The colonel jumped.
"I know nothing of the sort, I can assure you. I admit the possibility, but I should require very conclusive proof before I made such a positive statement."
Just so," said Mr. Amberley. "You would be very wise. And now I'll give you the proof. You have the corpse of a murdered man discovered in a car on a lonely road. First significant fact."
"The lonely road? I understand that you did not think that significant."
"On the contrary, highly significant. You, Colonel, treat it as a merely negative link in the chain. The second significant fact is the position of the car."
The colonel repeated rather blankly: "Of the car?… Well?"
"Certainly of the car. It was drawn up at the side of the road, with the engine switched off and only the side lamps burning. Why?"
The colonel made an airy gesture. "There might be several reasons. If the man was held up…'
"He would not have drawn right into the side. The car was definitely parked."
"Well, then, say he had engine trouble."