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and departures; we’ll have a report soon. Called your father; he’s on his way with his staff. The precinct is sending a few men—”
    A bluecoat stamped into the theater, looked around, made for Ellery.
    “Hullo, Mr. Queen. Just got me flash from the precinct. Takin’ charge?” he rumbled.
    “Yes. Stand by, won’t you?”
    Ellery glanced about the Amphitheater. The occupants of the gallery had not moved. Dr. Dunning sat sunk in thought His daughter looked faint, sick … In the orchestra Dr. Janney had walked to the farther wall and stood facing it, smoking. The nurses, the assistants wandered aimlessly.
    “Let’s get out of here,” said Ellery suddenly, to Minchen. “Where can we go?”
    “Shall I—?”
    “Notify Mrs. Doorn’s relatives outside of what’s happened?” finished Ellery abruptly. “No. Not yet. We have plenty of time. In here?”
    “Yes.”
    Ellery and Minchen approached the door. Ellery turned, his hand on the knob.
    “Dr. Janney.”
    The surgeon turned slowly, took a limping step forward, stopped.
    “Well?” His voice was harsh, again emotionless.
    “I should appreciate your not leaving this room, Doctor. I want to talk with you—soon.”
    Dr. Janney stared, seemed about to speak. But he clamped his lips firmly together, wheeled and limped back to his wall.

Chapter Six
EXAMINATION
    T HE ANTEROOM TO THE Amphitheater was almost square except for one corner, where it was cut off by a small cubicle. On the same wall stood a compartment, the door of which bore the words:
    AMPHITHEATER LIFT
    (For Operating-Room Use Only)
    For the rest, there were a few of the familiar cabinets, shining with enamel and glass, a washbowl, a wheel-table and one white metal chair.
    Minchen paused at the door from the theater, and commandeered the use of several chairs. These were brought in by nurses and the door closed.
    Ellery stood still in the center of the room and surveyed this unpromising domain.
    “Scarcely a plethora of clews, eh, Minchen?” he said with a grimace. “This, I take it, is the room in which Mrs. Doorn was kept before being taken into the theater?”
    “That’s right,” replied Minchen gloomily. “Was brought in here about a quarter after ten, I think. She was certainly alive then, if that’s what you’re driving at.”
    “There are a few elementary problems to solve, old man,” murmured Ellery, “besides the question of whether she was alive when they brought her into this room. By the way, how can you be sure? She was in a coma, wasn’t she? Seems perfectly possible that she might have been done in before.”
    “Janney ought to have an idea about that,” Minchen muttered. “He examined her pretty thoroughly in the theater while they were applying the oxygen and adrenalin.”
    “Let’s get Dr. Janney in here.”
    Dr. Minchen went to the door. “Dr. Janney,” he called in a low voice. Ellery heard the slow, limping footsteps of the surgeon approach, lag, then resume with a sudden vigor. Dr. Janney stamped into the Anteroom, regarded Ellery challengingly.
    “Well, sir!”
    Ellery bowed. “Be seated, Doctor. We may as well be comfortable. …” They sat down. Minchen prowled back and forth before the door to the theater.
    Ellery smoothed his right palm on his knee, regarded his shoe-top lovingly. Suddenly he looked up. “I think, Doctor, it would be best for us to begin in the most incipient place—to wit, the beginning. Please relate to me the incidents of this morning in relation to Mrs. Doorn. I have an avid ear for detail. Would you mind—?”
    The surgeon snorted. “Good God, man, do you want me to give you a case history now? I’ve things to do—arrangements to make—patients to see!”
    “Nevertheless, Doctor,” smiled Ellery, “as you must know very well, there’s nothing quite so important in a murder investigation as the apprehension of the murderer. Perhaps you’re not familiar with the New Testament? So few scientists are! ‘Gather up the