“I don’t agree with you, doctor. This man appears to have been a very strong and rugged fellow.”
“That is true, sir, as far as it goes,” Doctor Doyle admitted, frowning slightly when his professional opinion was thus questioned by a stranger.
“It seems hardly probable that such a man died of heart disease,” the detective said pointedly. “Nor do his eyes denote that apoplexy was the cause.”
“You will have to go deeper, sir, nevertheless, to find positive evidence of the cause,” Doctor Doyle said, rather coldly. “Superficial evidence is not absolutely convincing.”
“Have you noticed this slight discoloration of the skin near the mouth and nostrils?”
“Yes, of course.”
“How do you account for that?”
“Such slight changes immediately after death are not uncommon,” said the physician. “There may be a slight settlement of blood in the tissues in that locality.”
“You would not attribute it to a blow?”
“Surely not. There could be no mistaking the evidence of a violent blow.”