QED by Ellery Queen

room.
    â€œI’ve taken the liberty of asking Chief Newby to drop by,” Ellery began, “because we need, I think, to redefine our position. Especially in reference to the dying message.
    â€œWhen Chief Newby and I first found M-U-M on the scene, we made the natural assumption that Godfrey Mum-ford had left it as a clue to his killer’s identity. Further thought compromised this theory, at least as far as I was concerned. The clue had so many possible interpretations that I shifted to the theory that it meant the safe combination. That worked out fine but accomplished nothing. I opened the safe, and the safe proved to be empty.”
    Ellery paused, seeming to wing far off. But his vision was in focus, and he could see nothing in their faces but attentiveness and bafflement.
    â€œNow, after thinking it over again, I’ve changed my mind again,” he went on. “If Godfrey had wanted to leave the combination, all he had to write down was 13-21-13. It would have been almost as easy to write as M-U-M, and there would have been no chance of its being misunderstood. So now I’ve gone back to the original theory, which Newby has never abandoned—namely, that the message points to the murderer’s identity. If so, to whom?”
    He paused again; and most of his captive audience waited in varying stages of nervousness for revelation.
    â€œThe Chief,” said Ellery, with a side glance at Mrs. Caswell, who alone seemed unmoved, “is convinced of that identity. And, of course, from a strictly logical point of view, it is certainly possible.”
    â€œIt is certainly stuff ,” said Mum; then pulled her head back in like a turtle.
    â€œIf it’s stuff, Mrs. Caswell,” smiled Ellery, “what’s coming is pure moonshine. Yet—who knows? I’m not going to turn my back on a theory simply because it sounds like something out of Lewis Carroll. Bear with me.
    â€œFrom the beginning this case has exhibited a remarkable series of what I have to call, for want of a more elegant term, ‘doubles.’
    â€œFor example, there have been at least four ‘doubles’ connected with the murdered man: Godfrey had developed a famous chrysanthemum with a double blossom on one stem; the party he gave was to celebrate a double event, New Year’s Eve and his seventieth birthday; his wall safe cost about double what it should have cost; and his children, Ellen and Christopher, are twins—another double .
    â€œFurther, let’s not overlook the most significant double in the case: the double mystery of who killed Godfrey and what happened to the Imperial Pendant.
    â€œWhat’s more, we can go on through a great many more doubles. Because, if you interpret the dying message as a clue to the killer, each of you has at least two connections with MUM.
    â€œFor instance, Ellen.” Ellen gave a visible start. “One, her maiden name was Mumford—first syllable, Mum . Second, she’s married to an Egyptologist. Egyptology connotes pyramids, the Sphinx—and mum mies.”
    Ellen reacted with a double sort of sound, like a jeer crossed with a neigh. “Rubbish! Nonsense!”
    â€œIt is, isn’t it? Yet this thing gets curiouser and curiouser. Take Christopher. Again, the first syllable of Mum ford. And second, Chris, your profession.”
    â€œMy profession?” asked Christopher, puzzled. “I’m an actor.”
    â€œAnd what are other words for actor? Player, performer, thespian, trouper … mum mer.”
    Christopher’s handsome face reddened; he seemed torn between the impulse to laugh and the need to fume. As a compromise he simply threw up his hands.
    Chief Newby was looking embarrassed. “Are you serious, Ellery?”
    â€œWhy, I don’t know whether I am or not,” said Ellery gravely. “I’m just trying it on for size. You’re next, Mr. Thorp.”
    The elderly curator