"No sign of poison will be found. No sign of violence will be discovered anywhere upon the body. Sudden heart failure—that will be apparent. The cause obscure. Organs seemingly healthy; no discernible disease. Muscular failure. Death from natural causes. A case interesting to the medical world, perhaps, but with no suggestion of foul play about it. Now let me have your tale."
"But surely you—"
"I assure you I have formed no definite theory yet. How can I until I have your story!"
I repeated what Masini had told me, and I told him about the telephone message.
"It was a woman. You are quite sure it was a woman?"
"Quite certain."
He went to the telephone.
"There is a directory here, I see; did you touch it?"
"No."
"It wasn't open?"