Sir Levikus, one evening, rather unwisely, announced at dinner that he was cutting someone out of his will. Sure enough, the next morning, Sir Levikus was found slumped over the desk in his study, having been fatally stabbed with a paper-knife.

Herlock Sholmes, renowned private investigator, immediately began questioning all the suspects to discover who had seen the victim last.

Here are their statements, all of which are true:

a) His long-time friend, Martin, said : "I went to the study to show Sir Levikus a first edition I bought yesterday. He kept it to examine more closely."

b) Lady Jane (my sweet Lady Jane...), Sir Levikusīs wife (now widow), said : "I borrowed the evening newspaper from my husband. There was no paper-knife present at that time; I would have remembered it."

c) Nathan, the son of the deceased, said: "I did not have coffee with my father. When I went to the study he was reading the newspaper and smoking a cigar. He showed me Martinīs first edition."

d) Lisa, Sir Levikusīs daughter, said : "I went to return the newspaper mother had borrowed."

e) Tom, the butler, said: "As was usual after dinner, I brought the coffee service to the study. Sir Levikus was at his desk reading the evening newspaper."

f) Reny, the maid, said: "I only went in to clear the coffee service. I did see that four cups had been used."

g) Cristian, the brother of the murdered man, said: "Since there was no coffee when I went to the study, we had brandy together. I wanted to look at the newspaper, but it was not in the room."

h) Simone, Sir Levikusīs niece, said: "Certainly I recognize the paper-knife. My uncle brought it out when we were having coffee together. I noticed that one other cup had been used."

Herlock Sholmesīs incisive brain immediately determined who was the last person to visit Sir Levikus and thus, was his murderer.

Who was the killer? Can you list Sir Levikusīs eight visitors in order? Show your reasoning!

thanks pcbouhid, I enjoyed this one. Have registered to attempt a solution. I think it works :)

Tom, who brings the coffee, precedes Simone, who has coffee. Simone precedes Reny, who removes the coffee.

Tom
Simone
Reny

Because Simone sees a used cup, someone visited between Tom and Simone. This person must be Jane, Lisa or Martin, because neither Cristian or Nathan had coffee.

Tom
Jane or Lisa or Martin
Simone
Reny

And because someone used a fourth cup, someone must visit between Simone and Reny, and (as above) it must be Jane, Lisa or Martin.

Tom
Jane or Lisa or Martin
Simone
Jane or Lisa or Martin
Reny

Jane didn't see the knife, so she had to precede Simone. Also, Jane took the paper. The two possibilities are (1) that both Jane took the paper and Lisa returned it before Tom went to the study, or (2) that both Jane took it and Lisa returned it after Tom went to the study. But if (1) is true, then both Jane and Lisa would have to precede Tom, and then only Martin is left to fill both the slot between Tom and Simone, and the slot between Simone and Reny.  So (2) is true. Slotting Jane in before Simone (as in first sentence of this convoluted paragraph):

Tom
Jane
Simone
Lisa or Martin
Reny

Cristian, seeing no coffee, either precedes Tom or follows Reny. But the paper was in the study before Tom, because Jane hadn't yet removed it. Therefore Cristian follows Reny.

Tom
Jane
Simone
Lisa or Martin
Reny
Cristian

Cristian also didn't see the paper, so Lisa didn't return it until after Cristian's visit. This also means the person who drank coffee between Simone and Reny has to be Martin.

Tom
Jane
Simone
Martin
Reny
Cristian
Lisa

Nathan had to follow Martin, because he saw the book. But he also saw the paper, so Lisa had already returned it. This places Nathan last.

Tom (brings coffee, paper is present, no knife, no book)
Jane (drinks coffee #1, removes paper, no knife, no book)
Simone (drinks coffee #2, no paper, sees knife, no book)
Martin (drinks coffee #4, no paper, knife, brings book)
Reny (removes coffee, no paper, knife, book)
Cristian (no coffee, no paper, knife, book)
Lisa (no coffee, returns paper, knife, book)
Nathan (no coffee, paper, knife, book)

Poor Sir L.

Posted by hm on 2005-07-18 22:58:03