“I think so,” said Ellery. He was squatting before the fireplace. “Look here.”
Delia Priam turned at that, and Wallace. i The fireplace grate held the remains of a wood fire. It had burned away to a fine ash. On the ashes lay a heat-crimped and badly charred object of no recognizable shape.
“Feel the ashes to the side, Keats.”
“Stony cold.”
“Now the ashes under that charred thing.”
The detective snatched his hand away. “Still hot!”
Ellery said to Delia, “Was there a wood fire in this grate tonight... Mrs. Priam?”
“No. There was one in the morning, but it burned out by noon.”
“This object was just burned here, Keats. On top of the cold ashes.”
The lieutenant wrapped a handkerchief around his hand and cautiously removed the charred thing. He laid it on the hearth.