Inspector Armadale pulled out a small magnifying glass and examined the dead man’s hand carefully.
“Those were his finger-prints on that Japanese sword right enough, sir,” he pointed out. “You can see that tiny scar on the thumb quite plainly if you look.”
He held out the glass, and Sir Clinton inspected the right thumb of the body minutely.
“I didn’t doubt it from the evidence you had before, Inspector; but this certainly clinches it. The scar’s quite clear.”
“Shall I go through the pockets now?” Armadale asked.
“You may as well,” Sir Clinton agreed.
Inspector Armadale began by putting his fingers into the body’s waistcoat pocket. As he did so his face showed his surprise.
“Hullo! Here’s something!”
He pulled out the object and held it up for Sir Clinton’s inspection.
“One of the Leonardo medallions,” Sir Clinton said, as soon as he had identified the thing. “Let me have a closer look at it, Inspector.”