Ford took the card and studied it. He saw a noble head and brow, fine features, and a general air of self-appreciation that was, however, not to be called conceit. The mouth had a few weak lines about its corners, but on the whole it was the presentment of a man of genius.
“Have you a photograph of the subject in life?” he asked; “not taken from a painting.”
“Yes, but not a recent one,” replied Joyce. “Except for some little snapshots,” and she put a half-dozen small pictures in the hands of the detective.
“Better yet,” Ford said, and he carefully scrutinized the papers.
But all the pictures of Eric Stannard gave the same impression of power, self-confidence and dominance.
XVIII
Questions and Answers
Still studying the face of the artist, Alan Ford indicated his desire to begin the successive interviews with the members of the household. All but Barry left the room, and the young man sat down near the absorbed detective.
“Your father was a handsome man,” Ford said, as he laid aside the pictures.
“Yes,” agreed Barry. “I wish I might have been more nearly his type.”
“Physically, you mean?”