“I think so,” I said, surprised.
“There was a fire in the grate, I see. When you broke the door down and found Mr. Ackroyd dead, how was the fire? Was it low?”
I gave a vexed laugh.
“I—I really can’t say. I didn’t notice. Perhaps Mr. Raymond or Major Blunt——”
The little man opposite me shook his head with a faint smile.
“One must always proceed with method. I made an error of judgment in asking you that question. To each man his own knowledge. You could tell me the details of the patient’s appearance—nothing there would escape you. If I wanted information about the papers on that desk, Mr. Raymond would have noticed anything there was to see. To find out about the fire, I must ask the man whose business it is to observe such things. You permit——”
He moved swiftly to the fireplace and rang the bell.
After a lapse of a minute or two Parker appeared.
“The bell rang, sir,” he said hesitatingly.
“Come in, Parker,” said Colonel Melrose. “This gentleman wants to ask you something.”