He nodded significantly to the two Agents, who took their places by Jim and Piquette, and with his secretary and the policeman following him, M. Matthieu unlocked the door into the kitchenette and investigated the kitchen and bedrooms.
When he reappeared some moments later his face was puzzled. But he went to the big studio window and examined the catches.
"These windows you say were also locked?" he asked of Horton suddenly, in excellent English.
"They were—all of them," said Horton.
"Then you did not know that one of them was open?"
"Open!" Horton crossed the room eagerly. "I could have sworn——"
"You observe——?" said the Frenchman, and touching the window, it swung open noiselessly.
"That's strange," muttered Horton, "I thought the catch was on. But even so," he added, "there was no chance for the murderer to have escaped there. As you will see, Monsieur, it is a blank wall of full three stories in height."
The Commissaire peered out. There was a broad wooden ledge or sill just outside, but the ledge led nowhere and he could see that what Horton had stated was true. It was sixty feet to the flagging of the court below and a drop meant death or injury to any one who dared attempt it. Nor was there any sign of a rope or ladder.
"H-m. We shall wait for daylight for that. In the meanwhile——" he relapsed into silence, gazing about the room with great care, examining each object and coming at last to the body.