Joel frowned.
“Yes,” he admitted. “I was told something of the sort. It is a great pity, gentlemen. But my poor brother was always headstrong—very, very headstrong! I have no doubt that he died without—er—consulting anyone!”
At this moment they caught the light of Thorpe’s flash from the little reception-room. Again Joel turned his head in swift alarm. A moment later the expert came back into the library and started to prepare his camera to photograph the finger-prints. Joel seemed to connect the man with the flash for he relaxed in evident relief.
Bernard had been fuming inwardly for some time.
“Harrison!” he snapped. “Where did you go and what did you do from the time you entered this house tonight?”
Joel became instantly submissive.
“I went to my room and remained there,” he answered quickly. “Cook sent me up my dinner. I read a book.”
“Did you hear a scream?” Bernard demanded.
“Oh, yes! I did!”
“Well, what did you do about it?”