"About half-past seven, I should say. You will see her?"
"Entirely. Nothing has been touched. We were most careful," said Sir Charles. "Mr. Bathurst here," he smiled, "was most insistent on that point."
He turned and flung a quick glance in Anthony's direction.
"Thank you," smiled back Anthony. "I'm rather interested in this sort of situation."
"Yes. A lot of people are till they find one. Roper, get those photographs and I'll get to work."
Roper, with camera, did his work quickly and quietly. Baddeley went through Prescott's pockets.
"Absolutely empty, gentlemen. He's fully dressed, too."
"Not quite, Inspector," said Anthony. "Look at his shoes!"
"Good Lord! Fully, but not properly, eh? Tut--tut--extraordinary." His eyes brightened. "And a lace missing--why, oh why, oh why?" And then authoritatively--
"Sir Charles, none of your guests must leave this morning, till I have seen any of them I consider it necessary to."
"As you wish, Inspector. Tell them all, Jack."
"Got all you want, Roper?" Baddeley strode across to the window.
"Not been touched--eh?" He bent forward--eager--attentive; then leaned out across the window sill. Then I think he sniffed and rubbed his hands together.
"We're progressing, Mr. Bathurst. Don't you think so?"
Anthony joined him and I could see he was puzzled.
"You can get on now, Dr. Elliott," declared Baddeley. "I want to have a look outside. Come along, Roper." They went out.
"Most distressing!" he said. "When he was looking at me I felt like a murderer myself. I think we'll leave Dr. Elliott to his job for a few minutes and go and dress decently."
Anthony lingered for a moment or two, then followed us out.
Within a short time he joined me in my bedroom. Like me, he had taken the opportunity to shave and dress.
"Sit on the bed, Holmes," I said, "the tobacco is not in the Persian slipper, but the cigarettes are on the dressing-table."
"Bill," he said, "I'm worried. This is a beastly business."
"On the contrary, too many! I can see too much light. It's part of me to distrust the too-glaringly obvious."
"Dashed if I follow you. Tell me of these clues that have hit you so forcibly."
"Listen then. We have the following indisputable facts:
"(1) Prescott is found dead in the billiard room--stabbed with a weapon with which you all appear to be familiar.