“I never knew that,” exclaimed Cardona. “It seems impossible that this closet could be saturated with that deadly gas.”
“Not saturated,” corrected Biscayne. “But the fumes are probably present to a noticeable degree. That can be tested.
“Carbon monoxide is odorless. The presence of a limited quantity of the gas would account for a fairly rapid death of a person confined in the closet.”
“We have a death,” declared Cardona. “From what you have just said, professor, it is quite explainable as an accident.
“We must consider now if any one forced Thomas Sutton into that closet.”
“We searched the house for my father,” said Richard Sutton. “We found no traces of any one having been here.
“If my father met with foul play, I am keenly desirous of knowing it. But I have seen no indication.”
“What about your father’s financial affairs?” questioned Cardona bluntly.
“He was living on a pension,” replied Richard. “Until a few months ago, he still had some wealth. But father had a failing in that he took great interest in speculative enterprises.
“He was constantly investing in gold mines, oil wells, and new inventions of doubtful value. The last of these failed recently, and he had nothing left except this house and his retirement income.”