The rifle, a regulation German infantry weapon, the long-familiar _Gewehr
'98_ in its most recent modification, was a Nazi product, bearing the
eagle and encircled swastika of the Third Reich and the code-letters
_lza_--the symbol of the Mauserwerke A.G. plant at Karlsruhe. It had
doubtless been sold to Rivers by some returned soldier. In a rack beside
the door were a number of other bolt-action military rifles--a Krag, a
couple of Arisakas, a long German infantry rifle of the first World War,
a Greek Mannlicher, a Mexican Mauser, a British short model Lee-Enfield.
All had fixed bayonets; between the Lee-Enfield and one of the Arisakas
there was a vacancy.
Rivers's carved ivory cigarette-holder was lying beside the body, crushed
at the end as though it had been stepped on. A half-smoked cigarette had
been in it; it, too, was crushed. There was no evidence of any great
struggle, however; the attack which had ended the arms-dealer's life must
have come as a complete surprise. He had probably been holding the
cigarette-holder in his hand when the butt-blow had been delivered, and
had dropped it and flung up his arms instinctively. Thereupon, his
assailant had reversed his weapon and driven the bayonet into his chest.
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