«Oh, all these things might happen to anybody — separately. Fourth point: Gentleman who uses Parma violet for his hair, etc., etc., washes his body in strong carbolic soap — so strong that the smell hangs about twenty-four hours later.»
«Carbolic to get rid of the fleas.»
«I will say for you, Parker, you've an answer for everything. Fifth point: Carefully got-up gentleman, with manicured, though masticated, finger-nails, has filthy black toe-nails which look as if they hadn't been cut for years.»
«All of a piece with habits as indicated.»
«Yes, I know, but such habits! Now, sixth and last point: This gentleman with the intermittently gentlemanly habits arrives in the middle of a pouring wet night, and apparently through the window, when he has already been twenty-four hours dead, and lies down quietly in Mr. Thipps's bath, unseasonably dressed in a pair of pince-nez. Not a hair on his head is ruffled — the hair has been cut so recently that there are quite a number of little short hairs stuck on his neck and the sides of the bath — and he has shaved so recently that there is a line of dried soap on his cheek — »
«Wimsey!»
«Wait a minute — and dried soap in his mouth.»
Bunter got up and appeared suddenly at the detective's elbow, the respectful man-servant all over.
«A little more brandy, sir?» he murmured.
«Wimsey,» said Parker, «you are making me feel cold all over.» He emptied his glass — stared at it as though he were surprised to find it empty. set it down, got up, walked across to the bookcase, turned round, stood with his back against it and said: