“That’s about the size of it,” I agreed, feeling a sense of triumph. “We’ve established that pretty firmly.”
Then I woke up.
“I disagree!” said Anthony curtly.
“You disagree?” I muttered in amazement.
“I do! And I’ll show you why. I warned you to get that grey matter of yours to work—didn’t I? Pay attention to what I am going to demonstrate.”
“Go ahead!”
“I’m going. Now, Bill, which would be the easier way to get out of the room? To get out, using the reverse method by which you got up—that is to say—leaning out for a grip of the water-pipe with one hand, and then all the rest of the movements, or as you said, a simple drop from the window-sill?”
“A simple drop, unquestionably,” I answered, without any hesitation.
“I think so, too! Where then,” he swung round on me, alive with interest, “are the heavy marks of his feet when he dropped? The ground is soft, remember. And he was a pretty hefty fellow. There’s no sign of a drop at all—only this double line of tracks. Look!”
It was as he showed. There were no indications whatever of anybody having dropped from the window.