Superintendent Heathfield would be so kind, I should like to see the polar bear enclosure and the other sites of the incidents under examination today."
"Very well, Mr. Pons."
Sir Clive was evidently disgruntled and his face was pink. I saw the secretary, Conrad Foster, bent over his notebook. He flashed me a secret smile while still turned away from the peppery little man at his side.
Superintendent Heathfield rose and excused himself. Solar Pons nodded affably toward our client.
"Just answer the questions to the best of your ability, Hardcastle, and you will have nothing to fear. Come, Parker."
And he led the way from the room.
5
"But you have learned nothing yet, Pons," I protested as we descended the stairs.
"On the contrary, Parker, I have learned a great deal," said my companion, lighting his pipe as we followed the tall form of the superintendent out into the gardens. The rain had stopped now, but the mist persisted, and I turned up my coat collar and followed the faint chain of sparks left by Pons' pipe as he hurried forward.
"Sir Clive's examination will lead only to a great deal of repetition. I have already come to some firm conclusions on this affair and would prefer to test them on the ground. I think I can leave it to Stebbins' common sense to draw to my attention any anomalies in the attendants' statements, and no doubt Hardcastle will have his own interests at heart."
"You surprise me, Pons."
"The day I do not, Parker, I shall think my grip is slipping."
"Come, Pons," I said, a little put out. "For instance, what about all these past incidents?"
"Nothing simpler, my dear fellow. I shall visit each site in turn and make my own observations on the spot. The superintendent has every detail at his fingertips. And then I shall want to see Hardcastle's lady friend tomorrow."
"Lady friend, Pons?"
Solar Pons chuckled as we followed Heathfield through the mist in the direction of the main gate and the polar bear enclosure.
"The girl, Alice, who warned him that he was under suspicion. She sounds like a quick-witted young woman. I have no doubt she will have some ideas of her own about this matter."
"Despite your remarks, Pons, you continue to surprise me."
"Ah, Parker, there is nothing like a woman's intuition in these affairs. Their minds often retain the most surprising information. But here we are at our destination."
We had arrived at Mappin Terrace, and Superintendent Heathfield led the way to the polar bear enclosures, towering concrete structures, separated from the public by a deep artificial chasm in front of the viewing galleries. We walked up a series of steps to where a group of officers stood with portable electric lights whose thick cables snaked away into the darkness.
Pons hurried forward and examined the heavy padlock and chains that were lying on the ground. A great white form lumbered by in the darkness beyond the bars, and I glanced apprehensively at Heathfield. He smiled wryly.
"We are in no danger, Dr. Parker. The zoo authorities have placed temporary padlocks on this enclosure. The material on the ground here was used to secure the entrance door. It is lying just as it was found."
"Excellent, Superintendent. You have excelled yourself." Solar Pons bent to one knee. He had his magnifying glass out and examined the lock carefully.
"Opened with a key. You have dusted for prints, I see." The superintendent inclined his head.
"Nothing, Mr. Pons. He was wearing gloves."
Solar Pons smiled at me wryly.
"A cunning fellow, evidently, Parker. But this follows the pattern. Flimsy material smashed. Massive defenses unlocked."
"I am sure I do not know what you mean, Pons."
"Just think about it, Parker."
My companion turned to the superintendent.
"One bear only was involved?"
"Fortunately, Mr. Pons. The animal was seen moving off down the ramp to the zoo but was tackled with commendable courage by a junior keeper, Carstairs. He attempted to corner it with a pitchfork, but it attacked and savaged him. The attendants managed to keep it at bay, penning it with rope, hurdles and netting, and when my own people arrived they had to shoot it."
"I see."
Solar Pons stood in thought for a moment.
"It will probably tell us very little, but I should like to look at the carcass. Then I think a little visit to the Lion House would be in order, if it can be arranged."
"Certainly, Mr. Pons. Sir Clive has assigned to us a member of the zoo staff who has most of the master keys." "Excellent."
"The corpse of the bear is in the dispensary quarters, Mr. Pons. It is on the way back to the Lion House."
I followed my two companions as they hurried off down toward the Gloucester Gate entrance while a thickset, amiable-looking man in zoo uniform, evidently the person with the keys mentioned by the superintendent, followed on behind. Heathfield led the way to a large block of brick buildings, which rose from a yard set beside some of the small mammal houses. There was the pungent smell given off by wild animals, mingled with disinfectant as we crossed the yard, from which came the sound of a hose sluicing water over cement.
The corpse of the bear, partly dissected, was lying on a stone slab raised up from the floor under a powerful electric light in a corner of an enormous, bare, whitewashed room.
"I did not think it necessary to have the veterinary surgeons on call tonight, Mr. Pons," said Heathfield.
Solar Pons shook his head.
'They could add nothing and I presume that in any event you have their reports."
"Certainly, Mr. Pons. But with today's near tragedy, I felt it essential that we press on with the investigation with the utmost dispatch before something more serious occurs."
"It seems difficult to imagine anything more serious," I observed, looking at the huge, bloodstained mass of the bear.