"The rain has washed away any traces that might have helped us," that official grumbled, after a fruitless search.
"And even if it had not," the manager observed, "you would only have found traces of all of us, as we were all here."
The inspector continued his examination. Copplestone stood apart, his eyes fixed on the river. He did not appear to be taking the slightest interest in the proceedings.
"In what position was the body lying?" the inspector asked, looking up at the clergyman.
"It was so horribly contorted that it is difficult to say in what position it was lying," the latter replied, bending down beside him. "The head, I think, lay towards the river, and the feet towards the trees."
"It was so when we came," Copplestone corroborated, without turning his head.
"There are no signs of a struggle here," said the inspector, straightening himself after another pause. "If there had been one, some of the heavier indications might have remained in spite of the rain."
"It is possible," Monsieur Dupont suggested, "that the body was carried here from the place where the struggle did take place."
"Quite possible," the inspector agreed. He turned to Tranter. "Will you show us now, Mr. Tranter, where you parted from Miss Manderson?"
"I am not familiar with the garden," Tranter replied. "I only know, as I told you last night, that we had just passed under some arches across the path. I do not know where they are."