He turned to me quickly.
“It’s strange, Bill, how an occasion will turn up to illustrate the exact truth that a man has just enunciated. Here’s an example to hand. I was talking about the separation of falsehood from truth. Effecting this separation explains something very clearly that has been causing me no end of bother.”
I became all attention and interest, immediately.
“Explain,” I said. “Put me out of my miserable ignorance.”
“Look at this wall, then.”
I looked. “Yes, what about it?”
“Well, Bill, it’s like this—listen! Assuming Prescott was out here some time last night or this morning, how would you suggest he got here? Did he come downstairs and risk the possible disturbance of other people or did he come from his bedroom down the nine stairs to the billiard room and out via the billiard room window? Think before you answer.”
I hesitated a moment.
“Well, of course, it’s all guesswork——”
“Not for a moment, old son! Use the powers the good God has given you.”