 As the police arrive, Archie discovers that his coat has been tampered with; suspecting that the murderer has planted the cul de mort on him, he slips away and heads back to the brownstone, where he and Wolfe confirm his suspicions.Neya Tormic is initially the main suspect in Ludlow’s murder; she was his fencing instructor and the last person seen with him.Although another student, Rudolf Faber, has provided her an alibi, it is weak.