"I see," said Malcolm Sage, looking at a press-cutting lying before him, "that it says there was a remarkable change in the professor's appearance. He seemed to have become rejuvenated."
"The doctor said that sometimes 'death smites with a velvet hand.' He was rather a poetic sort of chap," the inspector added by way of explanation.
"He saw nothing extraordinary in the circumstance?"
"No," was the response. "He seemed to think he was the only one who had ever seen a dead man before. I wouldn't mind betting I've seen as many stiffs as he has, although perhaps he's caused more."
Then as Malcolm Sage made no comment, the inspector proceeded.
"What I want to know is what was the professor doing while the door was being broken open?"
"There were no signs of a struggle?" enquired Malcolm Sage, drawing a cottage upon his thumbnail.
"None. He seems to have been attacked unexpectedly from behind."
"Was there anything missing?"
"We're not absolutely sure. The professor's gold watch can't be found; but the butler is not certain that he had it on him."